The Secret Key to Heaven

The Vital Importance of Private Prayer

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.’

‘Every man is that really which he is secretly’’

Thomas Brooks’ Secret Key to Heaven is a manifesto for private prayer. Brooks outlines its necessity, benefits, common objections and distractions which hinder our progress in it, and encouragement and guidance for it. In a treatmeant of private prayer, Brooks enables us to see the essential character of the Christian life itself : God-centred, God-dependent, focused, and fruitful.

‘The mere marginal notes of Brooks are more valuable than pages of ordinary writers… Of all the Puritans he is the most readable.’ – C. H. SPURGEON