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We’re learning about private prayer from the writings of the puritan pastor Thomas Brooks. He begins his teaching with:

Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) — 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

“THESE words of our Saviour are plain, and to be taken literally, and not allegorically, for he speaketh of shutting the door of the chamber. In this chapter there is a manifest opposition between the Pharisees praying in the synagogues and corners of the streets, and others praying in secret.

In the text you have a positive precept for every Christian to pray alone: ‘But thou, when thou prayest.’ He saith not, when you pray, but thou, ‘when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,’ &c., as speaking not so much of a joint duty of many praying together, as of a duty which each person is to do alone. The command in the text senalds us as well to the closet as to the church; and he is a hypocrite in grain that chooses the one and neglects the other; for thereby he tells the world he cares for neither, he makes conscience of neither.”

That last line from Brooks has a sharp point on it, does it not? We love prayers in our church services and churchy circles, but where is the time spent alone with the Father? Jesus does bring out the two types of praying–with others and alone. Can we love one, practice one, partake of one and neglect the other and not be the hypocrite Jesus refers to in Matthew 6:5?  I’ll leave that for you to contemplate.

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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 162). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.

There is public prayer and private prayer. We’re going to school on the subject of private prayer. Matthew 6:6. The puritan pastor, Thomas Brooks, is the instructor.

For those readers who enjoy a little history, Brooks’ work titled: “The Privy Key of Heaven,” was first published during the awful Plague of London in 1665. It seems like an odd piece of trivia, but most trivia is odd to me. Yet in such a time of suffering; when many people are wondering where God is during a time of horrible death, is the time for a nation to be reminded of prayer.  The timing was no accident or coincident, for the providential hand of God published this writing of prayer in “such a time as this.”

Thomas Brooks begins his lessons on prayer with “the grounds and reasons of sending forth this little piece into the world, especially in such a day as this is.” He gives us eight reasons, and all of them are as applicable today as they were in London in 1665.

His 17th Century English is a bit old and a bit odd for some of readers. I hope it doesn’t cause anyone to miss the treasures within his words.

Here are Thomas Brooks’ reasons for writing on private prayer:

First, Because God by his present dispensations calls more loudly for closet prayer now, than he hath done in those last twenty years that are now passed over our heads.

Secondly, Because I have several reasons to fear that many Christians do not clearly nor fully understand the necessity, excellency, and usefulness of this subject, and that many, oh that I could not say any, live in too great a neglect of this indispensable duty, and that more than a few, for want of light, err in the very practice of it.

Thirdly, For the refreshing, support, and encouragement of all those churches of Christ that walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, &c., especially that particular church to whom I stand related.

Fourthly, To preserve and keep up the power of religion and godliness both in men’s houses, hearts, and lives. The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet prayer lives, thrives, or dies. Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their closets, &c.

Fifthly, Because closet prayer is a most sovereign remedy, a most precious antidote of God’s own prescribing, against the plague that now rageth in the midst of us, 1 Kings 8:37–39, &c.

Sixthly, Because every man is that really which he is secretly. Never tell me, how handsomely, how neatly,2 how bravely, this or that man acts his part before others; but tell me, if thou canst, how he acts his part before God in his closet; for the man is that certainly, that he is secretly. There are many that sweat upon the stage that are key-cold3 in their closets.

Seventhly, Though many worthies have done worthily upon all other parts of prayer, yet there are none either of a former or later date, that have fallen under my eye, that have written any treatise on this subject. I have not a little wondered that so many eminent writers should pass over this great and princely duty of closet-prayer, either with a few brief touches, or else in a very great silence. If several Bodies of Divinity are consulted, you will find that all they say clearly and distinctly as to closet-prayer, may be brought into a very narrow compass, if not into a nut-shell. I have also inquired of several old disciples, whether among all the thousand sermons that they have heard in their days, that ever they have heard one sermon on closet-prayer? and they have answered, No. I have also inquired of them, whether ever they had read any treatise on that subject? and they have answered, No. And truly this hath been no small encouragement to me, to make an offer of my mite; and if this small attempt of mine shall be so blessed, as to provoke others that have better heads, and hearts, and hands, than any I have, to do Christ and his people more service, in the handling of this choice point in a more copious way than what I have been able to reach unto, I shall therein rejoice.

Eighthly, and lastly, That favour, that good acceptance and fair quarter that my other poor labours have found, not only in this nation, but in other countries also, hath put me upon putting pen to paper once more; and I hope that the good will of him that ‘dwelt in the bush,’ will rest upon this, as it hath to the glory of free grace rested upon my former endeavours. I could add other reasons, but let these suffice.

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Excerpts from :  The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 162). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.

This book is available through the Faithlife Logos library.

If you have followed my blog for even a short period, the main focus is pretty obvious. No, cats in funny costumes aren’t in play here.  It’s prayer, specifically private prayer.  The same goes for my two books–no cats, but a lot about prayer. Okay, I’ll move one.

There is a tendency for some to conclude that if a person writes a lot about one subject that he or she is an expert on that subject. Sorry to disappoint you, but that is not necessarily true. I am not the spiritual giant the title of this blog is referring to. I’m not a super-duper prayer guru. I don’t have some esoteric key to prayer. I am not one of those so-called sages who claims to grasp the mysteries and depths of communion with the Almighty. Nope. I am a saint by the blood of Jesus Christ who seeks to know God intimately, commune with Him privately, and seek His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Since He has invited us to do this, that is, to get away from everything and be alone with Him in secret, holy communion, then why wouldn’t I grab my Bible and find a place of solitude? Really, why wouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t you?

I do write a lot about prayer because it is one of my favorite subjects. Another reason is because I have grown closer to God through the exercise of prayer, and I want others to discover the treasures of private prayer with the Holy Trinity.  An un-footnoted-footnote (I’m pretty sure I just invented that noun. Should I try to copy-write that phrase?) is that there are many other reasons why I LOVE sharing what I learn about prayer. We all love sharing what we’re most passionate about. Besides homemade cookies, I’m passionate about prayer, especially private prayer. We  have a personal invite from Jesus to one-on-one communion with God (Matthew 6:6). I’m going for it.

My favorite teacher on this subject is the puritan pastor, Thomas Brooks. He is a spiritual giant. His writings on private prayer have been manna from heaven to me. I want to share this manna with you. So, beginning with this post I’m starting a series of posts from his writing: “The Privy Key of Heaven; or, A Discourse of Closet Prayer.”  This writing is found in Vol.2 of “The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks.”  It was first published in 1866. I cannot understate the richness of his insight into private prayer. He not only teaches, he motivates, and he brings conviction. He’s doing all of this while exalting God and humbling the reader. Oh, be prepared to be humbled. And be ready to grow. Really, be prepared.

I’ll post quotes and sections from his writing that have grabbed my heart. You can drink them in, or as Jason Duff, pastor of The Garden Fellowship in Bermuda Dunes, California, exhorts, “Think it through and pray it in.” Let the teachings of this spiritual giant guide you in the Scriptures and in wisdom to the heart of God.

I’ll end this post with Pastor Brooks’ introductory words to his readers:

“The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet prayer lives, thrives, or dies. Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their closets, …”

Definitely think that through and pray it in.