2.  But  it  is  not  only,  the  having  an  eye  to  the  praise  of
men,  which  cuts  us  off  from  any  reward  in  heaven  j  which
leaves  us  no  room  to  expect  the  blessing  of  God  upon  our
works  whether  of  piety  or  mercy.     Purity  of  intention  is


96

equally  destroyed  by  a  view  to  raiy  temporal  reward  wTiat-
f  ver.  If  we  rtpc-at  ovir  prayers,  if  we  attend  the  public  wor-
ship of  God,  if  we  relieve  the  poor,  with  a  view  to  gun  or
interest,  it  is  not  a  whit  more  acceptable  to  God,  than  if  it
were  done  with  a  view  to  praise.  Any  temporal  view,  any
rnotive  whatever  on  this  side  eternity,  any  design  but  that
cf  promoting  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  happiness  of  men^
for  God's  sake,  makes  every  action,  however  fair  it  may  ap-
pear to  men,  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord.
3.  But  when  thou  pra^est  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when
thou  hast  shut  the  door,  pray  to  thy  father  which  is  in  se-
cret. There  is  a  time  when  thou  art  openly  to  glorify  God,
to  pray  and  praise  him  in  the  great  congregation.  But
when  thou  desirest  more  largely  and  more  particular!',*  to
make  thy  requests  known  unto  God,  whether  it  be  in  the  e-
vening  or  in  the  moining,  or  at  noon-day,  enter  into  thy
closet  and  shut  the  door.  Use  all  the  privacy  thou  canst.
