About his prayer we are to observe, both what he said, and what our Saviour answered. His words were these, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, vers. 42. ⟨p. 409⟩In which words of his prayer, I note, the wonder of his faith, the truth of his devotion, and the humility of his Petition. His faith was to be wondered at, both for the things believed, and the circumstances of believing. For the things believed, he here saith four great things of Christ: First, that he was Lord and King. Secondly, that his Kingdom was spiritual, and not of this world. Thirdly, that in that very abasement he was possessed of a Kingdom; he saith not, When thou shalt come to reign, but, when thou comest reigning. Fourthly, that he had power to let in all penitent sinners into that Kingdom. The circumstances make it more wonderful; that he should confess all this, and yet have no Preacher to instruct him, and Christ himself so much abased, and being a man that had not seen his former Miracles, that he should say thus, at this time, when the cutting of the sick was ceased, and the giving sight to the blind, and the raising of the dead; and that he should thus acknowledge these glories in Christ, when the great Rabbis, the Priests and Scribes blasphemed him, and could not acknowledge him for the Messiah. The truth of his devotion appears in this, that he asks not temporal but eternal life: He is more careful to pray for the salvation of his soul, than for the deliverance of his body. The humility of his petition appears in this, that he asks not for a great place in heaven, or to sit at his right hand, or his left (as the sons of Zebedee did) nor to be preferred before others, nor at all to prescribe unto Christ, but only desires to be remembered of him, for any place in heaven.
About his prayer we are to obserue, both what he said, and what our Sauiour answered. His words were these, Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome, vers. 42. ⟨p. 409⟩In which words of his prayer, I note, the wonder of his faith, the truth of his deuotion, and the humilitie of his Petition. His faith was to be wondered at, both for the things beleeued, and the circumstances of beleeuing. For the things beleeued, hee here saith foure great things of Christ: First, that he was Lord and King. Secondly, that his Kingdome was spirituall, and not of this world. Thirdly, that in that very abasement he was possessed of a Kingdome; he saith not, When thou shalt come to reigne, but, when thou commest reigning. Fourthly, that he had power to let in all penitent sinners into that Kingdome. The circumstances make it more wonderfull; that he should confesse all this, and yet haue no Preacher to instruct him, and Christ himselfe so much abased, and being a man that had not seene his former Miracles, that he should say thus, at this time, when the cuting of the sicke was ceased, and the giuing sight to the blinde, and the raising of the dead; and that he should thus acknowledge these glories in Christ, when the great Rabbies, the Priests and Scribes blasphemed him, and could not acknowledge him for the Messias. The truth of his deuotion appeares in this, that he askes not temporall but eternall life: He is more carefull to pray for the saluation of his soule, than for the deliuerance of his body. The humility of his petition appeares in this, that he askes not for a great place in heauen, or to sit at his right hand, or his left (as the sonnes of Zebedee did) nor to be preferred before others, nor at all to prescribe vnto Christ, but onely desires to be remembred of him, for any place in heauen.
