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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
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.
Thirdly, Parents take no pleasure, they take no delight to use the Rod. Every lash the Father gives the ⟨image 9⟩Child, fetches blood from his own heart: The Father corrects the Child, and sighs over the Child; he whips the Child, and at the same time weeps over the Child. Nothing goes more against the Parents heart, nor against their hair, than the bringing of their Children under the Rod of Correction; 'Tis so here, Lament. 3. 3. For he doth not afflict willingly (or as the Hebrew runs, he doth not afflict, Millibbo, from his heart) nor grieve the Children of men. You often read, that he delights in mercy; but 1where do you once read, that he delights in severity, or in dealing roughly with his People? God very rarely takes 2up the Rod, but when our sins have put a force upon him. 'Tis grievous to God, to ⟨image 10⟩be a grieving his People; 'tis a pain unto him, to be a punishing of them, Hos. 11. 8. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. My Justice, saith God, calls upon me to rain Hell out of Heaven upon thee, as once I did upon Sodom and Gomorrah; but then Mercy interposeth her four several hows, how, how, how, how, how shall I give thee up? God puts these four pathetical interrogations to himself, because none else in Heaven or Earth could answer them. The Prophet brings in God speaking after the manner of men, who being provoked a thousand thousand ways, by ⟨image 10⟩the vanities and follies of their Children, think to give them up to take their own courses, and to look no more after them; but then their bowels begin to work, and their hearts begin to melt, and they begin to interrogate themselves thus, How shall we give up these Children? for though they be disobedient Children, yet they are Children; how can we turn them out of doors? how can we disown them? how can we disinherit them? for though they are rebellious Children, yet they are Children, &c. Afflictions are called Gods work, yea, his strange work; his