these two be conjoyned in the intention of our Saviour, sc. to pray for men and to offer himselfe a Sacrifice for them, may appeare by the wordsJoh. 17.19. of our Saviour himselfe, for these I sanctifie my selfe, that is, for these am I prepared to offer my selfe, that they might be sanctified by the truth; for these, that is, them for whom he prayed. And if Christ had intended to offer up himselfe an holy and propitiatory sacrifice for the sinnes of all and every man, he would rather have prayed his Father to accept his sacrifice for all men, then professe that he prayed not for all men. For whom Christ hath offered up himselfe a Sacrifice to put away sinne, for them doth he appeare before God in heaven:Heb. 9.24. and if he doth appeare before God for them, he doth also make request for them. But Christ prayed not for all men, professethJoh. 17.9. that he prayed not for the world. He prayed for beleevers and them that should beleeve hereafter, and testified that he would not pray for the rest. And it must be observed, that he prayeth for them that beleeve and shall beleeve, as they were Gods, and of God given to Christ,Joh. 6.37,39. which formally is not the same with beleevers, though it be materially.
They answer to this argument, that there is a two-fold intercession of Christ, one generall for all men that they might beleeve. The other speciall for beleevers, that they might be gloified.
If you aske the ground of this distinction, they say, Christ upon the Crosse prayed for his persecutours and them that put him to death, Father forgive them, they know not what they doe.Luk. 23.34. But if we search the Scripture we shall find no passage that saith, Christ prayed for every man that he might beleeve, nor is probable. For if he aske faith for all men, then absolutely or conditionally: not absolutely; for then all men should obtaine faith, because Christ was absolutely heard in whatsoever he absolutely prayed for. If upon condition, doth he then pray to his Father, that they might not resist the first grace offered, or that they might beleeve, if they doe not resist the first grace? But if absolutely he pray that they might not resist, then they doe not resist grace: if conditionally, that they might beleeve, if they doe not resist, then he prayeth that they might beleeve if they beleeve: for not to resist the first grace is to obey it, that is, to beleeve. Besides, if Christ pray for all men that they might beleeve, then also that they might enjoy the Gospell, which is the meanes of faith: and that either absolutely, and they[errata 1] should enjoy the Gospell, which we know they doe not;or
- ↑ Correction: and they should be amended to and then
