which Christ would not pray, why should it be interpreted of speciall Intercession, seeing our Saviour (as they confesse) neither laid down his life, nor made generall Intercession for such as such, that they might be brought to the faith, or be partakers of the merits of his death? Our Saviour in that his prayer opposeth the world to them that are given unto him of the Father, and as to be given unto him of the Father, notes somewhat precedent to effectuall vocation and lively faith, though every one that is given unto him doth or shall beleeve, so the world notes a state antecedent to wilfull contempt, though they that be of this world; if they live under the Gospell, will prove themselves contemners, Joh. 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that commeth unto me, I will in no wise cast out, saith Christ. But to come unto Christ is to beleeve in him by effectuall vocation, Joh. 1. 10. The world knew not Christ: but they were the world, before they shut their eyes against the light, and refused Christ offering himselfe unto them. Joh 3. 19. They are the world who are not given unto Christ, are not his sheep, his people, his brethren, believe not in him, be disobedient, cast out, though they never stubbornly contemned the Gospell: because the sound therof never came into their eares, that light never shined amongst them. And now for conclusion of this argument, let this one thing be added, that if we search the Scripture we shall find no mention of this two-fold Intercession of Christ properly mediatory, one generall, the other speciall, which some of late have devised: but that he makes Intercession for all and every of them that are given unto him of the Father, and only for them, and that his Intercession is ever certain and effectuall; as when he saith to Peter,Luke 22.32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not:and to all the Apostles,Joh. 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. And when we heare from Christ himselfe, that according to the proper office of his Mediatorship he makes Intercession only for them that are given unto him of the Father, we may conclude, that in speciall manner he offered up himself a sacrifice to the Father for them only. Other arguments are alleadged for confirmation of this truth, which who list may reade at large in sundry Treatises of this matter: but it would be too long to insist upon each particular, thereforehere
