redeemed them to God by his blood ? And what anxiety were they not bound to manifest for his interests, which are so essentially connected with the labours of his servants, and the prosperity of his Church? For his sake, therefore, he en- treated them to intercede for them, that his work might be carried forward, and his name be glorified. " For the love of the Spirit," also, he desired their prayers. By this expression, I do not understand either their love towards the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit's love towards them. I understand him, rather, as urging them by the consideration of that love which they professed to feel towards all the members of Christ's mystical body, which was the common bond of union between them, and which was infused by the Holy Spirit into every soul wherein he dwelt. ' I understand it as though the Apostle had said, I entreat you by that "fellowship of the Spirit0" which ye profess, and which of necessity will manifest itself by love, shew me this greatest possible act of kindness, by interceding for me at the throne of grace.'
But the manner in which he desires them to pray is yet further remarkable, in that it breathes the very same ardour of mind as is expressed in his importunity. He intimates that he himself was extremely urgent in prayer with God for himself: and then he desires their concurrence with him in these his supplications. The term which he makes use of is taken from the contests that were maintained in the Grecian games, where every one put forth his utmost strength in order to obtain the victory. " I beseech you, strive together with me in your prayer to God for me :" be not content with offering a few lukewarm petitions; but wrestle with Almighty God, even as Jacob did, and rest not till you have obtained for me the desired blessings.]
To justify the Apostle in making this request, I will proceed to point out,
II. Its reasonableness —
The Apostle, from the first moment of his conver- sion, had lived only for God and for the souls of men —
[This appears from the history of the Church, and from all the epistles which he wrote : " He counted not his life dear to him, so that he might but finish his course with joy, and fulfil the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God."
Now, though we are far from comparing any minister of the present day with him, yet we must say, that every faithful minister, according to the grace given to him, is like-minded
c Phil. ii. 1.