Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 19
Vers. 19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mysterie of the gospel.
HE doth here exhort them to pray for himself in particular, showing, first, what he would have them to ask from God on his behalf, even a gift and dexterity of uttering and expressing his conceptions in publick preaching, together with courage and boldnesse to deliver all his message, without stop or impediment, and as it were, with open mouth before all flesh as God should call him, without all base fear, 2 Tim. 1. 7, 8. shame, Rom. 1. 16. partiality, 1 Tim. 5. 21. or diffidence of the truth of what he should deliver, Psal. 116. 10. which gift he doth illustrate from the use which he was to make of it, even that according to the trust committed to him by God, chap. 3. 8, 9. he might make known the Doctrine of the Gospel unto his hearers: which Doctrine, is here called a mysterie. See upon chap. 1. ver. -9. doct. 1. Besides what is already observed upon the parallel place, Col. 4. 3. Hence Learn, 1. As the Lords people ought chiefly to mind those in their prayers who are most instrumentall in the work of God; So it is the duty of Christians, to be seeking the mutuall help of one anothers prayers, and for this end to acquaint one another with their pressing wants and necessities, Iam. 5. 16. and especially Ministers should crave the assistance of their prayers who are committed to his charge: for, Paul, having exhorted them to pray for all Saints, ver. -18. doth here incite them to pray for himself in a speciall manner who was their Minister, and an eminent instrument in the Lords work; And for me, saith he. 2. The most able and gracious Ministers, are usually most sensible of that weight and burden which is in the ministeriall charge, and so much sensible, that to be fitted for the imployments of it, they see a necessity, not only of their own pains and study, their wrestling with God by prayer in secret; but also of the assistance and prayers of others: for, Paul, a gracious and able Minister, doth see it necessary to seek the help of others; And for me, saith he. 3. Not only is piety and knowledge required in a Minister, but also a gift of utterance, or a singular dexterity to expresse his conceptions unto others pertinently, plainly and takingly, without which his other abilities can avail but little to inform the judgements, or work upon the affections of hearers: for, therefore doth Paul desire chiefly that utterance may be given unto him. 4. Whatever gift a Minister hath of this kind, whether naturally or otherwise, yet when he cometh to the exercise of it in preaching, he is not so much to rely upon his gift and skill of this kind, as to depend on God for immediate influence and assistance to strengthen his memory, uphold and order the organs of speech, and to give him the present and actuall exercise of his gift, lest he either miscarry in the use of it, or otherwise sacrifice to his own drag and net, when God is not depended on, and so provoke the Lord to blast his pains and make them uselesse: for, though Paul had already a gift of utterance, having now preached so long, and so well; yet he willeth them to seek not only the continuance, but also the actuall exercise of it from God whenever he should be put to make use of it; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me. 5. A plausible gift of utterance, is not all which is required in a Minister, he must have faithfull boldnesse to deliver his message, without base fear or partiality, joyned with his utterance, otherwise he may tickle the ear, but cannot rouse up dead and sleeping consciences: for, with utterance he desireth he may be assisted to open his mouth boldly. 6. So much incensed are people usually at plain dealing in their Ministers, so little can they endure to be used by them with holy freedom and boldnesse, Isa. 30. 10. So much is there of unmortified fear of flesh, even in the best of Ministers, Matth: 10. 26, 28. together with a sinfull loathnesse to intrust the Lord with the event or personall hazards which may follow upon their faithfull boldnesse, Exod. 4. 10, 13. that there is need of speciall assistance and present influence from God, to make a Minister open his mouth boldly, concealing no necessary truth, forebearing the reproof of no known vice, and fearing no flesh, without regard had unto any hazard or losse he may meet with for so doing: for, Paul will have them to seek from God on this behalf, That he may open his mouth boldly. 7. The serious perpending of the excellencie, worth and mysteriousnesse of the subject, the preaching and making known whereof, is intrusted to Ministers, would tend to convince them abundantly of their own insufficiency for such a task, and of the need they stand in of assistance from God, and the help of peoples prayers for obtaining His assistance: for, this moved Paul to distrust his own strength, and to seek the help of their prayers; even that he was to make known the mystestery of the Gospel. 8. The great end for which Ministers should be earnest with God for furniture and through-bearing themselves, and incite others to plead with Him on their behalf, is not that by vertue thereof they may gain applause, or get themselves exonered before men, but that the Lords people may be edified, and Christ exalted, by laying open what rich and excellent things are held forth of Him in the Gospel: for, the end why he desireth a gift of utterance and boldnesse, is, to make known the mysterie of the Gospel.