Imagine therefore, when you are lifting up holy hands in prayer for one another, that you see the heavens opened, and the Son of GOD in all his glory, as the great high-priest of your salvation, pleading for you the all-sufficient merit of his sacrifice before the throne of his heavenly Father! Join then your intercessions with his, and beseech him, that they may, through him, come up as incense, and be received as a sweet-smelling savour, acceptable in the light of GOD! This imagination will strengthen your faith, excite a holy earnestness in your prayers, and make you wrestle with GOD, as _Jacob_ did, when he saw him face to face, and his life was preserved; as _Abraham_, when he pleaded for _Sodom_; and as JESUS CHRIST himself, when he prayed, being in an agony, so much the more earnestly the night before his bitter passion.
And now, brethren, what shall I say more, since you are taught of JESUS CHRIST himself, to abound in love, and in this good work of praying one for another. Though ever so mean, though as poor as _Lazarus_, you will then become benefactors to all mankind; thousands, and twenty times ten thousands, will then be blessed for your sakes! and after you have employed a few years in this divine exercise here, you will be translated to that happy place, where you have so often wished others might be advanced; and be exalted to sit at the right hand of our All-powerful, All-prevailing Intercessor, in the kingdom of his heavenly Father hereafter.
However, I cannot but in an especial manner press this upon you now, because all ye, amongst whom I have now been preaching, in all probability will see me no more: for I am now going (I trust under the conduct of GOD’s most Holy Spirit) from you, knowing not what shall befal me: I need therefore your most importunate intercessions, that nothing may move me from my duty, and that I may not “count even my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry I have received of the LORD JESUS, to testify the gospel of the grace of GOD!”
Whilst I have been here, to the best of my knowledge, I have not failed to declare unto you the whole will of GOD: and though my preaching may have been a savour of death unto death to some; yet I trust it has been also a savour of life unto life to others; and therefore I earnestly hope that those will not fail to remember me in their prayers. As for my own part, the many unmerited kindnesses I have received from you, will not suffer me to forget you: out of the deep, therefore, I trust shall my cry come unto GOD; and whilst the winds and storms are blowing over me, unto the LORD will I make my supplication for you. For it is but a little while, and “we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST;” where I must give a strict account of the doctrine I have preached, and you of your improvement under it. And O that I may never be called out as a swift witness, against any of those, for whose salvation I have sincerely, though too faintly, longed and laboured!
It is true, I have been censured by some as acting out of sinister and selfish views; “but it is a small matter with me to be judged by man’s judgment;” I hope my eye is single; but I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, pray that it may be more so! and that I may increase with the increase of grace in the knowledge and love of GOD through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
And now, brethren, what shall I say more? I could wish to continue my discourse much longer; for I can never fully express the desire of my soul towards you! Finally, therefore, brethren, “whatsoever things are holy, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any consolation in CHRIST, if any fellowship of the spirit,” if any hopes of our appearing to the comfort of each other at the awful tribunal of JESUS CHRIST, “think of the things that you have heard,” and of those which your pastors have declared, and will yet declare unto you; and continue under their ministry to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling:” so that whether I should never see you any more, or whether it shall please GOD to bring me back again at any time, I may always have the satisfaction of knowing that your conversation is such “as becometh the gospel of CHRIST.”
I almost persuade myself, that I could willingly suffer all things, so that it might any ways promote the salvation of your precious and immortal souls; and I beseech you, as my last request, “obey them that have the rule over you in the LORD;” and be always ready to attend on their ministry, as it is your bounden duty. Think not that I desire to have myself exalted at the expence of another’s character; but rather think this, not to have any man’s person too much in admiration; but esteem all your ministers highly in love, as they justly deserve for their work’s sake.