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…

Sixthly, I answer, Closet prayer is either a duty, or 'tis no duty. Now that 'tis a duty, I have so strongly proved, I suppose, that no man nor devil, can fairly or honestly deny it to be a duty. And therefore why do men cry out of their great business? alas duty must ⟨p. 149⟩be done, what ever business is left undone; duty must must be done, or the man that neglects it, will be undone for ever. 'Tis a vain thing to object business, when a required duty is to be performed; and indeed, if the bare objecting of business, of much business, were enough to excuse men from duty, I am afraid that there are but few duties of the Gospel, but men would endeavour to evade, under a pretence of business, of much business. He that pretends business to evade private prayer, will be as ready to pretend business to evade family prayer; and he that pretends business to evade family prayer, will be as ready to pretend business to evade public prayer. Well sirs, remember what became of those that excused themselves out of heaven, by their carnal Apologies, & secular businesses. I have bought a piece of ground, and I ¹must needs go and see it; I pray thee, have me excused, saith one. I have bought (saith another) five yoke of Oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee ⟨p. 150⟩have me excused. And, I have married a Wife, saith another, and therefore I cannot come. The true reason, why they would not come to the supper that the King of Kings had invited them to, was not because they had bought Farms and Oxen, but because their Farms and Oxen had bought them. The things of the world and their carnal relations had taken up so much room in their hearts and affections, that they had no stomach to heavens dainties; and therefore it is observable, what Christ adds at the end of the parable, He that hateth not his Father, and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Brethren, and Sisters, ²yea, and his own Life also, much more his Farm and his Oxen, he cannot be my disciple. By these words 'tis evident, that 'twas not simply the Farm nor the Oxen, nor the Wife; but a foolish, inordinate, carnal love, and esteem of these things above better and greater blessings, that made them refuse the gracious invitation of Christ. They refused ⟨p. 151⟩