relations or neighbours : lay them not out of thy prayers, bury them not in thy thoughts for reprobates, because thou canst not perceive any sign of spiritual life in them, though thou hast many a time stretched thy hands in prayer over them ; their souls are yet in their bodies, and it is not too much for God to breathe the life of gi-ace in their souls. Is it for the public ? Draw not in thy stock of prayer, though thou hast not so quick a return in thy trade with heaven for it as thou desirest. The father's labour is not lost, if his son receives the benefit ; he, may be, dies before the ship comes home which he sent forth, but his child lives to have the gains of that enterprise. Thus one generation sows prayers for the church, and another reaps the mercy prayed for.
CHAPTER XIX.
IN PRAYING FOR OTHERS, WE SHOULD PRINCIPALLY PRAY FOR SAINTS.
In praying for others, we are, in an especial manner, to remember the saints. The apostle hints this, by making them as the chief rank of men for whom we are to pray : and it suits well with Gal. vi. 10, 'As we have opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.' Now, I take prayer to be one of the most eminent ways of doing them good. What greater kindness can a man do for his sick friend, than to go to the physician for him ? By other acts of charity, we give a little out of our own purse, but by praying for the poor saints, we open God's treasure for them. If one should meet a beggar, and throw him a few pence, but another tells him, I have no money of my own to give, yet I will go to coui't, and open your necessitous condition to the king ; it were easy to tell which of these does the poor man the greatest kindness : a poor saint may thus do more for another, though he hath neither silver nor gold to give, than he who hath the largest purse of his own. The conduct of Araunah is observable, 2 Sam. xxiv. 22, where we have his bountiful offer to king David, — ' Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him ; here be oxen for burnt sacrifice.' This was much, and showed his heart to be noble and large, as it follows, ver. 23, ' All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king ;' yet one thing he did which amounted to more than all this, and that was his hearty prayer to God for David's acceptance ; and ' Araunah said imto The king, the Lord thy God accept thee.' He might have done all the other for fear; for a subject sometimes gives to his prince, because he knows he may take, though he gives it not ; but by his praying for him, he discovered his hearty aftection to him.
Section I. — There are several weighty reasons for this duty. First, From God. They are the special object of his love ; his heart is set upon them, his thoughts and providence are at work continually for them. Others partake of the Divine bounty, but they may thank the saints for it. When once (Jod hath got his whole family of saints home to himself in heaven, it will be quickly seen what God will do with the rest of the world. God dispenseth the same providence to them both, but not with the same affection, nor the same end : ' He is the Saviour of all, but especially of those that believe.' He saves the saints with saving purposes ; the wicked he saves temporally, to destroy them eternally ; he saves them from a present sickness or danger, that they may ripen for hell, as we save our young wood for greater growth, and then cut it down for the fire. Now, what shall be done for those to whom God declares sonnich love ? We cannot do less than pray for them ; by this we comply with God's command, and shew our content in his choice. God hath made them the proper heirs of all his promises. Now promises are the ground of prayer : we are to pray for others, though wicked, not knowing but God may have a secret purpose of doing them good ; but where there is grace, God breaks open his decree. The fountain of his electing grace, which ran hitherto underground, now bursts forth, so that you may with confidence pray for such an one. When Paul begs prayers, to encourage his friends at the work for him, he assures them of his sincerity, — ' Pray for us ; for we trust we ha\e a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly,' Heb. xiii. 18. As if he had said. You pray for one that God will not chide you for mentioning. They are the only generation that honour God in the world ; indeed, God honours himself upon others in their present lusts and future damnation : he makes their wrath praise
AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS. ^^J