A29703:641
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.
Eighthly and lastly, When a man finds such a secret virtue and power running through his Closet-duties, as wounds and weakens his beloved corruption, as breaks the strength and the power of his special sin, as sets his heart more fully, resolutely, and constantly against his darling lust, as stirs up a greater rage, and a more bitter hatred, and a more fierce indignation against the Toad in the bosom, then certainly he hath had communion with God in his Closet-duties. Consult these Scriptures, Isa. 2. 20. In that day, a man shall cast his Idols of Silver, and his Idols of Gold, which they have made, each one for himself to worship, to the Moles and to the Bats. In the day wherein God should take these poor hearts 1into communion with himself, their hearts should be filled with such rage and indignation against ⟨p. 378⟩their most delectable and desirable Idols, that they should take not only those made of trees and stones, but even their most precious and costly Idols, those that were made of Silver and Gold, and cast them to the moles and to the bats, to note their horrible hatred, and indignation against them. Idolatry was the darling sin of the Jews; their hearts were so exceedingly affected and delighted with their Idols, that they did not care what they spent upon them, Isa. 46. 6. They lavish Gold out of the bag, and weigh Silver in the balance, and hire a Goldsmith, and he maketh it a God; they fall down, yea, they worship. The word here used for lavish, in the Hebrew signifies properly to wast, or spend riotously; they set so light by their treasure, that they cared not what they spent upon their Idols: God gave them Gold and Silver, as pledges of his favour and bounty, and they lavish it out upon their Idols, as if God had hired them to be wicked: O but ⟨p. 379⟩when God should come and take these poor wretches into a close and near communion with himself, then you shall find their wrath and rage to rise against their Idols, as you may see in that Isa. 30. vers. 19, 20, 21. Their communion with God is more than hinted; but mark, verse 22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of Silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of Gold; thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth, thou shalt say unto it, get thee hence. None defile, deface, detest, and disgrace their Idols, like those that are taken into communion with God.