A29703:241
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…
The privy key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse on that subject with the resolution of several considerable questions : the main objections also against closet-prayer are here answered ... with twenty special lessons ... that we are to learn by that severe rod, the pestilence that now rageth in the midst of us / by Thomas Brooks.The privie key of heaven, or, Twenty arguments for closet-prayer in a select discourse on that subject with the resolution of several considerable questions : the main objections also against closet-prayer are here answered ... with twenty special lessons ... that we are to learn by that severe rod, the pestilence that now rageth in the midst of us / by Thomas Brooks.
London : Printed for and are to be sold by John Hancock, 1665
THE PRIVY KEY OF HEAVEN, Or, a Discourse of CLOSET-PRAYER. › Argument 8
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
See another instance of this in David, Psal. 6. 6, 8, 9. I am weary groanings: all the night make I my bed to swim: I water my couch with my tears. These are all excessive figurative speeches, to set forth the greatness of his sorrow and the multitude of his tears. David in his retirement makes the place of his sin (viz. his Bed) to be the place of his repentance. David sins privately upon his bed, and David mourns privately upon his bed. Every place which we have polluted by sin, we should sanctify and water with our tears, Vers. 8. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my ⟨p. 59⟩weeping. As blood hath a voice, and as the rod hath a voice, so tears have a voice, tears have tongues, and tears can speak. There is no noise to that that tears in secret make in the ears of God. A prudent & indulgent Father, can better pick out the wants and necessities of his Children by their secret tears than by their loud complaints, by their weeping than by their words; and do you think that God can't do as much. Tears are not always Mutes. Cry aloud (saith one) not with thy tongue, but with thy eyes; 1not with thy words, but with thy tears; for that is the prayer that maketh the most forcible entry into the ears of the great God of Heaven. Penitent tears are undeniable Ambassadors, that never return from the Throne of Grace, without a gracious answer. Tears are a kind of silent prayers, which though they say nothing, yet they obtain pardon; and though they plead not a mans cause, yet they obtain mercy at the hands of God. As you see in that great instance ⟨p. 60⟩of Peter, who though he said nothing (that we read of) yet, weeping bitterly, he obtained mercy. 2I have read of Augustine who coming as a Visitant to the house of a sick man, he saw the room full of friends and kindred, who were all silent, yet all weeping; the Wife sobbing, the Children sighing, the Kinsfolk lamenting, all mourning; whereupon Augustine uttered this short ejaculatory Prayer, Lord, What prayer dost thou hear if not these? Vers. 9. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. God sometimes answers his people before they pray,