Thirdly, Christ in those words doth not so much as pray for those men that they might believe, but only that that sin of them in cru- cifying of him might be forgiven, not laid to their charge. Hence to conclude, therefore he intercedeth for all men that they may be- lieve, even because he prayed that the sin of crucifying himself might be forgiven them that did it, is a strange inference.
Fourthly, There is another evident limitation in the business ; for among his crucifiers he prays only for them that were present at his death, amongst whom, doubtless, many came more out of curiosity, to see and observe, as is usual in such cases, than out of malice and despite. So that whereas some urge that notwithstanding this prayer, yet the chief of the priests continued in their unbelief, it is not to the purpose, for it cannot be proved that they were present at his cruci- fying.
Fifthly, It cannot be affirmed with any probability that our Saviour should pray for all and every one of them, supposing some of them to be finally impenitent: for he himself knew full well "what was in man," John ii. 25; yea, he " knew from the beginning who they v/ere that believed not," chap. vi. 64. Now, it is contrary to the rule which we have, 1 John v. 16, " There is a sin unto death," etc., to
196 THE DEATH OF DEATH, [BOOK I.
pray for them whom we know to be finally impenitent, and to sin unto death. ^
Sixthly, It seems to me that this supplication was effectual and successful, that the Son was heard in this request also, faith and for- giveness being granted to them for whom he prayed ; so that this makes nothing for a general, ineffectual intercession, it being both special and effectual: for, Acts iii., of them whom Peter tells, that they " denied the Holy One, and desired a murderer," verse 14, " and killed the Prince of Life," verse 15, — of these, I say, five thousand believed : chap. iv. 4, " Many of them which heard the word believed, and the number of them was about five thousand." And if any others were among them whom our Saviour prayed for, they might be converted afterward Neither were the rulers without the com- pass of the fruits of this prayer; for "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith," cliap. vL 7. So that nothing can possibly be hence inferred for the purpose intended.
Seventhly, We may, nay we must, grant a twofold praying in our Saviour; — one, by virtue of his office as he was mediator; the other, in answer of his duty, as he was subject to the law. It is true, he who was mediator was made subject to the law; but yet those things which he did in obedience to the law as a private per- son were not acts of mediation, nor works of him as mediator, though of him who was mediator. Now, as he was subject to the law, our Saviour was bound to forgive offences and wrongs done unto him, and to pray for his enemies ; as also he had taught us to do, whereof in this he gave us an example : Matt. v. 44, " I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" which doubtless he inferreth from that law, Lev. xix. 18, " Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy joeople, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," — quite contrary to the wicked gloss put upon it by the Pharisees. And in this sense our Saviour here, as a private person, to whom revenge was forbidden, pardon enjoined, prayer commanded, prays for his very enemies and crucifiers; which doth not at all concern his interceding for us as mediator, wherein he was always heard, and so is nothing to the purpose in hand.
Again, John xvii. 21-23 is urged to confirm this general interces- sion, which we have exploded; our Saviour praying that, by the unity, concord, and flourishing of his servants, the world might believe and know that God had sent him. From which words, though some make a seeming flourish, yet the thing pretended is no way confirmed; for, —
First, If Christ really intended and desired that the whole world, or all men in the world, should believe, he would also, no doubt, have
END OF Christ's death as actually accoiviplished. 197
prayed for more effectual means of grace to be granted imto them than only g, beholding of the blessed condition of his (which yet is granted only to a small part of the world) ; at least for the preaching of the word to them all, that by it, as the only ordinary way, they might come to the knowledge of him. But this we do not find that ever he prayed for, or that God hath granted it ; nay, he blessed his Father that so it was not, because so it seemed good in his sight, Matt. xi. 25, 26.
Secondly, Such a gloss or interpretation must not be put uj)on the place as should run cross to the express words of our Saviour, verse 9, " I pray not for the world;" for if he here prayed that the world should have true, holy, saving faith, he prayed for as great a blessing and privilege for the world as any he procured or interceded for for his own. Wherefore, —