infection J^ if he be loose and scandalous in his life, he is like a common well, corrupted and muddied, at which all the town draw their water. The devil aimed at more than Peter, when he desired leave to try a fall with him, Luke xxii. .'jI, ' Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.' He knew his fall was likely to lead to the fall of many others. The minister's pi-actice makes a greater sound than his doctrine. They who forget his sermon, will remember his example, to quote it for their apology, when time serves. Peter withdraws, and other Jews dissembled with him. Gal. ii. 12, 13. Truly, your ministers are but men, subject to like passions with yourselves : he among thorn that presumes that he shall not slide into an error, or fall into a sin, is bolder than any promise in the word gives him leave : they need your prayers as much as any, and those most that fear their danger least. Thirdly, By praying for the minister, )'ou take the most hopeful way to profit by his ministry. Such a soul as this may come in expectation of having a portion laid on his trencher ; and such guests as send to heaven before they come to an ordinance, are most likely to have the best entertainment. He that hears a sermon, and hath not prayed for the minister, and the success of his labours, sits down to his meat before he hath craved a blessing ; he plays the thief to his own sold, while he robs the minister of the assistance his prayers might have brought him from heaven. The less the minister is prayed for, the less it is to be feared will the people profit. Fourthly, By praying for the minister, you not only render the word he preacheth more effectual to yourselves, but also interest yourselves in the good his ministry does to others : as there is a way of partaking in others' sins, so in others' holy services. He that strengthens the hands of a sinner any way in his wicked practices, makes his sin his own, and shall partake with him in the wages due to the work when the day of reckoning comes. So he that strengthens the minister's hand in his holy work, whether by prayer, countenance, or relief of his necessities, becomes a partaker with him in his service, and shall not be left out in the reward. Matt. x. 41. We read there of ' a prophet's reward ' given to piivate Chi-istians ; they who communicate with the minister in his labour, by any subserviency to it, shall share in the reward. When God comes to reward his prophets for their faithful service, then Obadiah, that hid them from the fiu-y of their persecutors ; then Onesiphorus, thatrefreshed their bowels ; yea, then all those faithful ones that ])ut up their fervent prayers for the free course of the gospel in their ministry, shall be called in to share with them in the reward. He that hath but a fifteenth part in a ship, is an owner as well as he that hath more ; and when the voyage is over, he hath his share of the return that is made, proportionable to his part. O, what an encouragement is it to have a stock going in this ship ! yea, to venture deeper than ever at the throne of grace for the now despised ministers of Christ, seeing Heaven's promise is our insurance-office to secure all we send to sea upon this account.
CHAPTER III.
SHEWS WHY THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL CHIEFLY DESIRE PRAYERS.
The second branch of the words follows, and contains the nature of the apostle's request to the church of Ephesus ; or what he desires them to mention to (iod in his behalf, — 'That utterance may be given to me.'
Section I. — Wherefore observe, First, The spirituality of his desire. He does not request them to pray for carnal things ; no, we hear him not so much as mention his necessities and outward wants, which, being now a prisoner, it is likely he was no great stranger to ; but they are spiritual wants he most groans under, he desires the charity of their prayers mtn-e than of their purse. Se- c(mdly. Observe the public utility of tliat which he begs prayers for, — ' 'i'iiat utterance may be given to me.' This is not a personal jjrivilege, which would redound only to his own advantage, but that which may fit him for his public em- ployment in the church : from which we may gather that a faithful minister's heart runs more on his work than on himself: that which he chiefly desires is, how he may best discharge his ministerial trust. No doubt, Paul spake out of the abundance of his heart ; as if he had said. If you will take me into your prayers, let this be your request, 'That utterance may be given me.' 'Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course,' 2 Thess. iii. 1. 'Praying
794 THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO ME.