4. How he prayed. He pleadeth for them : ' Forgive them, for they know not what they do.' You see he pitcheth upon the most favour- able construction that could be made of their fact ; it is a bad fact, but they are poor ignorant people. Arguments in prayer imply earnest- ness ; and Christ useth such an argument as might most lessen the offence, and be accepted with God. The usual ])lea is bare ignorance; and therefore Peter useth that : Acts iii. 17, ' 1 wot ye did it in ignor- ance.' So Acts xvii. 30, ' The times of ignorance God winked at.' So 1 Tim. i. 13, ' I did it ignorantly, and in unbelief.' If any excuse will serve, that doth. Oh, consider how willing Christ is to save poor lost sinners ! Here is a great deal of comfort for poor, humble souls, who- ever they be.
[1.] Are they men that are sensible of their natural estate, oppressed with the sense of their sins, that think Christ will not regard them ? He prayeth for the transgressors. Cannot you believe ? See that
ISA. LIII. 12.] THE FIFTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 491
place, John xvi. 10, ' He shall convince the world of righteousness, for 1 go to the Father.' Christ is gone to send the comforting Spirit, that shall give you clear gospel ; he is gone to heaven to plead with the Father for you. You desire to believe, and Christ prayeth that you may. Do not think that Christ is only careful of the elect re- generate, he is also careful of the elect uncalled : John x. 16, ' And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold ; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice.' He hath regard to those in that state you apprehend yourselves to be in. And he doth not only care for you, but pray for you : John xvii. 20, ' Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word.' As he wooeth you by his Spirit, so the Father for your sakes. Would you believe, then all were clear : Christ is praying you may believe. You are dealing with yourselves, with your own hearts, and Christ is dealing with the Father in heaven about the same matter. There is comfort in this word transgressors.
[2.] Are they believers that groan under wants, or inward and outward distresses ? Christ, that interceded for transgressors, cer- tainly will intercede for you. Oh, if unbelievers have comfortable hopes— Christ prayed for them — what will he do for you ? It is a mighty comfort that you have by Christ's intercession what you would have : Jer. xxx. 21, ' Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me, saith the Lord ? ' Christ hath engaged all his bowels and pities, that he will draw nigh to God, and plead with him for your sakes. Christ prayeth when you pray; the Spirit of Christ prays in you, and Christ himself prays for you. What is it that troubleth you? Do the cares of the world encroach upon your spirits and encumber them ? Or else are you dejected by the fears and sorrows (^ it ? In John xvii. 15, Christ prayed that you might be ' kept from the evil ' of the world, either the one or the other way. Do you want the comforts of the Spirit, and do you sit in darkness, and see no light ? John xiv. 16, 17, ' I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.' Is it opposition against your private endeavours in duty, or public endeavours for reformation ? Zech. iii. 2, 'And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee.' Is it for unity among God's people ? John xvii. 21, ' That they may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.' Or for success in duties? Kev. viii. 3, 4, ' Another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne : and the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.' Or is it for deliver- ance ? Zech. i. 12, * And the angel of the Lord answered and said, How long wilt thou not have mercy upon Jerusalem ? ' And he would not give over till God gave him some comfortable words, ver. 13.
492 A PRACTICAL EXPOSITION UPON [IsA. LIII. 12.
And he made intercession for the transgressors.
The last observation from this last clause is this : —
That Jesus Christ is, and is alone, the Intercessor for poor sinners.
I shall be very brief on this point, because so many English authors have treated upon it, to whose judicious resolution 1 refer you.