A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 162. Of Ministers praying for their people.

Verse 20.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Co∣venant,

Verse 21.

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Iesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

THat which the Apostle required of the Hebrews on his behalf, he here per∣formeth* 1.1 for them, which is prayer. For this Text containeth an effectuall prayer for them. This is an especiall part of a Ministers Function. It is that which the Apostles do in all their Epistles. So did the Prophets use to pray for their peo∣ple. Samuel accounteth it a sin against the Lord to cease to pray for the people, 1 Sam. 12. 23. Our Lord Christ much used this duty in the daies of his flesh for his Church. He did sometimes spend a whole night therein, Luk. 6. 12. An effectuall prayer of his for his Church is registred, Ioh. 17. 6, &c.

Prayer is the means of obtaining all manner of good things, not for our selves only, but for others also: and prayer is very powerfull for these and other like ends. Of these and other motives to this duty, See the whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. Treat. 3. Part. 1. Of Prayer. §. 15, &c.

Let such Ministers as desire the prayers of their people for themselves, imitate this and other faithfull Ministers of God in praying for their people earnestly, fre∣quently, in publick and private, ordinarily and extraordinarily. Thus will their watching and pains▪taking for their people be more acceptable to God, and profi∣table to their people.

A greater part of the Apostles prayer is spent in describing him to whom he* 1.2 makes his prayer: and that by two of his eminent properties; namely, his Good∣ness, in this phrase, The God of peace: and his Greatness, in this, Which brought again from the dead: So as a serious consideration of his excellencies, on whom we call, and particularly of his Goodness and Greatness, is an especiall means to quicken up the spirit unto due prayer. See more hereof on the Guide to go to God, or Explanation of the Lords Prayer, §. 4, 6.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Minister must do what he requires.
• * 1.2

  Meditation on Gods excel∣lencies fits to prayer.