A29703:411
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, I answer, Beg of God to teach thee to pray. O beg the holy spirit that is a spirit of prayer. God hath promised his holy spirit to them that ask it, Luk. 11. 13. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him? Ezek. 36. 26, 27. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes; and ye shall keep my judgements, ⟨p. 205⟩and do them. Ezek. 11. 19. And I will give them one heart, & I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication. Now Gracious promises are Gods bonds, and he loves to see his people put them in suit. God expects 1that we should be his Remembrancers, and that we should pray over his promises. When he had promised great things to his people concerning Justification, Sanctification & Preservation, he subjoins, Yet, I will for this be enquired of by 2the house of Israel to do it. God looks that we should spread his gracious promises before him, as Hezekiah 3did Sennacherib's letter. God is never better pleased than when his people importune him in his own words and urge him with arguments taken from his own promises. Though God be a very affectionate father, and a very liberal father, ⟨p. 206⟩yet he is not a prodigal father, for he will never throw away his mercies on such as will not stoutly and humbly plead out his promises with him. God loves to take state upon him, and will be sought unto, both for his giving in of mercies, and for his making good of precious promises. Thou sayest thou canst not pray; why canst thou not go into a corner, and spread the Promises last cited before the Lord, and tell him how much it concerns his honour & glory as well as thy own internal & eternal good, to make good those gracious promises that he hath made concerning his giving of his Spirit to them that ask him, and his putting his Spirit within them, and his pouring out a Spirit of grace and supplication upon them.