“watching therein with thanksgiving.” For let this, he saith, be your work, to give thanks in
your prayers both for the seen and the unseen, and for His benefits to the willing and unwill-
ing, and for the kingdom, and for hell, and for tribulation, and for refreshment. For thus is
the custom of the Saints to pray, and to give thanks for the common benefits of all.
I know a certain holy man who prayeth thus. He used to say nothing before these words,
but thus, “We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits bestowed upon us the unworthy, from
the first day until the present, for what we know, and what we know not, for the seen, for
the unseen, for those in deed, those in word, those with our wills, those against our wills,
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for all that have been bestowed upon the unworthy, even us; for tribulations, for refreshments,
for hell, for punishment, for the kingdom of heaven. We beseech Thee to keep our soul holy,
having a pure conscience; an end worthy of thy lovingkindness. Thou that lovedst us so as
to give Thy Only-Begotten for us, grant us to become worthy of Thy love; give us wisdom
in Thy word, and in Thy fear. Only-Begotten Christ, inspire the strength that is from Thee.
Thou that gavest The Only-Begotten for us, and hast sent Thy Holy Spirit for the remission
of our sins, if in aught we have wilfully or unwillingly transgressed, pardon, and impute it
not. Remember all that call upon Thy Name in truth; remember all that wish us well, or the
contrary, for we are all men.” Then having added the Prayer882 of the Faithful, he there
ended; having made that prayer, as a certain crowning part, and a binding together for all.
For many benefits doth God bestow upon us even against our wills; many also, yea more,
without our knowledge even. For when we pray for one thing, and He doeth to us the reverse,
it is plain that He doeth us good even when we know it not.
Ver. 3. “Withal praying for us also.” See his lowlymindedness; he sets himself after them.
“That God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” He
means an entrance, and boldness in speaking. Wonderful! The great athlete said not “that
I may be freed from my bonds,” but being in bonds he exhorted others; and exhorted them
for a great object, that himself might get boldness in speaking. Both the two are great, both
the quality of the person, and of the thing. Wonderful! how great is the dignity! “The mys-
tery,” he saith, “of Christ.” He shows that nothing was more dearly desired by him than this,
to speak. “For which I am also in bonds; that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
(Ver. 4.) He means with much boldness of speech, and withholding nothing. His bonds
display, not obscure him. With much boldness he means. Tell me, art thou in bonds, and
dost thou exhort others? Yea, my bonds give me the greater boldness; but I pray for God’s
furtherance, for I have heard the voice of Christ saying, “When they deliver you up, be not
anxious how or what ye shall speak.” (Matt. x. 19.) And see, how he has expressed himself
in metaphor, “that God may open to us a door for the word”; (see, how unassuming he is;
even in his bonds, how he expresses himself;) that is, that He would soften their hearts. Still
882 The Lord’s Prayer.
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Colossians 3:18-25