But there are some persons which Ministers must in a special manner commend to God in their prayers; namely, the people which God hath committed to their special charge, A good House-keeper will relieve ⟨p. 21⟩and help his neighbours and strangers, but he hath a greater regard, and more tender respect for his children and those of his own Family. Our prayers, like Sir Francis Drakes ship must encompass the whole World, even all in the land of the living that have not sinned the sin unto death; I will that supplications and prayers be made for all men, 1 Tim: 2.1. The higher a man is, the further he seeth, and the richer a man is, the more he relieveth; the higher a man is in holiness, the further he seeth into others indigencies, and the richer he is in grace, the more he by prayer begs the relief of their necessities. But in the wide earth our eye must principally be on Gods vineyard to water that with our tears, and to beg the influence of heaven, for the refreshing and ripening the fruits thereof; Praying always with all prayers for all Saints, Ephes: 6.18. the tongue may well pray for the other members of the same body; Christ hath taught us this in that Prayer of prayers, as a Father calleth it. Our Father; Father speaketh our faith in God, Our, enjoineth charity to our Brethren; but in this vineyard our love and labour must be specially for that part of it which is committed to our trust. Of all debts Specialties must first be paid: Prayer is a debt, God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you, saith Samuel, and and in regard of our particular parishes, a Bond, a specially. We are bound to thank God always for you, 2 Thess: 1.3. The Ministers prayers as well as his parts are the common stock of the parish, in which all have a share. Or as the Buckets which hang up in the Churches at London, they are useful and helpful to any part of the City as occasion is, but specially ⟨p. 22⟩for the benefit of those parishes in which they are. We must as some Shop-keepers, drive a trade a far off, beyond the Seas, but be sure not to be idle in our shops at home. We must mind others at the Throne of grace, but be sure to remember our own people. He that starveth his family, is not likely to feast his Neighbours.
But there are some persons which Ministers must in a special manner commend to God in their prayers; namely, the people which God hath committed to their special charge, A good House-keeper will releive ⟨p. 21⟩and help his neighbours and strangers, but he hath a greater regard, and more tender respect for his children and those of his own Family. Our prayers, like Sir Francis Drakes ship must incompass the whole World, even all in the land of the living that have not sinned the sin unto death; I will that supplications and prayers be made for all men, 1 Tim: 2.1. The higher a man is, the further he seeth, and the richer a man is, the more he releiveth; the higher a man is in holiness, the further he seeth into others indigencies, and the richer he is in grace, the more he by prayer begs the releif of their necessities. But in the wide earth our eye must principally be on Gods vineyard to water that with our tears, and to beg the influence of heaven, for the refreshing and ripening the fruits thereof; Praying always with all prayers for all Saints, Ephes: 6.18. the tongue may well pray for the other members of the same body; Christ hath taught us this in that Prayer of prayers, as a Father calleth it. Our Father; Father speaketh our faith in God, Our, enjoyneth charity to our Brethren; but in this vineyard our love and labour must be specially for that part of it which is committed to our trust. Of all debts Specialties must first be paid: Prayer is a debt, God forbid that I should sin in ceasing to pray for you, saith Samuel, and and in regard of our particular parishes, a Bond, a specially. We are bound to thank God always for you, 2 Thess: 1.3. The Ministers prayers as well as his parts are the common stock of the parish, in which all have a share. Or as the Buckets which hang up in the Churches at London, they are useful and helpful to any part of the City as occasion is, but specially ⟨p. 22⟩for the benefit of those parishes in which they are. We must as some Shop-keepers, drive a trade a far off, beyond the Seas, but be sure not to be idle in our shops at home. We must mind others at the Throne of grace, but be sure to remember our own people. He that starveth his family, is not likely to feast his Neighbours.
