The Progress of Saints to Full Holiness, Verse 25
VERSE 25. Brethren, pray for us.
IN these words the Apostle commendeth a duty of love toward their Ministers; which must expresse it selfe in earnest prayers for them. In which words, 1. wee have a loving compellation, Brethren: to these onelyonly the duty is directed; for they onelyonly can pray, or can be heard: the wicked mans prayer, because he wants the Spirit, wants faith, is no sonne, none of the brethren, his prayer is abominable.
2. The persons commended to their prayers; For us: that is, Paul, Silvanus, Timotheus, chap. 1.1. men of highest place, of most excellent gifts, and of rarest graces, the Ministers of their faith. These chosen vessels and worthy instruments request the prayers of inferiour and ordinary beleevers.
3. What the things be which they must pray for in their behalfe,The Apostle beggeth prayers of inferiour persons, for 5 things. and these are elsewhere expressed.
First, for gifts and skill in dispensing the mysteries of the Gospell, that they may speake the word as it ought to be spoken: Ephes. 6.19, 20. And for mee, that utterance might be given, that I may speake boldly as I ought to speake. Did Paul need their prayers for that purpose, and doe not ordinary Ministers much more?
Secondly, for liberty and free passage of the Gospel in the mouthes of the Ministers, that without let and impediment the Gospel might be preached without interruption or contradiction: 2 Thess. 3.1. Brethren pray for us that the word of God may have free passage. This is called sometime the opening of a doore which was shut: Col. 4 3. Praying for us, that God may open to us a doore of utterance.
Thirdly, for happy successe and prosperity of their labours in the hearts of the Saints for their gathering. 2 Thess. 3.1. Pray for us, that the word of God may be glorified even as it is with you. Now the Thessalonians had received it in power, and with much assurance. People must pray that by the labour of their Ministers the conversion and salvation of men may be furthered: for Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but unlesse God give the increase, all is lost, 1 Cor. 3.7.
Fourthly, for the daily sanctification of their persons, that they may by unblameable conversation remove the lets and scandalls which might hinder their doctrine, and become examples to their flocke in good life, and in expression of all good workes. So the Apostle, Hebr. 13.18. Pray for us, for we are assured that we have a good conscience in all things desiring to live honestly. As this is an argument, that you should pray for us, being innocent and honest men; so pray that wee may so continue.
Fifthly, for the protection and safetie of their persons, for their workes sake, against persecuters and enemies. 2 Thess. 3.1. Pray for us, that wee may be delivered from unreasonable men: from absurd wicked men, which in all corners rage against Gods standart-bearers, men of corrupt mindes, resisting the truth: and thus, Philemon 22. the Apostle trusted by their prayers to be given to them out of bands, as Peter was delivered out of the lyons mouth miraculously by the strength of the prayers of the Church made for him, Acts 12.5. and Rom. 15.30, 31. Strive with mee by prayers, that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Iudea.
Whence observe, that men of greatest gifts and graces,Doct. 1. Men of greatest grace need the prayers of weaker Christians, for three reasons. that are in highest favour with God, have neede of the prayers of the weaker and meaner Christians. Paul rapt into the third heaven, and filled with unutterable mysteries, contemnes not, but craves, and earnestly beggs the prayers of the simple Christians, Rom. 15.30. he intreates them earnestly, even for the Lord Iesus his sake, and for the love of the Spirit to strive with him by prayers to God.
Reas. 1.Because men of greatest parts are farre from perfection in gifts or graces. Paul saw hee had not yet attained, but may receive a daily increase; and therefore stands in neede of the prayers of others, for increase and further degrees of the graces he hath.
Even they are men subject to the same passions and infirmities with others, Acts 14.15.Reas. 2. The more grace and gifts they have, the more are they in danger to be puffed up and forget themselves. Yea themselves being as fraile as others, their prayers are often weake and faint, and neede many hands lifted up for them to strengthen them: even Moses needes Aaron and Hur to susteine him in lifting up his hands;Exod. 17.12. for even his hands may grow heavie.
Men of greatest gifts are in the greatest fight, faire markes for Satan:Reas. 3. Satan will be sure to stand at Iehoshuahs right hand, Zach. 3.1. and will winnow Peter as wheate, Luke 22.31. He knowes if he can cast downe one of these, hee falls not alone, but many are like to fall; and that God is more dishonoured, and the Gospell more disgraced by one of these than many others: and therefore these have most neede to be supported by the prayers of the Saints.
This meetes with men of great and high spirits, because of the greatnesse of their parts,Vse 1. they thinke themselves all-sufficient in themselves, rapt into their owne admiration: They have a notable gift of prayer themselves, and what neede they crave the prayers and assistance of others? But suppose thou hadst the sufficiency of an Apostle, nay wert rapt into the third heaven as Paul was: Hadst thou one drop of the grace of humility as he had, thou wouldest descend, and out of sense of thy wants begge the prayers of the meanest Christians, and that not coldly or formally, but with earnestnesse and vehemency as hee did.
Vse 2.It teacheth not to despise the meanest Christians, seeing the meanest may be usefull, and thou maist receive a blessing by him sometime, by counsell, or comfort, or example, at least by his prayers.
Vse 3.To incourage poore Christians to pray, seeing here were we see God is no accepter of persons: He will heare as well the Thessalonians for Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, as them for the Thessalonians; he gives as soone to the meanest as to the greatest: these are as welcome to him as they, for he casts none in the teeth.
Object. I am unworthy to pray for my selfe or others.
Answ. Thou prayest not in thy owne worthines, but in the merit and intercession of Christ, which belongeth to the poorest brother as well as the richest.
Object. I am unable to pray, I want gifts.
Answ. 1. Prayer receiveth not vertue or answer, from excellency of gifts, but from Gods promise, and from faith and affection in our selves: Not the words but affections, and sighes which may be in men meanly gifted are regarded of God.
2. Thou seest here the Lord so farre from refusing thee, as that hee commends the greatest matters to thy prayers; even to pray for those that in respect of gifts can better pray for thee: Bring thou so much the more faith, more sense of want, more thirst after grace, and thou bringest better gifts to prayer, than hee that bringeth more words, Rhetoricke, forme and fluence of speech.
And here observe,Doct. 2. Christians must pray for their Ministers Reasons 3. The duty of all Christians is to pray for their Ministers, yea for all their Ministers. Pray for us: for Silvanus, and Timotheus, as well as for Paul; for Paul envies not to them a roome in the prayers of the Saints. So a number of places afore alledged doe prove: And many reasons presse the duty upon the people.
First, howsoever the Ministery is Gods ordinance effectuall by his power,Reas. 1. and Ministers as starres in his right hand safe by his providence and protection; yet he hath made it the duty of people to pray for their Ministers as a recompence of their care and paines, and labour in the worke of their salvation; and as a part of the honour that people owe them, as fathers by vertue of the fifth commandement: and in way of returne of prayers for prayers. So the Apostle had earnestly prayed for them in the former verse, and now earnestly beggs prayers for them. So Ministers are the peoples mouth to God, they stand in the gappe and breach for them, they by prayers procure blessings on their people; it is equall and just the people should by their prayers procure blessing on them.
Reas. 2.Secondly, If we be bound to pray for all Saints, and private men, much more for our Pastors and Fathers in Christ, by whom the Lord offers and conveyes his best and most lasting blessings upon us; whom hee hath separated as one of a thousand to declare to man his righteousnesse, to be lights to them that sit in darknesse, guides to the blinde, and patternes to the flocke: Ministers by whom the Lord conveyes his saving graces into the hearts of the Saints.
Reas. 3. People neglecting this duty, lay themselves under the guilt of many sins: 5 Instances.Thirdly, People neglecting this dutie, lay themselves under the guilt of many sinnes.
1. In that every man being bound to respect the glory of God in the furtherance of his pure worship; which cannot be done but by an able and gracious Ministery, they sinne against dutie, that by their prayers strengthen not their Ministers.
2. Every Christian is bound to be an helpe to the truth, 3 Iohn: they plainly detract this helpe, that withhold their prayers from their Pastours, their teachers and maintainers of truth.
3. Every Christian ought to be compassionate to the soules of their brethren, and by all meanes promote the salvation of men: And therefore out of compassion of millions of soules who stand in neede of powerfull preaching, and without vision are like to perish, ought to pray that God would mightily worke with the word in the mouthes of his Ministers, to make it powerfull, to rescue people out of the snare of the Divell.
4. All those people make themselves guilty of the troubles, falls, and ill successe of their Ministers, that faile them in this duty of prayer: Thy prayers might have upheld him, or helped them out of trouble, out of frailty.
5. Such as pray not for their Ministers, deprive themselves of the blessing and happy fruite of that Ministery: the more earnestly people pray for their Pastours, the more assurance of good and happy fruite may they expect from their Ministery, and often of their Ministers themselves, who are worthily removed from an unworthy people, that never prized them for their workes sake.
First, This serves to reprove inconsiderate men,Vse I. who by neglect of this duty signe themselves to be out of the communion of Gods people: they care not whether their Minister stand or fall, sink or swimme; leave him to himselfe, take no notice of his labours, trialls, sufferings, his person, his worke, his wages is no part of their care: they have no hand lift up for him to God or men, but perhaps both against him.
These are at least inconsiderate. 1. That the blessing and benefit of a good Minister is invaluable, and must be begged of all those that must share in the benefit. One of the speciall clauses of the new Covenant is, that God will give Pastors according to his owne heart: and wil he give such a speciall gift to such as prize it not, nor praise him for it?
2. They consider not the weight of the calling, the charge of soules, for which who is sufficient? The rage of Satan and all wicked men against this great worke, never sleeping, but alwayes hindering the free passage of the Gospell, both with open fury and secret devises: The many sharpe assaults that these leaders of Gods armies against the Prince of darknesse and his forces, are exposed unto: often in the forlorne hopes, not onelyonly bestowing their lives and strength in preaching the Gospell; but often being bestowed for it, and die to seale it with their blood. Did they consider this, they would pray in Peters words, Acts 4.29. Lord, grant thy servants that they may speake boldly thy word.
3. They consider not how deepely themselves are interessed in the welfare and happy estate of their Ministers.
Is not the fall of the Minister commonly the ruine of the people? Can the shepheards be smitten, and the sheepe not be scattered? Can vision faile, and people not perish? Can a watch-man of a Citty or Castle be corrupted or surprized by the enemy, and the Citty be safe? Or can a man be an agent or accessary in the corrupting and surprizing a Captaine set to keepe a Fort, without treason to his Prince? Even so hee that prayes not for the prosperity of every good Minister, shewes himselfe in enemy to the Church, and no friend to his owne salvation.
Secondly, To reprove that cursed generation of men, who in stead of praying for the prosperity of the Ministery and Ministers, who being sent of God in merciemercy, are a principall blessing:
1. They repine and grieve as if some heavie scourge or plague were come upon them; as the Divells did at Christs coming, because they were tormented before their time: It was never merry with them since there was such running and thronging after preaching; now they cannot sit at ease, nor have roome to bring their beds with them: nothing is such a corrasive unto their hearts, as to see Gods blessing, and successe of a godly Ministery; and the people of God flocking after his owne Ordinance. This was the dust and daggers in the Pharises and hypocrites in Christ his time, that they could profit nothing, but that the world runne after him, Iohn 12.19.
Oh that such men would seriously consider, that,
1. Whosoever esteeme this excellent blessing a burden, a plague, it shall be so to them: It offers it selfe now as a blessing, but shall turne to the most intolerable plague that can befall them; even a witnesse, a bill of inditement aggravating their damnation, burdening them with plagues and curses easelesse and remedilesse.
2. There is not a more proper note of a Divell incarnate, and a man in state of damnation, than to envie and grieve at the grace of God, at the prosperity, successe and growth of the Gospell. The Divells proper sinne, Ye are of your Father the Divell, his workes ye doe.Iohn 8.
3. The time hastens on thee, when in terrours of soule, and agonies of heart, thou shalt wish one Sermon, one word of comfort, and know by the want of the blessing the benefit of it, but perhaps shalt never finde opportunity.
Thirdly, others in stead of praying for their Ministers, curse them, revile them, slander them, runne to the Rulers every week to disturbe them, as if they were loath to be too farre behinde the Divell, or not to be chiefe instruments in the ruinating of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ.
Thus those that are bound to pray for their Ministers, that they may be delivered from absurd and unreasonable men, are most ready to make a prey and spoile of them.
But doubtlesse they are wicked and gracelesse men, neare to a curse, a wonder their steely hearts feare not some extraordinary judgement, and messenger of Gods wrath every moment. 2 King. 2.24. When little children in their play cursed and reviled the Prophet Elisha, beares came out of the wood and destroyed them: how much lesse can the aged escape, who teach their children by example to revile and scorne the Prophets and servants of God?
Fourthly, others will not revile them, but can spy wants and imperfections in them, (as indeede there is in the best) can sit as Iudges on his person, cast him off for one weake in gifts, colde in his doctrine, carelesse in his life; and so turne him off: But when did they pray for him, that God would enable him to the worke of his Ministery; that God would bestow the Spirit, to deliver the word so as he might save his owne soule, and them that heare him? And if they faile herein, are they not guilty of all his defects which they complaine of? Surely would they spend as many earnest prayers for him, as they doe words to taxe and disgrace him; who knoweth whether the Lord might not open his heart and mouth for their comfort and profit? And what reason hath the Lord to minister comfort, and benefit by a man, when it is never desired? Thou findest no sweetnesse nor comfort in a Minister, thou prayest for none. How canst thou finde without seeking?
Secondly, for instruction. Seeing our want and sinne heretofore, let us reforme our selves,Vse 2. and provoke our selves to so needfull a duty, daily to commend our Ministers to the grace of God, as Paul and Silas were by the Church, Acts 15.40. The first ground, and to doe it aright,
1. Wee must love them heartily, our prayer must flow from love: where prayer must be earnest, love must be earnest first; even as the love of fathers begetting us and breeding us up to Christ, 1 Cor. 4. true love and prayer are ever inseparable, it is impossible for a man to love another, and not pray for him. Some say they love their Minister, and like preaching; but as the worldling boasts of false liberality: when didst thou ever pray unto God for him, that hee would be pleased to give him strength and ability, successe, freedome from molestation, from unreasonable men, and every good encouragement in his place? scarce in all thy life. Then may I say to thee as D…lilah to Sampson, How canst thou say thou lovest mee, and doest not this thing for mee? How canst thou say thou lovest mee, and keepest this thing from me? even thy prayers, and best wishes.
2. The object must be right, the things prayed for. Many wish well to their Ministers, and much love they shew them, and pray for them, that God would give them good livings two or three, and for meanes of further preferments, to raise them to the fayre of dignities, wish them good Lords and Patrons, and countenance of great men.
Oh, the happinesse of Ministers stands not in these things. A Turke or Heathen can wish all these to their friends; and yet Christians wish no more: These are wishes of carnall men. But pray thou for liberty, spirit, courage, power, faithfulnesse to stand against men and Divels, that by force or subtlety would discourage him from the worke: grace and faithfull dispensation makes an happy Minister. Pray for this, and yet I doubt many Ministers themselves pray more for the other than these.
3. With prayer thou must bring the other companions of love and thankfulnesse. We must not deale by our Ministers as many answer beggers, God helpe you, but give them nothing: you must yeeld us not onelyonly good words, and good prayers, but audience, redence, maintenance, you must doe that you pray for. It is but hypocrisie to pray in a set forme of prayer for all Bishops, Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, if thou doest not set thy hand to thy prayer.
If love set thy mouth on worke to pray for a Ministers prosperity, it will set the hand on work to uphold his person, his comfort, his Ministery, his cheerefulnesse in the worke of the Lord; all thy pretences leave thee but an hypocrite, an enemie of righteousnesse, who art hyde-bound, and hand-bound, who valuest not sundry yeares labours of thy Pastour at so many farthings. Heathens and Savages would be loath to reject their Idolatrous Priests so farre, but either conscience, or shame, or feare, or company would force some expressions of love to them. But Heathenish Christians, nothing can worke them.
FINIS.