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The Privy Key of Heaven · Thomas Brooks

The Privy Key of Heaven, Index

A TABLE Containing The Chief Heads of this BOOK.

Of Afflictions.
THat Afflictions refemble a Rod in Seven Particulars, you may ſee in the Epiſtle Dedicatory.
Of Allegories.
Of Allegories,p. 1. to 19.
Of the Blood of Chriſt.
That the leaſt drop of Chriſts Blood was not ſ…fficient for the redemption of our Souls, is made good by five Arguments,p. 303, 304, 305.
C
Doct. That Cloſet-Prayer (or private prayer) is an indiſpenſable duty, that Chriſt himſelf hath laid upon all, that are not willing to lye under the woful brand of being Hypocrites,p. 6.
Five Arguments to prove Cloſet-Prayer to be a Duty,p. 6. to p. 8.
The moſt eminent Saint in all Ages have applied themſelves to Cloſet-Prayer,p. 8, to p. 19.
We may more freely, fully, and ſafely, unboſome our ſouls to God in our Cloſets, than we can in the preſence of many or a few,p. 30, to p. 34.
Chriſtians enjoy moſt of God in their Cloſets,p. 36, to p. 46.
The time of this life is our only time for Cloſet-Prayer,p. 46, 47.
The prevalency of Cloſet-Prayer,p. 47. to p. 67.
See Secret.
Rules to be obſerved in Cloſet-Prayer.
Firſt, Be frequent in Cloſet-Prayer, and that upon eight grounds,p. 297, to p. 30….
Secondly, Take fit ſeaſons and opp…rtu…ities for Cloſet Prayer. Three unfit ſeaſons for Cloſet Prayer are hinted at,p. 305. to 311.
Thirdly, Look that you do not perform Cloſet-Duties▪ meerly to ſtill your Conſciences,p. 312, to p. 315.
Fourthly, Take heed of reſting upon Cloſet-Duties,p. 315, to p. 322.
Fifthly, Labour to bring your hearts into all your Cloſet-Prayers,p. 322, to p. 328.
Sixthly, Be ſervent, be warm, be importunate with God in all your Cloſet-performances,p. 328. to p. 339.
Seventhly, Be conſtant in Cloſet-Prayer, hold on, and hold out in Cloſet-prayer,p. 339 to p. 347.
Eighthly, In all your Cloſet Prayers, thirſt and long after Communion with God,p. 347, to p. 384.
Ninthly, In all your Cloſet-Duties, look that your ends be right,p. 384, to p. 387.
Tenthly, Be ſure that you offer all your Cloſet-Prayers in Chriſt's name, and his alone,p. 387, to p. 393.
Eleventhly, When you come out of your Cloſets narrowly watch what becomes of your Cloſet-Prayers.p. 393, to p. 399.
Of Chriſt.
Chriſt was much in Secret Prayer,p. 19, to 24.
Six Arguments why Chriſt was ſo much in Secret Prayer,p. 24, to p. 27.
Chriſt was very much affected, and delighted in the Secret Prayers of his people,p. 73, to p. 75.
What a friend Chriſt is, ſhewed in Ten particulars,p. 76, 77, 78.
Of Combates.
The Combate between the Allmigh- and Jacob, opened in Six particulars,p. 49, to p. 58.
Of Communion with God.
Queſt. How ſhall a man know when he hath real Communion with God in his Cloſet, or no? Anſwered eight wayes,p. 352, to p. 384.
Six Arguments to prove that all Chriſtians do not enjoy a like Communion with God in their Cloſets,p. 356, to p. 363.
Of Curioſity.
Curioſity is a very great hinderance to Cloſet-prayer,p. 410, to p. 418.
E
Of Examples.
We are bound to follow the best Examples,p. 16, to p. 19.
Chriſt's Example is for our imitation,p. 22, 23.
Of Eternity.
As ever you would keep cloſe to Cloſet-Prayer, be frequent in the conſideration of Eternity,p. 470, to the end.
Of Experiences.
He that would keep cloſe to Cloſet-Duties, muſt keep a diary of his Cloſet-Experiences,p. 453, to p. 457.
F
Of a Friend, or Friends.
VVhat a Friend Chriſt is, ſhewed in Ten particulars,p. 76, 77, 78.
H
Of Hypocrites.
No Hypocrites make ſecret Prayer their ordinary trade or work.p. 27. to p. 30.
I
Of Idleneſs.
Idleneſs is a very great hinderance to Cloſet-Prayer; and therefore take heed of it,p. 400, to p. 408.
L
Of Love.
He that would be much with God in his Cloſet, muſt labour to Love Chriſt with a more enflamed Love,p. 460, 461, 462.
M
Eight ſpecial Meanes to help on that great Duty of Cloſet-Prayer,from p. 451, to the end of the Book.
N
Of Neglecting Prayer.
He that willingly Neglects private Prayer, ſhall certainly be neglected in his Publick prayer,p. 100, to p. 103.
O
Objections.
Object. 1. We have much buſineſs upon our hands, and we cannot ſpare time for Cloſet-Prayer, &c. Eight Anſwers are given to this Objection, that it might never more have a reſurrection,p. 134, to p. 162.
Object. 2. Sir, We grant that Cloſet-Prayer is an indiſpenſable Duty that lyes upon the People of God, but we are ſervants and have no time that we can call our own; and our Maſters buſineſſe is ſuch as will not allow us any time for private Prayer; and therefore we hope we may be excuſed.
Ten Anſwers are given to this Objection,from p. 162. to p. 202.
Object. 3. O but we cannot pray alone, we want thoſe gifts and endowments, which others have, we are ſhut up, and know not how to pour out our ſouls before God in a corner.
Six Anſwers are given to this Objection,from p. 202, to p. 251.
Object. 4. God is very well acquainted with all our wants, neceſſities, ſtraits, and tryals, and there is no moving of him to beſtow any favours upon us, which he doth not intend to beſtow upon us, whether we pray in our Cloſets, or no.
Four Anſwers are given to this Objection,p. 251, to p. 257.
Object. 5. I would drive a private trade wtth God,: I would exerciſe my ſelf in ſecret Prayer; but I want a convenient place to retire into; I want a private corner to unboſome my Soul to my Father in.
Three Anſwers are given to this Objection,p. 257, to p. 261.
Object. 6. VVe would be often in private with God; we would give our ſelves up to Cloſet-Prayer; but that we can no ſooner ſhut our Cloſet-doores, bu… a multitude of infirmities, weakneſſes, and vanities, doe face us, and riſe up againſt us; beſi…es both our bodies and ſouls are under great indiſpoſitions; and how then can we ſeek the face of God in a corner.
Six Anſwers are given to this Objection,from p. 261, to p. 297.
Of Gods Omnipreſence.
God is Omnipreſent,p. 96, to p. 100.
O… Prayer.
Firſt Such are reproved, that put off Private Prayer till they are moved to it by the Spirit,p. 123, 124, 125.
Secondly, Such that pray not at all, neither in their families, nor in their Cloſets,p. 125, 126, 127
Thirdly, Such as are all for publick Prayer, for going up to the Temple, but never care to go into their Cloſets,p. 127, 128.
Fourthly, Such who in their Cloſets, pray with a loud and clamorous voice,p. 128, 129.
(Five Arguments to redreſſe this evil,p. 130, 131, 132)
Fifthly, Such are reproved, that do all they can to hinder and diſcourage others from Private Prayer,p. 232, 133.
Of the Promiſes.
Eight conſiderable hints about the Promiſes,p. 207, 208, 209.
R
Of the Rod.
In ſeven particulars Afflictions reſemble a Rod, in the Epiſtle Dedicary.
Twenty ſpecial Leſſons we are to learn by the Rod, in the Epiſtle Dedicatory.
Of Rewards.
Secret Duties ſhall have open Rewards,p. 34, 35.
Of Reſolutions.
He that would be much in his Cloſet, he muſt be a man of high, through, and fitted Reſolutions,p. 462, 463, 464, 465.
S
Of the Spirit.
Seven Arguments to prove that all the Children of God have the Spirit of God,p. 216, to p. 228.
He that would keep cloſe to Cloſet-Duties, had need labour for a greater effuſion of the Spirit,p. 466, to p. 470.
Of the Spirits Sealing.
Ten ſpecial Sealing times of the Spirit,p. 228, to p. 249.
Of Secret Prayer.
Secret Prayer is moſt enriching,p. 67, to p. 70.
Secret Prayer is a Chriſtians meat and drink; it is his chief City of refuge in times of Affliction and Perſecution,p. 91, to p. 96.
Our neer and dear relations to God calls aloud for Secret Prayer,p. 107, to p. 111.
God hath ſet a ſpecial mark of favour and honour upon thoſe that have Prayed in Secret,p. 111, to p. 113.
Satan is a great enemy to Secret Prayer,p. 113, to p. 116.
Five things we may infer from thence,p. 116, 117.
See Cloſet-Prayer.
Of Secret Sins.
All Chriſtians have their Secret Sins,p. 70, to p. 73.
Four Arguments to take heed of Secret Sins,p. 421, to p. 451.
Of Secrets.
God reveales his Secrets only to his People,p. 75, to p. 78.
There are three ſorts of divine Secrets that God reveals to his People,p. 78, to p. 91.
Of Gods Secret ones.
The Saints are only the Lords Secret ones,p. 117, to p. 123.
T
The Text opened,p. 1, to p. 6.
Of the Times, and of Time.
The times wherein we live, calls aloud for Secret Prayer,p. 103, to p. 107.
We muſt take heed of ſpending too much of our precious Time about the little things of Religion,p. 408, 409, 410.
About Redeeming of Time.
Five Reaſons why Servants ſhould Redeem Time for Private Prayer, from their ſleep, recreations or ſet meals, &c.p. 185, to p. 193.
W
Of the World.
A man that would exerciſe himſelf in Cloſet-Prayer, muſt take heed of engaging himſelf in a crowd of Worldly buſineſſes,p. 418, to p. 421.

FINIS.

End of the text · Thomas Brooks, The Privy Key of Heaven (1665)