Mat. VT. 6.] the privy key of heaven. 265
a friend to come in at the fore-door, and then he comes in at the back- door ; and at other times, when we look for him at the hack-door, then he comes in at the fore-door ; and just so it is with God's coming into his people's souls. Sometimes they go into their closets, and look that God will come in at the fore-door of joy and comfort, and then God comes in at the back-door of sorrow and grief ; and at other times, when they look that God should come in at the back-door of humiliation, breaking, and melting their hearts, then God comes in at the fore-door of joy and consolation, cheering and rejoicing their souls. But,
[2.] Secondly, I answer, That aU Christians do not enjoy a like com- munion with God in their closets. Some enjoy much communion with God in their closets, and others enjoy but little communion with God in their closets. Moses had a more clear, glorious, and constant com- munion with God in his days, than any others had in those times wherein he lived, Exod. xxxiii. 11 ; Deut. v. 4 ; Num. xii. 7, 8. God spake to none ' face to face,' as he did to Moses. And Abraham, Gen. xviii., in his time, had a more close, friendly, and intimate com- munion with God, than holy Lot, or any others had in that day. And though all the disciples, Judas excepted, had sweet communion with Christ in the days of his flesh, yet Peter, James, and John had a more clear, choice, and full communion with him than the rest had. Mat. xvii. 1-4. Among all the disciples John had most bosom-communion with Christ, he was the greatest favourite in Christ's court, he leaned on Christ's bosom, he could say anything to Christ, and he could know any- thing of Christ, and he could have anything of Christ, John xiii. 23, xx. 2, and xxi. 20. Now that all Christians do not enjoy communion with God alike in their closets, may be thus made evident ; —
First, All Chnstians do not prepare alike to enjoy closet-communion with God ; and therefore all Christians do not enjoy communion with God alike in their closets, Eccles. v. 1 ; Ps. x. 17. Commonly he that prepares and fits himself most for closet-communion with God, he is the man that enjoys most closet-communion with God, 2 Chron. xxx. 17-20.
Secondly, All Gho^stians do not alike prize communion with God in their closets. Some prize communion with God in their closets be- fore all and above all other things; as that noble marquis said, 'Cursed be he that prefers all the world to one hour's communion with God.'* They look upon it as that pearl of price, for the enjoyment of which they are ready to sell all and part v.'ith all ; others prize it at a lower rate, and so enjoy less of it than those that seta higher price and value upon it. Job xxiii. 12 ; I's. cxix. 127 ; Mat. xiii. 45, 46.
Thirdly, AU Christians do not alike press after com/munion with God in their closets. Some press after communion with God in their closets, as a condeinne<l man presses after a pardon, or as a close prisoner presses after enlargement, or as as a poor beggar presses after an alms, Ps. Ixxiii. 8, Isa. xxvi. 8, 9. Now, you know these press on with the greatest earnestness, the greatest fervency, and the greatest impor- tunity imaginable. But others pre.ss after communion with God in their closets more coldly, more carelessly, more slightly, more lazily : 'I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on ? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them ?' Cant. v. 3. Now, they that press hardest after communion » Galeacius Carracciolus. Cf. Sibbes, vol. i. pp. 289, 290.— G.
266 THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN, [MAT. VI. 6.
with God in their closets, they are usually blessed with the highest de- grees of closet-commuuion with God.
Fourthly, All Christians dont alike improve their communion with God in their closets ; and thei'efore all Christians don't enjoy com- munion with God alike in their closets. Some Christians do make a more wise, a more humble, a more holy, a more faithful, a more fruit- ful, and a more constant improvement of their closet-communion with God than others do; and therefore they are blessed with higher degrees of communion with God than others are. Some Christians do more improve their closet-communion with God against the world, the flesh, and the devil, than others do ; and therefore no wonder if they do enjoy more communion with God in their closets than others do.
Fifthly, All Christians do not alike need communion tvith God in their closets ; and therefore all Christians have not a like communion with God in their closets. All Christians have not a like place in the mystical body of Christ, 1 Cor. xii. 14, seq. ; some rule, and others are ruled. Now, every man stands in more or less need of communion with God, according to the place that he bears in the body of Christ. Again, all Christians have not alike burdens to bear, nor alike difficulties to encounter with, nor alike dangers to escape, nor alike temptations to wrestle with, nor alike passions and corruptions to mortify, nor alike mercies and experiences to improve, &c. ; and therefore all Christians don't need alike communion with God in their closets. Now, com- monly God lets himself out more or less in ways of communion, according as the various necessities and conditions of his people doth require.
^Sixthly and lastly, All Christians do not alike meet with outward interruptions, nor inward intei^uptions ; and therefore all Christians have not alike communion with God in their closets. Some Christians meet with a world of outward and inward interruptions more than others do ; some Christians' outward callings, relations, conditions, and stations, &c., do afford more plentiful matter and occasions, to interrupt them in their closet-communion with God, than other Christians' callings, relations, conditions, and stations do, &c. Besides, Satan is more busy with some Christians than he is with other Christians ; and corruptions work more strongly and violently in some Christians than they do in other Christians, &c.; and let me add this to all the rest, that the very natural tempers of some Christians are more averse to closet- duties than the natural tempers of other Christians are; and therefore all Christians have not alike communion with God in their closets, but some have more and some have less, according as God in his infinite wisdom sees best.