Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

After all these things, he saith, that he prayed for the trespassers. This is namely put in, to show that Jesus Christ in his death and passion, plaid the part of a priest: for if this had not ben done also, we should never have had all ye was requisite for the assurance of our salvation ⟨p. 143⟩True it is, that forsomuch as the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ is the sacrifice whereby our sins are wiped away, and his blood our washing and cleansing, his obedience the abolishing of all our rebellions, & the obtaining of our righteousness by this we have wherein to rejoice. Howbeit this is not all: Because it is said, That whosoever calleth upon the name of God shall be saved. Nevertheless,¹ how were it possible for us to have recourse unto God? What boldness were it for us to pray, and cry out with open mouth and say, O our father? Were not this overmuch presumption to come thus pure and clean to God, and vaunt our selves to be his children, if we had not the word to bear us in it? And again, where should we find such an Advocate and Proctor that would do so much for us, except we come to Jesus Christ? Thus then we see what the Prophet meant to add for a conclusion of that which went before. To wit, that Jesus Christ prayed for the trespassers. Now, this is very true, that he prayed of god his father when he was on the Cross, that he would pardon and forgive his persecutors. For these are his words, Father, saith he, I beseech thee pardon them, for they know not what they do.² Here we see what a prayer our Lord Jesus made for the trespassers, & for his enemies who so cruelly handled him, & by whose hands he was crucified. But it was not the meaning of the Prophet to speak only of this especial prayer, but rather to declare the Sacrificing of our Lord Jesus Christ. And by the way let us here well consider, that it was not for naught that he spake here of the Trespassers. It is said a little before, that he bear the sins of the people of God, and suffered for the transgressions of many: But now the Prophet attributeth another name to those for whom Christ prayed, & calleth them transgressors.

After all these thinges, he saithe, that he praid for the trespassers. This is namely put in, to shew that Iesus Christ in his death and passiō, plaid the part of a priest: for if this had not ben done also, we shuld neuer haue had al ye was requisit for ye assurāce of our saluatiō