him liere, and liis wrath poured on them shall praise him hereafter; but no thanks to them, for they do their utmost to lay the honour of Clod in the dirt : but the saints are a people, who are not merely passive, but active in the praising of God, it is their mother-language to bless the name of God ; whatever is their work, this is their end and aim : whether they eat or drink, they do all to the glory of God. Now, upon this account we are to pray for saints above others. The first thing our Saviour teacheth us to pray for is, that the name of God be hallowed, in order to which he directs us, in the very next words, to pray for his saints, as those who alone can hallow it, — ' Thy kingdom come.'
Section II. — Secondly, From Satan. His great spite is against the saints, God owns them, therefore he hates them. Where God is on one side, you may be sure to find the devil on the other. Indeed they are the only company that stand in his way. As for the wicked, he considers himself to be advanced when they are exalted in the world : the father is honoured when the child is preferred ; but the saints' rising portends his fall : this makes him bend all his force by temptation or persecution to procure their ruin : these are the stars lie would stamp under his feet. The first murder in the world was of a saint, and Cain will kill Abel to the end of the world ; therefore they need our prayers most. Thirdly, From the saints prayed for. First, They exceedingly desire prayers : the wicked may do this also, but it is by fits, in a pang of fear or fright. Pharaoh sends in all haste for Moses, when the plagues of God are in his house and fields. The carnalJews beg Samuel to pray for them, that they die not ; but it was when terrified with dreadful thunder, 1 Sam. xii. 19 : yea, Simon Magus himself, smitten with horror at Peter's words, begs his prayers, that none of those things which he had spoken might come upon him. But at another time these wretches cared neither for the saints nor for their prayei's. Pharaoh, who desired Moses at one time to pray for him, at another time drives him out of his presence, with a charge never to come to him more; but the saints are ambitious of the prayers of their brethren, and not the meanest among them neither ; indeed, as any one is more eminent in grace, so he is more greedy of his brethren's help. Paul himself, Rom. xv. 30, is not ashamed to beg tins boon of the meanest saint, — ' Now, I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Chi'ist's sake, and for the love of the Sjjirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.' Did you ever hear a beggar at your door beg more passionately ? ' For the Lord Jesus' sake and for the Sjjirit's sake.' If ever you felt any warmth in your hearts from the blood of Christ, or love of the Spirit comforting you, wrestle with me, till we together have got the vic- tory. Secondly, As the saints are covetous of prayers, so they take comfort beforehand, from the exjjectation of what they shall receive by them. ' I know this shall turn to my salvation through you prayers,' Phil. i. 19. ' I trust that through your prayers I shall be given to you,' Phil. ii. 28. Where, First, Observe Paul's modesty ; he sinks and drowns his own prayers, and expresseth his faith on theirs. Secondly, His confidence : he doubts not but they will pray, neither does he question the happy retiu-n of their prayers into his bosom: as if he had said, If ye be faithful, ye will pray for me. So that we break our trust, and disappoint our brethren, if we forget them. Thirdly, Saints are the honestest debtors we can deal with, they will pay you in your own coin. He that shews any kindness to a saint, is sure to have God for his paymaster; for it is their way to turn over their debts to God, and engage him to discharge their score to man. Onesiphorus had been a kind friend to Paul, and what does Paul for him ? To prayer he goes, and desires God to ])ay his debts. ' The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain.'
Section III. — Fourthly, From the saint's praying. There is no duty God commands, but he pays the Christian well for the performance. There is enough in this duty that may make it lovely and desirable in oin- eye : the best of saints have counted it a great privilege to be admitted into this noble order. Paul thanks God that, without ceasing, he had 'I'imothy in remembrance day and night in his prayer. But wherein lies this mercy to have a heart to pray for our brethren ? First, it is a singular mercy to be instrumental to the grace or comfort of any saint, much more for the glorifying of God : this a gracious
Ygp AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL SAINTS.