ry life
of heaven upon earth. No wonder that he is not tempted to trust in any
human means, but looks for it from heaven alone. Again, I say, the more
we take Paul's prayers as our pattern, and make his desires our own for
believers for whom we pray, the more will prayer to the God of heaven
become as our daily breath.

PAUL'S REQUESTS FOR PRAYER.

These are no less instructive than his own prayers for the saints. They
prove that he does not count prayer any special prerogative of an
apostle; he calls the humblest and simplest believer to claim his right.
They prove that he does not think that only the new converts or feeble
Christians need prayer; he himself is, as a member of the body,
dependent upon his brethren and their prayers. After he had preached the
gospel for twenty years, he still asks for prayer that he may speak as
he ought to speak. Not once for all, not for a time, but day by day, and
that without ceasing, must grace be sought and brought down from heaven
for his work. United, continued waiting on God is to Paul the only hope
of the Church. With the Holy Spirit a heavenly life, the life of the
Lord in heaven, entered the world; nothing but unbroken communication
with heaven can keep it up.

Listen how he asks for prayer, and with what earnestness--Rom. xv. 30:
"_I beseech you_, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for
the love of the Spirit, that ye _strive together with me in your
prayers_ to God for me; that I may be delivered from them which do not
believe in Judaea; and may come unto you with joy by the will of God."
How remarkably both prayers were answered: Rom. xv. 5, 6, 13. The
remarkable fact that the Roman world-power, which in Pilate with Christ,
in Herod with Peter, at Philippi, had proved its antagonism to God's
kingdom, all at once becomes Paul's protector, and secures him a safe
convoy to Rome, can only be accounted for by these prayers.

2 Cor. i. 10, 11: "In whom we trust that He will yet deliver us, _ye
also helping together by prayer_ for us." Eph. vi. 18, 19: "Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, for all saints;
_and for me_ that I may open my mouth boldly, that therein I may speak
boldly as I ought to speak." Phil. i. 19: "I know that this (trouble)
shall turn to my salvation, _through your prayer_, and the supply of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ." Col. iv. 2, 3, 4: "Continue in prayer; withal
also _praying for us_, that God would open unto us