The Secret Key to Heaven

The Vital Importance of Private Prayer

Author

Thomas Brooks

Category Christian Living, Puritan Paperback Specials, Puritan Paperbacks

Series Puritan Paperbacks

The Secret Key to Heaven by Thomas Brooks

Look Inside Price

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

Review by Paul E. Brown

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

Testimonials

Submit your testimonial

will.bassett – December 15, 2016

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 – July 20, 2019

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 – December 12, 2020

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.