your indisposition to private prayer be total, then you must wait upon the Lord in all his appointments for a changed nature, and for union with Christ ; but if your indisposition to private prayer be only partial, then the Lord will certainly pardon it, and in the very use of holy means in time remove it. But,
Thirdly, and lastly. There is a transient, accidental, occasional, or fieeting indisposition to private prayer; and there is a customary, a constant, or permanent indisposition to private prayer. Now a transient, accidental, occasional, or fleeting indisposition to that which is good may be found upon the best of saints, as you may see in Moses, Exod. iv. 10-14; and in Jeremiah, Jer. i. 5-8, 17-19, and xx. 9; and in Jonah, chap. i. ; and in David, Ps. xxxix. 2, 3. Now if this be the indisposition that thou art under, then thou mayest be confident that it will certainly work off by degrees, as theirs did that I have last cited, Isa. Ixv. 2. But then there is a customary, a constant or permanent indisposition to private prayer, and to all other holy duties of religion. Now if this be the indisposition that thou art under, then I may safely conclude that thou art in the very gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Acts viii. 21-23, and thy work lies not in complaining of thy indisposition, but in repenting and believing, and in labouring for a change of thy heart and state ; for till thy heart, thy state be changed, thou wilt remain for ever indisposed both to closet prayer and to all other duties of religion and godliness. To see a sinner sailing hell- ward with wind and tide on his side, to alter his course, and tack about for heaven, to see the earthly man become heavenly, the carnal man be- come spiritual, the proud man become humble, the vain man become serious, to see a sinner move contrary to himself in the ways of Christ and holiness, is as strange as to see the earth fly upward, or the bowl run contrary to its own bias ; and yet a divine power of God upon the soul can effect it ; and this must be effected before the sinner will be graciously inclined and sincerely disposed to closet prayer. And let thus much suffice by way of answer to this objection also.
Now, for the better management of this great duty, viz., closet prayer, I beseech you take my advice and counsel in these eleven follow- ing particulars.
(1.) First, Be frequent in closet prayer, and not now and then only. He will never make any yearnings of closet prayer, that is not frequent in closet prayer. Now, that this counsel may stick, consider,
[1.] First, Other eminent servants of the Lord have been frequent i/n this blessed work : Neh. i. 6, ' Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee, day and night.' So Daniel, he kneeled upon his knees three times a-day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before-time, Dan. vi. 10. So David, 'My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, and in the evening will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up/ Ps. V. 3. So. Ps. Ixxxviii. 1 3, ' But unto thee have I cried, 0 Lord ; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.' So. Ps. cxix. 147, * I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried unto the Lord.' So Ps. Iv. 17, 'Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry alofld.' Yea, he was vir orationis for his frequency in it. Ps. cix. 4, ' For my love they are my adversaries : but I give myself
Mat. VI. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 249*
unto prayer ;' or, as the Hebrew may be read, ' But I am a man of prayer.'
Of Garolus Magnus it was said, Garolus -plus cum, Deo quam homi- nibus loquitur, that he spake more with God than with men.
[2.] Secondly, Consider the blessed Scripture doth not only enjoin this duty, but it requires frequency in it also, Luke xviii. 1 ; 1 Thes. V. 17 ; Col. iv. 2. In the former part of this discourse, I have given light into these scriptures ; and therefore the bare citing of them must now suffice.
[3.] Thirdly, Christ was frequent in private prayer, as you may easily see by com,paring of these scriptures together, Mark i. 35 ; Mat. xiv, 23 ; Luke xxii. 39 ; John xviil 2. In my second argument for private prayer you may see these scriptures opened and amplified. But,
[4.] Fourthly, Consider that you have the examples of the very worst of men in this ca^se. Papists are frequent in their private devotions. And the Mahomedans, what occasion soever they have, either by profit or pleasure, to divert them, will yet pray five times every day. Yea, the very heathens sacrificed to Hercules morning and evening upon the great altar at Rome. Now, shall blind nature do more than grace ? But,
[5.] Fifthly, Consider you cannot have too frequent- communion with God, you cannot have too frequent intercourse with Jesus, you cannot have your hearts too frequently filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and with that peace that parses understanding, you cannot have heaven too frequently brought dbum into your hearts, nor you cannot have your hearts too frequently carried up to heaven ; and therefore you cannot be too frequent in closet prayer. But,
[6.] Sixthly, Consider that you are under frequent wants, and frequent sins, and frequent snares, and frequent temptations, and frequent allurements, and frequent trials, and frequent cares, and frequent fears, and frequent favours, 1 Peter v. 8, Job i. 7 ; and therefore you had need be frequent with God in your closets. But,
[7.] Seventhly, Consider you are the favourites of heaven, you are greatly beloved, you are highly honoured, you are exceedingly esteemed and valued in the court of the Most High ; and remember, that the petitions of many weak Christians, and of many benighted Christians, aiid of many tempted Christians, and of many clouded Christians, and of many staggering Chjristians, and of many doubting Christians, and of many bewildered Christians, and of many fainting Christians, &c., are put into your hands, for a quick and speedy despatch to the throne of grace ; so that you had need be frequent in your closets, and improve your interest in heaven, or else many of these poor hearts may be wronged, betrayed, and prejudiced by your neglect. Such as are favourites in princes' courts, if they are active, diligent, careful, and watchful, they may do much good for others, they may come as often as they please into their prince's presence, and with Queen Esther have for asking what they please, both for themselves and others, Esther vii. Oh what a world of good may such do for others that are God's favou- rites, if they would be but frequent with God in their closets !
0. sirs ! if you have not that love, that regard, that pity, that com- passion to your own souls, as you should have, yet, oh let not others
250 THE PEIVY KEY OF HEAVEN. [MAT. VI. 6.