the very dam, and lifted uiJ tlie very sluice, to let in ruin upon himself. Foiu-thly, Such as desire others to pray for them, but vain-gloriously, to gain reputation for being religious. Beware of this ; yet charge not all for the hypocrisy of some ; neither deprive tliyself of the benefit of others' prayers, out of an imaginary fear lest thou shouldst play the hypocrite therein ; watch thy heart, but waive not the duty : because some have strangled themselves with their own garters, wilt thou, therefore, be afraid to wear thine ? Or, because some canting beggars go about the country to shew their sores, which they desire not to have cured, wilt not thou, therefore, when wounded, go tg the surgeon ?
CHAPTER II.
THE DUTY OF PRAYING FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL.
From this request of the apostle, we may note that the ministers of the gospel are, in an especial manner, to be remembered in the saints' prayers.
Section I. — In regard of God, whose message they bring. They come about his work, and deliver his errand ; not to pray for them will be interpreted that you wish not well to the business they have in hand for him ; they do not only come from God, but with Christ : ' We, as workers together with him, beseech you not to receive the gi-ace of God in vain,' 2 Cor. vi. 1. Christ and the mi- nister go into the pulpit together ; a greater tlian man is there ; Master and servant are both at work. Again, the blessing of the minister's labour is from God ; not the hand that sets the plant, or sows the seed, but God's blessing gives the increase, 1 Cor. iii. 6. When Melancthon was first converted, the light of the gospel shone with so clear and strong a beam on his own eyes, that he thought he should convert all he preached unto ; he deemed it was impossible his hearers should withstand that ti-uth, which he saw with so much evidence ; but he afterward found the conti'ary, which made him say, ' I see now that old Adam is too hard for young Melancthon.' God carries the key by his girdle, that alone can open hearts, and prayer is the key to open his. When Christ intended to send forth his disciples to preach the gospel, he sets them solemnly to prayer. Matt. ix. 38. Many are the promises which he hath given to the ministers of the gospel for their protection, that he will keep these stars in his right-hand, or they had been on the ground, and stamped under foot long ago. ' I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say,' Exod. iv. 12. ' Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, — ^and I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,' Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. Wherefore are these promises, but to be shot back again in prayers to God who gave them ?
Section II. — In regard of the ministers themselves. There is not a greater object of pity and prayer in the world, than the faithful ministers of Christ, if you consider, First, The importance of their work ; it is temple-work, and that is weighty ; which made Paul cry out, ' Who is sufficient for these things?' ' I am doing a great work,' said Nehemiah, chap. vi. 3. But what was that to Paul's ? There is no work more hazardous to miscarry in than this : it is sad enough to drop to hell from under the pulpit ; to hear the gospel and yet to perish ; but O how dismal to fall out of it thither for unfaithfulness in the work ! The consideration of this made Paul so bestir himself: ' Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men.' Secondly, It is a laborious work : ' Know them which labour among you, — and admonish you, ' 1 Thess. v. 12, — those who labour in the word and doctrine, who labour to weariness. He that preaches as he should, shall find it a work, not of an hour while speaking in the pulpit, but a load that lies heavy on his shoulders all the week ; a labour that spends the vitals, and consumes the oil which should feed the lamp of nature ; such a labour, in a word, as makes old age and youth often meet together. The Jews took Christ to be about fifty years old, when he was little above thirty, John viii. 57, because Christ had so macerated his body with labour in preaching, fasting, and watching, that it made his very countenance appear aged. Other callings are, many of them, but as exercise to nature, they blow off the ashes from the coal, and help to discharge natiu'e of those superfluities which oppress it. Who eats his bread more heartily, and sleeps more sweetly, than the ploughman ? But the minister's work debilitates nature ; like the candle, he wastes whilehe shines : whatever work is thought harder than other we have it borrowed to set forth
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