Use or Application

           Use First.  It reproves those into whose hearts it never yet came to beg prayers for their own souls. Surely they are great strangers to themselves, and ig­norant what a privilege they lose!  As Christ said to the woman of Samaria, If thou hadst known the gift of God, and who it is that asks, thou wouldst have asked, and he would have given.  Did poor souls know who the saints are—what favourites with God, and how prevalent their prayers are with him—they would not willingly be left out of their remembrance. I never knew any but, as soon as God began to work upon them—though it were no more than to awaken their consciences—thought this worth the desiring.  It is natural for man in straits to crave help.  A servant or a child, when master or father are displeased and blows are threatened, if they know any that have interest in their favour, and are more likely to prevail with them than others, then they entreat such to be­come suitors for them.  When hunger and want pinch the poor, then, if they have any neighbour to be their friend, to speak to the parish for them, he shall soon hear of them.  Now, were the sense of their wants or troubles of a higher nature, would they not be as earn­est to desire prayers for their souls as now they are to beg bread for their bodies?  Well, you that fear God, and live among such, do your duty, though they have not hearts to desire it at your hands, pray over their stupid souls before the Lord.  When a friend is sick, and his senses are gone, you do not stay to send for the physician till he comes to himself and is able to desire you to do it for him.  You had need make the more haste to God for such as these, lest they go away in this apoplexy of conscience, and so be past praying for.

           Use Second. It reproves those who desire prayers of God’s people, but hypocritically; and they are such as set others on work, but pray not for them­selves—a certain sign of a naughty heart.  Thus pharaoh often called for Moses to pray for him and his land; but we read not that ever he made any ad­dress himself to God, but thought it enough to send another on his errand; whereas a gracious soul will be sure to meet him he employs at the work.  ‘I beseech you,’ saith Paul, ‘to strive together with me’ in your prayers to God for me.  He did not slip the collar off his own neck to put it on another’s, but drew together with them in it; else they that pray for thee may pray the mercy away from thee.

           Use Third.  It reproves such as desire prayers of others, but it is only in some great pinch.  If their chariot is set fast in some deep slough of affliction, then they send in all haste for some to draw them out with their prayer, who, at another time, change their thoughts of the saints’ prayers, yea, and of God him­self.  The frogs once gone, and Moses hears no more of Pharaoh till another plague rubs up his memory. Moses hears not Pharaoh cry till Pharaoh hears the frogs croak.  Thus, as they say of coral, it is soft in the water where it grows, and hard when taken out; many, their consciences are soft and tender whilst sleeping in affliction, but hard and stout when that is removed. Pharaoh that so oft called Moses up to prayer, at last could not endure the sight of him, but forewarned him for ever coming in his sight.  O take heed of this! When once the wretch came to that pass, and so strangely changed his note as to drive Moses from him, that had so often bailed and rescued him out of the hands of divine vengeance, then he had not long to live, for he removed the very dam, and lift up the sluice to let in ruin upon himself.

           Use Fourth.  It reproves such as desire others to pray for them, but vaingloriously—to gain a reputa­tion for religion.  Beware of this; yet charge not all for the hypocrisy of some, neither deprive thyself of the benefit of others' prayers out of an imaginary fear lest thou shouldst play the hypocrite therein. Watch thy heart, but waive not the duty.  Because some have strangled themselves with their own garters, wilt thou therefore be afraid to wear thine?  Or because some canting beggars go about the country to show their sores, which they desire not to have cured, wilt not thou therefore, when wounded, go to the chirurgeon?