Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Our Duty to Pray for One Another

William Attersoll, A Commentary Upon the Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers, p. 806 (re: Num. 21.7):

[And Moses prayed for the people.]...The Doctrine from this place is this; It is our duty to pray for one another. The Lord requireth of us, not only to commit to God, and commend in our prayers the Saints, but to be mindful of our enemies, and them that hate us, and to desire their good and conversion. This affection we see in Abraham, who prayed earnestly and oftentimes for the Sodomites, that God would spare them, & not destroy the righteous with the wicked, but rather to spare the wicked for the righteous sake. This was also in Samuel, when the people besought him to pray for them that they died not, he said, God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, and case praying for you, &c. 2 Sam. 12, 23. How often did Moses & Aaron pray for Pharoah, and spread out their hands unto the Lord, That the plagues might cease, and that he might know that the earth is the Lords? Exod. 9, 29. This duty Christ our Saviour setteth down as a rule to guide us, both by word of mouth, and by example of life. For he taught his Disciples this Doctrine, Mat. 5.44. Love your enemies: bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that hurt you, and persecute you, &c. Now this point as Christ preacheth, so he practiceth and prayeth for his enemies, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luk. 23.24. Thus did the faithful witness of God, Stephen, when he was stoned, he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts 7, 60.

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