A29703:592
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.
My sixth advice and counsel is this, Be fervent, be warm, be importunate with God in all your Closet-duties and performances. ⟨p. 329⟩James 5. 17. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much; or as the Greek hath it, the working prayer; that is, such working 1prayer as sets the whole man on work, as sets all the faculties of the soul, and all the graces in the 2soul at work; the word signifies such a working as notes the liveliest activity that can be. Certainly all those usual phrases, of crying, wrestling and striving with God, which are scattered up and down in Scripture, do strongly argue that holy importunity, and sacred violence that the Saints of old have expressed in their addresses to God. Fervency feathers the wings of prayer, and makes them fly the swifter to Heaven. An Arrow if it be drawn up but a little way, flies not far; but if it be drawn up to the head, it will fly far, and pierce deeply: So fervent 3prayer flies as high as Heaven, and will certainly bring down blessings from thence. Cold prayers bespeak a denial, but fervent ⟨p. 330⟩prayers offer a sacred violence both to heaven and earth. Look as in a painted fire there is no heat; so in a cold prayer there is no heat, no warmth, no omnipotency, no devotion, no blessing. Cold prayers are like Arrows without heads, as swords without edges, as Birds without wings, they pierce not, they cut not, they fly not up to heaven. Such prayers as have no heavenly fire in them, do always freeze before they reach as high as heaven: But fervent prayer is very prevalent with God, Acts 12. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing. The Greek word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies instant prayer, earnest prayer, stretched-out prayer, prayer stretched-out upon the tenters, as it were. These gracious souls did in prayer strain and stretch themselves, as men do that are running in a race; they prayed with all the strength of their souls, and with all the fervency of their spirits, and accordingly they carried the day