our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Note. It is a thought very near the heart of faithfu] ministers, and all God's believing people, to be useful to others, especially in spiritual things.

Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians.

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1 Thessalonians v.- -23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Note.-God's counsel should be mingled with prayer for the power of God to make the counsel accepted and useful.

2 THESSALONIANS,

Paul prays for the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians i.-11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note. The glory of God should be our chief desire and

aim in all our prayers for ourselves and our fellow believers.

Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians ii.-10 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Note.--Experience of God's loving kindness in the past, is a great encouragement to prayer for present and future blessings.

Prayer of Paul for the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians iii.-5 And the Lord direct your. hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Note. It is of great moment that God direct our hearts aright; for how often do our desires and affections go after wrong objects! God in Christ is to be loved and sought unto first of all.

Prayer of Paul for the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians iii.-16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. Lord be with you all.

The

Note.—There is no true abiding-peace but that which the Lord gives. How precious! peace always, by all means, freely bestowed by the Lord of peace!

2 TIMOTHY.

Paul prays for Timothy.

2 Timothy i.-3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without

ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith, that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Note.-Whilst we pray for our friends, and thank God for the good that is in them, we should also thank God for putting such prayers into our hearts.

Paul's prayer for Onesiphorus.

2 Timothy i.-16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Note.-Onesiphorus had been kind to Paul when he greatly needed kindness; and the best thing that Paul could pray for on behalf of Onesiphorus, was that the Lord's mercies might abound towards him, and his house. It is our duty to show gratitude in every way to our fellow-men for benefits received, and over and above all to bear our benefactors on our hearts in our prayers.

Paul's prayer for Timothy.

2 Timothy ii.-7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Note. We must look to Him who has given us the
Word, to give us understanding in the Word.

Paul's prayer regarding Alexander the coppersmith.

2 Timothy iv.-14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Note. It is allowed to refer the adversaries of God and his truth to God himself, to be dealt with in righteousness by him.

Paul's prayer for Timothy.

2 Timothy iv.-22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Note.-Let us be mainly concerned for the spiritual welfare of others, whilst we do not overlook their temporal welfare.

PHILEMON.

Paul prays for Philemon.

Philemon.-4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers. 5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual, by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Note.-Prayer for others makes a large part of the prayers of God's people: so it evidently was with Paul.

Philemon and others pray for Paul.

Philemon.-22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

Paul for Philemon.

Philemon.-25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

HEBREWS.

Paul's prayer for the Hebrew Christians. Hebrews xiii.-20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Note.-Progress and final perfection in holiness, is

what is mainly to be desired and sought for ourselves and others, from God through Jesus Christ.

1 PETER.

Peter's prayer for believers.

1 Peter v.-10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you: 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Note-When called to suffer, we may pray that our sufferings be shortened, if the Lord will; and that holy strength and peace may settle down on us when our sufferings have passed away; and we should ask that there be no wavering of faith, nor turning aside from following the Lord by reason of sufferings experienced or dreaded.