God alone can give the increase." Ministers must pray, yea, must continue instant in prayer " night and day," if they would be successful in their ministrations11.]
2. People of every description — [All who " make mention of the Lord" are bidden to intercede for the Church of God. But in the marginal trans- lation those words are rendered " All the Lord's Remem- brancers." This is the character which we are all to bear : God says, " Put me in remembrance1." We are to remind him of all his gracious promises, just as Jacob didk, and, like Jacob, to wrestle with him till we prevail : yea, in the confi- dence of success we should say, like him, " I will not let thee go, except thou bless me1." This is frequently inculcated in the New Testament : the example of the Canaanitish woman, and the parable of the importunate widow, are intended to shew us, that we should " pray and not faint," and that God will hear " those who pray day and night unto him, though he bear long with themm."
Now, though we are not to imagine that there is any reluc- tance in God to bless his Church, yet we are to persevere in prayer exactly as if we hoped to prevail by dint of impor- tunity ; yea, we are to " give God himself no rest" till he arise and execute the desired work. In this way the lowest Chris- tian in the world may render more service to the Church of God, than either ministers or princes can in any other way : a human arm, however active or powerful, can put forth only a small measure of strength ; but prayer can call Omnipotence to its aid, and effect whatever is necessary for the Church's welfare. Whilst the success of Elijah remains written for our instruction11, no man has any right to ask, What can such a weak creature as I effect for the Church of God ?]
This subject affords ample matter,
1. For reproof — [How little have any of us considered the duty, and the efficacy of intercession ! Instead of praying day and night for the conversion of the Jews, and the enlargement of the Christian Church, many of us find it difficult even to pray for ourselves : and are well content that God should " rest," and that the world, both of Jews and Gentiles, should perish in their sins, provided that we ourselves may be excused the trouble of exertion, and finally escape the wrath of God. Who amongst us does not blush at a review of his conduct in relation to this matter ? Who, instead of fulfilling his duty as God's Remembrancer,
h Compare Acts xx. 31. with 1 Thess. hi. 10. and 2 Tim. i. 3. 1 Isai. xliii. 26. k Gen. xxxii. 12. ' Gen. xxxii. 24 — 26.
m Matt. xv. 22— 28. and Luke xviii. 1 — 8. n Jam. v. 16 — 18.