Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me™!" To this he confidently looked, as to an infallible source of blessings to his own soul", And of success to his ministerial exertions"! This therefore is the duty of every one, in return for those efforts which his minister is using for his good. In- tercession is an ordinance of God; and is replete with benefit invariably to those who use it, and most generally to those in whose behalf it is used. Does your minister then stand in need of wisdom, of zeal, of patience, of love, of all manner of gracious communications ? be instant in prayer for him, that he may receive from the fulness that is in Christ all seasonable and necessary supplies. Without such co-operation on your part he can scarcely hope to bear up under the pressure of the load that is laid upon him. He is ready at times to complain, as Moses did under the weight that had been laid upon him : " Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant ? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burthen of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people ? Have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me p." Learn then, brethren, to sympathize with him ; and '' labour fervently and without ceasing in prayer to God for him, that he may be enabled to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God'',"]
2. An anxious desire to answer the end of his*^ exertions —
[Is a minister thus deeply exercised for his people's good, and should not they be anxious for their own ? Is he harassed with unremitting solicitude, and should they be sitting in a state of indifference? Know, brethren, that the very circum- stance of God's having set apart an order of men to labour for your souls, is a very abundant proof that your souls are of an inestimable value, and that all the anxiety you can feel is less than they call for at your hands. Do but consider, that every moment you are ripening either for heaven or for hell ; every action, every word, and every thought, is enhancing either your happiness or misery for ever. More particularly are you responsible for all the means of grace which you enjoy, and for all the efforts which are used for your salvation. Should not this thought fill you with fear and trembling, more especially
'" Rom. XV. 30. n Phil, i, 19,
" 2 Cor. i. 11. Eph. vi. 18, 10. p Numb, xi, 11, 12, 14.
1 Col. iv. 12.