The Secret Key to Heaven
The Vital Importance of Private Prayer
500 in stock
| Weight | 0.58 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.13 × 4.75 × 0.7 in |
| ISBN | 9781848719996 |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Topic | Prayer, Spiritual Growth |
| Original Pub Date | 1665 |
| Banner Pub Date | May 27, 2022 |
| Page Count | 304 |
| Scripture | Matthew |
| Format | Book |
| Series | Puritan Paperbacks |
Book Description
‘The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet prayer lives, thrives, or dies.’ This was the deeply held conviction of Thomas Brooks. As a pastor who knew his people well, he feared that many Christians did not understand the ‘necessity, excellency, and usefulness’ of private prayer, and that many lived in ‘too great a neglect of this indispensable duty.’
Focusing on our Lord’s words about ‘closet prayer’ in Matthew 6:6, Brooks supplies us with a masterful treatment of a vitally important aspect of the Christian’s life. His aim is intensely practical: ‘to preserve and keep up the power of religion and godliness both in men’s houses, hearts, and lives.’
Review
Table of Contents Expand ↓
| Publisher's Note | xi | |
| Author's Preface | xiii | |
| PART ONE | ||
| The Doctrine of the Text (Matt. 6:6) Stated and Proved | 1 | |
| PART TWO | ||
| Twenty Arguments for Private Prayer | ||
| 1: | The Most Eminent Saints Engaged in Private Prayer | 7 |
| 2: | Christ Engaged in Secret Prayer | 13 |
| 3: | Secret Prayer Distinguishes Sincerity from Hypocrisy | 18 |
| 4: | Secret Prayer Lets Us Unbosom Ourselves before God | 20 |
| 5: | Secret Duties Shall Have Open Rewards | 23 |
| 6: | God Most Manifests Himself in Secret | 24 |
| 7: | This Life Is the Only Time for Private Prayer | 31 |
| 8: | Private Prayer's Prevailing Power | 31 |
| 9: | Private Prayer Is the Most Soul-Enriching of Duties | 44 |
| 10: | Secret Prayer and Secret Sins | 46 |
| 11: | Secret Prayer Delights Christ | 47 |
| 12: | Only Believers Share God's Secrets | 48 |
| 13: | Private Prayer Is the Christian's Refuge in Trouble | 58 |
| 14: | God Is Omnipresent | 61 |
| 15: | If We Neglect Private Prayer, God Will Not Hear Our Public Prayers | 64 |
| 16: | The Times Call for Private Prayer | 66 |
| 17: | Those Near to the Lord Should Engage in Secret Prayer | 68 |
| 18: | Special Marks of God's Favour | 71 |
| 19: | Satan's Enmity to Secret Prayer | 72 |
| 20: | The Lord's Secret Ones Should Engage in Secret Prayer | 75 |
| PART THREE | ||
| The Use and Application of the Doctrine | ||
| The Doctrine Condemns Five Ways in Which Private Prayer Is Neglected | 79 | |
| The Doctrine Exhorts Us to Be Frequent and Constant in Private Prayer | 85 | |
| PART FOUR | ||
| Six Objections Stated and Answered | ||
| 1: | We Are Too Busy to Spare Time for Private Prayer | 87 |
| 2: | As Servants, We Have No Time That We Can Call Our Own | 104 |
| 3: | We Lack the Necessary Gifts and Abilities for Private Prayer | 127 |
| 4: | God Knows Our Desires and Needs Whether We Pray in Private or Not | 156 |
| 5: | We Lack a Convenient Place for Private Prayer | 159 |
| 6: | Our Weaknesses and Infirmities Hinder Us from Private Prayer | 161 |
| PART FIVE | ||
| Eleven Instructions concerning Private Prayer | ||
| 1: | Be Frequent in Private Prayer | 183 |
| 2: | Use the Best Times and Opportunities | 188 |
| 3: | Do Not Perform Closet Duties Merely to Still Your Conscience | 191 |
| 4: | Do Not Trust in Closet Duties | 193 |
| 5: | Put Your Heart into All Closet Duties | 197 |
| 6: | Be Fervent, Warm, and Importunate with God in All Closet Duties | 201 |
| 7: | Be Constant and Persevering in Closet Prayer | 208 |
| 8: | Thirst and Long after Communion with God in Private Prayer | 212 |
| 9: | Make the Glory of God Your Ultimate End | 233 |
| 10: | Always Pray in the Name of Christ Alone | 235 |
| 11: | Look for Answers to Your Closet Prayers | 239 |
| PART SIX | ||
| Means, Rules, and Directions for Faithful Private Prayer | ||
| 1: | Beware of an Idle, Slothful Spirit | 243 |
| 2: | Beware of Spending Precious Time on Small, Circumstantial Matters | 248 |
| 3: | Beware of Curious Questions | 249 |
| 4: | Beware of Engaging in Too Much Worldly Business | 254 |
| 5: | Beware of Secret Sins | 256 |
| Closing Advice | ||
| 1: | Mourn over Neglect of Private Prayer | 273 |
| 2: | Cultivate the Habit of Closet Prayer | 274 |
| 3: | Keep a Diary of Closet Mercies | 274 |
| 4: | Do Not Let Public Duties and Ordinances Crowd Out Private Prayer | 277 |
| 5: | Love Christ with a More Inflamed Love | 278 |
| 6: | Be Thoroughly Resolved in the Strength of Christ to Persevere in Closet Prayer | 280 |
| 7: | Strive for a Greater Measure of the Spirit | 282 |
| 8: | Be Frequent in the Serious Consideration of Eternity | 284 |
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will.bassett –
Life changing book, truly showed me the power and sweet obligation of private prayer. Prayer is the fuel of the church and the oxygen of the believer, and it is something that has gone missing in the western Church.
Beautifully and poetically written while being saturated in scripture and the supremacy of God.
Brooks is potentially the easiest puritan to read (in my opinion) and I can’t recommend this book enough. It is a personal treasure and has meant a lot to me since i read it.
Highly recommended.
Robert Norman –
Wonderful work of Brooks. If you feel that your prayer life needs strengthening, then turn to this book and you will be blessed, challenged and encouraged.
Benjamin Campbell –
This book is humbling and should be read by all Christians. I must emphasize this: read it, if for the only reason that the duty of secret prayer will end when the Christian enters heaven. This book will spur you on to pray more in your closet than anywhere else.