A29703:491
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.
and ⟨p. 249⟩by his tuning the Strings of our affections, he prepares us and fits us for the work of Supplication: And therefore every one that derides the Spirit of prayer in the Saints (saying these are the men and the women that pray by the Spirit) blaspheme against the holy Spirit; it being a main work of the Spirit to teach the Saints to pray, and to help them in prayer. Now all the Saints having the Spirit, and the Spirit being a Spirit of prayer and supplication, there is no reason in the world why a Saint should say, I would pray in secret, but I can't pray, I can't pour out my soul, nor my complaint before the Lord in a corner.
Sixthly and lastly, Thou sayest thou canst not pray, thou hast not the gifts and parts which others have: But thou canst manage thy callings thy worldly business as well as others; and why then canst thou not pray as well as others? Ah friends, did you but love private prayer as well as you love the ⟨p. 250⟩world, and delight in private prayer as much as you delight in the world, and were your hearts as much set upon closet prayer as they are set upon the world, you would never say you could not pray, yea, you would quickly pray as well as others; 'tis not so much from want of ability to pray in secret, that you don't pray in secret; as 'tis from want of a will, a heart to pray in secret, that you don't pray in secret. Jacobs love to Rachel, and Shechem's love to Dinah, carried 1them through the greatest difficulties. Were mens affections but strongly set upon private prayer, they would quickly find abilities to pray. He that sets his affections upon a Virgin (though he be not learned nor eloquent) will find words enough to let her know how his heart is taken with her. The application is easy. He in Seneca complained of a Thorn in his foot, when his Lungs was rotten. So many complain of want of ability to pray in their closets, when ⟨p. 251⟩