8. The great sin of want of love, with all its aggravations, Matt. 24:12;
5. The state and condition of the persons between whom this duty is naturally to be exercised, as,—(1.) Children of one Father, Mal. 2:10;
(2.) Members of one body, 1 Cor. 12:12, 13; (3.) Partakers of the same hope, Eph. 4:4; (4.) Objects of the same hate of the world, 1 John
3:13:
6. The eminency of this grace,—(1.) In itself, and divine nature, Col.
2:2; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 13; (2.) In its usefulness, Prov. 10:12, 15:17; Gal. 5:13; Heb. 13:1; (3.) In its acceptance with the saints, Eph. 1:15,
16; Ps. 5:11; 1 Cor. 13:
7. The impossibility of performing any other duty without it, Gal. 5:6; 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 John 4:20:
8. The great sin of want of love, with all its aggravations, Matt. 24:12; 1 John 3:14, 15, and the like;—are so many, and of such various consideration, as not now to be insisted on.
Love, which is the bond of communion, maketh out itself and is peculiarly exercised in these things following:—
RULE II. Continual prayer for the prosperous state of the church, in God's protection towards it.
Ps. 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."
Phil: 1:4, 5, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
Rom. 1:9, "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."
Acts 12:5, "Peter was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
Isa. 62:6, 7, "Ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence; and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
Eph. 6:18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."
Col. 4:12, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."
EXPLICATION II. Prayer, as it is the great engine whereby to prevail with the Almighty, Isa. 45:11, so it is the sure refuge of the saints at all times, both in their own behalf, Ps. 61:2, and also of others, Acts
12:5. It is a benefit which the poorest believer may bestow, and the greatest potentate hath no power to refuse. This is the beaten way of the soul's communion with God, for which the saints have many gracious promises of assistance, Zech.
12:10, Rom.
8:26; innumerable precepts for performance, Matt. 7:7, 1 Thess. 5:17, 1 Tim. 2:8; with encouragements thereunto, James 1:5, Luke 11:9; with precious promises of acceptance, Matt. 21:22, John 16:24, Ps. 50:15;
—by all which, and divers other ways, the Lord hath abundantly testified his delight in this sacrifice of his people. Now, as the saints are bound to pray for all men, of what sort soever, 1 Tim. 2:1, 2, unless they are such as sin unto death, 1 John 5:16, yea, for their persecutors, Matt. 5:44, and them that hold them in bondage, Jer.
29:7, so most especially for all saints, Phil. 1:4, and peculiarly for those with whom they are in fellowship, Col. 4:12. The Lord having promised that "upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon
her assemblies" there shall be "a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night," Isa. 4:5, it is every one's duty to pray for its accomplishment. He is not worthy of the privileges of the church who continues not in prayer for a defence upon that glory.
Prayer, then, for the good, prosperity, flourishing, peace, increase, edification, and protection of the church is a duty every day required of all the members thereof.
1. Estimation of the ordinances; 2. Concernment for God's glory; 3.
The honour of Jesus Christ; 4. Our own benefit and spiritual interest; with, 5. The expressness of the command, are sufficient motives hereunto.
RULE III. Earnest striving and contending, in all lawful ways, by doing and suffering, for the purity of the ordinances, honour, liberty, and privileges of the congregation, being jointly assistant against opposers and common adversaries.
Jude 3, "And exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
Heb. 12:3, 4, "Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
1 John 3:16, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Gal. 5:1, 13, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty."