I greatly need, and earnestly desire, the prayers of the pious people in your place. And the things which I would wish to be prayed for on my behalf are chiefly these:
1. A more pure, fervent and heavenly zeal for the glory of God and for the souls of all sorts of people among you, old and young, godly and profane, rich and poor.
2. Wisdom to insinuate the truth of God into the hearts and consciences of every sort of persons – the truth of God in His law and in His gospel.
3. Indefatigable strength of spirit to continue unweariedly in private and public labours for the salvation of every one among you, according to my measure and opportunity.
4. A great measure of the spirit of supplication to produce a character corresponding to Isaiah 62:6,7: “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: 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”.
5. The revelation of the arm of God gloriously to attend and to succeed whatever poor endeavours, in public or in private, I may be enabled to use. Our moments are flying away, and our eternal Judge is at the door; whatever is to be done for ourselves or others, must be done quickly and with our might.
May the salvation of God eminently come to your house! In this I shall greatly rejoice.
Endnotes:
1. An extract from a letter by the noted minister of Anderston, Glasgow, in the early nineteenth century.
Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – July 2003