too SERMONS upon Semi.i<2. that place for one, Lake 23. 34. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they de ; where he prayed for his Perfecuttgs, fome of which never were converted. T Anfwer; t. We mutt difinguifh the Prayers of Chrift as an Holy Man, and the Prayers of Chrift as Mediator. So Camero. Owen, p. 44, &c. Gomarus iri locum, & Rainaldua de In- tereefone, &c. As he was a Holy Man, he was to lay afide all (hew of Revenge. This was not a Prayer, by virtue of his Office as Mediator, but in anfwet to his Duty, as he was fubje& to the Law,and a private Perlon. Thole things which he did in obedience to the Law as a private Perlon, were not Ads of Mediation, they were A&s of the Mediator, but not as Mediator. He taught us to pray for Enemies, Mat.5.44. Lave your Enemies, Herr them that curfi you, dogood to them that hate you, and pray for them that defpiteful y of you, and perfecate pie. Revenge is forbidden, and Pardon and Prayer injoined. 2. Chrift did not pray for all his Perfecutors, and every one of them, but only for thole that finned out of Ignorance, as the words imply ; ehietfy for the Randers -by, rather than the Prieas and Pharifees, many of which came rather out of Curiofity than Defpight. Yea, this Supplication was effe&ual and Cuccesful to all the Elea in- tended. This Prayer brought in three thoufand, Ails 2.41. who are charged with Chriß's Death, Vcr.23. and 36. and again five thoufand, A f.4.4. who are charged with Ignorance in this Matter, A&s 3. 15. And killed the Prince of Life. VerC 17. I trot, that through Ignorance ye did it, as did alto your Raler.r. 3. Again, they urge Yerf. 21. That the World may believe that thou he feast me. S fay that by the World.is meant, the Unregenerate Ele &. This, tho it blunteth the force of the Obje &ion, yeti think it not fo full an Anfsver. r. Becaufe it is not direly made for them. Mark, it is not a Prayer, but a Rearon of Prayer; Chrift would have prayed more direaly for the unregenerate Elea. 2. He would have Prayer for a more effe&ual Means of Converfion, than the be- holding the Unity and Concord of his Church ; That they may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee ; that they alfa may be one in no, that the World may knarr that than half fink toe. 3. The word World, in this whole Chapter, is taken for the Reprobate World, Or thofe which are oppofed to them, which are committed to him by his Father. 4. The fubthance of that Prayer is for the Elea not yet converted, for Chrift pray- eth for all thatfaall believe through their Word,Ver.2o. And then,that theymay be all one,8&c. that the World may believe that thou haft feet me 5 fo that the Unregenerate Elea are not intended. Well, but then loth Chrift pray for the Reprobate World, that they may believe? I Anfwer; No, Faith, or Believing, is there taken for a more full Convi &i- on, that they may be convinced and rendred more inexcufable. It is not taken in a arid fence, for a faring Comprehenfionand Receiving of Chtift, but for a Convi &ion and Acknowledgment. Divitons in the Church,ufually breed Atheism in the World ; all is falle, when fo many Ways and Differences : So think they, Chrift is an Impoftor, the Word a Fable. Now this kind of Convi &ion is not only termed Believing in Scripture, but explained, Yerf. 23. That the World may know that thou haft feet me. Nay, let us grant,that Faith is taken in the higheft and fride1 fenfe ; yet there is a difference between praying for filch a thing as may be a likely means of working Faith, and praying that they may believe: Chrift only prayeth, that his People may be one, that the World may not plead Prejudice; at moth, he doth but obliquely retied upon the World in that Prayer, that they may have means of Convi&ion, but not Grace. Chrift denieth that the World either hath, or ever (hall have the Grace of Faith; Verf. 25. O Righteona Father, the World hash not known thee; but I have known thee, and theft have known that thou haft fent me. And the fpecial Revlon why the Ele& have known, tho the World have not known, is rendred, Yrf. 26. I have declared unto them thy Name, and will declare it : By Which is meant, the fpecial manifeltation of his Grace, given to Believers of all Ages; which was given to the Difciples of that prefent Age, and will be given to all future Believers. A ferions confideration of the Context, Will re- fute all there Sophifms. Thus I have taken off the Obje &ions. Let me handle one Doubt more. But if they were abfolutely predeftinated, Why doth Chrift pray for them ? I Anfwer ; Predefination includeth all things, that are neceffary to the Salvation of the predethinated ; and fo the Prayers of Chrift mull be taken in, as well as other Means. Take
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