with the Apostle in this particular. Ministers, who feel in any measure the obligations of their ordination vows, give themselves up wholly to their ministry, and wait on it as their one employment through life. They direct all their studies, and all their labours, to this one object. Allured by no hopes, deterred by no fears, discouraged by no difficulties or dis- appointments, onward they go, accounting the conversion of one soul an ample recompence for all that they can either do, or suffer, for the attainment of it.]
He might well, therefore, claim from them an interest in their prayers —
[Certainly the Apostle's request was reasonable in this view : and certainly every faithful minister has a right to ex- pect the same favour at the hands of his people. It is the least that they can do for him ; and, I may add, it is the greatest thing which one human being can do for another. The mini- ster, in his exertions for his people, exposes himself to all the hostility of an ungodly world : but the people, in praying for him, transact with God alone the business in which they are engaged. For them he can only embrace such opportunities as may be afforded him after much labour, and travail, and danger: whereas they have access to God at all times, and in all places, without any other difficulty than what arises from the deadness and carnality of their own hearts. To refuse him, therefore, this mark of their love, would be base in the extreme.]
But, to enter more fully into it, I must proceed to mark, III. Its importance —
The welfare of the Church, humanly speaking, depended on the preservation of the Apostle's life : and in like manner does it depend on the continuance and efficiency of every minister's labours. We would not magnify ourselves, brethren ; for it would ill be- come us to do so : but we may, and must, " magnify our office;" and, in this view, we may be permitted to say, that you yourselves are interested in the wel- fare of your ministers. If they be truly faithful and laborious, as they ought to be, your welfare is deeply interested in,
1. The continuance of their lives — [Doubtless God can raise up others in the place of those whom he removes. But, humanly speaking, the spiritual