From the former observe, that Christ prayed for his persecutors.
486 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [ISA. LIII. 12.
Our translation inclinetli to this sense, as reading in the praeter tense : 'He made intercession for the transgressors;' whereas the original will bear, ' He shall make intercession for the transgressors,' as re- ferring it to some particular men, not transgressors indefinitely. The point being historical, the prophecy of the text and the testimony of Luke is confirmation sufficient. I shall inquire under what notion and consideration he made this prayer, and so apply it.
Christ in this and such like actions is to be considered in a double regard : —
1. As a holy, godly man ; so he was to fulfil all righteousness.
2. As a mediator and public person, that was to be our High Priest, to satisfy and intercede.
In the first sense the scripture proposeth Christ as an example ; in the second, as an object of our faith. His actions are partly for satis- faction, so his mediatory actions ; and partly for our imitation, as an exemplary pattern. Which distinction and several references not being weighed, we lose much comfort and instruction which other- wise we might find. You shall see these actions of Christ in scrip- ture are joined both together in one place : 1 Peter ii. 21, ' Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.' In the former clause he is to be looked upon and considered as Mediator ; in the other as an eminent, holy, and godly man, as a pattern. Both these two must be carefully distinguished, as in all other matters of this nature, so esi)ecially in the prayers of Christ ; as in that prayer, ' Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,' Mat. xxvi. 39. That prayer was uttered by Christ as a private, godly man, for as Mediator he did not desire it. As a private godly man, he was to have such natural abhorrences of evil as we have, and to refer himself to the will of God. And this distinction is the rather to be marked, because Christ's prayers as a godly man, his private prayers, were only a testimony and instance of duty, and so might not be granted. But as to his mediatory prayers, he was heard always, John xi. 42 ; for these were of equal merit with his sufferings, whose fruit and intent could not be frustrated and disannulled.
To apply this to the matter in hand : Was this prayer of Christ for the persecutors uttered as the private prayer of a godly man in obedience to the law, or as Mediator of the covenant ?
I answer — You must consider it both ways : —
1. As of a private man, a man subject to the law, and that would fulfil all righteousness, and would exemplify his own doctrine : Mat. V. 44, ' But I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despite- fully use you and persecute you.' Christ would teach us by his j)rac- tice, as well as by his precept, to pray for enemies. For ' knowing what was in man,' John ii. 25, that is, the state of men's hearts, whether they would be saved or no, and knowing some of these would not be saved, he could not pray for them as Mediator, but as a private man ; his prayers were conditional, that God would forgive them, in case they did re{)ent and believe. As when we pray God to bless a wicked man, and give him eternal life, we imply by giving him faith and repentance ; so did Christ as a testimony of duty and
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obedience, and so far as he prayed for them he was heard ; and there- fore to some of the persecutors they were but as the prayers of a private godly man, with a condition.
2. The prayers of a mediator, and so Christ absohitely prayed that Grod would look upon them in mercy ; and so he did, upon all those that did it in ignorance, for they enjoyed the fruit of these prayers. That intercession was the cause of the conversion of the three thou- sand ; for to those Peter speaketh, Acts ii. 23, ' Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain ;' and from the 37th verse downward, you shall see their conversion described, ver, 41, ' There were three thousand souls added to the church ;' they began to feel the effect of Christ's prayer. So Acts iii. 17, * And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.' He goeth by that argument that Christ useth in his prayers : the Mediator prayed for the pardon of those that did it in their ignorance. So that you see Christ's prayers were partly as the prayers of a mediator, and partly as of a private person. In the one there is something pro- pounded to our imitation ; in the other, to our comfort and faith.
First, For our imitation. Consider this act as the duty of a glorious saint who is gone before us. Christ is a rare and eminent instance of meekness, and patience, and love, nay, even love to his enemies. Oh that we could transcribe this copy, that such instances of obedience might be found in our hearts and ways ! We are poor, passionate spirits, that are ready to lose our lives with our sting ; like fine glasses, broken as soon as touched. We take up every discontent, and aggra- vate it, being ready to revenge the wrongs that are done to us, and cannot put up the least injuries and affronts without storming and indignation. Angry spirits will have satisfaction. We think provocation an excuse for passion. The son of an Israelitish woman and an Israelitish man strove in the camp, and the son blasphemed the name of the Lord, for which he was stoned to death. Lev. xxiv. 10-14. Christ was provoked, but he was not passionate, but prayed for his persecutors.