It is a great thing to be a closet-Christian, and to hold it; he must be a close-Christian that will be a closet-Christian.  When I say a close-Christian, I mean one that is so in the hidden part, and that also walks with God.  Many there be that profess Christ, who do oftener frequent the coffee-house than their closet; and that sooner in a morning run to make bargains, than to pray unto God and begin the day with him.  But for thee, who professest the name of Christ, do thou depart from all these things; do thou make conscience of reading and practising; do thou follow after righteousness; do thou make conscience of beginning the day with God.  For he that begins it not with him, will hardly end it with him; he that runs from God in the morning, will hardly find him at the close of the day; nor will he that begins with the world and the vanities thereof in the first place, be very capable of walking with God all the day after.  It is he that finds God in his closet, that will carry the savor of him into his house, his shop, and his more open conversation.  When Moses had been with God in the mount his face shone, he brought of that glory into the camp.  Exod. 34.

Formal prayer.

“Thy kingdom come; thy will be done.”  Wouldst thou have the kingdom of God come indeed, and also his will to be done in earth as it is in heaven?  Nay, notwithstanding thou sayest, “Thy kingdom come,” yet would it not make thee ready to run mad, to hear the trumpet sound, to see the dead arise, and thyself just now to go and appeal before God, to reckon for all the deeds thou hast done in the body?  Nay, are not the very thoughts of it altogether displeasing to thee?

And if God’s will should be done on earth as it is in heaven, must it not be thy ruin?  There is never a rebel against God in heaven; and if he should so deal on earth, must he not whirl thee down to hell?  And so of the rest of the petitions.

Ah, how sadly would even these men look, and with what terror would they walk up and down the world, if they did but know the lying and blaspheming that proceedeth out of their mouth, even in their most pretended sanctity!

The prayerless.

I tell thee who never prayest, the ravens shall rise up in judgment against thee; for they will, according to their kind, make signs and a noise for something to refresh them when they want it; but thou hast not the heart to ask for heaven, though thou must eternally perish in hell if thou hast it not.

XX.  FALSE PROFESSION.