The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

His love to his enemies he shows, by praying for them, when they most outrageously and blasphemously persecuted him to the death: He said, Father forgive them, they know not what they do. The cry of their blasphemies and his innocent blood went up to heaven against them, but Jesus makes haste to send up the cry of his prayers for them, that they perish not for ever: and therefore the first words he speaks on the Cross, is the words of his intercession, Luke 23. 34. which should be an admirable pattern ⟨p. 423⟩to teach us to go, and do likewise. Never was there a greater man on earth, nor did ever man suffer such wrongs, and yet you see how he is affected: He that bids us pray for our enemies, doth it himself, in a harder case than ever can be ours. If we will be true disciples, we must show it by forgiving men their trespasses, and by praying for them: especially when we are about to die; if we would ever have God forgive us, we must forgive men their trespasses against us. This prayer of Christ was heard, as appears by the conversion of many of those enemies of his after his death: Yet observe, he prays not for such as sinned of malicious wickedness, but for such as sinned out of ignorant zeal, or general profaneness of Nature: many of the people were carried with blind zeal, and many of the Gentiles were ignorant of the true story of the life, and cause of Christ for which he suffered, those were curable, and for those he prays. And this may be a comfort to us, he that can observe this difference in his persecuting adversaries, will much more show it, in considering the frailties and ignorances of his own servants that desire to please him, though they fail of that they desire to do, through strength of temptation or other weakness and ignorance. Again note, it is not enough for the party offending, that the party offended do forgive, but God also must be sought unto for forgiveness. Lastly, our Saviour shows his religiousness in his manner of dying, by his devout care for his own soul showed in his prayer, when he said, Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit, Luke 23. 46. when he had be queathed all other things, as Peace to his Disciples, his body to the Jews, his garments to his Tormentors, Paradise to the Thief, pardon to the penitent, and his Mother to his Friend; now only remained his Soul, and that he commends to God.