2. In public cases. In these times of mutual provocation we are apt to return evil for evil and word for word, and to curse and pray against one another ; but we should labour to retiu-n good for evil, for injury doth not justify revenge. Religious quarrels are usually carried on with great hatred and animosity, for then religion feedeth the excess of passion, and instead of being a judge, becometh a party, and that which should be a restraint proveth fuel. Tiie quarrel between Christ and his ])ersecutors was a quarrel of religion, and yet he prays, ' Father, forgive them;' and if Christ did thus, why should not christians? Oh ! consider it — (1.) As to open enemies ; (2.) As to the undue carriage of brethren.
[1.] As to open enemies. Christ saith, Mat. v. 44, 'Love your
SERMON UPON LUKE XXIII. 34. 23
enemies, bless tliem tliat curse yoit^ do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.' Lest we should excuse ourselves by a colour and show of religion, and so give indulgence to the exorbitancy of our passions, Christ names 'persecutors,' that are not only our enemies, but Grod's enemies ; you are to pray for them, and wish them conviction of sin and reformation. And you see how Christ practiseth his own doctrine, and so taught us not only living, but dying. These were carried on by a blind zeal ; alas ! that they have no more light nor better principles. I doubt in all our divi- sions we have not plied this way of love ; if we did, they would be soon cured and healed. We pray one against another, and seek each other's ruin and destruction, but when have we commended our enemies to God's grace and pity ? And after all, we are apt to baptize our sufferings, which have been the effects of our pride and passion, with the glorious name of persecution, and that exasperateth our spirits, and we think it is but a duty to call for fire from heaven. We know not what manner of spirits we are of. An angry zeal hath the less of God in it, because it is so hastily kindled and so hardly suppressed.
[2.] As to undue carriage of brethren : James v. 10, ' Grudge not one against another, brethren ; ' fx,r] aTevd^ere, groan not. When they should commend each other to the grace of God, they groan one against another. We should willingly bury the remembrance of their injuries. There cannot be unity, sympathy, brotherly love amongst the Lord's people, unless there be a heart to pity the infirmities of one another, and a proneness of spirit to do good contrary to what they deserve at our hands.
Quest. But is it not lawful to pray for revenge ? Zechariah, when he was stoned between the temple and the altar, said, ' The Lord look upon it and require it,' 2 Chron. xxiv. 22 ; and David in the psalms prays that God would not pardon his enemies.
Ans. We cannot always imitate what the prophet did, who could know by special revelation who had sinned unto death, and therefore cannot use these imprecations unless conditionally. Their curses were predictions, and uttered by the spirit of prophecy, not by any private spirit. Meek and humble addresses to God, and wrestling for their good, suit better with us and the example of Jesus Christ : 1 Peter iii. 9, ' Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.' It is more suitable to Christianity to wish good to them that curse and injure you. If you will not imitate Christ, you are none of his disciples, nor will he be your Saviour, nor must you think to live and reign with him in heaven. You must overcome yourself, and corrupt nature, that thirsteth after revenge : Prov. xvi. 32, ' He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.' Overcome and shame the party that doeth the wrong : 1 Sam. xxiv. 17, ' And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.' Look upon them as objects of pity and compas- sion rather than of passion and anger : Eph. i. 32, ' Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Consider what God hath done to you that you may do the same to them.
21 SERMON UPON LUKE XXIII. 34.
Secondly, The next consideration of this prayer of Christ is as a taste and pledjj^e of his mediation and intercession. So it is prophesied, Isa. liii. 12, ' He was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.' Christ was placed in the midst of thieves, as the first chiuse is explained, Mark XV. 28 ; and he made intercession, that is, prayed for his persecutors. The whole chapter is a prophetical narration of the acts and sorrows of Christ upon the cross. In this public sense and consideration, let us see what may be gathered out of the clause, ' Father, forgive them.'