'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — October 1

Private prayer is the gate of heaven. O the great things that private prayer has done with God! O the great mercies that have been obtained! O the great threats that have been diverted! Private prayers pierce the heavens and are commonly blessed and loaded with gracious and glorious returns. Hezekiah prayed and wept in private, and his prayer was heard, and God added fifteen years to his life. Jacob prevailed and became a prince with God (Gen. 32:24-28) as he wrestled alone with his God by the ford Jabbok. Jacob was never less alone than when he was all alone. He flew to God that he might not fall before his brother Esau. In a storm there is no shelter like the wings of God. He is safest, happiest, and wisest that lays himself under divine protection. Jacob kept his hold and spoke boldly to the Lord's very face that he would not let him go unless he would bless him. O the power of private prayer! It has a kind of omnipotency in it; it takes God captive; it holds him as a prisoner; it binds the hands of the Almighty; yea, it will wring a mercy, a blessing, out of the hand of heaven itself. O the power of that prayer that makes a man victorious over the greatest, the highest power! Jacob was a worm that is easily crushed and trodden under foot, yet in private prayer he overcame the omnipotent God. As a prince, he overpowered the angel by that very power he had from the angel. The angel was freely and fully willing to be conquered by Jacob, as Jacob was willing to be the conqueror. The father, in wrestling with his child, is willing enough for his child's comfort and encouragement to take a fall now and then. Now in this blessed story, as in a crystal glass, you may see the great prevailing power of private prayer; it conquers the conqueror, and overcomes an omnipotent God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Brooks, Works, II:177-180
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