if thou dost not, thou overlayest his motions, and so committest a sin. Again, thou quenchest the spirit of prayer in tliyself, by dcpri\'ing thyself of that assist- ance which thou mightest receive in thy own prayers through theirs : for the Spirit conveys his quickening grace to us in the use of instruments and means; lie that doth not hear the word preached, quencheth his spirit, because God useth this to enkindle the saint's grace ; so he that desires not the prayers of others, quencheth the spirit of prayer in himself, because the exercise of their grace in prayer for thee may fetch down more grace to be poured in unto thee. Secondly, Thou niayest be accessary to ihe quenching of the Spirit in others, because thou hinderest the exercise of those graces in them, which M'ould have been drawn forth in prayer for thee, hadst thou acquainted them with thy con- dition : by opening thy wants or desires to thy brethren, thou feedest the spirit of prayer in them, as they have new matter administered to work upon ; by acquainting them with the merciful providences of God to thee, tliou prickest a song of praise for them. How many groans and sighs should God in prayer liave had from thy neighbouring saints, hadst thou not hid thy temptations and afflictions from their knowledge ! What peals of joy and thankfulness would they have rung, hadst thou not concealed thy mercies from them !
Fourthly, To express the humble sense we have of our own weakness, and the need we have of others' help. Humble souls are fearful of their own strength : ' Now ye are full, ye are rich, and have reigned as kings without us,' saith Paul of the self-conceited Corinthians ; the time was, you thought you had need of Paul's preaching to you, and praying for you, but now ye reign without us. O, how many are there who once could beg prayers of every Christian they met ; nothing but wants and complaints could be heard from them, which made them beg help of the prayers of all ; but now they have left the beggar's trade, and reign in an imaginary kingdom of their self- conceited sufficiency. Certainly, as it shews want of charity not to pray for others, so no want of pride not to desire prayers from others !
Fifthly, That we may prevent Satan's design against us. He knows very well what an advantage he hath upon the Christian, when separated from his company, wherefore he labours to hinder him of the aid of his brethren's prayers. Samson's strength lay not in a single hair, but his whole lock ; the saint's safety lies in communion, not in solitude and single devotion. How many, alas ! concealing their temptation from others, have found their sorrows grow upon them after all their own private endeavours against them I
Lastly, The love we owe to our brethren requires it. The saints here live where none love them but themselves ; therefore, they had need make much of one another : now this of desiring their prayers, carries a threefold expression of love toward them. First, By this we acknowledge the grace of God in our brethren, or we would not employ them in such a work. AVhat more honour- able testimony can we give to another, than to own him as a child of God, one whose ])rayers are welcome to Heaven? We are bid to 'prefer every one his brother in honour.' Now, there is no way in which we can do this better, than by making use of their help at the throne of grace to be our remembrancers to the Lord. Secondly, By this we do oin- utmost to interest our brethren in the mercy we desire them to pray for, as whoever shares in the duty, is a partner in the mercy. Thirdly, By this we confirm them in a confidence of our readi- ness to pi'ay for them ; what consists neighbourhood in, but a readiness to reciprocate kindness one to another ? Now, who will be free with bis neighbour, to take a kindness from him, that is not willing to do the like ? Be ye strange to your friend, and you teach him to be so to you. Nothing endears Christians more in love, than an open heart one to another; a friend should have no cabinet in his bosom, to which he allows not his friend the kej'.
Section IH. — But do we not, by desiring our fellow-saints' prayers, intrench upon Christ's mediatorial office ? No ; surely Christ would not command that which would be a wrong to himself; there is a great difference between our desiring Christ to pray for us and our brethren. We desire Christ to present our persons and prayers, expecting acceptation of botli through his blood and intercession ; but no such tiling from the prayers of our brethren ; we only desire them as friends to bear us company to the throne of grace, to present our prayers in communion together, expecting the welcome of both their and
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our prayers, not from them, but from Christ; relying on Christ to procm-e the welcome both to om* prayers and theirs, at om- heavenly Father's hand.