'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Prayer is thus put alone, apart from the armour. Perhaps this is because all the parts of the armour must be used in a spirit of prayer, of prayer and watchfulness, for watching is mentioned too. Yes, we must " pray without ceasing." Whatever else we do, we must pray; praying always," he says, supplication in the Spirit."

"with all prayer and

Without prayer, we

cannot really use any part of the armour.

But for whom are we to pray? For ourselves, certainly. That Satan may not prevail against us, that our armour may defend us indeed, that we may be good soldiers of Christ. But this is not what the Apostle says here.. "Praying always... for all saints;" that is, for our fellow-Christians, and for all of them. Do not we often forget to do this? Yet it is a real duty, a

part of every Christian's duty. If Christians did it more for one another, how greatly would Satan's power be lessened, how much strength and help would surely be given! And we can pray, where

ever we are.

But again, the Apostle begs them to pray for him, that he might open his mouth boldly to preach the Gospel. Christians should pray much for the ministers of the Gospel, especially for their own ministers. Thus they may help forward the work of Christ, though they themselves be laid aside from it. Sometimes an active labourer in Christ's service is laid aside, by sickness, or by some other cause. He used to be of great service; zealous, active, persevering, ready for every good work, he was the minister's right hand. He is much missed. Ah, but he can still work, for he can pray, and pray for his minister. for his minister. His help is not really withdrawn, as long as he can pray; it is only changed to another kind of help. Perhaps he was so busy before that he did not pray enough. Now let him pray more. From his retirement, from his sick-room, let him beseech God to bless the preaching of the Word in the place in which he lives, to give boldness, zeal, and

faith to ministers, to send down the gift of His Holy Spirit, to quicken souls into spiritual life. Thus he will be a worker and a helper still, a soldier of the cross, a true yoke-fellow.

154.

CHAPTER XVIII.

STIRRING UP BY PUTTING IN REMEMBRANCE.

2 PETER I. 12—15.

12. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

In spiritual things we want putting in mind, even of that which we know well. For spiritual things are not like common things. Though we may know them well, yet we are apt to lose the impression of them on our hearts, to leave off feeling them, to grow cold and careless about them. We want putting in mind, and stirring up. We want to hear the same things again and again, "line upon line, line upon line."

There is something very solemn in the way in which St. Peter writes here. He was now an old man, and expected soon to die. "Knowing," he says, "that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me." He was at present in a tabernacle or tent only, meaning his mortal body; but he was soon going to put off the tabernacle, and to leave the world. As long as he stayed, he would remind them of the truth, and press it home to their hearts and consciences. Moreover, he would do his best, that even when he was gone, they should still remember what he had taught them; and, with that view, as well as for their instruction at the time, he wrote these letters to them. God has preserved these writings for us to this very day.