The privy key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse…The privie key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse…

First, If any Prayer be a duty, then secret Prayer must needs be a duty; for secret Prayer is as much Prayer as any other Prayer is Prayer; and secret Prayer prepares and fits the soul for Family-Prayer, and for Public-Prayer. Secret-Prayer sweetly inclines, & strongly disposes a Christian to all other religious duties and services. Ergo. But,

First, If any Prayer be a duty, then secret Prayer must needs be a duty; for secret Prayer is as much Prayer as any other Prayer is Prayer; and secret Prayer prepares and fits the soul for Family-Prayer, and for Publick-Prayer. Secret-Prayer sweetly enclines, & strongly disposes a Christian to all other religious duties and services. Ergo. But,

Secondly, If Secret Prayer be not an indispensable duty that lies upon thee, by what authority doth Conscience so upbraid thee, and so accuse thee, and so condemn thee, and so terrify thee, as it often doth ⟨p. 7⟩for the neglect of this duty? But,

Secondly, If Secret Prayer be not an indispensible duty that lyes upon thee, by what authority doth Conscience so upbraid thee, and so accuse thee, and so condemn thee, and so terrifie thee, as it often doth ⟨p. 7⟩for the neglect of this duty? But,

Thirdly, Was it ever the way or method of God to promise again and again a reward, an open reward for that work or service which himself never commanded? Surely No. Now to this duty of Secret Prayer, the Lord hath again and again promised an open reward,