七月七日
请弟兄们为我们祷告。（帖前5：25）
今天我要用保罗的话，提醒各位读者恳切地为教牧师们祷告。我们的工作至关重大，千万人的祸福安危系于我们；我们为神引领人的灵魂乃是一种不朽的事业，我们的话或作了活的香气叫人活，或作了死的香气叫人死。我们担负著一个重大的责任，等到主来的时候，我们的手在一切人的血上都干干净净，那才是一个非同小可的恩典哪！我们好像是基督军兵中的指战员，是人和鬼所攻击所注目的特别标的；他们趁我们松懈的时候，追踪我们的脚跟大做工夫。我们的圣召有很多受试探的机会，而是你们所可避免的。
我们常因牧养和职务上的工作，自己反不能饱尝真道的滋味。我们逢见一切烦难的问题，我们便觉智有所不逮，力有所不能，心有所不及；我们看到有人退后，我们的心就难过伤痛；我们看见无数的人灭亡，我们的精神就消沉焦急。我们愿意使我们所传讲的能帮助你们；我们切望能使你们的儿女蒙福；我们也盼望对于圣徒和罪人都有所供献。
因此，亲爱的朋友！应当为我们祈求神。若我们失去你们的祷告，我们就成了一些可怜虫；但我们若有你们代祷的支持就鼓舞欢欣。你们幷不是仰望我们，而是仰望主赐你们属灵的福气，但有很多时候他也借着服侍他的仆人赐福于你们；因此当常常求神把他的福音的宝贝装在我们的瓦器里。我们，包括一切宣教士、牧师、传道人、神学生，都在耶稣里切切求你们：“请弟兄们为我们祷告。”
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.”
