七月七日
請弟兄們爲我們禱告。（帖前5：25）
今天我要用保羅的話，提醒各位讀者懇切地爲教牧師們禱告。我們的工作至關重大，千萬人的禍福安危系于我們；我們爲神引領人的靈魂乃是一種不朽的事業，我們的話或作了活的香氣叫人活，或作了死的香氣叫人死。我們擔負著一個重大的責任，等到主來的時候，我們的手在一切人的血上都乾乾淨淨，那才是一個非同小可的恩典哪！我們好像是基督軍兵中的指戰員，是人和鬼所攻擊所注目的特別標的；他們趁我們鬆懈的時候，追踪我們的脚跟大做工夫。我們的聖召有很多受試探的機會，而是你們所可避免的。
我們常因牧養和職務上的工作，自己反不能飽嘗真道的滋味。我們逢見一切煩難的問題，我們便覺智有所不逮，力有所不能，心有所不及；我們看到有人退後，我們的心就難過傷痛；我們看見無數的人滅亡，我們的精神就消沉焦急。我們願意使我們所傳講的能幫助你們；我們切望能使你們的兒女蒙福；我們也盼望對于聖徒和罪人都有所供獻。
因此，親愛的朋友！應當爲我們祈求神。若我們失去你們的禱告，我們就成了一些可憐蟲；但我們若有你們代禱的支持就鼓舞歡欣。你們幷不是仰望我們，而是仰望主賜你們屬靈的福氣，但有很多時候他也借著服侍他的僕人賜福于你們；因此當常常求神把他的福音的寶貝裝在我們的瓦器裏。我們，包括一切宣教士、牧師、傳道人、神學生，都在耶穌裏切切求你們：“請弟兄們爲我們禱告。”
This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh
the reader’s memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most
earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the
text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is
Solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for
God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or
of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be
no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As
officers in Christ’s army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and
devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our
sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all
it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a
ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases,
and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our
hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to
profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to
be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us
with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but
happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our
Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those
blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the
earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the
whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do
in the name of Jesus beseech you
“BRETHREN, PRAY FOR
US.”
