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THE
DEATH of DEATH
IN THE
DEATH of CHRIST.
BEING
a TREATISE o £ the REDEMPTION and RECONCILIATION
THAT IS IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST; WHEREIN THE WHOLE CONTROVERSY ABOUT
UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION,
IS FULLY DISCUSSED :
IN FOUR PARTS .
«$» *f* "t* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* *1* *1* *1* *t* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* A* J-t
By JOHN OWEN, D. D.
4* .$♦ 4, ^ 4, a. 4* 4* .** *|» 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4. a 4* 4* 4* 4*
American Edition , carefully revifed and corrc&cd*
CARLISLE, (Pcnnfylvania) printed by GEORGE KLIN E*
MjDGCjXCH,
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PREFACE.
Reader ,
IF thou intendeft to go any farther, I would entreat thee to ftay here a little. It thou art, as many in this pretending age, a fign or title-gazer — and corned into books as Cato into the theatre , to go out again — thou haft had thy entertainment ; farewell . With him that refolves a ferious view of the fol¬ lowing difcourfe , and really defireth fatisfa&ion from the word and chrijhan reafon , about the great things contained therein, I defire a few words in the portal. Divers things there are, of no fmall confideration to the bufinefs we have in hand, which I am perfuaded thou canft not be unacquainted with, and therefore I will not trouble thee with a needlefs repetition of them.
I fhall only crave thy leave, — —to preface a little to the point in hand, and my prefent undertaking therein ; with the refult of fome of my thoughts concerning the whole, after a more than feven years fenous inquiry (bottomed I hope upon the ftrength of Chrift and guided by his fpirit) into the mind
of God about thefe things, - with a ferious perufal of all
which I could attain, that the wit of man, in former or latter days, hath puhlifhed in oppofition to the truth which I defire (according to the meafure of the gift received] here to ajfert. Some things then, as to the chief point in hand, \ would defire the Reader to obferve : As,
lfl, That the aflertion of Umverfal Redemption, or the general ranfom, fo as to make it in the leaf! meafure beneficial
for the end intended,- - goes not alone. EleClion of free
grace, — as the fountain of all following dilpenfations, all dif criminating purpofes of the Almighty, depending on his own good pleafure and will, mu ft be removed out of the way. Hen czthofe who would for the prefent, ( populo ut placer ent quas fecerefabulas) defirou fly retain forne lhew of afterting the liberty of eternally <F\&\ng\\\{[\\np free grace ; do tliemfeJves utterly raze, in refpe£i of any fruit or profitable iiiue, the whole imaginary fabric of general redemption, which they had before erected. Some of thefe make the decree of eledion to be antecedaneous to the death of Chrift, (as themfelves abfurdly fpeak,) or the decree of the death of Chrift: then frame a two-fold eleRion ; one, of fome to be the fons, the other, of the reft to be (ervants. But this dtdion of fome to be fervants , the Scripture calls rsproha *
* T. M, Univerfality of free grace.
lion ;
IV
PREFACE.
tion ; and (peaks of it as the iffue of hatred , or a purpofe of rejection, Rom. ix. 11, 12. To be a fervant , in oppofition to children and their liberty , is as high a curie as can be ex- prefied, Gen. ix. Is this Scripture-ele£lion ? Befides, if Chrifl died to bring thofe he died for, unto the adoption and inhentance of children; what good could poflibly re¬ dound to them thereby, who were predejlinated before to be only fervants ?
Others f make a general condilionate decree of redemption , to be antecedaneous to elefiion • which they affert to be the firft diferiminating purpofe concerning the fons of men, and to depend on the alone good pleafure of God : that any others fhall partake of the death of Chrifl or the fruits thereof, either unto grace or glory, but only thofe perfons fo defied,— -that they deny. Cui bono now ? to what purpofe ferves t \\z gene¬ ral ranfbm? but only to affert, — that Almighty God would have the precious blood of his dear Son poured out, for in¬ numerable fouls whom he will not have to thare in any drop thereof; and fo, in refpe£l of them, to be fpilt in vain ; or elfe to be fhed for them, only that they might be the deeper damned. This fountain then of free-grace, this foundation of the new covenant , this bottom of all gofpel-difpenfations, this fruitful womb of all eternally diflinguifhing mercies, the purpofe of God according to elefiion, muff be oppofed, flighted, blafphemed ; that the figment of the fons of men may not appear to be truncus ficulnus, inutile lignum , an un¬ profitable flock;— -^and all the thoughts of the moil H?gh, differencing between man and man, mufl be made to take occafon, fay fome% to be caujed, fay others, by their holy f elf- fpiritual endeavours ; gratum opus agricolis, a favory facri- fice to the Roman Belus ; a facred orgie to the iong-be wailed manes of St. Pelagius .
And here, (2 dly,) Free-will, amor et delicirt humani generis, corrupted nature’s deformed darling, the Fallas or beloved fdf conception of darkened minds, — finds open hearts and arms, for its adulterous embraces ; yea, the dye being cafl, and Rubico paffed over, — ed devenere fata eccleftce, that having oppofed the free diflinguifhing grace of God, as the foie fworit enemy thereof; it advanceth itfelf, (or an inbred native ability in every one, to embrace a portion of generally expofed mer¬ cy) under the name of free-grace. Tantane vos tenuit generis fiducia vefln? This, this is UmveAaW&s free-grace ; which, in the Scripture-phrafe, is cur fed corrupted nature: neither
can
f Camers. Amirald. &o.
PREFACE. v
mn it oiherways be. A general ranjbm without free-will , is but phantaficz inutile pandas, a burdenfome fancy : the merit of the death of Chrilt being to them as an ointment in a box, that hath neither virtue nor power to aft or reach out its own application unto particulars ; being only fet out in the gofpd to the view of all — that tkoje who will , by their own flrength, lay hold on it and apply it to themfelves, may be healed. Hence is the dear eiteem and high valuation , which this old iAo\ freewill hath attained in thefe days ; being (o ufeful to the general ranjbm, that it cannot live a day without it. Should it pafs for true what the Scripture affirms, viz. that we by nature dead in irefpaffes and fins ; there would not be left of the general ranfom, a filer d to take fire from the hearth: like the wood of the vine, it would not yield a pin to hang a garment upon : all which you ffiall find fully declared, in the enfuing treadle. But here, as though all the undertakings and Babylonifii attempts of the old Pelagians, with their var- niffied offspring the late Armmians , were flight and eafy ; I ffiall ffiew you greater abominations than thefe, and further diicoveries of the imagery of the hearts of the Tons of men.
In purluance of this perfu ifion of univerfal redemption , not a few have arrived (whither it naturally leads them] to deny th e fatisfadion and merit of ChrilL Witnefs P. H. who not being able to untie, ventured baldly to cut this Gordian knot ; but foas to make both ends of the chain ufelefs. To t he quefiion, Whether Chrilt died for all men or not ? he anfiwers , — that he died neither for all, nor any, fo as to pur- chafe life and falvation for them. 0 tan, poion fe epos phugen hercos odonton? ffiall curfed Sociniamfin be worded into a glorious difeovery of free-grace ? Aik now for proofs of this aflertion,— -as you might jullly expert Achillean argu¬ ments from thofe who delight akineta linein, to throw down fuch foundations, (as ffiall put all the righteous in the world to a lofs thereby ;} Projicit ampullas et fefquipedalia verba ; hyper onka mataiotetos, great Jwelling words of vanity, drum my expreffions, a noife from emptinefs, (the ufual language of men , who know not what they /peak, nor whereof they do affirm,) is all that is produced : fuch con¬ temptible products, have our tympanous mountains. Poor creatures, whole fouls are merchandized by the painted faces of novelty and vanity ; whiUl thefe Joabs lalute you with the kiffies of free grace, you fee not the fword that is in their hands ; whereby they finite you under the fifth rib, in the very heart blood of faith and all Chriiiiaa confolation. It
feems
I
Y1 PREFACE,
feems our bleffed Redeemer's deep humiliation, in bearing the ckajtijt merit of our peace and the punifiiment of our tranf- greilions, being made a cur/e and fin, deferted under wrath
an.<Lt le Power°f death,— procuring rederhption and the re- miflion of fins through the effufion of his blood, offering himfelf up a facrifice to God to make reconciliation and pur- chale an atonement ; his pur fuing this undertaking with con¬ tinued interceffion in the holiefi of holies with all the benefits of his mediator flip ; — do no way procure either life and falva- tion, or remifjion of fins; but only ferve to declare , that we are not indeed what his word affirms we are , viz. cur fed , guilty, defiled , and only not a&ually caft into hell. Judas,
betrayejl thou the Son of man with a kifis ? See this at large confuted, Book 3. 5
Now this laft ajjertion throughly fancied, hath opened a door and given an inlet to all thofe pretended heights , and new-named glorious attainments ,- — which have met amor phofied the perfon and mediation of Chrift, into an imaginary diffufi ed goodnefis and love communicated from the Creator unto the new creation than which famihftical fables, * Ctr don's, tw o principles were not more abjurd ; the Platonic numbers, no* the l alentiman /Pones , (flowing from the teeming wombs of Pier oma , /lion, Teleios , Sige, Bythos , and the reft , vented for high , and glorious attainments in Chriftian religion near 1500 years ago) were not lefs intelligible. Neither did the cor - to ding of Scriptures by that Pontic vermin Marczon, equalize the contempt and fco.rn caft upon them by thefe impotent im - pofiors ; exempting their whifpered difeoveries from their trial, and exalting their revelations above their authority. Neither do fome ftay here ; but, his gradibus itur in ccelum , Heaven it- felf is broke open for all; from univerfai redemption , through univerfal juftification, in a general covenant , they have arrived (baud ignota loquor) at univerfal falvation ; neither can any forfeiture be made of the purchased inheritance.
Ergo agite 6 juvenes , tantalum in munere (audum ;
Cingite fironde comas , et pocula porgite dextris :
Communemque vocate deurn , et date vina volentes .
March on brave youths, i’th’ praife of fuch free grace;
Surround your locks with bays, and full cups place In your right hands; drink freely on; then call,
O ih* common hope, the ranfom general.
Thefe
* Ire*?. I. z. c, 6, 7. 14, 15, &c. Clem. (from. 3. Ep. Haeref. 31. Tertul. ad. Yaleo.
PREFACE.
vii
Thefe and the like perfuafions I no way diflike, becaufe wholly new to the men of this generation: That I may add this by the way ; every age hath its employment in the dif- tovery of truth. We are not come to the bottom of vice or virtue; the whole world hath been employed in the pra&ice of iniquity 5000 years and upwards ; and yet Afpice hoc no - vum , may be fet on many villanies ; behold daily new in¬ ventions. No wonder then if all truth be not yet difcovered. Something may be revealed to them, who as yet Jit by . Ad¬ mire not if Saul alfo be among the prophets ; for who is their father? Is he not free in his difpenjations ? Are all the depths of Scripture, where the elephants may fwim, juft fathomed to the bottom ? let any man obferve the progrefs of the laft century in unfolding the truths of God ; and he will fcarce be obftinate, that no more is left — as yet undifcovered. Only the itching of corrupted fancies, the boldnefs of darkened minds and lafcivious wanton wits, in venting new created no¬ things, infignificant vanities, with an intermixed dafh of blaf- phemy — is that which I defire to oppofe. And that efpecial- ly confidering the genius (if I may fo fpeak) of the days wherein we live; in which what by one means, what by ano¬ ther, there is almoft a general deflexion after novelty grown amongft us ; * fome are credulous, feme negligent , fome fall into errors, fome feek them . A great fufpicion almoft every day, grows upon me, which, I would thank any one, upon folid grounds, to free me from ; that pride of fpirjt, with art JHercflratusAike. defire to grow big in the mouths of men-— hath a£ied many, in the conception and publication of fome eafily invented falfe opinions. Is it not to be thought alfo, that it is from the fame humour poffefling many, that every one of them almoft ftrives to put on beyond his companions, in framing fome fingular artifice ? To be a follower of others, though in de/perate engagements, is too mean an undertaking.
Aude aliquid brevibus gyans vel car cere dignum.
Si vis effe aliquid; probitas laudatur , et alget. Juv.
And let it be no fmall f peccadillo, no underling opinion, friends; if in thefe bufy times, you would have it taken notice of ; of ordinary errors you may cry
" tfuis Irget kcec ? nano hercule, nemo ;
Aut duo , aut nemo . They
Quid am ere duh, quidam veghgentes funt, quibufdam men- aacium obrepit , quibufdam placet .
. ^ {n occupata civitate , fabulas vulgaris nequiiia non
tnvemt. Sen. Ep. 120 ,
PREFACE
Via
I
Tney mull be glorious attainments, beyond the under Ji and- ingot men, and above the zvifdom of the word, which at- trabt the eyes of poor deluded fouls. The great Shepherd of
tlie fheep, our Lord jefus Chrift, recover his poor wander- ers to his own fold.
But ro return thither from whence we have digrelfed. This is that jatal Helena- — an ufelefs, barren, fruidels jancy ; for whole enthroning, loch irkfome tedious contentions have been caufed to tne churches of God — a mere Rome. , a defolate dirty pjace of cottages , until all the world be robbed and fpoiled to adorn it. Suppole Chrift died for all; yet if God, in his free purpofe , have chofen fome to obtain life and falvation, pafling by others will it be profitable only to the former, or unto all? furely the purpofe of God muft'ftand, and he 'will do all his pleafure ; wherefore eledion , either with Huberus , by a wild contradiction, muft be made univerfal , or the thoughts of the Moll High fujpended on the free will of man. Add this borrowed feather to the general ranfom, that at leaft it may have fome colour of pompous oftentation ; yet if the free grace of God work effectually in fome, not in others, can thofe others palled by in its powerful operation, have any be¬ nefit \sy univerfal redemption? no more than the Egyptians had, in the angel's palling over thof houfes whofe doors were not Iprinkled with blood, leaving fome dead behind him.
Almighty powerful free grace then muft ftrike its foil, that free will, like the Alexandrian fhips to the Roman havens, may come in with top and top-gallant ; for without it, the whole territory of univerfal redemption will certainly he fa- milhed ; but let thefe doHrines, of God’s eternal eleClicn , the free grace of converfon, perfeverance , and their neceffary con- fcquents, be aliened ; movet cornicula rifum, furtivis nudata colonbus; it has not the leaft appearance of profit or confo- lation, but what it robs from the fovereigrity and grace of God ; but of thefe things more afterwards.
Some flourilbing pretences are ufually held out by the abet¬ tors ol the general ranfom; which by thy patience, courteous Reader , we will a little view in the entrance, to remove fome prejudice that may lie in the way of truth.
i. Theory of God, they fay, is exceedingly exalted by it ; his good-will and kindnefs towards men, abundantly mani- lefted, in this enlargement of its extent ; and his free grace, by others reft rained, fet out with a powerful endearment. — This they fay ; which is in effeCl — all things will be well , when God is contented with that portion of glory which is of our a/-
figninr.
PREFACE.
ix
Jigning. The pri loners of the earth account it their greateft wifdom , to varnifh over their favours, and to fet out with a full mouth , what they have done with half a hand; but will it be acceptable to lie for God, by extending his bounty be¬ yond the marks and eternal bounds fixed to it in his word ? change firfl a hair of your own heads, or add a cubit to your own flatures, before you come in with an addition of glory , not owned by him, to the Almighty. But fo for the moft part is it with corrupted nature , in ail fuch myjlenous things * difeovering the bafenefs and vilenefs thereof. If God be ap¬ prehended to be as large in grace, as that is in offence , (I mean in refpe£I of particular offenders, for in refpett of his people he is’ larger) though it be free , and he hath proclaimed to all, that he may do what he will with his own, giving no account of his matters; all fhall be well, he is gracious, merciful ,
But if once the Scripture is conceived, to hold out his Jove* reignty and free difiinguifhing grace, fuited in its difpen/ation to his own purpofe according to eledion, he is immanis , tru - culentus , diabolo , Tibenot tetrior , (horrefco referens.) The learned know* well where to find this language , and I will not be injlrumental to propagate their blalphemies to others. Si deus homini non placuent , deus non ent , faid Tertullian of the heathen deities ; and (hall it be fo with us ? God forbid. This pride is inbred ; it is a pait or our corruption to defend it.
If we maintain then the glory of God, let us fpeak in his own language , or be for ever filent. That is glorious' in him which h e ajeribes unto himfelf. Our inventions , though never fo fplendid in our own eyes, are unto him an abomination; a ft riving to puli him down from his eternal excellency , to make him auogether like unto us. God would never allow, that the will of the creature fhould be the meafure of his ho¬ nour. The obedience of Paradife was to have been regulated; God s prefer ipticn hath been the bottom of his acceptation of any duty, ever fince he had a creature to worfhip him; the very heathen knew, that that ftrvice alone was welcome to p. ’ ™h,ich hi'mfelf required \ and that glory owned , which mmlelt had revealed that he would appear glorious in it. fence, as f Epimcnides advifed the Athenians , in a time of anger, to facrihce Theo profekonti , to him to whom it was meet and due ; which gave occafion to the altar, which laid faw bearing the fuperfeription of Agnojlo Theo , to the
E unknown
f Natura fc apparet vihaia , id hoc majoris zitii ft non mdere. . . Aug,
t Laert. in vit. Fpimea.
I M
l!
| V
I I
* PREFACE.
unknown God ; fo Socrates tells us in Plato®, that every god will be worshipped, To mahjla auto arefconti tropo , in that way which pleajeth bejl his own mind ; and in chriftianity, Bierome iets it down lor a rule, that honos prceter mandatum eft dedecus ; God is dijlionourtd by that honour , which is afcribed to him beyond his own prejcription ; and one wittily on the fecond commandment — non imago non [imulacrum damnatur, fed non facies tibi; aligning to God any thing , by him not aflumed, is a making to ourftlves , a deifying of our own imaginations. Let all men then ceafe Jcjuaring the glory of God, by their own corrupted principles , and more cor¬ rupted perfuafions ; the word alone is to be arbitrator in the things of God ; which alfo I hope will appear by the follow¬ ing treatife, to hold out nothing in the matter in hand, con¬ trary to thofe natural notions of God and his goodnels, which in the fad ruins of innccency have been retained. On thefe grounds we affirm, that all that glory of God which is pre¬ tended to be averted by the general ranjom , however it may feem glorious to purblind nature , is indeed a finjul jlouriJht for the obfcuring of that glory wherein God is delighted.
2. It is flrongly pretended , that the worth and value of the JatisfaElion of Chi iff, by the oppofne opinion limited to a jew , are exceedingly magnified in this extending of it to all ; when, befides which was laid before, (about an human ex¬ tending of the things of God, beyond the bounds by himfelf jixed unto them] the merit of the death of Chrift, confiding in its own internal worth and fujfcimcy , with that obligation which, by his obedience unto death, was put upon the jufiice of God for its application unto them tor whom he died, is quite enervated and overthrown by it, made of no account, and fuch as never produced of itfelf abfolutely the lea ft. good to any particular foul ; which is fo fully manifeded in the following treatije , as I cannot but defire the Reader s fincere confideration of it ; it being a matter of no final! importance.
g. A feeming Jmile cad upon the opinion of umverfal re¬ demption, by many texts ot Scripture, with the ambiguity of fome words which, though in themfelves either figurative or indefinite , yet feem to be of an univerfial extent, maketh the abettors of it exceedingly rejoice. Now concerning this, I fhall only defirc the Reader not to he dartled at the multitude of places of Scripture , which he may hn&heaped up by fome of late about this bufinefs, (efpecially by Thomas More, in his TJniverjalily of Free Grace) as though they proved and
confirmed
* Plato de Iegib, lib. 7*
PREFACE. xi
confirmed that, for which they are produced, but rather pre¬ pare himfeli to admire at that confidence of men, particularly of him now named, to make fuch a flourifti with colours and drums, having indeed no foldiers at all ; for notwithstanding all their pretences , it will appear, that they hang the whole weight of their building on three or four texts of Scripture, viz . 1 Tim . ii. 5, 6. John iii. 16, 17. Heb . ii. 9. 1 John ii. jt. with fome few others ; and the ambiguity of two or three words, which themlelves cannot deny to be of exceeding various acceptations. All which ate at large dificuffed in the enfuing treatife ; no one place that hath, with the lea ft {hew or colour, been brought forth by any of our adver/aries in their own defence, or for the oppofmg of the effeftual re¬ demption oj the cleft only , being omitted ; the book of Thomas More being in all the ftrength thereof f ally met withal and enervated.
4. Some men have, by I know not what mifprijion , enter¬ tained aperfuafion, that the opinion of the Univerfalfis ferves exceedingly to fet forth the love and free grace of God; yea they make free grace, that glorious expreflion, to be that alone which is couched in their perfuafion , viz. that God loves all alike, gave Chnjl to die for all , and is ready to fave all , if they will lay hold on him ; under which notion , how greedily the hook, as well as the bait , is {wallowed by many, we have daily experience ; when the truth is, it is utterly deftruftive to the Jree dfiingu filing grace of God, in all the difpenfations and workings thereof. It evidently oppofeth God’s free grace of eleftion , as hath been declared ; and therein, that very love from which God fent his Son ; his free diftinguifhing grace alfo of effeftual calling , muft be made by it to give place to nature’s darling , free will ; yea and the whole covenant of grace made void ; by holding it out no otherwife, but as a general removing of the wrath , which was due to the breach of the covenant of works; for what eife can be imagined (though this certainly they have not, John iii. 36.) to be granted to the moft of thole all , with whom they affirm thia covenant to be made. Yea, notwithftanding their flourifh of free grace , as themfelves arc forced 10 grant, that after all that was effefted by the death of C brill, it was poftible that none fhould be faved ; fo I hope I have clearly proved, that if he accomplifhed by his death no more than they aferibe unto it, it is utterly impoffible that any one ftiould be faved. Quid dignum tanto ?
5* The opinion of univerfal redemption is not a little ad -
v ant aged t
PREFACE.
jcii
vantageds by prefenting to convinced men a Teeming ready way to extricate themfelves out of all their doubts and perplexities, and to give them all the comfort the death of Chrift can af¬ ford, before they feel any power of that death working within them, or find any efficacy of free grace drawing their hearts to the embracing of Chrift in the promife, or obtaining a par- ticulai intereft in him ; which are tedious things to flefh and blood to attend unto, and wait upon ; fome boaft, that by this perfuafion , that hath been effe&ed in an hour> which they waited for before [even years without fuccefs. To difpel this poor empty flourifh, I {hall (hew in the progrefs, that -it is, very ready and apt to deceive multitudes with a plaufible dt - lufion , but really undermines the very foundations of that ftrong unfailing confolation% which God hath {hewed himfelf abundantly willing that the heirs of promife fiould receive.
Thefe and the like are th e gentral pretences , wherewith the abettors of a general ranfom do feek to commend themfelves and their opinion to the affzBions of credulous fouls; through them making an open and eafy pajfage into their belief, for the fwallowing and digefting that bitter potion which lurks in the bottom of their cup ; of thefe, I thought meet to give the Reader a brief view in the entrance , to take off his mind from empty generals , that he might be the better prepared to weigh all things carefully in an equal balance ; when he fhall come to confider thofe particulars afterwards infifted on, wherein the great pretended ftrength of our adverfaries lies.— — It re- maineth only, that I give the Chrijlian Reader a brief account of my call unto and undertaking in this work; and fo clofe ithis preface. Then,
i. I will aflfure theet it is not the Ieaft tkirf in my affe£lionsr to be drinking of the waters of Menbah , nor the leaft defire to have a fhare in JJhmaeV s portion, to have my hand againft Others , and theirs againft me , that put me upon this talk. I pever like rxiyfelf worfe than when faced with a vizard of de¬ puting in controverfies. The complexion of my foul is muck more pleafant unto me in the water of Skilo@h.
- Nuper me in littore vidi%
Cum placidum vends faret mare . — —
What invitation there can be in itfelf for any one to lodge , tsuch lefs abide in this quarrelfome fcambling territory, where, <as Tertullian * fays of Pontus , omne quod flat Aquilo ejl , no
wind blows but what is Jharp and keen, I know not. Small
pleaffirt
# Ad Mar.
PREFACE.
Kill
fleaftiire in thofe walks, which are attended with dangerous precipices and unpleafing difficulties on every fide.
Utque viam teneas , nulloque errore traharis ;
Per tamen advcrji gradiendum cornua Tauri , Aimoniefque Arcus , violentique ora Leonis . Ovid.
No quiet nor peace in thefe things and ways, but continual brawls and difFentions.
- Non hofpes ab ho/pite tutus ,
Non focer a genero ; fratrum quo que gratia rara eft.
The ftrongeft bonds of neareft relations are too commonly broken by them. Were it not for that precept , Jude verfe 3. and the like, of contending earnejlly for the faith once deliver¬ ed unto the faints , with the founding of my bowels for the lofs of poor feduced fouls, I could willingly engage myfelf into an unchangeable refolution, to fly all wordy battles and paper .combats, for the refidue of my few and evil days.
It is not then (that I may return) any Salamandrian com- plexion, that was the motive to this undertaking. Neither 2. Was any conceit of my own abilities for this work, as though I were th z fit tefl among many to undertake it*- I
know that as in all things, I am lefts than the leaf oft all faints fo in thefe I sm *
Ute tritos , ute tetartos ,
Ute duodecatos , ud ’ enlogo ud 9en arithmo •
Abler * pens have had, within thefe few years, the dif- cuffing and ventilating of fome of thefe queftion’s, in our own language; fome have come to my hands; but none of weight, before I had well nigh finiffied this heap of mine own ; which was lome twelve months fince and upwards. In fome of thefe, at leafl in all of them, I had reffed fully Vatis- fied ; but that I obferved they had all tied up themfelves to lome certain farts of the controverfy, efpecially the re- moving of obje&ions, neither comparing nor methodizing the whoie; whereby I dikerned, that the nature of the tiling under debate, viz. fatisfathon, reconciliation , redemption , and the like, was left exceedingly in the dark; and the ftronfr
foundation of the whole building, not fo much as once dil covered. Therefore, J
3. It was always upon my defires, that fome one would un-
fne”ak,f ^e . and unfold out of the word from the hot-
tom, the whole difpenfation of the love of God to his eled
•
Re^rap„f- by mr revereD(* Earned brother Mr. John Sulbm J Mr. Raherfurd’a Cfesift dying and drawing Sin-
ipvIiI 9
in Jefus Chrift, with the conveyance of it through the pro- miles of the gofpel ; being in all the fruits thereof, pur- chafed and procured by the oblation and interceffion of Jefus Chrift; by which it could no? but be made apparent, what was the great dejign of the bleiled Trinity in this great work of redemption ; with how vain an attempt and fruitiefs endeavour f it mult needs be, to extend it beyond the bcunds and limits afligned unto it by the principal agents therein. That argu¬ ments alio might be produced, for the confirmation of the truth we aftert, in oppofuion to the error oppofed, and fo the weak eftabhlhed, and drjfenters convinced, was much in my zoijhes . The do&rine ot the fatisfadion of Chrift, his merit, and the reconciliation wrought thereby, (underftood aright by few, and of late oppugned by fome) being fo nearly related to the point of redemption , I defired alfo to have feen cleared, unfolded , vindicated, by fome able pen. But now after long waiting, finding none to anfiver my expe£lation, (although of mvfilj I can truly fay, with him in the Comaedian , Ego me ne- que tam afiutum ejfe, neque ita perfpicacem id fcio , that I Ihould be fit for fuch an undertaking ; the counfel of the Poet alfo running much in my mind,
Sumite mater iam vefiris qui feribitis ctquam V inbus ; et verfate diu quid ferre recufant f
Ouid valeant humeri . - Horat.)
Yet at the lajl laying afide all fuch thoughts, by looking up to him who fupplieth feed to the fower and doth all our works for ust I fuffered myfelf to be overcome unto the work; with that oi another, ab alio quovis hoc fieri mallem qudm d me, Jed a me tamen potius qudm d nemine ; I had rather it fhould have been done by any than myfelf- — by myfelf only , rather than by none / efpecially conlidering the indullrious diligence -of the oppofers of truth, in thefe days.
- Scribunt indodi , dodique ;
Vt jugulent homines furgunt de node latrones ,
Ut teipfum Jerves non expergifeeris? Hor#
Add unto the former defre, a confideration of the fre¬ quent conferences I had been invited unto, about thefe things ; the daily fpreading of the opinions here oppofed, about the parts where I live ; and a greater noifi concerning their pre- railing in other places, with the advantage they had obtained by fome military abettors ; moreover, the fir ring up of di¬ vers eminent and learned friends ; and you have the fumol what I defire to hold forth, as the caufe of my undertaking this talk- What the Lord hath enabled me to perform there-
PREFACE.
xv
in, mud be left to the judgment of others ; altogether kopelefs of fuccefs I am not ; but fully re/olved, that I lhall not live, to fee a folid anfwer given unto it. If any (hall undertake to vellicate and pluck fome of the branches, rent from the roots and principles of the whole difcourfe, I fliall freely give them leave to enjoy their own wifdom atid imaginary conqueff : If any fhM JeriouJly undertake to debate the whole caufe, if I live to fee it effected, I engage myfelf, by the Lord’s a fh fi¬ ance, to be their humble convert or fair antagonijl. In that which is already accomplifhed, by the good hand of the Lord, I hope the learned may find fomething for their con¬ tentment, and the weak for their {Lengthening and fatisfaBion ; that in all, fome glory may redound to him whofe it is, and whofe truth is here unfolded, by the unworthieft Labourer in his vineyard,
J. OWEN.
¥> ' , ' 4 '
X,H B-
■)
The Death of Death, &c*
BOOK L CHAP. I.
in general of the end of the death of Chrifl , as it is in the
Scripture propofed .
in it; and lecondly, that which was effe£fually fulfilled and accomplifhed by it. Concerning either, we may take a brief view of the expreftions ufed by the Holy GhofL
i ft. For the firfl : Will you know the end wherefor* and the intention wherewith Chrift came into the world? Let us afk himfelf, (who knew his owri mind, as alfo all the fecrets t>( his bather’s bolom) and he will tell us* that the Son of inan came to fave that which was lojl , Matth. xviii. n. to recover and fave poor loft Tinners; that was his intent and de fi gn, as is again afferted, Luke xix. 10. Afk alfo his Apoftles, who know his mind ; and they will tell you the fame. So Paul, i Tim. i. ig. This is a faithful Jay mg, and worthy of all acceptation , that Jefus Chrifl came into the world to fave finners . Now, if you will afk who thefe Tinners are* towards whom he hath this gracious intent and purpofe ; him- felf tells you, Mat. xx. 28. that he came to give his life a ranfom (or many ; in oilier places called us, believers, diftin- guifhed from the world ; lor he gave himfelf for our fins, that he might deliver us from this prefer! evil world, according to the will of God and our Father , Gal. i. 4. That was the will and intention of God, that he Ihould give himfelf for us * that we might be faved, being feparated from the world.— They are his church, Eph* v* 25, 2 6, 27. He loved the churchy and gave himfelf for it, that he might fanBify and clean fe it * with the wafiing of water , by the word ; that he might prefeni zt to himfelf a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle of '/my fuch thing , but that it fiould be holy and without blemiftu Which laft words exprefs alfo the very aim, and end of Chrift* Fn giving himfelf for any; even that they may be made fit
C for
*
*8 The End of the Death of Ckrift
lor God, and brought nigh unto him ; the like whereof Jf aifo averted, Tit. ii. 14. He gave him felf for us. that he might redeem us from alt iniquity , and purify unto him f elf a peculiar people, zealous of good works . Thus clear then and appa¬ rent, is the intention and defign of C hr ill: and his Father in this great work ; even what it was, and towards whom, viz . to fave us, to deliver us from tins evil world, to purge and walh us; to make us holy, zealous, fruitful in good woiks ; to render us acceptable, and to bring us unto God, tor through him we have accefs into this grace wherein we /land, Rom. v. 2.
2 dly. The effeft alfo, and a£lual produft of the work it- lelf, or what is accomplifhed and fulfilled by the death, blood- {bedding, or oblation of Jelus Chrift, is no lefs clearly ma- nifdted ; but is as fully, and veiy often more diilincily expreffed.
As. 1. Reconciliation with God, by removing and flaying the enmity that was between him and us; t r when we were ene- tides , we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son , R ;m* v. 10. God was in him reconciling the world unto himftlj , not imputing their trefjmjfes unto them , 2 Cor. v. 19. vea he hath reconciled us to himftij by Jejus Clirijl, verfe 1 8. And if you would know how this reconciliation was effedied, the Apoffle will tell you ; that He abo lifted in his flejh , the enmity, the. law of commandments conjjhng in ordinances , for to make in him - felf pj twain one new man , Jo making peace ; and that he might reconcile both unto God , in one body by the ctofs ; having flam the enmity thereby , Eph. ii. 15, 16. fo that he is our peace > verle 14.
2. Juf if cation ; by taking away the guilt of fins, procuring remifiion and pardon of them, redeeming us from their pow¬ er, with the curfe and wrath due unto us for them ; for by his own blood he is entered into the holy place , having obtained eter¬ nal redemption for us, Heb*. ix. 12. He redeemed us from the curfe , bang made a curfe for us. Gal. iii. 13. His own felf bare our fins in his Own body on the tree, 1 Pet. ii. 24. We have all Jinned and come fkort of the glory of God; but are ju fifed freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in
jejus thrift ; whom God hath Jet forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the remifjion of fins, Rom. iii. 23, 24, 25. for in him we have re¬ demption through his blood , even the f orgivenefs of fins , Col. i. 14.
3. SanRif cation ; bv the purging away of the uncieannefs
and
as eternally intended.
arid pollution of our fins, renewing in us the image of God, «nd fupplying us with the graces of the fpirit of holinefs; for the blood of Chrift , who through the eternal fpirit offered him- fef without f pot to God, purgeth our conscience from dead works, to ferae the living God , Heb. tx. 14. yea the blood of Jfus thrift cleanfeth us from all fin, 1 John i. 7. by himfelf he purgeth our fins , H b. i. 3. That he might fantlijy the p ople with his own blord, he ) offered without the gate , Heb. xi i 12, he gave himfelf ior his church, to fanclify and ’ clean fe if, that it fliould be holy and without blemifh, Eph. v. c - , 26 27. peculiar v among ft the graces of the fpirit, it is given to us Hyper Christou for Thrift’s fake, to believe on Phil. i. 2Q. God biffing us in lum , with all Jpiritual bleffings irt heavenly places , Eph. i. 3.
4 Adoption ; with that evangelical liberty, and aU thofe glodhus p iviieues, which appertain to the fons of God : For God fent his Son , made of a woman , made under the law ; to redeem them that were under the lawt that we might receive the adoption of fons , Gal. iv. 4. 5.
5 Neither do the effe&s ol the death of Chrift reft here ; they leave us not until we are fettled in Heaven, in glory and immortality forever; our inheritance is a purchaf d poffeffion, E >h. i. 14. And for this caufe he is the Mediator of the New Tejlamem , that by means of death , for the redemption of the tranfgreffions that were under the frft T eft ament, they which art lulled might receive the promife of eternal inheritance , Heb. ix tg. T tie fum o* all is, the death and bloodfhedding of Jeius Chrift hath wrought, and doth effectually procure, for all thofe that are concerned in it, eternal redemption, con- fift ing in giace here, and glory hereafter.
II. T has, lull, dear, and evident are the expreffions in the Sen pture concerning the end and effedls of the death of Chnft;^ that a man would think, every one might run and read ; but we muft ftay. Among aU things in chriftian re¬ ligion, there is fcarce any thing more queflioned than this, which leems to be a mo ft fundamental principle ; a fpreading perfuafion there is, of a general ranfom paid by Chrift for all, that he died to redeem all and every one ; not only for many , his church , the ekd of God, but for every one alfo of the pofterity of Adam. Now, the mailers of this opinion do fee full well and eafily, that, if that be the end of the death of Chrift, which we have from the Scripture aliened, if thofe before recounted be the immediate fruits and produBs thereof, that then one of thefe two things will neceflarily
follow ;
1
if
I
I
i
H
N
The End of the Death of Chrift
follow; that either, firft, God and Chrift failed of their end propofed, and did not accomplifh that which they intended ; the death oi Chrift being not a fitly proportioned mean for the attaining of that end, (for any other caufe of failing can- pot be aftigned) which to afTert, feems to us blafphemoufly injurious to the wifdom, power and perfection of God, a* likewife derogatory to the worth and value of the death of Chrift ; or elfe, that all men, all the pofterity of Adam> muff be faved, purged, fan&ified, and glorified ; which lurely they will not maintain, at leaft the Scripture, and the wolul ex¬ perience of millions, will not allow. Wherefore, to caft a tolerable colour upon their perfuafion, they muft and do deny, that God, or his Son, had any fuch abfolute aim or end in the death or blood fhedding of Jefus Chrift ; or that any fuch tliing was immediately procured and purchafed by it, as we before recounted : But that God intended nothing, neither was any thing effeCted by Chrift, that no benefit arifeth to any immediately by his death, but what is common to all and every foul, though never fo curledly unbelieving here, and eternally damned hereafter ; until an act of fome, not pro¬ cured for them by Chrift, (for if it were, why have they it not all alike ?) to wit, faith, do diftinguifh them from others. Now, this feeming to me to enervate the virtue, value, fruits, and effe£ts of the fatisfa&ion and death of Chrift ; lerving beftdes for a bafis and foundation to a dangerous, unccmiort- ^ble, erroneous perfuafion; I (ball, by the Loid’s affiifance, declare, what the Scripture holds out in both thefe things; both that aflertion which is intended to be proved, and that which is bi ought for the proof thereof; defiring the Lord by bis Spirit to lead us into all truth, to give us underftanding in all things; and if any one be otherwife minded* to reveal that alfo unto him.
^ 4* 4 4- 4* 4 4 4* 4 4 4 4 4 4
C H A P. II.
Of the nature of an end in general , and fome diftinElionS
about it,
I.'HjPH E end of any thing is that which the agent intend- JL eth to accomplifh, in and by the operation which is proper unto its nature, and which it applieth itfelf unto; that which any one aimeth at, and defigneth in himfelf to attain* as a thing good and defirable unto him, in the ftate and con¬ dition wherein he is. So the end which Noah propofed uilto
lumfelf, in building the ark, was the prefervation pf himfelf
ancL
as eternally intended • % i
and others, according to the will of God ; he made an ark to preferve himfelf and his family from 'he flood ; according tQ &ll that God commanded him, fo did he, Gen. vi. 22. That which the agent doth, or whereto he applyeth himfelf, for the comparing his propofed end , is called the means ; which two do complete the whole real’on of working in free intellec¬ tual agents, for I fpeak only of fuch as work according to choice or election. So Ab/alom intending a revolt from his father, to procure the crown and kingdom for himfelf, he prepared him horfes and chariots , and fifty men to run be - jore him , 2 Sam. xv. 1. and further, by fair words and gloz- ing compliances, he foie the hearts of the men of If rad, ver. 6. then pretends a facrifice at Hebron , where he makes a frong conf piracy i ver. 12. all which were the means he ufed for the attaining of his forepropofed end.
II. Between both thefe, end and means , there is this rela¬ tion ; that (though in fundry kinds) they are mutually caufes one of another. The end is the fird principle moving caufc of the whole; it is that, for whofe fake the whole work is ; no agent applies itfelf to aBion, but for an end ; and were it not by that determined to fome certain effeB, thing, way, or manner of working, it would no more do one thing than ano¬ ther. The inhabitants of the old world, defiring and intend¬ ing unity and cohabitation, with (perhaps) fame referves to provide for their fafety againft a fecond fform ; they cry,, goto , let us build us a city and a tower , whofe top may reach unto Heaven ; and let us make us a name , left we be fcattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth , Gen. xi. 4. Firfl they lay down their aim and defign, and then let out the means in their apprehenfion conducing thereunto. And manifefl then it is, that the whole realon and method of affairs, that a wife work¬ er, or agent according to counfel, propofeth to himfelf, is taken from the end which he aims at ; that is, in intention and contrivance, the beginning of all that order which is in work¬ ing. Now, the means are aP thofe things which are ufed tor the attaining of the end propofed, (as meat for the preferva- tion of life; failing in a Chip, for him that would pafs the fea ; laws, for the quiet continuance of human fociety) and they are the procuring caufe of the end, in one kind or ano¬ ther ; their exiffence is for the end’s fake, and the end hath its rife out of them; following them either morally as their defert, or naturally as their fruit and produB.
if. In a moral fenfe, when the aBion and the end are to Jb.e meafured or confidered in reference to a moral rule, or
loxfi
Sft
The End of the Death of Chrift.
la,u preferred to the agent, then the means are the defervinf <>i meritorious caule of the end; as if Adam had continued m his innocency, and done all things according to the law given unto him, the end procured thereby had been a blefled
i.e to eternity ; as now, the end of any linful a£l is death, the curie o t the law.
•idly. W hen die means are confidered only in their natural relation, then they are the inflrumentally efficient cattle of tne end. So Joab intending the death of Abner , he fmote him with his fpear under (he fifth rib, that he died, 2 Sam. iii. *7. And when Benajah, by the command of Solomon, fell upon Ski met, the wounds he gave him were the efficient caufe
® J,,s f!ealh* 1 K’»SS >'• 46- 1,1 which regard, there is no
difference between the murdering of an innocent man, and the. executing an ortender ; but as they are under a moral con. fideraiion, their ends follow their defervings, in refpeff of conformity to the rule; and fo there is chasma mega be-
tween them.
HI- T^e former confideration, by reafon of the defe& and perverfenefs of home agents, (for otherwife thefe things are coincident] holds out a two-fold end of things, firft, of the work, and fecondly, of the workman ; of the aft, and thfc agent. For,
iJL When the means afligned for the attaining of any end are not proportioned unto it, nor fitted for it, according to that rule whic h trie agent is to work by ; then it cannot be, but that he muff aim at one thing, and another follow, in refpedf of the morality of the work. So Adam is inticed into a de¬ fine to be like God ; this now he makes his aim ; which to effe£l, he eats the forbidden fruit, and that contrails a guilt which he aimed not at. But,
2 dly. When the agent a&s aright, and as it fliould do ; when it aims at an end that is proper to it, belonging to its proper perfe&ion and condition, and worketh by fuch means as are fii and fuitable to the end propofed ; the end of the work, and the work- man, are one and the fame. As when Abel intended the worfhip of the Lord, he offered a facrifice through faith acceptable unto him ; or as a man defiling fal- vation thiough Chrift, applieth himfelf to get an intereft in him.
Now the foie reafon of this diverfitv is, that fecondary agents, fuch as men are, have an end fet and appointed to their aBions, by him who giveth them an external rule or law to work by ; which (hall always attend them in their
working
ms eternally intended .
*3
working, whether they will or no. God only, whofe wi'I and good pleafure is the foie rule of all thofe works which outwardly are of him, can never deviate in ids a£iions, nor have any end attend or follow his a£ts, not precdely by him intended.
IV. Again ; the end of every free agent, is either that which he effefteth, or that for whofe lake he doth effeti ii. — When a man builds a houfe, to let to hire, that which fie tf- fedleth is the building of a houfe — that which moved him *o do it is love of gain. The phyfician cures tire patient, and is moved to it by his reward. The end which judas ain ed at, in his going to the priefls, bargaining with them, conduc¬ ing the foldiers to the garden, killing Chrifl, was the betray¬ ing of his Mailer; but the end for whole fake the whole un¬ dertaking was let on foot, was the obtaining the thiiry pieces of filver ; what will you give me and 1 will do ir ? The end which God effeCed by the death of Chriff, was the fatisfTii- on of his julhce ; the end for whofe lake t:e did it, was either fupreme, his own glory, — or fubordinate, ours with him.
V. Moreover, the means are of two lores ;
ijl. Such as have a true goodnefs in themfelves, without reference to any further end ; though not fo confidered, as we life them for means: no mean as a mean, is confidered as good in itfelf ; but only as conducible to a further end. It is repugnant to the nature of means, as fuch, to be confider¬ ed as good in themfelves: (ludy is in itfelf the moft nobie employment of the foul ; but aiming at wifdoiri or know¬ ledge, we confider it as good, only in as much as it conduc- eth to that end; otherwife as a wearinefs to the flefh, EccL xii. 12.
2 dly- Such as have no good at all, in any kind, as in them¬ felves confidered ; but merely as conducing to that end, which tney are fit to attain : they receive ah their goodnefs (which is but relative) from that whereunto they are appointed ; in themfetves no way defirable : as the cutting off a leg or an arm, for the prefervation of life; taking a bitter potion, for health’s fake ; throwing corn and lading 'into the fea, to pre¬ vent (hip-wreck : of which nature is the death of Chriff, as we (hall afterwards declare.
VI. Thefe things being thus propofed in general ; our next talk mull be, to accommodate them to the p efent bu- finefs in hand : which we fhall do in order, by laying down the agent working, the means wrought , and the end effe£led in tl-e great work of our redemption ; for thofe three muff
he
*4
'The End of the Death of Chrtji
be orderly confidered and diftinclly, that we may have a right apprehenfion of the whole ; into the firft whereof SY!f Th Jto we make an entrance.
% ■*$* 4* 4^ ^ 4" "f* 4* 4* 4* »j* *f* 4* ^
CHAP. III.
Of the agent , 0r chief author of the work of our redemption ;
and of the firfl thing diflinclly of cubed to the perfon of tht Father .
THE agent in, and chief author of this great work of otif redemption, is the whole bleffed Trinity ; for all the Works which outwardly are of the Deity, are undivided, and belong equally to each perfon ; their diftin£l manner of fu6- finance and order, being obferved. Ii is true, there were other fundry inftrumental caufes in the oblation, or rather paflion of Chrift ; but the work cannot in any fenfe be af- cribed unto them : for in refpe6l of God the Father, the iffue of their endeavour was exceeding contrary to their own in¬ tentions ; and in the clofe they did nothing, but what the hand and counfel of God had before determined ' Jhould be done i Acts iv. 28. And in refpeef of Chrift, they were no way able to accornplifh what they aimed at; for he himfelf laid down his life, and none was able to take it from him, John x. 17, 18. fo that they are to be excluded from this confi- deration. In the feveral perfons of the holy Trinity, the joint Author of the whole work, — the Scripture propofeth diftin£I and furidry a&s or operations, peculiarly aligned unto them ; which, according to our weak manner of ap- prehenfion, we are to confider feverally and apart : which alfo we fhall do, beginning with them that are aferibed to the Father.
Two peculiar a&s there are, in this work of our redemp¬ tion by the blood of Jefus, which may be and are properly affigued to the perfon of the Father : Firft, the fending of his Son into the world for this employment ; Secondly, a laying the punifhment due to our fin upon him.
I. The Father loves the world, and fends his Son to die. He fent his Son into the world , that the world through him might be faved , John iii. 17. He fent his Son in the likenefs of jinful flefh , and for fin condemned fin in the flefh, that the righteou/nefs of the law might be fulfilled in us , Rom. viii 3. He fent him forth, to be a propitiation through faith in his blood 9
Rqib*
as eternally intended .
Rom. iii. 25. When the fulnefs of time was come, God /cut forth his Son , made of a woman , made under the law ; to re¬ deem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Jons , Gal. iv. 4. g. So more than twenty times in the Gofpel of John , there is mention of this fending ; and our Saviour deferibes himfelf by this periphrafis, him whom the Father hath fent , John x. 36. and the Father, by this, he which hath fent me, John v. 37. So that this a&ion of fending, is appropriate to the Father ; according to his pro- mi fe, that he would fend us a Saviour, a great one, to deli¬ ver us, Ifa. xix. 20. and to the profeffion of our Saviour ; I have not fpoken in fecret from the beginning, from the time that it was, there am I, and, now the Lord God and his Spirit hath fent me, Ifa. xlviii. 16. Plence the Father himfelf is {Sometimes called our Saviour, 1 Tim. i. 1. By the command¬ ment Theou Sot eros hemon of God our Saviour : lome copies indeed read it, Theou kai Soteros hemon of God and our Saviour ; but the interpolation of that particle KAI, arole doubtlefs from a mifprifion, that Chr iff alone is called Saviour. But dire£Ily this is the fame with that parallel place ot Titus, i. 3. kat ’epitagen tou Soteros iiemon Theou
according to the commandment of God our Saviour ; where no interpofition oi that conjun&ive particle can have place : the fame title being alio in other places aferibed to him ; as Luke i. 47 ; my fpirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour . As alfo, 1 Tim. iv. 10; we trujl in the living God , who is the Saviour of all men, efpecially of them that believe : though in this laft place, it be not aferibed unto him, vibth reference to his redeeming us by Chrifi, but his faving and preferving all by his providence. So alfo, Titus ii. 10. and ni. 4. Deut. xxxii. 15. 1 Sam. x. 29. Pfal. xxiv. g. and xxv. g. Ifa.
xii. 2. and ix. 11. and xlv. 15. Jer. xiv. 8. Mich. vii. 7. moflol which places, have reference to his fending of Ghrill : which is alfo diftinguilhed into three feveral a£Is ; which in order we muff lay down.
if. An authoi itative irnpofition of the office 'of Mediator ; which Chrillclofed withal, by his voluntary fulception of it, willingly undergoing the office : wherein, by difpenfation, the Father had and exerciied a kind of fuperioiity; which the Son, though in the form of God, humbled himfelf unto, Phil. ii. 6. 7. And of this, there may be conceived two pans.
1. The purpofed irnpofition of his couniel; or his eternal counfel for the fer ting apart of his Son, incarnate, to this office : faying unto him, thou art my Son, this day have I he¬
ld
gotten
9.8
The End of the Death oj Chrijl
gotten thee; Aft of me, and I will give thee the nations for t nine inheritance, and the utter mojl parts of the earth for thy pofffon. Pfal. ii. 7. 8. He faid unto him, fit thou at my fight hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot fool ; for the Lord hath /worn and will not repent , thou art a Pnefl forever after the order of Melchifedek, Pfal. cx. 1, 4. He appointed him heir of all things, Heb. i. 2. having ordained him to be the judge of quick and dead, A6Is x. 42. for unto this he was foreordained, before the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. 20. and determined , horistheis,^ be the Son of God with power , Rom. i. 4. that he might be the frf -born of many brethren, Rom. viii. 29. I know that this is ana& eternally eftabliffied in the mind and will of God ; and fo not to be ranged in order with the other, which are all temporary, arid had their beginning in the fulnefs of time ; of all which, this firft is the fpring and fountain, — according to that of James, A61s xv. 18. known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world: but yet, it being no unufual form of [peaking, that the purpofe fhould alfo be comprehended in that which holds out the aecompliffiment of it • aiming at truth and not exaftnefs, we pals it thus.
2. The aclual inauguration, or lolemn admiffion of Chrifl unto his office ; committing all judgment unto the Son, John V. 22. making him to be both Lord and Chrijl, A£ls ii. 36. appointing him over his whole houfe, Heb. iii. 1,2, 3. which is that anointing of the mofl holy, Dan. ix. 24. God anoint¬ ing him with the oil of gladnefs above his fellows , Pfa1. xlv. 7. For the a£fual fettirtg apart of Chrift to his office, is faid to be by un&iori ; becaule all thofe holy things which were types of him, as the ark, the altar, See. were fet apart and confe- crated by anointing, Exod. xxx. 25, 26, 27. &c. To this alfo belongs that public teftification by innumerable angels from heaven, of his nativity ; declared by one of them to the ffiepherds, behold (faith he) 1 bring you good tidings of great joy, which fall be unto all people ; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour , which is Chrijl the Lord, Luke ii. 10, 11. which tneffage was attended by, and clofed with that triumphant exultation of the hoft of heaven ; Glory to God in the Highef, and on earth peace , good-will to¬ wards men, ver. 14, with that redoubled voice which after¬ wards came from the excellent glory ; this is my beloved Son , in whom L am well pleafed, Matth. iii. 17. and chap. xvii. 5. 2 Pet. i. 37. If thefe things ought to be diftinguiffied, and placed in their own order, they may be conhdered in thefe
three
as eternally intended »
27
' three feveral ads. 1. The glorious proclamation which he made of his nativity, when h t prepared him a body , Heb. x. g. bringing his firfl begotten into the world, and faying. Let all the angels of God worjhip him , Heb. i. 6. and fending them to proclaim the me flag e which we before recounted. 2. Sending the fpirit vifibly in the form of a dove, to light upon him, at the time of his baptifm, MaUffi iii. 1 6. when he was endued with a fulnefs thereof, for the accornphfh- ment of the work, and dilcharge of the office whereunto he \vas defigned \ attended with that voice whereby he owned him from heaven as his onlv beloved. 3. The crowning of Jiim with glory and honour ; in his relurredion, afcenfion, and fitting down on the right hand of the My fly on high , Heb. i. 3. fetting him as his King upon his holy hill of Sion , Plal. it. 6. when all power was given unto him , in heaven and in earth , Matt, xxviii, 18. all things being put under his feet, Heb. ii. 7, 8. himfelf highly exalted, and a name given him Above every name , &c. Phi f. ii. q. Of which it pleafed him to appoint witneffes of all forts; angels from heaven, Luke xxiv. 4. Ads i. 10. the dead out of the graves, Matt, xxvii. £2. the Apoftles among and unto the living, Ads ii. 32. with thofe more than five hundred brethren, to whom he appeared at once, 1 Cor xv. 6. Thus glorioufly was he inau¬ gurated into his office, in the feveral ads and degrees thereof ; God faying unto him, It is a light thing that thou jhouldfl be my fervant, to raije up the tribes of Jacob, and to rejlore the preserved of Ifrael ; 1 will alfo give thee for a light to the. Gen¬ tiles, that thou mayfl be my Jalvation unto the end of the earth , Ifa. xlix. 6.
Between thefe two ads, I confefs, there iuterceeds a two¬ fold promife of God : one, of giving a Saviour to his people, a Mediator, according to his former purpofe ; as Gen. iii. tg. That the feed of the woman fhall bruife the jer pent's head ; and the fceptrejhall not depart from Judah , nor a lawgiver f rom between his jeet , until Shiloh come ; and unto him Jhatl ike ga¬ thering of the people be , Gen. xlix. 10. Which he alfo fore- fignified by many facrifices, and other types, with propheti¬ cal predidions : for of this Jalvation the prophets have inquired, and fearched diligently , who prophefied of the grace that Jhould come unto you; fear clung what or what manner of time the Jpirit of Chrift which was in them did fignify, token it tefhfied before hand the fujferings of Chrift and the glory that Jhould follow ; unto whom it was revealed , that not unto them [elves, but unto us they did minifter the things whick arc now reported,
lint 0
The End of the Death of Chrifl
unto you oy them that have preached the go [pel unto you , with the holy Ghojl fent down from heaven : which things the angels de¬ fine to look info, 1 Pet. i. 10, tsi, 12. The other is, a pro- mile of applying the benefits purchafed by this Saviour, fo defigned, to them that fhould believe on him, to be given in the fulnefs of time, according to the former promifes ; tel- linfr Abraham, that in his feed the nations of the earth fhould be biffed, Gen xxii. 18. and juftifying himfelf by the fame faith, Gen. xv. 6. But thefe things belong rather to the ap¬ plication wholly ; wnich was equal both before and after his atiual miffion.
2dly. The fecond a& of the Father’s fending the Son, is the furnifhing of him in his fending, with a fulnefs of 'all gifts oitd graces, tnat might any way berequifite for the office he was to undertake, the work he was tp undergo, and the charge he had over the houfe of God. There was indeed in Chrifl, a two-fold fulnefs and perfe&ion of all fpiritual excellencies :
1. i ne natural all-fufficient perfedlion of his deity, as one with his Father in refpea of his divine nature : fo/his glory was the glory of the only begotten of the Father , John i. 14. He was in the form of God , and counted it no robbery to be equal with God , Phil. ii. 6. being the fellcw of the Lord of Hofls 0 Z~ch. xiii. 7. whence that glorious appearance, I fa. 6, 3. when the cherubims cried one unto another, and faid, Holyf holy , holy , the Lord of Hofls , the whole earth is full of his glo- ry ; and the pojis of the doors moved at the voice of him that cried , and the houfe was filed with fnoke ; and the prophet cried, mine eyes have f ten the King the Lord of hofls , ver. 4. Even concerning this vifion, the Apoftle faith, LJaiali fax* his glory and /pale of him, John xii. 41, Of which glo¬ ry, ekenose, he as it were emptied himfelf for a feafon, when He was found in the form, or condition , of a fervant , humbling himfelf unto death, Phil. ii. 7, 8. laying afide that glory which attended his deity ; outwardly appearing to have neither form , ncr beauty, nor comelinefs , that he fhould be oc¬ hre d , Ifa. liii. 2. But this fulnefs we do riot treat of ; it be¬ ing not communicated to him, but effentially belonging tohis perfon, which is eternally begotten of the perfon of his Fa¬ ther.
2. 1 he fecond fulnefs that was in Chrifl, was a communi¬ cated fulnefs ; which was sn him by chfpenfation from his Father, bedewed upon him to fit him for his work and office, he was and is the Mediator between God and men * the man
Chrifl
gs eternally intended.
29
Chrift Jefus , 1 Tim. ii. 5. not as he is the Lord of hods, hut as he is Immanuel God with ns ; as he was a Son given to us ■called Wonderful^ Counfelldr , the mighty God , the ever l a jimp Father , the Prince of Peace , upon whofe fhoulders the go¬ vernment was to be, Iia. ix. 6. It is a fulnefs of grace ; not that effential, which is of the nature of the deity, but that which is habitual and infufed into the humanity, as perfonal- Jy united to the other; which though it be not abfolutely in¬ finite, as the other is, yet it extends itfelf to all perfe&ions of grace, both in refpeft of parts and degrees. There is no grace that is not in Chri ft, and every grace is in him in the higheft degree; fb that whatsoever the perfe&ion of grace, either for the feveral kinds, or refpeflive advancements there¬ of, requireth, is in him habitually by the collation of his Father, for this very purpofe, and for the accomplishment of the work defigned ; which though (as before) it cannot pro¬ perly be faid to be infinite, yet it is boundlefs and endlefs; it is -in him as the light in the beams of the fun, and as water in a living fountain, which can never fail ; he is the candle- flick from whence the golden pipes empty the golden oil out of then f elves (Zecb. iv. 12.) into all that are his; for he is the beginning , the firjl born from the dead , that in all things he might have the pre-eminence, for it pleafed the Father that in him f 10 uld all fulnefs dwell , Col. i. t8, 19. in him he caufed to bo hid all the treafurcs of wifdom and knowledge , Col. ii. 3. and in him dwelleth all the fulnefs of the Godhead somati- kgs, fub ft antially or perfoncdly , verfe 9. that of his fulnefs we might all receive , grace for grace, (John i. 16.) in a conti¬ nual fuppSy. So that fet ting upon the work of redemption, he looks upon this, in the firfl place : The fpirit of the Lord Gcd (faith hej is upon me ; becaufe the Lord hath anointed me, to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath fent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the, opening of the prifon to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year if the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn, I fa. Ixi. 1, 2. And this was the anointing with the oil of gladne/s, which he had above ins fellows, Pfal. xlv. 7. It was upon his head, and ran down upon fits beard , yea down to the Jkirts of his cloathing , Pfal. cxxxu. 2. that every one covered with the garment of his right eoufnefs, might be made partaker of it. The Spirit of the Lord did reft upon him, the /pint 0} wifdom and under - funding, the f pint of counfel and might, the fpirit of know - ge and of the fear of the Lord , Ifa, xi, 2. and that not in
parcels
*>o
The End of the Death of Chrijl
parcels and beginnings, as in us, proportioned to our meafur© and degrees ot lan&ification ; but in a fulnefs, for he received not the fpmt by meafurei John hi. 34. that is, it was not fo with him, when he came to the full meafure of the ftature of his age, as Eph. iv. 13. tor otherways it was manifefted in him, and collated on him by degrees ; for he increafed in wif dom and Jlature and favour with God and man , Luke ii. £2. Hereunto was added all power in Heaven and in earth , which was given unto him , Matth. xxviii. 18. power over all Jlefk9 to give eternal life to as many as the Father h id given him9 John xvii. 2, Which we might branch into many particu¬ lars ; but to much lhall fuffice to fet forth the fecond a£f of God, in fending his Son,
3 dly. The third a6t of this fending, is, his entering into, covenant and compact with his Son, concerning the work to be undertaken, and the iffue or event thereot ; of which there be two parts.
1. His promife, to prote£l and atlitt him in the accom- phffiment and perfe£i fuelling of the whole bufinels and diL penfation about which he was employed, or which he was to undertake. The Father engaged himfeli, that tor his part^ upon his Son’s undertaking this great work of redemption, he would not be wanting in any affiftance in trials, ftrength againfl: oppofitions, encouragement againfl temptations, and ftrong confolation in the midft ot terrors ; which might be any way neceffary or requifite, to carry him on through all difficulties, to the end of fo great an employment. Upon which he undertakes this heavy burthen, fo full of mifery and trouble; for the Father, belore this engagement, requires no lefs of him, than that he ffiould become a Saviour , and be afflifledin the affhthons of his people, lfa. lxiii. 8, 9. yea, that although he were the fellow of the Lord of koJls% yet he ffiould endure the fword that was drawn againfl him , as the Jhepherd of the Jheep ; Zech. xiii. 7. treading the wine prefs alone , until he became red in his apparel , Ita. Ixi. 2, 3. yea to be flncken , f mitten of God , and afflifted; wounded for our tranfgrefjions , and bruifed for our iniquities ; to be bruifed and put to g rief \ to have his [quI made an offering for fin , and to hear the Jin oj many , lfa. liii. 4, 5, 10, 12. to be deftitute of comfort fo tar as to cry, My God , my God , why hajl thou for - faken me? Pfal. xxii. 1. No wonder then, if upon this un¬ dertaking, the Lord promifed to make his mouth like a ffiarp fword , to hide him in the fiadozu of his hand , to make him a polifhcd Jhaft , and t§ hide him in his quiver 9 to make him his
fervant
as eternally intended . gi
• ■ i
fervant in whom he would be glorified, Ifa. xlix. 2, 3. That though the kings oj the earth Jhould jet themfelves , and the rulers take counjel together agamjl him; yet he would laugh them, to J corn , and fet him as king upon his holy hill of Zion , Pfal. ii. 2, 4, g. Though the builders did rejed him , yet he Jhould become the head of the corner; to the amazement and afomjhment oj all the world , Pfal. cxviii. 22, 23. (Matth. xxi. 42. Mark xii. 10, u. Lake xx. 17. A6Is iv. 11, 12. 1 Pet. ii. 7.) yea ,he would lay him for a foundation , <2 jlone , a tried Jlone, a precious corner Jlone , a jure foundation , Ifa. xxviii. 16. that whofoever Jhould jail upon him , fliould be broken, but upon whomfoever he Jhould fall, he fiould grind them to pow¬ der, Luke xx. 18. Hence arole that confidence of our Sa- vioui, in his greateft and utinoll trials; being affured, by vir¬ tue of his Father s engagement in this covenant upon a treaty with him about the redemption of man, that he would never leave him nor forfake him : I gave (faith he) my back to the Jmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, 1 hid not my face from Jhame and /pitting, If a. 1. 6. But with what confidence (bleffed Saviour) didft thou undergo all this fhame and foirow ? why, The Lord God will help me, there¬ fore Jhall I not be confounded; therefore have I fet my fact hke a flint and 1 know that I Jhall not be ajhamed; he is near that jujhfetk me, who will contend with me? let us hand to -
ffne adverfary ? let him come near to me; be- hold tae Lord God will help me, who is he that Jhall condemn me la: they all j nail wax old as a garment , the moth (hall confume them verfes 7, 8, 9. With this affurance, he was brought as a lamb to the /laughter ; and as a (keep before her Jhearers is dumb, [0 he opened not his mouth, Ifa. liii. 7. for when he was reviled he reviled not again; when he fuffertd, he threatened not, hut committed himfelf to him that fudgetk righteoujly, r Pet. 23. So that the ground of ourlla- viour s confidence and affurance in this great undertaking ttnd a ftrong mot.ve to exercife his graces received, in the u t moft endunngs, was this engagement of his Father, upon this compact ot afMance and proteftion. 1
2. His promife of fuccefs, ora good'iffue out of ail his ulfeiings, and a happy accomphfhment and attainment of the end 0f hls g«at undertaking. Now of a!i the reft this chiefly ' nf° ,be confider«!, as dtreftly conducing to the bufinefs pro. pofed ; which yet would not have been lo clear, without the former confiderations; for whatfoever it was .’haTcod p- miied his Son fliould be fulfilled and attained by him, that cer-
t&inly
3a
The End of the Death of Chrijl
tainly was it at which the Son aimed in the whole undertaking, and defigned it as the end of the work that was committed to him; and which alone he could and did claim, upon the ac- complifb merit of his Father’s will. What this was, and the promifes whereby it is at large fet forth, ye have, Ifa. xlix. Thou Jkalt be my fervant (faith the Lord) to raife up the tribes of Jacob , and to reflore the prejerved of Ifrael: l will alfo give thee for a light to the Gentiles , that thou may jl be my falvation unto the end of the earth : Kings [hall fee and arife , princes alfo Jhall worjhip ; becaufe of the Lor d that is faithful . And he will certainly accomplilh this engagement : * I will preferve ‘ thee and give thee for a covenant of the people, to eftablifh 6 the earth, to cattle to inherit the defolate heritages ; that
* thou mayft fay to the prifoners, go forth, to them that are ‘ in darknefs, fhew yourfelves ; they fhall feed in the ways,
* and their pailures fhall be in all high places ; they fhall not
* hunger nor thirff, neither fhall the heat nor Sun fmite them ;
* for he that hath mercy on them, fhall lead them, even by ‘ the fprings of water fhall he guide them; and I will make ‘ all my mountains a way, and my highways fhall be exalted ; ‘ behold ihefe fhall come from far, and lo thefe from the ‘ north, and from the well, and thefe from the land of Sinim,’ verfes 6, 7, 8, 9, io, 11, 12. By all which expreflions, the Lord evidently and clearly engageth himfelf to his Son, that he fhouid gather to himfelf a glorious church of be- lievers from among Jews and Gentiles , through all the world ; that fhouid be brought unto him, and certainly fed in full pafture, and refrefhed by the fprings of water, all the fpi- ritual fprings of living water, which flow from God in Chriit for their everlaftihg falvation. This then our Saviour cer¬ tainly aimed at, as being the promife upon which he un¬ dertook the work ; the gathering of the fons of God toge¬ ther, their bringing unto God, and pafling to eternal fal¬ vation. Which being well confidered, it will utterly over¬ throw the general ranforri, or univerfal redemption, as after¬ ward will appear. In the fifty-third chapter of the fame prophecy, the Lord is more exprefs and punciual in thefe promifes to his Son ; alluring him, that when he 4 made 6 his foul an offering for fin, he fhouid fee his feed, and 4 prolong his days, and the pleafure of the Lord fhouid 6 profper in his hand; that he fhouid fee of the travail of hib ‘ foul and be fatisfied ; by his knowledge he fhouid jufli y 4 many.; that he fhouid divide a portion with the great, and 4 the fooil with the flromr/ verfes 10, 1 1, 12. He was to fee
as eternally intended gg
liis feed by covenant, and to raife up a fpiritual feed unto God ; a faithful people, to be prolonged and preferved throughout all generations : which how well it confifts with their perfuafion, who in terms have affirmed, that the death of Chrift might have had its full and utmoft effect* and yet none be faved; I cannot fee; though fome Have boldly af¬ firmed it, and all the affertors of univerfal redemption do tacitly grant, when they come to the afligning of the proper ends and effefts of the death of Chrift. Ike pleafure alfo of the Lord was to prof per in his hand ; which what it was he declares, Heb . ii. 10. ‘ even the bringing of many fons an- 6 to g\ovy : for God fent his only begotten Son into the 8 world, that we might live through him,’ i John iv* 9. as we {hall afterward more abundantly declare. But the promifes of God made unto him in their agreement, and fo conle- quently his own aim and intention, may be feen in nothing more manifeftly, than in the requeft that our Saviour makes upon the accomplifhment of the work about which he was fent ; which certainly was neither for more nor lefs, than God had engaged himfelf to him for. 6 I have (faith he) glorified 6 thee on earth, I have finifhed the work which thou gaveft 4 me to do,’ John xvii. 4. And now what doth he require* after the manifeftation of his eternal glory, of which lor a feafon he had emptied himfelf, ver . 5 ? clearly, a full con¬ fluence of the love of God, and fruits of that love, upon all his ele£l 5 in faith, fan&ification and glory. God gave them unto him, and he fan&ified himfelf to be a facrifice for their fake, praying for their fanffification, v. 17, 19. their prefer- Vation in peace, or communion one with another, and union with God, ver . 20, 21. 4 I pray not for thefe alone, (that
is his apoftles) but for them alfo which fliall believe on me
4 through their word ; that they all may be one, as thou Fa- 8 ther art in me, and I in thee, that they alfo may be one irf ‘ us:5 and laftly their glory, v . 24. ‘ Father, I will that they
5 aifo whom thou haft given me, be with me where I am, that 5 they may behold my glory which thou haft given me J All which feveral demands are no doubt grounded upon the fore- cited promifes, which by his Father were made unto him $ and in this, not one word concerning all and every one* but exprefsly the contrary, John xvii. Let this then be diligently obferved ; that the promife of God unto bis Son.* and the requefi of the Son unto his Father, are dire&ed to this peculiar end of bringing fons unto God* And this is the firft aft, confining of thefe three particulars,
B It TU
34
The End of the Death of Chrijl
Ji. I he fecond is, of laying upon him the punifhment of fins, every where afcribed unto the Father: ‘Awake (> fwordagainll my fhepherd, againft the man that is my fel¬ low (Taith the Lord of hofls,) fmite the fhepherd, and the ‘ fhcep fhall be fcattcred/ ZecL xiii. 7. What here is fet down imperatively by way of command, is in the gofpel in- dicatively expounded; ‘ I will fmite the fhepherd, and the
* bleep of the flock fhall be fcattered abroad,’ Matt. xxvi. 31. ‘ He was flricken, fmitten of God, and affhfted, yea the
* Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all; yea it pleafed the
* Lord to bruife him, he hath put him to grief/ If a. liii. 4, 6,
10. • He made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that
* we might be made the righteoufnefs of Godin him/ 2 -Cor. v. 21. The adjunct in both places is put for the fubjeft ; as the oppofition between his being made fin, and our being made righteoufnefs declareth: him who knew no fin, that is, who deferved no punifhment : him hath he made to be fin, or laid the punifhment due to fin upon him : or perhaps in the. latter place, fin maybe taken for an offering or facrihce for the expiation of fin : HAM art I A anfwering in this place to the word CHATAH in the OldTeffament, which fignifieth both fin and the facrifice for it. And this the Lord did ; for as for Herod , Pontius Pilate , with the Gentiles and the people of IJrael , when they were gathered together, they did nothing but * what his hand and council determined before to 4 be done/ Acls iv. 27, 28. Whence, the great (bakings of our Saviour weie in his clofe conflift with his Father’s wrath, and that burthen which by himfelf he immediately impoled on him ; when there was no hand or inffrument outwardly appearing to put him to any buffering or cruciating torment. Then ‘ began he to be forrowful even unto death/ Matto xxvi. 37, 38. to wit, when he was in the garden with his three choice Apoflles, before the traitor or any of his accom¬ plices appeared ; ‘ then was he fore amazed and very heavy/ Mark xiv. 33. That was the time, 4 in the days of his flefh/ when ‘ he offered up prayers and Applications, with flrong 4 crying and tears, unto him that was able to fave him from 6 death/ Heb . v. 7. which how he performed, the Apoffle defcribeth, Luke xxii. 43, 44, ‘ there appeared an angel 6 unto him, from heaven, {Lengthening him ; and being in 4 an agony, he prayed more earneflly, and his fweat was as it 4 were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’ Surely it was a clofe and flrong trial, and that immediately from his Father, he now underwent; for how meekly and
cheat fully
as eternally intended.
00
chearfully doth he fubmit, without any regret or trouble of fpirit, to all the cruelty of men, and violence offered to his body; until this conflict being renewed again, he cries,
4 My'God, my God, why hail thou forfaken me ?’ And this, by the way, will be worth our observation, that we may iviio'w with whom our Saviour chiefly had to do, and what was that which he underwent for finners; which alfo will give feme light to the grand Query, concerning the perfons of them for whom he undertook all this. Idis luffermgs wcic far from con- filling in mere corporal perpelhons and affliflions; with fuch impreffions upon his foul and fpirit, as were the effects and iffues only of them; it was no more, nor lefs, than the curie of the law of God, which he underwent for us; ‘ for he hath
* redeemed us from the curfe, being made a curfe, Gal. liu 13. which contained all the punifhment that was due to fin, either in the feverity of God's juflice, or according to the ex¬ igence of that law which required obedience. That the exe¬ cration of the law fhould be only temporal death , as the law was confidered to be the inftrument of the Jewifh polity, and ferving that ceconomy or difpenfation, is true; Out that it fhouid be no more, as it is the univerfal rule of obedience, and the bond of the covenant between God and man, is a foolilb dream. Nay, but in dying tor us, C hr i II did not on¬ ly aim at our good, but alio direflly died in our Head, the punifhment due to our fin, and the chaflifement of our peace, was upon him ; which that it was the pains of hell in their nature and being, in their weight and preiTure, though not in tendency and continuance, (it being impoffible that he fhould be detained by death) who can deny, and not be injurious to thejuitice of God, which will inevitably inflifl thofe pains to eternity upon finners? It is true indeed, there is a relaxa¬ tion of the law, in refpe£l or the perfons fullering, God ad¬ mitting of commutation ; as in the old law, when in their facrifices the life of the beafl was accepted (in refpefl to the carna? part of the ordinances) for the life of the man ; this is fully revealed, and we believe it ; but for any change of the punifhment, in relpebl of the nature of it, where is the ieafl in¬ timation of any alteration ? We conclude then this fecond a£l of God, in laying the punifhment on him for us, with that of the prophet: ‘All we like fheep have gone a dray, \v<e
• have turned every one to his own wav, and the Lord hath 4 laid on him the iniquity of us all,’ IJa . liii. 6. And add thereunto this obfervanon ; that it feems flrange to me, that ChriH fhould undergo the pains of hell in their Head, who
V ft I
lay
3$ The End of the Death of Chrift .
Jfy fn pains of hell before he underwent thofe pains, and ihall continue in them to eternity; for ‘their worm dieth ® not, neither is their fire quenched.’ To which I may add this dilemma to our Univerfalifts : God impofed his wrath due unto, and Chrift underwent the pains of hell for, either all the fins of all men, or all the fins of fome men, or fome fins of all men. If the laft, fome fins of all men, then have all men fome fins to anfwer for, and fo fhall no man be faved ; for if God 4 fhould enter into judgment’ with us, though it were with all mankind for one fin, ‘ no man living fhould be f juftified in his fight,’ Pfal. cxliii. 2. ‘If the Lord fhould 4 mark iniquities, who fhall ftand ?> PfaL cxxx. 3. We uught ail go to caft all that we have, ‘ to the moles and to ? the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the c tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the ? g|pry of his Majefty,’ Ifa . ii. 20, 21. If the fecond, that is it which we affirm; that Chrift, in their ftead and room, fullered for all the fins of all the ele61 in the world. If the firft, why then are not all freed from the puniffiment of all their fins? You will fay, becaufe of their unbelief, they will not believe ; but this unbelief, is it a fin or not ? If not, why fhould they be puniffied for it ? If it be, then Chrift under¬ went the puniffiment due to it, or not ; if fo, then why muff that hinder them, more than their other fins for which he died, from partaking of the fruit of his death ? If he did not, then did he not die for all their fins. Let them choofe which part they wilj, ' ; s r * f * 1
<*1* +** 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4*' 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4*’ 4*
CHAP. IV.
Of theft things which , in the work of redemption, are peculiarly
afcnhed to the perfon of the Son .
THE Son was an age?it in this great work; concurring by a voluntary fufception, or willing undertaking of the office impofed on him ; for when the Lord Paid, ‘ facrifice ? and offerings he would not, in burnt offerings and facrifice 5 for fin he had no pleafure;’ then faid Chrift, ‘ Lo I come,
\ (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy 5 will, O God,3 Heb. x. 5, 6, 7. All other ways being re- je&ed as infufficient, Chrift undertaketh the talk; * in whom* atone 4 the Father was well pleafed,’ Matth . iii. 17. Hence he profeffeth, that ‘ lie came not to do his own will, but the t will of him that fent him,’ John vi. 38. yea that it was
37
as eternally intended .
his meat and drink, to do his Father’s will, and to finifli his f work,’ John iv. 34. The firft words that we find recorded of him in Scripture, are to the fame purpofe : ‘ Wifi you « not, that I mult be about my Father’s bufinefs,’ Luke ii. 49. And at the clofe of all, he faith, * I have glorified thee on ‘ earth, I have finifhed the work which thou gaveft me to do* John xvii. 4. calling it every where his Father’s work that he did, or his Father’s will which he came to accomplifh ; with reference to the impofition, which we before treated of. Now this undertaking of the Son may be reterred to three heads. The firft being a common foundation for both the other, being as it were the means in refpeH of them as the end; and yet in fome fort partaking of the nature of adiftinft a61ion, with a goodnefs in itfelf, in reference to the main end propofed to all three ; we fhall confider it apart. And that is,
I. His incarnation , as ufually it is called; or his ‘ taking
* of flefh, and pitching his tent amongft us,5 John i. 14.-— His being made of a woman, {Gal. iv. 4.) is ufually called his Ensarcosis or incarnation; for this was the mv- ftery of godlinefs, that God 4 fhould be manifefl in the flefh,* t Tim . iii. 16. thereby afluming, not any fingular perfon, but our human nature, into perfonal union with himfelf; for, 4 for as much as the children are partakers of flefh and blood, 4 he alfo himfelf likewile took part of the fame; that through
* death he might deftroy him that had the power of death,
* that is, the devil,’ Heb. ii. 14. It was the children that he «onfidered, the * children whom the Lord had given him,* verfe 13. Their participation in flefh and blood moved him to partake of the fame ; not becaufe all the world, all the pofterity of Adam ; but becaufe the children were in that con* dition, for their hikes he fan£lified himfelf. Now this empty¬ ing of the Deity, this humbling of himfelf, this dwelling a- mongft us, was the foie a£l of the fecond perfon, or the di¬ vine nature in the fecond perfon ; the Father and the Spirit having no concurrence in it, but by liking, approbation, and
eternal counfei.
*
II. His oblation , or offering himfelf up to God for us c without fpot, to purge our confcience from dead works,* Heb . ix. 14, for 6 he loved us, and wafhed us from our fins ‘ in his own blood,’ Rev. i. t5. ‘he loved the church, and * gave himfelf for it, that he might fanclify and cleanfe it,’ Eph. v. 25, 26. taking the cup of wrath at his Father’s hands due to us, and drinking it off, ‘ but not for himfelf,* Dan . ix. 26. for, 4 for our fakes he fanftified himfelf,5 John
xvii.
3^ The End of the Death of Chrijl
• •
>;vn, 19. that is, to be an offering, an oblation for fin; for when we were yet without ftrength, in due time Chrift died
* f°r the ungodly,3 Ro'tn. v. 6. This being that which was typified by ail the inftitutions, ordinances and facrifices of old ; which when they were to have an end, then faid Chrift, 6 Lo I come to do thy will.3 Now, though the perfe£fing or confummating of this oblation, be fet out in the Scripture chiefly, in refpefl of what Chrift fuffered, and not fo much in refpedl of what he did ; becaufe it is chiefly confidered as the means ufed by thefe three bleffed agents, for the attaining of a further end ; yet in refpefl of his own voluntary giving up himfelf, to be fo an oblation and a facrifice, without which it would not have been of any value, (for if the will of Chrift had not been in it, it could never have purged our lins) therefore in that regard, I refer it to his affions. He was the ‘ Lamb of God, which taketh away the fin of the 6 world,3 John i. 29. the lamb of God, which himfelf had provided for a facrifice ; and how did this lamb behave him¬ felf in it? With unwillingnefs and ftruggling? No; ‘he ‘ opened not his mouth, he was brought as a lamb to the 6 (laughter, and as a fheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo he
* opened not his mouth,3 Ifa. liii. 7. whence he faith, ‘ I lay ‘ down my life, no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down
* of my fell; I have power to lay it down, and I have power c to take it again,3 John x. 17, 18. He might have been cruciated on the part of God ; but his death could not have been an oblation and offering, had not his will concurred ; but ‘ he loved me3 (faith the apoftle) ‘ and gave himfelf for 6 me,3 GalX\. 20. Now that alonedeferves the name of a gift, which is from a free and a willing mind ; as Chrift’s was, when 6 he loved us, and gave himfelf for us, an offering and a fa-
* crifice to God for aTweet fmellmg favour,3 Eph v. 2. He does it chearfuliy : ‘ Lo, I come to do thy will, O my God,3 Heb. x. 9. and fo, ‘ his own feff bare our fins in his own bo- 6 dy on the tree,3 1 Pet. ii. 24. Now this oblation or offering of Chrift, I would not tie up to any one thing, adfion, or paffion, performance or buffering ; but it comprifeth the whole (economy and difpenfation of God manifefted in the flefb, and converfing among us ; with all thofe things which he performed in the days of his flefh, when he offered up prayers arid fupplications, with ftrong cries and tears, — until
* he ha & fully by himfelf purged our fins, and fat down on ‘ the right hand of the Majefty on high,3 Heb . i. 3. ‘ expe£U 4 ing till his enemies be made his iootftooV Heb. x. 13* All
as eternally intended.
39
the whole difpenfation of his coming and adminiftering, until he had given his foul a price of redemption for many, Matt, xxvi. 28. But tor his entering into the holy of the holies, fprinkled with his own blood, and appearing fo for us, be¬ fore the majefty of God, by fome accounted as the continua¬ tion of his oblation ; we may refer unto,
III. His intercejjion for all and every one of thofe, for whom he gave himfelf an oblation. He did not fuffer for them, and then refufe to intercede for them ; he did not do the greater, and omit the lefs. The price of our redemption is more precious in the eyes of God and his Son, than that it Ihould (as it were) be caff away on perifhing fouls ; without any care taken of what becomes of them afterwards : nay this aifo is impofed on Chrift, with a prornife annexed ; 4 Afk of 4 me (Jaith the Lord) and I (hall give thee the nations for
* thine inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for
* thy poffeflion,’ Ffal. ii. 8. Who accordingly tells his difciples, that he had more work to do for them in heaven ; 4 l go, Jaith he , to prepare a place for you, that I may come 4 again and receive you unto myfelf, John xiv. 2,3. For as the high prieft went into the fecond tabernacle alone, once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himfelf and the errors of the people, Heb. ix. 7. fo 4 Chrift being 6 come an high prieft of good things to come, by his own ‘ blood entered in once into the holy place, having obtained ‘ for us eternal redemption,’ Heb . ix. n, 12. Now, what was this holy place whereunto he entered, thus fprinkled with the blood of the covenant ; and to what end did he enter into it ? why, 4 he is not entered into the holy places made 4 with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven
itfelf, now to appear in the prefence of God for us,’ v. 24. And what doth he there appear for ? why, to be our advo¬ cate, to plead our caufe with God, for the application of the good things procured by his oblation, unto all them for whom he was an offering ; as the apoftle tells us, 4 if any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, even Jefus Chrift, the righteous,’ 1 John v\, 1. why? how comes that to pafs ?, he is a 4 propitiation for our fins,’ v . 2. his being hilasmos a propitiatory facrifice for our fins, is the foundation of his interceding, the ground of it : and therefore they both belong to the fame perfons. Now (by the way) we know, that Chrift refufed to pray for the world, in oppofition to his e- le£l : 4 I pray for them (faith he) ; I pray not for the world,
bat for them which thou haft given me,’ John xvii. 9. And
therefore
4°'
Vie End of the Death of Chrijl
therefore there was no foundation for fuch an interceding for them, becaufe he was not hilasmos for them. Again, we know the Father always heareth the Son ; for ‘I know,
* (faith he,} that thou hearefl me always,’ John xi. 42. that is, fo as to grant his requeft, according to the forementioned engagement, PfaL ii. 8 And therefore, if he fhouid inter¬ cede for all, all fhouid undoubtedly be faved ; 4 for he is able ‘ to fave them to the uttermofl that come unto God by him„ ‘ feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them,’ Heb. vii. 25. Hence is that confidence of the apoflle, upon that interceffion of Chrifl ; * Who fhall lay any thing to the charge 6 of God’s ele£l ? it is God that juflifieth ; who is he that 4 condemneth ? it is Chrifl that died, yea rather that is rifen,
* again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo mak- s eth interceffion for us,’ Rom. viii. 33, 34. Where alfo we cannot but obferve, that thofe for whom he died may af- furcdly conclude he maketh interceffion for them, and that none fhall lay any thing to their charge : which breaks the neck of the general ranfom ; for, according to that, he died for millions that have no interefl in his interceffion, who fhall have their fins laid to their charge, and perifh under them. Which might be further cleared up, from the very nature of this interceffion ; which is notan humble. deje£led Application, which befeems not that glorious flate of ad¬ vancement which he is poffefTed of, that fits at the right hand of the Majefly on high; but an audioritative prefenting him- felf before the throne of his Father, fprinkled with his own blood, for the making out to his people all fpiritual things that are procured by his oblation; faying, * Father, I will that
* thofe whom thou hafl given me, be with me where I am,9 John xvii. 24. fo that for whomfoever he differed, he appears for them in Heaven with his fatisfadlion and merit. Here alfo, we muft call to mind what the Father promifed his Son, upon his undertaking of this employment ; for there is no doubt, but that for that, and that alone, doth Chrifl, upon the accomplifhment of the whole, inter cede with him about * which was in fum , that he might be the captain of falvation to all that believe on him, and effeflually bring many fons to glory. And hence it is, having fuch 4 an high priefl over the
* houfe of God, we may draw near with the full affurance o*
* faith ; for by one offering he hath perfefled for ever them 4 that are fan£lified,’ Heb . x. 14, 21, 22. But of this more muff be faid afterwards.
»
as eternally intended.
4*
CHAP. V«
The peculiar a&ions of the holy Spirit in this lujinefs .
at
Sf
IN few words we may confider the aftions of that agents who in order is the third in that bleffed One, whofe all ie the whole, the holy Spirit ; who is evidently concurring in his own diftinft; operation, to all the feveral chief or grand parts of this work. We may refer them to three heads.
I. The incarnation of the Son, with his plenary alliftance in the courfe of his converfation whilft he dwelt amomfft us : for his mother was found en gastri echousa, to “have con* “ ceived in her womb of the holy Ghoft,” Matt . i. 18. If you aik with Mary, how that could be ? the angel refolves both her and us, as far as it is lawful for us to be acquainted with thefe myfterious things, Luke i. 35. “ The Holy Ghoff fhall come upon thee, and the power of the Higheft fhall overfhadow thee; therefore alfo that holy thing which lhail “ be born of thee, fhall be called the Son of God.’* It was an overfliadowing power in the 1'pirit ; fo called by an allufion taken from fowls that cover their eggs, that fo by their warmth the young may be hatched: for, by the foie power of the Spi- ritwasthis conception : who did incubare fettui, as in the be* ginning of the world. Now, in procefs as this child was conceived by the power of, fo he was filled with the fipirit i and waxed ftronger in it ; until having received a lulnef? thereof, and not by any limited meafure in the gifts and graces of it, he was throughly iumifhed and fitted for his great un¬ dertaking.
II. In his cblaiion or paffion, (for they are both the fume* with feveral refpeefs, one to what he fuffered, the other to what he did with, by, and under thofe fufferings;) “ through “ the eternal Spirit, he offered himfelf without fpotto God,5' Heb, ix. 14. Whether it be meant, of the offering himfelf a bloody facrifice on the crofs, or his prefentation of himfelf continually before his Father ; it is through the eternal Spi¬ rit. The willing offering himfelf through that Spirit* was the eternal fire under this facrifice, which made it acceptable unto God. That which fome contend, that by the eternal Spirit is here meant our Saviour’s own Deity, I lee no great ground for. Some Greek and Latin copies read, not as we commonly, PNEUMATOS AIONlOU,but PNJSU MATOS HAGIOU, and fo the doubt is quite removed, and I fee no rea* fon3 why he inay not as well be laid to “ offer himfelf, through
F 64 th§
.id vv, rtT ■ ' ■*:>' i, -
!*? d r 5 i ■ ' '.&?■ ^ : L/’T 1 Tfdd ■
:-m\
Hi
■
ill! 1
The End of the Death of Clirijl
“ the ho]y Spirit as to be “ declared to be the Son of God, ac¬ cording to the Spirit of hoiinefs, by the refurre£lion from the dead, as Rom. i. 4, asalfo to be “ quickened by the Spirit, ” 1 Pet, iii. 1B. The working of the Spirit was required, as web in his obiauon as reiurre£tion, in his dying as quickening. III. In his refurreBion ; of which the apoftle fpeaks, Rom .
But if the (pint of him that railed up Jefus from “ the dead dwell in you, he that railed up Chrift from the “ ^ead fhall alfo quicken your mortal bodies, by his fpirit “ dwelleth in you.” And thus have we difeovered the blelfed agents and undertakers in this work ; their feveral ac¬ tions, and orderly concurrence unto the whole : which tho* they may be thus diftinguifhed, yet they are not fo divided, hut that every one muff be aicribed to the whole divine na¬ ture, whereof each perfon is in folidum partaker. And as they begin it, fo they will jointly carry along the application of it, unto its ultimate iffue and accomplifhment : for we muft " give thanks unto the Father, who hath made us " meet (that is, by .his fpirit) to be partakers of the inherit- “ ance of the faints in light ; who had delivered us from the “ power of darknefs, and hath tranflated us into the kingdom “ of his dear Son ; in whom we have redemption through c< his blood, even the forgivenefs of fins.” Col, i. 12. 13, 14,
,4 4 .4 4 .4 .4 4 4 4 4, 4 ,^.4 4 4444
CHAP. VI.
The means nfea by the fort-recounted agents, in this work .
U R next employment, following the order of executi-
on, not intention, will be the difeoveryor laying down of the means in this work ; which are indeed no other but the feveral a&ions before recounted, but now to be confi- dered under another refpeft, as they are means ordained for the obtaining of a propofed end ; of which afterwards. Nov/, becaufe the feveral a£lions of the Father and Spirit, were all exercifed towards Chrift, and terminated in him as God and man ; he only, and his performances, are to be confidered as the means in this work ; the feveral concurrences of both the other perfons before mentioned, being prefuppofed as ne- ceflarily antecedent or concomitant.
I. The means then ufed or ordained by thefe agents, for the end propofed, is that whole ccconomy or difpenfation car¬ ried along to the end, from whence our Saviour Jefus Chrift
is
as eternally intended .
43
Is called a Mediator: which may be and is ufually, as I men¬ tioned before, didinguiflied into two parts ; bird, his ob!a -
tion , Secondly, his intejceJJion .
iy^, By his we do not defign only the particular
offering of himfelf upon the crofs, an offering to his bather, as the lamb of God without fpot or blemifh ; when ^he bare our Gns, or carried them up with him in his own body on the tree, which was the fura and complement of his oblation, and that wherein it did chiefly con fid : but alfo his whole humilia¬ tion, or date of emptying himfelf ; whether by yielding vo¬ luntary obedience unto the law, as being made under it, that he might be the end thereof to them that believe, Rom . x. 4. or by his fubje£lion to the curfe of the law, in the antecedent inifery and buffering of life, as well as by fubmitting to death, the death of thecrofs; for no a£lion ot his, as Media¬ tor, is to be excluded from a concurrence to make up the whole means in this work.
2 dly. Neither by his inter cejjion , do I underdand only that heavenly appearance of his in the mod holy place, tor the applying unto us all good things, purchafed and procured by his oblation ; but alfo every a£l of his exaltation conducing, thereunto, from his refurre&ion, to his fitting down at the right hand of Majedy on high, angels and principalities and powers being made fubjeft unto him. Of all which his re- furredion (being the balls (as it were) and the foundation of the red ; “ for if he had not rifen, then were cur faith 44 vain,” 1 Cor , xv. 14. and then “ are we yet in our fin," verfe 17, 44 of all men mod miierable,” verfe 19.) is elpecial- ly to be confidered, as that to which a great part of the etfefl is often afcribed; for he 44 was delivered for our offences, and 64 was raffed again for our judilication, ’ Rom . iv. 25. Where and in fuch other places, by his refurreffion the whole fol¬ lowing difpenfation, and the perpetual interceflion of Chriil for us in heaven, is intended; for 44 God raffed up his foil 44 Jefus, to blefs us, in turning away every one of us from 44 his iniquities,” Ads hi. 26.
II. Now this whole difpenfation, with efpecial regard to the death and bloodfhedding of Chrid, is the means we fpealc of ; agreeable to what we faid before, of fuch, in general. For it is not a thing in itfelf defirable, for its own lake ; the death of Chrid had nothing in it, (we fpeak of his differing didinguifhed from his obedience) that was good, but only as it conduced to a further end ; even the end propofed, ior the manifedation of God’s glorious grace. What good was it,
that
44
Fhe End of the Death of ChriJ
that Herod and Pontic Pilate, with the Gentiles and people Iirael Ihould with luch horrid villany and cruelty gather tWelves together, againft God’s “ holy child Jefus thorn he had anointed ABs iv. 27. P or what good was it, that
ffl a n.° Gjd ftl°U d be made fln and a curfe. »o be bruifed. am idea, and to undergo luch wrath as the whole frame of
nature, as it were, trembled to behold ; what good, what beauty and form is in all this, that it fhould be defired in it- fe,t and. tor nle'f P doubtlefs none at all. It mull then be noted upon, as a mean conducing to luch an end; the glory lultre whereof, mull quite take away all the darknels and con- fulion that was about the thing itlelf. And even fo it was in¬ tended by the blelled agents in it, by “ whole determinate .. c<)linlel fore-knowledge he was delivered and {lain, ABs 11.23 ‘here being done unto him, “whatfoever his hand and counsel had determined,” Ms iv. 28. which what it was, mult he al erwards declared. Now concerning the Whole, lome things are to be obferved :
That though the oblation and inteicejfion of Jefus Chrift, »rc dilhnft aits in themfelves, and have diftintt immediate pioQutts and lffues alfigned oft-times unto them, (which I fhould now have laid down, but that I mult take up this in a. noiher place ;) yet they are not, in any refpea or regard, to b. divided or leparated, as that the one Ihould have any re- iped to any perfons, or any thing, which the.other alfo doth not in its kind equally relped: but there is this manifold uni- ©n between them, viz.
l<}. In that they are both alike intended, for the obtaining accompiifhing the fame enrne and compleat end propofed ; io w'lt> *be effectual bringing ot many Tons to glory, for the
pratfe of God’s grace, of which afterwards.
2 dl)\ That what perfons foever the one refpe£eth, in the good tilings itokaineth, the fame, all, and noneelfe, doth the other 1 cfpe£l, in applying the good things fo obtained ; for 9‘ he was delivered for our offences, and rai/ed again for our juftjfication,’5 Rom . iv, 25. That is in brief; the ob- ot the one, is of no larger extent than the obje£t of the otner : or, for whom Chrift offered himfelf, for all thofe, and oniy thole, doth he intercede; according to his own word, 16 for their fakes I fanftify myftdf” (to be an oblation)
454 that they alfo might be fanfhfted through the truth/’ John xvii. 19.
3 dly* I hat the oblation of Chrift is, as it were, the founda¬ tion of his interceffion : inafmuch as by the oblation was procu-*
red
“
/*
& s adually accomplifhed. 4^
Ted every thing, that by virtue of his interceflion is bellowed ; and that becaufe the foie end why Chrift procured any thing by his death, was, that it might be applied to them for whom it was fo procured. The fum is, that the oblation and inter- ceffion of Jefus Chrift, are one entire means for the producing of the fame effe£l ; the very end of the oblation being, that all thofe things which are bellowed by the interceflion of Chrift, and without whofe application it ffiould certainly fail ©f the end propofed in it, be effefted accordingly ; fo that it cannot be affirmed, that the death or offering of Chrift con¬ cerned any one perfon or thing more, in refpe£l of procuring any good, than his interceflion doth for the collating of it. For he interceding above, for all good purchafed, and pre¬ vailing in all his interceflions, (for the Father always hears his Son) it is evident, that every one for whom Chrift died muft aBually have applied unto him, all the good things pur- chaled by his death ; which, becaufe it is evidently deftrudlive to the adverfe caufe, we muft a little ftay to confirm it; only telling you, the main proof of it lies in our following pro- pofal of affigning the proper end intended and effedled by the death of Chrift, fo that the chief proof muft be deferred un¬ til then. I ffiall now only propofe thofe reafons which may fee handled apart, not merely depending upon that.
CHAP, VII.
Containing reafons , to prove the oblation and inter ceffion oj Chriji to be one entire mean , refpeding the ac complement of
the fame propofed end ; and to have the fame perfonal ob - jed.
rea^on *s ta^en from that perpetual union which the Scripture maketh of both thefe, aimoft always joining them together; and fo manifefting thofe things to be moll infeparable, which are looked upon as the diftindl fruits and effedls of them: “By his knowledge ffiall my “ righteous fervant juftify many, for he (hall bear their ini¬ quities, lja. liii. 11. The adlual juftification of finners, which is the immediate fruit of his intercejfion , certainly fol¬ lows his bearing of their iniquities. And in the next verfe, tney are of God lo put together, that furely none ought to* prefume to put them afunder ; “ he bare the fin of many,” (behold his oblation) “ and made* interceflion for the t ran ft.
“ greflbrs4
46
The End of the Death of Chrijl
** greffors;” even for thofe many tranfgreffors, whofe fin he did bear. And there is one expreffion in that chapter, vtrfc which makes it evident, that the utmofl application of all good things for which he intercedes , is the immediate effe£l of his paffion ; “ with his ftiipes we are healed our total heal* ing is the fruit and procurement of his flripes, or of the ob¬ lation confummated tliereby. So alfo, Rom, iv. 25. “ He w as delivered for our offences, and was raifed again for our “ julhfication for whofe offences he died, for their j uflifi- cation he role; and therefore if he died for all, all muff alfo be juftified, or the Lord faileth in his aim and defign, both in the death and refurreHion of his Son ; which though feme have boldly affirmed, yet for my part I cannot but abhor the owning of fo biafphemous a fancy. Rather let us clofe with that of the apoille, grounding the afiurance of our eternal glory and freedom from all accusations, upon the death of Chrifl, and that becauffi his interceffion alfo for us doth in* feparabiy and neceffarily foil >w it ; “ who’* (faith he) ** fhall ®‘ lay any thing to the charge of God's efe£l ?” (it feems alfo, that it is only they for whom Chi id died ?) “ it is God that juftifieth; who is he that condemneth? it is Chrifl that died,5’ (fhall none then be condemned for whom Chrifl died? what then becomes of the general ranfom ?) “yea “ rather who is rifen again, who is even at the right hand of 44 God, who alfo maketh interceffion tor us,” Rom. v iii. 33, 34. Here is an equal extent of the one and the other; thofe perfons who are concerned in the one, are all of them con¬ cerned in the other. That he died for all , and intercedeth only for J'omey will fcarcely be fquared to this text ; efpecial- ly confidering the foundation of all this, which is fverfe 32) that love of God which moved him to give up Chrifl to death for us all ; upon which the apoflle inters a kind of impoffi- bility in not giving us all good things with him ; which how it can be reconciled with their opinion, who affirm that he gave his Son for millions, to whom he will give neither grace nor glory, I cannot fee. But we refl in that of the fame apoflle ; “ when we were yet without flrength, in due “ time Chrifl died for the ungodly,’* fo that “ being juftified 44 by his blood, we fhall be faved from wrath through him,** Rom . v. 6, g. The fame connexion between the oblation and interceffion of Chrifl, with their fruits and effe£ls, being in¬ timated in very many other places.
II. To offer and to intercede , to iacrifice and to pray, are both a£ls of the fame facerdotal office, and both required in
him
«<
««
47
as actually accomplifhtd .
him who is a priefl \ fo that if he omit either of thefe he cannot be a faithful priejl\ or them ; if either he do not offer for them, or not intercede for the fuccefs of his oblation on their behalf, he is wanting in the difcbarge of his office by him undertaken. Both thefe we find conjoined (as before) in Jefus Chrift, i John ii. t. a. “ If any man fin, we have “ an advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous, and 11 he is the propitiation for our fins He muff be an advo- cate to intercede, as well as offer a propitiatory facrifice ; if he will be fuch a merciful high priejl over the houfe of God, as that the children fhould be encouraged to go lo God by him. This the apoftle exceedingly clears and evidently proves, in the epiftle to the Hebrews ; dcfcribing the prieft- hoodof Chrift m the execution thereof, to confiftin thefe two a6ts, of offering up himfelf in and by the fhedding of his blood, and interceding for us to the utmoft : upon the per¬ formance of both which, he preffeth an exhortation to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace ; for, “ he is 14 come an high-prieft of good tilings to come, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he en¬ tered in once into the holy place, having obtained for us M eternal redemption,5’ chap. ix. it, 12. His bloody ob¬ lation gave him entrance into the holy place not made with hands, there toaccomplifh the remaining part of his office ; the apoftle compering his entrance into heaven for us, with the entrance of the high prieft into the holy place, with the blood of bulls and goats upon him, vtrft in, 13. (which doubt- lets wasto pray foi them in whofe behalf he had offered, v»rfe l.j fo prefenting himfelf before his Father, that his former oblati¬ on might have its efficacy. And hence it is fnd to have APARABATON Hierosynen an unchangeable priefthood became he continuetn ever, bleb* vn. 2 q . fo being “ able to lave them to the utter moll, that come unto God by him ” e<5- wherefore we have “ bo Idnefs to enter into the « holieft, by the blooaof Jefus,” chap. x. ,9. So then it is evident, trial botu thefe are aOs of the fame priefl Jy office in Chrift ; and ii he perform either of them for any, he muft of neceffity perform the other for them alfo ; for he will not ex ercife any or duty of his prieftly funftion, in their behalf for whom he is not a priefl; and for whom he is a priefl he muft perform both, feeing he is faithful in the difcharge of his I unction to the utmoft, in the behalf of the finners for whom he uncertate. Thefe two then, oblation and inter cr [Ron, muft irt refpeft 0. their objeds be of equal extent, and can by no means
be
48 The End of the Death cf Chrijlc
be feparated. And here by the way, (the thing being by this ar^ gument in my apprehenfion madefo dear) I cannot but demand tfl thofe who oppofe us about the death ot Chrift, whether they will fu (lain that he intercedeth tor all, or not? If not, then thev make him but half a prieft : it they will, they mutt be ne- cetTitated either to detend this error, that all (hail be faved; or own thisblafphemy, that Chrift is not heard of his Father, nor can prevail in his interceflion ; which yet the faints on earth are fure to do, when they make their fupplications according to the will of God, Rem. viii. 27. 1 John v. 14. Befides that of our Saviour it isexprefsly faid, that the Father “ al¬ ways heareih him,” John xi. 42, And ii that were true* when he was yet in the way> in the days of his flelh, and had not firiifhed the great work he was fent about ; how much more then now, when, having done the will and finiffied the work of God, he is let down on the right-hand of Majefty on high, defiling and requeftmg the accompiifhing of the promifes that were made unto him upon his undertaking this work ; of which before.
III. The nature of the interceflion of Chrift, will alfd prove no lefs than what we aflert ; requiring an unfeparable conjun&ion between it and his oblation ; for as it is now per- fedied in Heaven, it is not an humble dejetflion cf hirnfelf, with cries, tears and fupplications; nay it cannot be conceived to be vocal, by the way of intreaty ; but merely real, by the presentation of himfelf fprinkled with the blood of the cove* n ant before the throne of grace in our behalf. “ For Chrift “ (faith the apoftle) is not entered into the holy places made “ with hands, but into heaven itfelf, now to appear in the prefence of God for us, Heb. ix. 24. His interceflion there, is an appearing for us in heaven, in the prefence of God ; a demonftration of his facred body, wherein for us he fuffer- ed. For (as we faid before) the apoflle, in the ninth to the Hebrews , compares his entrance into heaven for us, unto the entrance of the high-prieft into the holy place, which was with the blood of bulls and goats upon him, verfe 12, 13. our Saviour’s being with his own blood ; fo prefen ting him- i'elf, that his former oblation might have its perpetual efficacy, until the many Sons given unto him are brought to glory. And herein his intercejjion conflfleth ; being nothing (as it were) but his oblation continued. He was a Lamb “ flam #t from the foundation of the world,” Rev. xiii. 8. Now, his interceflion before his aclual oblation in the fulnefs of time, being nothing but a prefenting of the engagement that
* Wi*
.
ft
ds actually accomplijhed <
49
Was upon him for the work in due time to be accctripliflied j certainly that which follows it, is nothing but a prefenting 0f what according to that engagement is fulfilled j fo that 7t is nothing but a continuation of his oblation, in requiring, by remembrance, and declaration of it, thole things whicbbv it were procured. How then is it poffible, that the one of thefe fhould be of larger compafs and extent than the other P Cart he be faid to offer for them for whom he doth not intercede ? when his interceffion is nothing but a prefenting of his oblati- on in the behalf of them for whom he fuffered^ and for the bello wing of thofe good things which by that were purchafed, IV. Again, if the oblation and death of Chrifl procured and obtained that every good thing fhould be bellowed which isaPiuady conferred by the intervening of his interceffion then they have both of them the fame aim, and are both means tending to one and the fame end. Now for the proof of this fuppofal, we mull remember that which we delivered before, concerning the compa.8, and agreement that was between thd Father and his Son, upon his voluntary engaging of him fell unto this great work of redemption 5 for upon that engage- ment, the Lord propofed unto him as the end of his fitffer- mgs, and promifed unto him as the reward of his labours, thd fruit of his defervings, every thing which he afterwards’ in- tercedeth for. Many particulars I before inllanced in; and therefore now, to avoid repetition, will wholly omit them, refertng the reader to chapter iii. for fatisfafliofi, Only I Ihall demand, what is the ground and foundation of our Savi¬ our’s interceffion ? Undemanding it to be by the wav of en¬ treaty either virtual or formal, as it may be conceived to be either real or oral, for the obtaining of any thing j muff it not reft upon fome promife made unto him ? or is there any good bellowed, that is not promifed ? Is it not apparent,
thaL^e-,norCe(I10nn of Chrift doth reft on ,uch a promife. asFfai. u. 8, Afk of me, and I fhaii give thee the heathen
for thine inheritance,” &c. Now, upon what confideratiort
was this promife and engagement made unto our Saviour ?
Was it not for his undergoing of thatabout which « the king*
“ J':1 ‘hemfel ves, and the rulers took counfel together again ft!
urn, verje 2. which the apofiles interpret of Herod And
Pontius Pilate with the people cj the Jews, profecuting hint
to deatn and doing to him “ whatfoever the hand and coun-
tel of God had determined before to be done,” AEls iv, 27,
2 . ,e interceffion of Chrift, then, being founded out
promifes made unto him ; and thefe pronai'fes being nothing1
G " but
The End of the Death of Chrijl
bat an engagement to bellow, and a£lually collate upon them for whom he fuffered, all thofe good things which his death and oblation did merit and purchafe, it cannot be, but that he intercedeth for all for whom he died, that his death pro¬ cured all and every thing which upon his inter ctjfion is be¬ llowed ; and until they are bellowed, it hath not its full fruits and effe&s. For that which fome fay, viz . that the death of Chrift doth procure that which is never granted, we Ihall fee afterwards, whether it doth not contradift Scripture, yea, and common fenfe.
V. Further, what Chrift hath put together, let no man prefume to put afunder ; diftinguilh between them they may, but feparate them they may not. Now thefe things concern¬ ing which we treat, (the oblation and interceflion of Chrift) are by himfelf conjoined, yea united, John xvii. For there, and then, he did both offer and intercede ; he did then as perfectly offer himfelf, in refpeft of his own will and inten¬ tion (verfe \) as on the crofs ; and as perfe6fly inteicede, as now in heaven. Who then can divide thele things, or put them afunder ? Efpecially confidering, that the Scripture affirmeth that the one of them without the other would have been unprofitable, i Cor. xv. 17. For complete remiflion and redemption could not be obtained for us, without the entering of our high prieft into the moft holy place, Heb.
IX. 12.
VI. Laftly, a feparating and dividing of the death and in- terceftion of Chrift, in refpefl of the obje£ls of them, cuts off all that confolation which any foul might hope to attain, by an affurance that Chrift died lor him. That the do£!rinc of the general ranfom is an uncomfortable doctrine, cutting all the nerves and finews of that ftrong confolation which God is fo abundantly willing that we fhould receive, Ihall be afterwards declared ; for the prefent I will only Ihew, how it cuts off our comtort in this particular. The main founda¬ tion of all the confidence and affurance, whereof in this life we may be made partakers, (which amounts to joy unipeaka- bie and lull of glory) arifeth from this ftrift connexion of the oblation and inter cejjion of Jefus Chrift ; that by the one Ire hath procured all good things for us, and by the other he will procure them to be aflually bellowed ; whereby he doth never leave our fins, but follows them into every c°urt> they be fully pardoned and clearly expiated, Ileb. ix. 20. c will never leave us, until he hath fayed, to the uttermoff,
them that come unto God by him. His death, wit tout ns
refurrection,
Am..--.*
wmmmmm
as aBually accomplished.
refurre&ion, would have profited us nothing ; all our faith in him had been in vain, 1 Cor . xv. 17. So that feparated from it, with the interceffion following, either in his own intention, or in the feveral procurements of the one and the other, it will yield us but little confolation ; but in this con¬ nexion, it is a fure bottom for a foul to build upon, II cb. vii. 35. What good will it do me, to be perfuaded that Chrift died for my fins, if, notwithflanding that, my fins may ap¬ pear againft me for my condemnation, where and when Chrift will not appear for my j unification ? If you will afk with the apoftle, “Who is he that condemneth, it is Chrift that died?” Rom. viii. 34. It may eafily be anlwered ; why, God by his law may condemn me, notwithflanding Chrift’s dying for me ! Yea but faith the apolfle, “ he is rifen again, “ and fitteth at the right hand of God, making interceffion 41 for us he refls not in his death, but he will certainly make interceffion for them for whom he died, and this alone gives firm confolation ; our fins dare not appear, nor any of our accufers againft us, where he appeareth for us. Cavilling objections againft this text, (hall be afterwards confidered ; andfo I hope I have fufficiently confirmed and proved, what in the beginning of this chapter I did propofe, about the identity of the objeCl of the oblation and interceffion oi Jefus Chrift.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 4" ^ ^ d* 4^ ^
CHAP. VIII.
ObjeClions againjl the former propofol, anfzuered.
BY what was faid in the laft chapter, it clearly appeareth, that the oblation and interceffion of Chrift are of equal compafs and extent, in refpeCl of their obje&s, or the per- fons for whom he once offered himfelf, and doth continually intercede ; and fo are to be looked on, as one joint mean for the attaining of a certain propofed end\ which what it is, comes next to be confidered. But becaufe I find fome ob¬ jections laid by fome againft the former truth, I malt remove them before I proceed ; which I (hail do, as a mail removeth dung, until it be all gone.
The fum of one of our former arguments, was, that to fa- crifice and intercede belong both to the fame perfon as high prieft ; which name none can anfwer, neither hath any per¬ formed that office, UQtil by him be accomplifhed ; where¬ fore
The End oj the Death oj Chrifi
fore om Saviour being the mofl abfolute, and indeed only true , gl| ine“» in whom were really all thofe perfe&ions which *n others received a weak typical reprefentation, doth perform Doth Ueie in the behalf of them for whofe fakes he was fuch.
An argument not unlike to this, I find by fome undertaken to he an! we red ; being in thefe words propofed : The ran/om and mediation oj thrift, is no larger than his office, of priejl , fnophet , and king ; but theft offices pertain to his church and i diojen , therejoie his 7 anfom pertains to them only .
I he intention and meaning of the argument, is the fame wit.i what we propofed, viz. That Chrifi offered not for them iOi whom he is no priefi ; and he is a priefi; only for them ior whom he doth alfo intercede. If afterwards I lhall have occafion to make life of this argument, I fliall, by the Lord’s Alliance, give more weight and ftrength to it, than it feems to have in their propofal, whofe intereft it is to prefent it as Lightly as poffible, that they may feem fairly to have waved j but the evafion, luch as it is, let us look upon.
This (faith the anfwerer) is a fober objedion ; which friend¬ ly term, I imagined at firfi he had given this reafon, becaufe Liw found it kind and eafy to be fatisfied ; but reading the an- fvv7ei, and finding that, fo wide from yielding any colour or appeal ance of what vvas pretended, it only ferved him to vent fome new weak and lalle conceptions; I imagined that it muff be fome other kindnefs, that caufed him to give this objefihon (as he cabs it) fo much milder an entertainment, than tnofe others which equally gall him; which hear nothing out, this is horrid, that biafphemy, that deteflable, abomi¬ nable and falfe ; as being indeed, by thofe of his perfuafion, neither to be endufed nor avoided. And at length 1 con- ceivedy that the reafon of it was intimated in the fiiR words of his pretended anfwer; which are, that this objedion doth not deny the death of Chrifi for all men , but only his ranfom and mediation for all men. Now truly if it be fo, I am not of bis judgment; but fo far from thinking it a fober objec- lion, that I cannot be perfuaded that any man in his right wits would once propofe it. That Chrifi fhould die for all, and yet not be, a ranfom for all, (himfelf affirming, that he came io give his life a ranfom for many,” Matt. xx. 28.) is to me a plain contradiftion. The death of Chrifi, in the firfi mofi general notion and apprehenfion thereof, is a ranfom . Nay do not this anfwerer, and thofe who are of the fame per- Juafion with him, make the ranfom of as large extent, as any ffeing in or about or following the death of Chrifi? Or have
as actually accomplished .
53
they yet fame further diftinflion to make, or rather divifion, about the ends of the death of Chrift ? As we have heard already, for fame he not only paid a ranfam, but alfa inter- cedeth for them, which he doth not for all for whom he paid a ranfam; will they now go a ftep backwards and fay, that for fame he not only died, but alfa paid a ranfam for them, which he did not far all for whom he died P Who then were thele that he thus died for? they muff be fame beyon d all and every man ; for as they contend, for them he paid a ranfam ? But let us fee what he fays further ; in fa eafy a caufe as this, it is a fhame to take advantages.
I. The anfwer to this objection (faith he) is eafy and plain in the Scripture; for the mediation of Chrijl is both more general , as he is the Mediator between God and men , 1 Tim. ii. g. and more efpecially , as he is the Mediator of the New TeJ lament, that they which are called may receive the promife of eternal inheritance , Heb. ix. lg. According to that , it is [aid he is the Saviour of all men , efpecially of thofe that believe , 1 Tim. iv. 10. So in all the offices of Chrijl , the priejj the prophet , the king; there is that which is more general, and that which is more fpecial and peculiar — And,
iy?, Ibis is that, which he calls a clear and plain anfwer from the Scripture, leaving the application of it unto the ar¬ gument, to other men’s conje&ure ; which, as far as I can conceive, mull be thus, viz. It is true, Chrift paid a ranfam for none but thofe tor whom he is a Mediator and Prieft ; but Chrift is to be confidered two ways : Firft, as a general Mediator and prieft far all; Secondly, as a fpecial Mediator and prieft for fame ; now he pays the ranfam as a genera! Me¬ diator. This I conceive, may be fame part of his meaning; for in itfelf, the whole is in expreflion fa barbarous and re¬ mote from common fenfe, in fabftance fach a wild unchrifti- an madnefs, as contempt would far better fait it, than a reply.
he truth is, fenfe and expreflion, in men who from their manual trades leap into the office of preaching, and employ¬ ment of writing, I know no reafan why we ffaould expeft ; only it can never enough be lamented, that wildnefs, in fach tattered raggs, ffiould find entertainment, whilft faber truth
1V,“t jUn-°od°0rS* *or what» 1 P^y you, is the meaning or this diftinftiOn ; Chrift is either a general Mediator be ¬ tween God and man, or a fpecial Mediator of the New Tef- tament ? Was it ever heard before, that Chrift was any way a Mediator, but as he is fa of the New Teftaraent ? A Me- la.oy *s not of one ; ah mediation rcfpccis an agreement of
fever al
H
The End of the Death of Chrift
fevecal parties, and every mediator is the mediator of a cove^ nant. Now, if Chrift be a Mediator more generally, then as he is fo of a covenant ; of what covenant, I befeech you, was that ? Of the covenant of works ? Would not fuchan af« fertion overthrow the whole Gofpel ? would it not be dero¬ gatory to the honour of Jefus Chrift, that he fhould be the Mediator of a cancelled covenant ? Is it not contrary to Scripture, affirming hitn to be a furety (not of the firft) but of a better Teftament ? Heb. vii. 22. Are not fuch bold aflerters, fitter to be catechifed than to preach ? But we muft not let it pafs thus ; the man harps upon fomething that he hath heard from fome Arminian do&or, though he hath had the ill hap, fo poorly to make out his conceptions? Where¬ fore being in fome meafure acquainted with their evafions, which they colour with thofe texts of Scripture which ar© here produced, I fhall briefly remove the poor fhift, that fo our former argument may ftand unfhaken.
The poverty of the anfwer, as before exprefled, hath been fufficienily already declared. The fruits of Chrift’s medita¬ tion have been diftinguifhed by fome, into thofe that are more general, and thofe which are more peculiar ; which in fome fenfe may be tolerable ; but that the offices of Chrift fhould be faid to be either general or peculiar, and himfelf in relation to them fo confidered, is a grofs unfhapen fancy. I anfwer then to the thing intended, that we deny any fuch general mediation or funftion of office in general, in Chrift, as fhould extend itfelf beyond his church or chofen.^It was his church which he “ purchafed with his own blood,” Ads xx. 28 His church that “ he loved and gave himfelf for it, that he might farcify and cleanfe it with the wafhing of “ water by the word, that he might prefent it to himlelf a « olorious church,” Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. They were his (keep whom he laid down his life for, John x. 15. And “ he appeareth in heaven for us,” Heb. ix. 24. Not one word of mediating for any other, in the Scripture. Look upon 1 his incarnation; it wasbecaufe the children were partakers offlefh and blood, Heb . ii. 14- not becaufeall the ' world was fo. Look upon his oblation; “ lor their fakes,” (faith he?< thofe whom thou haft given me) “ I fanftify myfelf” Job xvn. 19. that is to be an oblation, which was the work he had then in hand. Look upon his refurreaion ; he died for our Tins ^and 1 ofe or juftification, Rom. iv. 25. Look upon his afcenfion ; I go * rfaith he) to my Father and your Father, and that to pr m Jarc a place for you, John xiv. 2. Look upon his perpetu-
IP*— — . • -*«!iiesri— ’•• • ' -
as aftuatly accomplijhcd . 55
«t ate(j Jnterceflion ; is it not to rt fave to theuttermoft them « that come unto God by him,” Heb. vii. 25. Not one word of this 'general mediation for all. Nay, if you will hear him- felf he denies in plain terms to mediate lor all ; tor “I pray <« not” faith he, " for the world, but lor them which thou
“ haft given me/’ John xvii. 9. Bat,
zdly. Let us fee what is brought to confirm this diitinfction.
1. The text 1 Tim ih 5. is quoted for the maintenance thereof; “ for there is one God and one Mediator between “ God and men* the man Chrift Jefus.” What then I pray ? what will be concluded hence ? Cannot Chrift be a Mediator between God and men, but he mull be a Mediator for all men ? are not the ele£f men ? do not the children partake of flefh and blood ? doth not his church confift of men P Whafc reafon is there to aflert out of an indefinite propofmon an univerfal conclufion ? Becaufe Chrift was a Mediator for men, (which were true, had he been fo only for his apofties) {hall we conclude therefore, he was fo for all men ? apage mi-
gas. ,
2. But let us fee another proof, which haply may give
more ftrength to the uncouth diftin&ion we oppofe ; and that is 1 Tim. iv. 10. “ who is the Saviour of all men, elpecially of thofe that believe.” Had it been, who is the Mediator of all men, efpecially of them that believe, it had been more likely ; but O the confciences, or at leaft the foreheads of thefe men ! Is there any word here fpoken of Chrift as Me¬ diator ? Is it not the living God in whom we truft, that is the Saviour here mentioned, as the words going before in the fame verfe are ? and is Chrift called fo, in refpeft of his me¬ diation? That God the Father is often called Saviour , I fhewed before; and that he is here intended, as is agreed upon by all found interpreters; fo alfo it is clear, from the matter in hand, which is the prote£ling providence of God ; general towardsall, fpecial and peculiar towards his church. Thus is he laid to fave man and beaft, P/al. xxxv i. 6. anthropous KAI KTENE s&seis kyrie; rendering the Hebrew TO- SHIAH by soseis, thou (halt fave or preferve. It is God, then, that is here called the Saviour of all ; by deliverance and proteQion in danger, of which the apoftle treats; and that by his providence, which is peculiar towards believers; and what this makes for an univerfal mediation, I know not.
Now, the very context in this place will not admit of any other interpretation. For the words render a reafon why, notwithstanding all the injury and reproaches wherewith the
peop-e
S6
The End of the Death of Cktijl
people of God are continually affaulted, yet they fhould ch t&f* iully go forward, to run with joy the race that is fet before them; even becaufe, as God preferVeth all, (“ for in him we “ live and move, and have our being,*’ Ads xvii. 28. PfaL cxlv. 1^, 1^, 16.) fo that he will not fuffer any to be injured and unrevenged, [Gen* ix. fj.) fo is he efpecially the preferver* of them that do believe, for they are as “ the apple of his “ eye,” Zech. ii. 8. Deut. xxxii. 10. So that if he fhould fuffer them to be preffed for a feafon, yet let them not let go their hope and confidence, nor be weary of well-doing, but {fill reft on and truft in him. This encouragement being that which the apolfle was to lay down ; what motive would it be hereunto, to tell believers, that God would have thofe faved who neither do, nor ever will, or fhail believe ? That I lay nothing how ftrange it feems, that Chrift fhould be the Sa¬ viour of them who are never faved, to whom he never gives grace to believe ; for whom he denies to intercede, John xvii* 9. which yet is no fmall part of his mediation, whereby he faves finners. Neither the fubjeFt then, nor the predicate of the propofition, ( He is the Saviour of all men) is rightly ap¬ prehended, by them who would wrelf it to the maintenance of umverfal redemption . For the fubjeff He, it is God the Father, and not Chrift the Mediator; and for the piedicate, it is a providential prefervation, and not apurchafed falvation, that is intimated ; that is, the providence of God, prote&ing and governing all, but watching in an efpecial manner for the good of them that are his, that they be not always unjuftly and cruelly traduced and reviled, with other preftures, is what the apoftle here refts upon ; as alfo he fhews that it was his courfe to do, 2 Cor . i. 9, 10. “ But we had the fentence of “ death in ouilelves, that we fhould not truft in ourfeives, 41 but in God which raifeth the dead ; who delivered us from “ fo great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we truft, that “ he will deliver us;5’ for he is the Saviour of all men, ef¬ pecially of them that do believe.
If any (hall conceive, that thefe words (becaufe zuetrufl in the living God , who is , See.) do not render an account of the ground of Paul’s confidence, in going through with his la¬ bours and affli&ions, but rather are an expreftion of the head and fura of that do£lrine, for which he was fo turmoiled and afflifted, I will not much oppofe it ; for then alfo, it includes nothing but an affertion of the true God and dependence on him ; in oppofition to all the idols of the Gentiles, and other vain conceits, whereby they exalted themfeves into the throne
as aBually accomptijhed.
57
*. s
««
•f the Moft High. But that Chrift fhould be faid to be si Saviour (1.) of thofe who are never faved from their fins, as he faves his people, Matt. i. 21 ; (2.) of thofe who never hear one word of faving or a Saviour ; (3,) that he fhould he a Sa¬ viour in a twofold fenfe, [1.] for all, [2.] for behevers ; (4.) that to believe, is the condition whereby Chrift becomes a Saviour in an efpecial manner unto any, and that condition not procured nor purchafed by him ; that this, I lay, is the fenfe of this place, credcit Judaeus Apella . To trie nothing is more certain, than that to whom Chrift is in any fenfe a Saviour in the work of redemption, he faves them to the ut- termoft from all their fins of infidelity and difohedience ; with the faving of grace here, and glory hereafter.
II. Further attempts alfo there are, to give ftreiigth to this evafion, and fo to invalidate our former argument ; which I muft alfo remove :
“ Chrift (fay they) * in fome fort intertedeth and ptitieth “ in for tranfgreffors, even the fons of men, yet in and of the;
world; that the Spirit may fo ftill unite and blefs thofe that u believe on him^ and fo go forth in their corifeflioris and con- “ verfations, and in the miniftration of his gofpel by his ferv- ants, that thofe among whom they dwell and converfc might be convinced and brought to believe the report of *' the gofpel, }fa . liii. 12. As once, Luke xxiih 34. As u himfelf left a pattern to us, John xvii. 21, 23. That iOjj “ the men of the world might be convinced, and thefe con* vinced allured to Chrift, and to God in him, Matt. v. 14* 15, 16. Yea fo, as that he doth in fome rneafure enlighten “ every man that cometh into the world, John i. 9. But in 14 a more fpecial manner doth he iritercedej & c.”
Here is a twofold interceftion of Chrift as Mediators ie For all finners, that they may believe ; (for that is it which is in¬ tended, by the many cloudy expreftions wherein ii is involved) 2. For believers, that they may be faved. It is the in ft incite ber of the diftinHion, which we oppofe ; and therefore mufl infill a little upon in
ijl. Our author faith, it is an interceding in fome fort i I a Ik, in what fort ? is it diredlly, or indirectly ? is it by virtu of bis blood, fhed for them, or otherwife ? is it with an in¬ tention and defire to obtain for them the good things inter¬ ceded for, or with purpoie that they fhould go without them ? is it for all and every man, or Only for thofe who live in thi outward pale of the church ? is faith the thing required fo#
H
* More’* Uoiverfalitf of Grac£t
«<
«<
58
The End of the Death of Chrift
them, or Something elfe? is that defired abfolutely, or upon ;°!ne condition ? All which queries nmft be clearly anfwered, Oelore this general interceffion can be made intelligible.
1. Whether it be dire&ly, or indire&ly, and by confe- quence only, that this interceffion alter a fort is ufed P For that thing interceded for is reprefented, not as the immediate ifFue or aim of the prayer of Chrift, but as a reflex, arifing from a bleffing obtained by others; for the prayer fet dowri^ is “ that God would fo blefs believers, that thole amongft
whom they dwell may believe the report of the gofpel ;** it is believers tnat are the dire£l objecl of this interceffion, and others only glanced at through them. The good alfo fo defired for them is confidered, either as an accident that may come to pafs, or follow the flourifhing of believers, kata SYMBEBeK.os ; or as an end intended to be accomplifh- ed by it ; if the firfl, then their good is no more intend¬ ed than their evil ; if the latter, why is it not effe£led ? why is not the intention of our Saviour accomplilhed ? is it for want of wifdorn to choofe fuitable and proportionable means to the end propofed, or is it for wrant of power to effe£f what he intendeth ?
2. Is it by virtue of his blood, fhed for them, or otherwife ? If it be ; then Chrift intercedeth for them, that they may en¬ joy thofe things which for them by his oblation he did pro¬ cure : for this it is, to make his death and bloodfhedding to be the foundation of his interceffion. Then it follows, that Chrift by his death procured faith for all; becaufe he interced- eth that all may believe, grounding that interceffion upon the merit of his death. But, (i) This is more than the affertors of univerfal redemption will fuftain : among all the ends of the death of Chrift by them affigned, the effe£tual and infalli- able bellowing of faith on thofe for whom he died, is none. (2) If by his death he hath purchafed laith for all, and by fn- tercef&on entreateth for it ; why is it not a£laally bellowed on them ? is not a concurrence of both thefe fufficient for the making out of that one fpiritual bleffing ? — But if it be not founded on his death and bloodfhedding ; then we defire, that they fhould deferibe unto us this interceffion of Chrift, differing from his appearing for us in heaven fprinkled with his own blood;
3. Doth he intercede for them, that they fhould believe ; with an intention or defire that they fhould do fo ; or not ? If not, it is but a mock interceffion, and an intreaty for that which he would not have granted ; if fo ; why is it not ac-
r c®mplifhed ?
69
as adually accomplifhed .
eomplilhed ? Why, do not all believe ? yea, if he died for all, and prayed for all that they might believe , why are not alffaved P for Child is always heard of his Father, John
x i . 4 2 .
4, Is it for all and every one in the world, that Chrift makes this interceflion ; or only for thole who live within the pale of the church? If only for thofe latter; then this doth not prove a general interceflion for all, but only one more large than that for believers : for if he leaves out any one in the world, the prefent hypo thefts falls to the ground. If for all : how can it confift in that petition, that the ftpirit fyould fo lead , guide and blejs believers , and Jo go forth in the minift ration of the gofptl by his Jervants , that others (that is all and every one in the world) may be convinced and brought to believe ? How, I fay, can this be Ipoken, with any reter- ence to thofe millions of fouls that never fee a believer, that hear no report of the gofpel ?
g, If this interceflion be for faith, then either Chrift inter- cedeth for it abfolutely , that they may cer-ainly have it ; or upon condition ; and that, either on the part of God, or man. If abfolutely , then all do a&ually believe ; or that is not true, the Father always hears him, John xi. 42. II upon condition on the part of God ; it can be nothing but this, if he will or pleafe . Now, the adding of this condition may denote in our Saviour two things: fi.j A nefcience of what is his bather’s will, in the thing interceded for ; which cannot Hand with the unity of his perfon, as now in glory ; and cannot be, be- caufe he hath the afliirance of a promife to be heard in what ever be alketh, PfaL ii. 8. Or. (2.) An Advancement of his Father’s will, by fubmiflion to that, as the prime caufe of the good to be bellowed ; which may well Hand with ab° folute interceflion, by virtue whereol all mull believe. But next, is it a condition on the part of thofe for whom he doth intercede ? Now I befeech you, w hat condition is that ; where in the Scripture afligned ? where is it faid, that Chrifl doth intercede for men that they may have faith, if they do fuch and fuch things ? Nay, what condition can rationally be afligned of this defire ? Some often intimate that it is, if they fujfer the Spirit to have its work upon their hearts , and u- bey the grace of Gcd : now what is it to obey the grace of God? is it not to believe? therefore it feems, that Chrift inter- cedeth for them, that they may believe, upon condition that they do believe. Others more cautioully aflert the good ufing of the means of grace, that they do enjoy, to be the condition upon
which
The End of the Death of Chrifl
which the benefit of this interceflion doth depend: but again, (i.) What is the good ufing of the means of grace, but afub- fTiitting to them, which is believing; and fo we are as before. (2.) All have not the means of grace, to ufe well or ill. (3.) CM ft prays that they may ufe the means of grace well ; or he doth not 1 if not, then how can he pray that they may be¬ lieve ; feeing to ufe well the means of grace, by yielding o- bedience unto them, is indeed to believe ? if he do, then he doth it abfolutely, or upon condition; and fo the argument is renewed again as in the entrance. Many more reafons plight be eafily produced, to (hew the madnefs of this afler- tion ; but thofe may fuffice. Only,
2 dly„ We muft look upon the proof and confirmations of
it. '
*
1. The words of the prophet Ifaiak liii. 12, “ He made ** interceflion for the tranfgreflors, ” are infilled on. Now the tranfgreflors here for whom our Saviour is faid to make interceflion, are either all the tranfgreflors for whom he fuf- iered ; as is moll likely, from the defcription we have of them, verfe 6, or the tranfgreflors only by whom he fuffered, that a£led in his fufferings as fome luppofe p If the firft ; then this place proves, that Chrilt intercedes for all thofe for whom he fuffered, which differs not from that which we con- tend for. If the latter ; then we may confider it as accom- plifhed : how he then did it, fo it is here foretold that he Ihould ; and thus,
2. The next place urged, is Luke xxiii. 24, “ Then faid Jefus, Father forgive them, for they know not what they
M do.”
The conclufion which from thefe words is inferred, being, therefore there is a general inter ceffion for ally that they may believe ; I might well leave the whole argument to the fiient judgment of men, without any further opening and difcove- ry of its invalidity and weaknefs : but becaufe the ablefl of that fide have ufqally infifled much on this place, for a gene¬ ral fuccefslefs interceflion ; I will a little confider the infer¬ ence, in its dependence on thefe words of the gofpel, and fearch whether it have any appearance of ftrength in it ; to wbicfi end we mu ft obferve that,
(1.) This prayer is not for all men, but only for that hand¬ ful of the Jews by whom he was crucified ; now, from a prayer for them, to infer a prayer for all and every man* that ever were, are, or fhall be, is a wild deduction.
(2.) It doth not appear that he prayed for all his crucifiers
©ither^
as adually accomplished «
6t
cither, but only for thofe who did it out of ignorance ; as appears by the reafon annexed to his fupplication, “ for they “ know not what they do.” And though, Ads iii. 17, it is faid that “ the rulers alfo did it ignorantly;” yet that all of them did fo, is not apparent, That lome did, is certain from that place ; and fo it is, that fome of them were converted afterwards : indefinite propofitions mull not, in fuch things, be made univerfal. Now doth it follow, that becaufe Chrifife prayed for the pardon of their fins who crucified him out of ignorance, as fome of them did ; that therefore he intercede eth for all, that they may believe ? even fuch who never once heard of his crucifying.
(3.) Chrift, in thofe words, doth not fo much as pray for thole men that they might believe ; but only, that that fin of them, in crucifying of him, might be forgiven, not iaid to their charge : hence to conclude, therefore he intercedeth for all men that they may believe, even becaufe he prayed that the fin of crucifying himfelf might be forgiven them that did it, is a ftrange inference.
(4.) There is another evident limitation in the bufinefs ; for among his crucifiers he prays only for them that were prefent at his death ; amongft whom, doubtlefs, many came more out of curiofity to fee and obferve, as is ufual in fuch cafes, than out of malice and defpight : fo that whereas fome urge, that notwithftanding this prayer — yet the chief of the priefbs continued in their unbelief ; it is not to the pur- pofe, for it cannot be proved that they were prefent at his crucifying.
(5.) It cannot be affirmed with any probability, that our Saviour ffiould pray for all and every one of them, fuppofing fome of them to be finally impenitent : for he himfelf knew full^ well what was in man , John ii. 25. yea he knew from the beginning who they were that believed not , John vi. 64. Now it is contrary to the rule which we have, 1 John v. 16, there
cfinunto deaths &c. to pray for them whom we know to be finally impenitent, and to fin unto death.
(6.) It feems to me that this fupplication was effeflual and fuccefsful, that the Son was heard in this requell alfo; faith and forgivenefs being granted to them for whom he prayed ; fo that this makes nothing for a general ineffe&ual intercef- fion, it being both fpecial and effeflual. For of them whom Peter tells, that they “denied the holy One and defired a f‘ murderer,” Ads iii. 14. and “ killed the Prince of life,” ferfe 15. of thefe, I fay, five thoufand believed, Ads iv. 4.
“ Many
The End oj the Death of Chriji
“ Many of them which heard the word, believed, and the “ number of the men was about five thoufand.55 And if any others were among them, whom our Saviour prayed for, they might be converted afterwards. Neither were the rulers without the compafs of the fruits of this prayer; for “ a great company of priefh were obedient to the faith,” Adis vi. 7. So that nothing can poffibly be hence inferred for the purpofe intended.
(7.) W e may, nay we muff grant a twofold praying in our Saviour; one by virtue of his office as he was Mediator, the other in anfwer to his duty, as he was fubjeft to the law, and a private perfon. It is true, he who was Mediator was made a fubjefit to the law ; but yet thofe things which lie did in obedience to the law, as a private perfon, were not a£ls of mediation, nor works of him as Mediator, though of him who was Mediator. Now, as he was fubjeft to the law, our Saviour was bound to forgive offences and wrongs done unto him, and to pray for his enemies ; as alfo he had taught us to do, whereof in this he gave us an example, Matt . v. 44. “ I c* lay unto you, love your enemies, blefs them that curfe you, " do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which *6 defpitefuily ufe you and perfecute you.5’ Which doubtlefs lie inferreth from that law, Lev. xix, 18. “ Thou fhalt not a- “ venge, nor bear any grudge againfl the children of thy 0 people, but thou fhalt love thy neighbour as thyfelf;5’ quite contrary to the wicked glols put upon it by the Phari-. fees. And in this fenfe our Saviour here, as a private per¬ fon, to whom revenge was forbidden, pardon enjoined, pray¬ er commanded, prays for his very enemies and crucifiers ; which doth not at all concern his interceding for us as Medi¬ ator, wherein he was always heard; and fo is nothing to the purpofe in hand.
3. Again, John xvii. 21, 23. is urged, to confirm this general intercefiion which we have exploded; our Saviour praying that by the unity, concord, and flourifhing of his ferv- ants, the world might believe and know that God had fent him ; from which words though fome make a feeming flourifh, yet the thing pretended is no way confirmed. For,
fi) If Chrifl really intended and defired, that the whole world, or all men in the world, fhould believe, he would alfo, no doubt, have prayed lor more effectual means of grace to be granted unto them, than only a beholding of the bleffed condition of his, (which yet is granted to a fmall part of the
’"**» “ “ ,iM i"“ch”ifof ,i,c *"* ,o ‘"'m *"’ ,h“ 1
as actually accompli/he d ,
G<*
ij
it, as the only ordinary way, they might come to the know¬ ledge ot him. Bat this we do not find that ever he prayed for, or that God hath granted it; nay he blefled his Father that fo it was not, becaufe fo it feemed good in his figlu, Matt . xi. 2,5, 26.
(2.) Such a glofs or interpretation mull not he put upon the place, as fhould run crols to the exprefs words of our Sa¬ viour, v . 9. “ I pray not for the world ;” for if he here prayed, that the world fhould have true, holy, faving faith, he prayed for as great a bleffing and privilege for the world as any he procured, or interceded for, for his own. Where¬ fore,
(3) Sa7 fome. the world is here taken for the world of the elect, the world to be faved, God’s people throughout the world. Certain it is, that the world is not here taken proper¬ ty, mundo continente , tor the world containing ; but figu¬ ratively, pro mundo contcnto, for the world contained, or men in the world ; neither can it be made appear, that it muff be taken univerfally for all the men in the world, as feldom it is in the Scripture, which afterwards we fhall make appear; but raay beunderftood indefinitely, for men in the world, few or more, as the ele& are in their feveral generations. But this expofmon, though it hath great authors, I cannot abfolutely adhere unto, becauie, through this whole chapter, the world is taken, either for the world of reprobates, oppofed to them that are given to Chrift by his Father, or for the world of un¬ believers (the fame men under another notion) onpofed to
them who are committed to his Father by Chrift. * Where¬ fore I anfwer,
(4.) That by believing, , verfe 21. and knowing , verfe 20. is not meant believing in a ftria fen fe, or a faving comp're- henfion and receiving of Jefus Chrift, and fo becoming the Ions ot Goa, which neither ever was, nor ever will be ful- filled in every man in the world, nor was ever prayed for • but a conviction and acknowledgment, that the Lord Chrift is not, what before they had taken him to be, a feducer and a a e P^°Pi eh indeed what he faicl, one that came out from God able to protea and do good for and to his own • which kind of convi&ion and acknowledgment, that it is often termed believing in the Scripture, is more evident than that it inornd need to be proved; and that this is here meant the evidence of the thing is fuch, that it is confcnted unto by ex- pofitors of all forts. Now, this is not for any good of the
world, but for the vindication of his people, and the cxalta-
tion
V
64 The End of the Death of Chrift
tion of his own glory ; and fa proves not at all the thing in queftion. But of this word, world , afterward.
4. The following place, Matt. v. 14, 15, 16. (containing fome inftruftions given by our Saviour to his apoftles, fo to improve the knowledge and light which of him they had, and were farther to receive, in the preaching of the word and holinefs of life* that they might be a means to draw men to glorify God) is certainly brought in to make up a fhew of a number, as very many other places are, the author not once confidering, what is to be proved by them, nor to what end they are ufed ; and therefore, without further in¬ quiry, it may well he laid abide, as not at all belonging to the bufinefs in hand, nor to be dragged within many leagues of the conclufion, by all the ftrength and {kill of Mr. More.
5. Neither is that other place, John i. 9. any thing more advifedly or feafonably urged, though wretchedly glolfed, and rendered in fome meafure enlightening every man that cometk into the world. The Scripture fays, that Chrifl is the true fopht , which lighteth every man that cometk into the world ; in fome meafure, fays Mr. More; now, I befeech you, in what meafure is this ? how far, into what degree, in what meafure, is illumination from Chrift ? by whom, or by what means, fe- parated from him and independent of him, is the reft made up ? who fupplies the defeft of Chrift ? I know your aim is, to hug in your illumination by the light of natui e, and I know not what common helps that you dream of, towards them who are utterly deprived of all gofpel means of grace; and that not only for the knowledge of God as Creator, but alfo of him as in Chrift the Redeemer. But whether the calves of your own felting up, fhould be thus facnficed unto, with wrefting and perverting the word of God, and undervaluing the grace of Chrift, you will one day I hope be convinced. It fufficeth us, that Chrift is faid to enlighten every one, be- caufe he is the only true light ; and every one that is en¬ lightened, receiveth his light from him* who is the fun, the fountain thereof. And fo, the general defence of this gene-' ral ineffeftual interceftion is vaniftied ; but yet further, it is narticularlv replied concerning the priefthood of Chrift, that, P III. " As a prieft, in refpeft of one end, he offereth facn- «« fice that is, propitiation, for ail men, Heb. ix. 26. and ii. o. 'John i. 29. 1 John ii. 2. “ In refpeQ of all the ends, “ propitiation, and fealing the New Teftament, and teftihca- “ tion to the truth, and of the uttermoft end in all, for his
called and chofen ones,” Heb. ix, 14. Matt. XXV 1. 26.
ai atiualty atcdntplijhed* gj
|\vhat follows after, being repeated out of another place hath been already anfwered.) Now ,
i /• Thefe words, as here placed* have no tolerable fenfct in them, neither is it an eafy thing to gather the mind of the author out of them ; fo tar are they trom being a clear an- fwer to the argument, as was pretended. Words of Scrip¬ ture indeed are ufed ; but wrefted and corrupted, not Only to the countenance of error, but to bear a part in unreafonable expreflions. For what, I pray, is the meaning of thefe words ; ht offered facrifice in refiped of one end , then of all ends , thea ef the uttermojl end in all ? To enquire backwards,
i. What is this uttermojl end in all ? is that in all , m of among all the ends propofed and accomplifhed ? or in alt thofe for whom he offered facrifice ? or is it the uttermoft end and propofal of God and Chrifl, in his oblation ? If this lat¬ ter, that is the glory of God ; now there is no fuch thing once intimated, in the places of Scripture quoted, Heb> ix* 14, ij. Matt. xxvi. 26.
2. Do thofe places hold out the Uttermoft end of the death of Chiiff, (fubordinate to God’s glory ?) why, in one of them ir. is the obtaining of redemption ; and in the other, the fhed- dmg of his blood for the remiffion of fins, is expreffed p Now, all this you affirm to be the firfl end of the death of Chrifl, in the fir ft words ufed in this place : calling it propi¬ tiation, tnat is an attonement for the remiffion of fins: ‘which re million Oi fins, and redemption, are, for the fubftance, One and the fame: both of them the immediate fruits and firft end of the death of Chrifl, as is apparent, Eph. i. 7. CoL i* 14. So here you have confounded the firfl and laft end of the death of Chrifl, fpoiling indeed and cafting down fas you may lawfully do, for it is your own) the whole frame and building; whofe foundation is this, that there be fevcral and diverfe ends of the death of Chrifl, towards feverai perfons* lo that forne of them belong unto all, and all of therrfoniy to fome ; which is the proton pseudos of the whole book*
3. Chrifl’s offering himfelf to put away fin, out of Heb a ix. 26. you make to be the firfl end of the death of Chrifl $ and his (bedding of his blood for the remiffion of fins, from Aiatt. xxvi* 26. to be the laji : pray, when you write next* give us the difference between thefe two.
4. You fay; he offered facrifice, inrcfpcEt of one end, that is propitiation, for ail men; now truly, if you know the meari^ ing of facrifice and propitiation, this will feared appear fenfts unto you, upon a fecond view. But,
I bdiy.
66
The End of the Death of CkriJI, 0c*
2 dly. To leave your words, and take your meaning ; it .eems to be this: in refpedf oi one end that Chrifl propofed to himfelf, in his lacrifice, he is a prieft for ail, he airned to attain and accompfifli it for them ; hut in refpefi of other ones, he is (a only for his chofen and called. Now truly this is an eafy kind of anfwering ; which it it. will pafs for good and warrantable, you may eafily difappoint ail your adverfaries : even fir ft by laying down their arguments, then faying your own opinion is other ways : lor the very thing that is here impofed on us lor an aniwer, is the TO kri* nomenon, the chief matter in debate. We abfolute- !y deny, that the feveral ends of the death of Ch; iff, or the good things procured by his death, are thus diffributed as is here pretended. To prove our affertioti, and to give a reaion of our denial oi this dividing of thefe things, in refpeft of their objefls ; we produce the argument above propofed, concerning the prieffhood of Chriff, to which the anfwer given, is a bare repetition of the thing in queftion.
But you will fay, divers places of Scripture are quoted for the confirmation of this anfwer. But thefe, as I told you be* fore, are brought forth for pomp and fhew, nothing at all be¬ ing to be found in them, to the bufinefs in hand ; fuch are Heb . ix. 26. John i. 29. For what confequence is there, from an affirmation indefinite, that Chriff bare or took away fin ; to this, that he is a prieff for all and every one, in refpeft of propitiation? Befides, in that of John i. 29. there is a manifeft aliufion to the pajehai lamb, by which there was a typical ce¬ remonial purification and cieanfing of fin ; which was proper only to the people of Ifratl , the type of the ele£l of God, and not of all in the world, of all forts, reprobates and unbelie¬ vers alfo. Thofe other two places, Heb . ii. 9. 1 John ii. 2. fhall be confidered apart, becaufe they feem to have fome flrength for the main of thecaufe; though apparently there is no word in them, that can be wrefted to give the leafl co¬ lour to luch an uncouth diflinftion, as that which we oppofe. And thus our argument from the equal objective extent of the oblation and intercejfion of Jefus Ciirill, is confirmed and vin¬ dicated ; and withal, the means ufed by the bleffed Trinity for the accomplifhment of the propofed end, unfolded : which end what it was, is next to be confidered.
book II.
CHAP. I.
Some, previous confederations , to a more particular ^ enquiry af¬ ter the proper end and e^ffetl oj the death qfChtif}.
^IpHE main thing upon which the whole controveriy about A the death of Chrift turrieth, and upon which the great- eft weight of the bufmefs dependeth, comes next to our con- fuleration; being that which we have prepared the way unto, by all that hath been already laid. It is about the proper end oi the death of Chrilt; which whofo can rightly conftitute and make mamfeft, may well be admitted ior a days -man and umpire in the whole conteftation; for, if that he the end or Chrift’s death, which moft of our adverfaries affign, we will not deny, but that Chrift died for all and every one; and ir that be the end of it, which we maintain fo to be, they will not extend it beyond the ele£f, beyond believers, i his then muft be fully cleared and folidly confirmed, by them who hope for any fuccefs in thefe undertakings. "I he enu oi the death ot Chrift, we aliened in theheginmng of our difeourte, to be our approximation or drawing nigh unto God; that be¬ ing a general expredion, for the whole reduction and reco¬ very of hnners from the ftate of alienation, mifery and wrath, into grace, peace, and eternal communion with him. Now there being a two-fold end in things, one of the worker, the other of the work wrought ; we have manifelted how that, unlefs it .be either for want of wiidom and certitude of mind in the agent, in chufing and ufing unfuitable means for the attaining of the end propofed, or for want of fkill and pow¬ er, to make ufe of and rightly to improve well-proportioned means, to thebeft advantage; thofe things are always co-inci¬ dent, the work effefcleth what the wormian intendeth. In the bufmefs in hand, the agent is the blSfftd Three in One , as was before declared ; and the means whereby they collimed and aimed at the end propofed, was the oblation and intercef- fion of Jefus Chrift; which are united, intending the fame obje£d, as was alfo cleared. Now, unlefs we will blafphe- moufly aferibe want of wifdom, power, perfeftion, and fuf- ficiency in working, unto the agent; or affirm, that the death and interceffion of Chrift was not fuitable and propor¬ tioned for the attaining the end propofed by it to be effected ; we muft grant, that the end of thefe is one and the fame ;
whatfoever
68
Previous Confederations about the
\v^atroeverthe blejfcd Trinity intended by them, that was cf- irtted; and' whatioever we find in the ifiuc afcribed unto « tern, that by them the blejfed Trinity intended. So that we shall have no caufe to confider thefe apart; unlefs it be f ome- stmes to argue trom the one to the other; as where we find any thing afcribed to the death of Chrifl, as the fruit thereof; “we may conclude that, that God intended to effefil by it; and fo alfo on the contrary.
Now, the end of the death of Chrifl is either fupreme and Ultimate; or intermediate and fubfervient to that lafl end,
L The firfl is, the glory of God, or the manifeflation of Ins gloi ious attributes : efpecially of hisjuflice, and mercy tempered with juflice unto us. The Lord doth necefTarily aim himfelf in the firfl place, as the chtefefl good ; yea indeed tfiat alone which is good, that is abfolutely and fimply fo, and not by virtue of communication from another; and therefore in all his works, efpecially in this which we have in Land, the chiefefl of all ; he firfi intends the manifeflation of Lis own giory ; which alio he fully accomplifheth in the clofe, to every point and degree by him intended. He maketh all things for himfelf,” Prov . xvi. 4. and every thing, in the end, mufl “ redound to the glory of God,” 2 Cor. iv. ig. Wherefore Ckrijl himfelf is faid to be God's, 1 Cor. iii. 23. ferving to his glory, in that whole adminiflration that was committed to him. So, Eph. i. 6. the whole end of all tins difpenfauon, both of choofing us from eterpity, redeem¬ ing us by Chrifl, blefling us with all fpiritual bleflings in him ; is affirmed to be, the praife cj the glory oj his grace ; and verje 13. “ that we fhould be to the praife of his glory.” This is the end of all the benefits we receive by the death of Chrifl, ior, We are filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs, which fct are bv Jefus Chrifl unto the glory and praife of God, Phil.
“ i. 11.” which alfo is fully averted, chapter ii. 11. “That every tongue fhould confefs that Jefus Chrifl is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This the apoflle fully clears, in the ninth to the Romans; where he aliens the fupreme do- minion and independency of God, in all his a£lions; his abfo- lute freedom from taking rife, caufe or occafion, to his pur- jiofes, from any thing among us fons of men; doing all things ior his own fake, and aiming only at his own glory. And this is that which, in the clofe of all, fliall be accomplifhed ; when every creature fhall fay, “ blefling, and honour, and gmry and power, be unto him that fittethuponthe throne, unto the Lamb forever and ever,” Rev. v. 13. But this jsMtetqn, JJ. There
proper end of the death of Chrifi .
69
II. There is an end of the death of Chrifi, which is inter- mediate , and fubfervient to that other which is the lafl and molt lupreme; even the effe6k which it hath in refpeft of us : and that is it of which we now treat ; which as we before af¬ firmed, is, the bringing of us unto God. Now this, though in reference to the oblation and interceflion of Chrifi, it be *ne intire end ; yet in itfelf, and in refpeft of the relation which the feveral a£ls therein have one to another, it may be confidered diftin&ly, in two parts ; whereof one is the end ' and the other the mean for the attaining of that end, both, the compleat end of the mediation of Chrift, in refpe£l of us. The ground and cau fe of this, is, — the appointment of the Lord, that there fhould be fuch a connexion and coherence between the things purchafed for us by Chrifi, that the one fhould be a mean and way of attaining the other ; the one the condition, and the other the thing promifed upon that condition ; blit both equally and alike procured for us by Jelus Chrifi : for if either be omitted in his purchafe, the other would be vain and fruitlefs ; as we fhall afterwards de¬ clare. Now, both thefe confifl in a communication of God and his goodnefs unto us, (and our participation of him by
u}n/!?e|therre09.^ld that either to grace or glory , holinefs or bleliednefs, faith or falvation. In this Jaft way, they are
ufuaily called ; faith being the means of which we fpeak *nd falvation the end ; faith the condition, falvation the pro' wiled inheritance. Under the name of faith , we comprize all laving grace that accompanies it : and under the name of falvation , the whole glory to be revealed ; “ the liberty of the
kArT °r c^idren °f God,” Rom. vi ii. 21. all that b eflednefs which confifleth in an eternal fruition of the
e e od. With faith go all the effedlual means thereof both external and internal ; the Word, and almighty fan&i- fymg Spirit : all advancement of flate and condition attend- ingn; as juflification, reconciliation, and adoption into the family o* God : all fruits flowing from it, in fanaification, and umverfal holinefs ; with all other privileges and enjoy¬ ments of believers here, which follow the redemption and reconciliation purchafed for them by the oblation of Chrifi.
\ rrCa » effe&ualand infallible beflowing, and applying of all thefe things, (as well thofe that are the means, as thofe that are the end ; the condition, as the thing conditioned about * ^aith and grace as faiVation and gloryj unto all and every
>ofed a A a 'y WC raa,ntain t0 the end pro-
>oLd and cheated, by the bloodfhedding of jdus Chriil,
with
jo Falft Ends remove d, and the proper
with thole other afts of his Ivlediatorihip, which we beiOi t declared to be therewith infeparably conjoined : io that e^eiy one for whom he died and offered up hircffeif, hath, by virtue of his death or oblation, a right purchafed for him unto all theie things ; which in due time, he fhaii certainly and in¬ fallibly enjoy. Or, which is all one, the end of Chi ill s ob¬ taining grace and glory with his Father, was, that they might be certainly bellowed upon all thofe for whom he died ; fome of them, upon condition that they do believe; but faith itfelr abfolutely, upon no condition at all : all which we fhall fur¬ ther ill aft rate and confirm ; alter we have removed fome lane ends affrgned.
^ ^ a* ,t(. -fc- <$•
CHAP. II.
Containing a removal of fome mijfakes, and falfc ajignations,
cj the end of the death or Caryl .
r~*$~** jlj ^ ip tbe death, oblation and bioodfheading of Jefus i Chnfl is to be confidered as the mean for the compafling of an appointed end, was before abundantly declared; an Sat fucha mean, as is not in itfelf any way defirable but or the attaining of that end. Now, becaufe that which is the td of any thing, mutt alio be good, (tor unlefs « be fo, it cannot bean end, for bonum & fins convertuntur) n mu ft be either his Father’s good, or his own good, or our good, which
W3i thThafitwas0nfotdmerelv his own good, is exceedingly ap- _.rent. f0r in his divine nature, he was eternally and eflen- Sv pbraker of all that glory which is proper to the Deity ;
! h elf though in refpet't of us it be capable of more or lets manifeftation, yet in itfelf it is always alike eternally and ab- f. i„!p1v nerfea • and in this regard, at the dole ot alt, he de li’r'es and requclts no other glory, but that which he had wit ^ h • pa»her “ before the world was, John xvu. 0. And . ot hi, human »„u,e, as k.
i i * aov forefipht of doing or fufFenng, to be perion- ed, without ot hi1 conception, with the fe-
aliy uniter, j Trinity * fo neither, while he was in the
2 U to ”in« k, his death and ob- wav* aia lie ; ° 1 alien.
# That i., cot upon a»r fotsfight of his doing or faffenng, at j*ycntoriou3 cf
< hi* incarnation.
End of the Death of Ckrift offer ted . Ji
lafion. He needed not to fuffer for himfe!r, being perfe&- ]y and legally righteous ; end the glory that he aimed at, by enduring the crofs, and defpifmg the (name, was not fo much his own, in refpedi of pcffeflion, by the exaltation of his own nature, as the bringing of many children glory, even as it was in the promife fet before him, as we before at large declared. His own exaltation, indeed, and power overall flefh, and his appointment to be judge of the quick and the dead, was a consequent of his deep humiliation and buffering; but that it was the effefii and product of it, procured merit o - ■rioufly by it ; that it was the end aimed at by him, in his making fatisfa&jon for fin ; that we deny. Chrift hath a power and dominion over all ; but the foundation ol this do¬ minion is not in his death for all ; for he hath dominion over all things , being appointed heir of them, and upholding them all by the word of his power, Hob. i. 2, 3. “ He is let over
44 the works of God’s hands, and all things are nut in (ub-, e< je&ion under him/’ Heb. ii. 7, 8. And what are ihofe all things , or what are among ft them, you may fee in the place of the Pfalmift, from whence the apoftle cited thofe word?, PfaL viii. 6, 7, 8. And did he die for all thefe things ? Nay, hath he not power over the angels , arc not principalities and po wers made fubje£i to him ? fhail he not, at the ) aft day, judge the angels? for with him tbs faints fhail do it, by giving alteration to his righteous judgments, 3 for . vi. 3. And yet is it not exprefsly faid, that the angels have no lhare in the whole difpenfation of God manifeft in the flefh, as if
he had died for them to redeem them from their fins, (of which fome had no need, and others are .eternally excluded, Heb. ii. 16. 44 He took not on him the nature of angels, but “ he took' on him the feed of Abraham ?”) God’s fetting him king upon his holy hill of Sion , in defpight of his enemies, to bruife them and to rule them with a red of iron, PJaL ii. 9. is not the immediate effect of his death for them ; but rather all tilings are given into his hand, out of the immediate love of the Father. to bis Son, John Hi. 35. Matt. xi. 27. That is the foundation 01 all his lovcreignty and dominion over all creatures, with his power of judging, that is put into his hands.
Befi.de, be it granted (which cannot be proved) that Chrift by his death did procure this power of judging, would any thing hence follow, that might be beneficial to the proving °* tpe general ranfom for all ? No, doubtlefs: for this do¬ minion and power of judging, is a power of condemning as
well
Falfe Ends removed , and the proper
weil as faving; it is all judgment that is committed to hit#* John v. 22. He hath authority given him to execute judg- “ ment, becaufc he is the Son of man;” that is, at that hour “ in the which all that are in their graves, (hall hear his voice* “ and come forth; they that have done good unto the refur- “ leBion of life, and they that have done evil unto the refur- “ reBion of damnation,” verfes 27, 28, 29. 2 Cor. v. 10. — 1 Now, can it be reafonably aliened, that Chrift died for men to redeem them, that he might have power to condemn? Nay, do not thefe two overthrow one another ? If he redeemed them by his death, then he did not aim at the obtaining of any power to condemn them ; if he did the latter, then that for¬ mer was not in his intention.
II. It was not his Father’s good. I fpeak now of the proxi¬ mate and immediate end and produB. of the death of Chrift, not of the ultimate and remote ; knowing that the fupreme end of Chrift’s oblation, and of all the benefits purchafed and procured by it, was the praife of his glorious grace ; but for this other, it doth not direBly tend to the obtaining of any thing unto God, but of all good things from God to us. Ar+ 7ninius with his followers, and the other Univerfalifts of our days, affirm this to be the end propofed, that God might, his juftice being fatisfied, fave finners; the hindrance being re¬ moved by the fatisfaBion of Chrift, he had, by his death, a right and liberty obtained, of pardoning fin upon what con¬ dition he pleafed ; fo that after the fatisfaBion of Chrift yield¬ ed and confidered, integrum Deo juit , (as his words are) it was wholly in God’s free difpofal, whether he would fave any or not ; and upon what condition he would, whether of faith or of works. God (fay they) had a good mind and will to do good to human kind ; but could not by reafon of fin, bis juftice lying in the wav ; whereupon he fent Chrift to remove that obftacle ; that fo he might, upon the preferibing of what condition he nleafed, and its being by them fulfilled, have mercy on them. Now, becaufe in this they place the chief, if not the foie end of the oblation of Chrift, I mu ft a little {hew the falfcnefs and folly of it ; which may be done plainly bv thefe following reafons, viz.
J i/h The foundation of this whole affertion feems to me to be faife and erroneous, viz. That God could not have mercy on mankind, uniefs fatisfaBion were mane by his Son. It is true indeed, (uppofing the decree, purpofe, and conftitution of God, that fo it ffiould be, that fo he would manifeft his glory by the way cf vindicative juftice, it was impoffible that
End of the Death of Chrijl ajferted.
73
it (hould otherways be ; for with the Lord there is neither change nor fhadow of turning, James i. \i . 1 Sam. xv. 29. But to affert pofhively that, abfolutely and antecedently \o his conftitution, he could not have done it, is to me a?i un¬ written tradition, the Scripture affirming no fuch thing ; neither can it be gathered from thence, in any good con Se¬ quence. If any one ihall deny this, we will try what the Lord will enable us to fay unto it ; and in the mean ;ime reft contented in that ol Augufiine , viz. though other wav s of faving us were not wanting to his infinite wifdom, yet cer¬ tainly the way which he did proceed in was the mod conve¬ nient, becaule we find he proceeded therein.*
zdly . This would make the caufe ol fending his Son to die, to be a common love ; or rather a wi Thing that he m:ght do good, or Ihew mercy to all ; and not an intire aft of his will or purpole, of knowing, redeeming, and faying his ele6d “ which we ffial! afterwards difprove,
3 dly, If the end of the death of Chrift, were, to acquire a right to his Father, that notwithftanding his j ail ice he might fave finners ; then did he rather die to redeem a liberty unto God, than a liberty from evil unto us: that his Father might
be enlarged from that eftate, wherein it was irnpofiible
lor him to do that which he defired, and which his nature inebned him to ; and not that we might be freed from that, condition wherein, without this Ireedom purchased, it could not be but we mull periffi. If this be fo, I fee no reafon why Chrift ffiould be faid to come and redeem his people from their fins : but rather plainly, to purchfte this right and li¬ berty for his Father ; now where is there any fuch affertion ; where is any thing of this nature, in the Scripture ? Doth the Lord fay, that he fent his Son out of love to himfelf ; or unto us? Is God or men, made the immediate fubjeft of good attained unto by this oblation ?
But it is faid? that although immediately and in the firft
K place*
# dt is here , though not without fome dubiety , refufd by Dr. Owen, That vindicative jujiiceis ejfential to God , and tit - eejfary in its egrefs; Jo as to make a fatisj attic n for jin abfo¬ lutely necejfary> in order * to the falvation of finners : but five years afterwards, he zvas led to a more clofe examination oj this fubjett ; he pubhjhed a book , (viz, Diatriha de juili-
tia Divina,) ofpurpofe to maintain the point which is here re * fufid\ and that without any detriment to the caufe now defend*
ed»
■
• *
dir
- t ' 1
• •; &L. TzrfZ,
*. -./-.'a;
<:? •
74
Falje Ends removed, and the proper
place this right did arife unto God by the Death of Chrift, yet that it alfo was to tend to our good; Chrift obtaining that right, that the Lord might now beftow mercy on us, if we fulfilled the condition that he would propofe. But I anfwer, that this utterly overthrows all the merit of the death of Chrift towards us, and leaves not fo much as the nature of merit unto it ; for that which is truly meritorious indeed, deferves that the thing merited, or procured and obtained by it, fhal! be done or ought to be bellowed ; and not only that it may be done. There is fuch an habitude and relation, between merit and the thing obtained by it, whether it be abfolute or a riling on contra# ; that there arifeth a real right to the thing procured by it, in them by whom or for whom it is procur¬ ed. When the labourer hath wrought all day ; do we fay, now his wages may be paid, or rather, now they ought to be paid ? hath he not a right unto them ? Was ever fuch a me¬ rit heard of before, whofe nature Ihould confift in this, that the thing procured by it might be bellowed, and not that it ought to be ; and (hall Chrift be faid now to purchafe by his meritorious oblation, this only at his Lather s hand ; that he mi^ht beftow upon and apply the fulnefs of his death to fome, or all, and not that he fhould fo do ? To him that wot keth (faitfuhe Apoftle) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt, Rom . iv. 4. Are not the fruits of the death of Chrift, by his death as truly procured for us, as if they had been obtained by our own working ? And if fo, though in refpe# of the perfons on whom they are beftowed, they are of free grace ; yet in refpe# of the purchafe, the bellowing of them
is of debt.. , T
Athly, That cannot be afligned as the compleat end of the
death of Chrift, which being accomplifhed, it had not. only been poflible that not one foul might be faved ; but alfo 1m- poflible, that by virtue of it any finful foul fhould be faved. Lor fure the Scripture is exceedingly full, in declaring that through Chrift we have remiffion of fins, grace and glory (as afterwards. ) But now notwithftanding this, when Chrift is laid to have procured and purchafed by his death, fuch a right and liberty to his Father, that he might beftow eternal life upon all upon what conditions he would ; it might very well Hand, that not one of thofe fhould enjoy eternal life ; for fuppofe the Father would not beftow it, as he is by no en¬ gagement according to this perfuafion bound to do, (he had a rght to do it, it is true, but that which is any one’s right hp may ufe or not ufe at his pleafure ;) again, fuppofe he had
End oj the Death of Chrift ajfcrted. 75
prescribed a condition of works, which it had been impofli- ble for them to fulfil ; the death of Chrift might have had its full end ; and yet not one been faved. Was this his coming to fave finners, to fave that which was loft? Or could he, upon fuch an accomphftiment as this, pray as he did ; Father I 44 will, that they whom thou haft given me be with me where “ lam, that they may behold my glory/" John xvii, 24? Divers other reafons might be ufed, to evert this fancy, that would make the purchafe of Chrift, in reipectofus, not to be the remiflion of fins, but a poflibiluy of it ; not faivation, but a falvability ; not reconciliation and peace with God, but the opening of a door towards it : but I (hall ufe them, in afligning the right end of the death of Chrift.
Aik ndw of thefe, what it is that the Father can do, and will do, upon the death of Chrift ; by which means his juft dee, that before hindred the execution of his good will to¬ wards them, is fatisfied ? and they tell you, it is the entering into a new covenant of grace with them ; upon the perform¬ ance of whofe condition they fhall have all the benefits of the death of Chrift applied to them. But to us it feemeth that Chrift himlelf, with his death and paflion, is the chief pro- mife of the new covenant itfelf, as Gen . iii. 15. and fo the co¬ venant cannot be faid to be procured by his death. Refutes, the nature of the covenant overthrows this propofal ; that they that are covenanted withal, ftiall have fuch and fuch good things, if they fulfil the condition; as though that ail de¬ pended on this obedience; when that obedience itfelf, and the whole condition of it, is a promifeof the covenant, Jer . xxxi. 33. which is confirmed and fealed by the blood of Chrift. We deny not, but the death of Chrift hath a proper end in refpe£l of God; to wit, the manifeftation of his glory; whence he calls him his fervant, in whom he will be glorified, Ifa . xlix. 3. And the bringing of many Tons to glory, where¬ with he was entrufted, was to the manifeftation and praife of his glorious grace, that fo his love to his e!e61t might gloriouft ly appear; his falvation being borne our, by Chrift, to the utmoft parts of the earth. And this full declaration of bis glory, by the way of mercy tempered with juftice, (“ for be 44 fet forth Chrift to be a propitiation through faith in his “ blood, that he might be juft, and the juftifier of him which “ believeth in Jefus,” Rom. iii. 25.) is all that which accru¬ ed to the Lord by the death af his Son ; and not any right and liberty of doing that which before he would have done, but could not for his juftice. In refpetl of us, the end of the
oblation
L
removed , and the proper
oolation and bloodflhedding of Jefus Chrift was, not that God might if he would ; but that he fhould, by virtue of that Com pa 8: and covenant which was the foundation of the me- IV of Chrift, bellow upon us all the good things which Chrift: aimed at, and intended to purchafe and procure, by his offer¬ ing of hirnfelf for us unto God ; which is in the next place to be declared.
*?* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4- 4 4- 4* 4- 4*
CHAP. III.
■More particularly , of the immediate end of the death of Chrijft with the Jeveral ways whereby it is defgntd.
HAT the Scripture affirms in this particular, we laid down in the entrance ol the whole difcourfe ; which £iow, (having enlarged in explication of our fenfe and mean¬ ing therein,) muff be more particularly after ted* by an appli¬ cation of the particular places (which are very many) to our I hefis as before declared ; whereof this is the fum * “Je¬ fus Chrift, according to the counfel and will of his Father, did offer hirnfelf upon the crofs, to the procurement of thofe things before recounted, and maketh continual inter- ceffion ; with this intent and purpofe, that all the good things fo procured by his death, might be a&uilly and in¬ fallibly bedowed on, and applied to, all and every one for whom he died, according to the will and counfel of God.” Let us now fee what, the Scripture faith hereunto ; the fundry places whereof we (hall range under thefe heads, viz. ifi , Thofe that hold out th t intention and counfel of God, with our Saviour’s own mind4; whofe will was one with his Father's, in this bufinefs. 2 dly, Thofe that lay down the aflual accom - plifmnent or cjfeB of his oblation; what it did really procure, effedl and produce, %dly, Thofe that point out the perfons for whom Ohrid died ; asdefigned peculiarly to be the objedl of this work of redemption, in the end and purpofe of God.
I. For the firft ; or thofe which hold out the counfel, pur¬ pofe, mind, intention, and will of God, and of our Saviour, in this work ; they are,
if/, Matt, xviii. 11, 46 The Son of man is come to fave *s that which was loft ;” which words he repeateth again upon ■another occafion, Luhe xix. 10. In the firft place, they are in the front of the parable of fee king the lojl Jkeep ; in the o-
ther
(<
e»
sc
K<
cc
SC
77
End of the Death oj Chnjl off tried.
ther place, they are in the clofe of the recovery of loft Zac- cheus : and in both places, fet forth the end of ChriftY com¬ ing ; which was to do the will of his Father , by the recovery of° loft Tinners ; as Zaccheus was recovered by convetfion, by bringing him into the free covenant, making him a fon of Abraham ; or as the loft fheep, which he lays upon his fhouH dery and bringeth home '. fo that on lefs he findeth that which he fteeketh for, unlefts he recover that which he cometh to lave ; he faileth of his purpofte.
2 dly% Matt, i. 21. where the angel declareth the end of Chi ill’s coming in the flefh, and conftcquently of all his fuf- ferings therein, is to the lame purpofte ; he was to Jabe his people from their fins, Whatftoever is required, for a com - pleat and perfedi ftaving of his peculiar people from their fins. Was intended bv his coming ; to fay that he did but in a par% or in ftome regard effedl the work of falvation, is of ill report to chriftian ears.
3 dly> The like expreffion is that alio of Paul , 1 Tim. i. 15, evidently declaring the end of our Saviour’s coming, accord¬ ing to the will and counfel of his Father, viz. to fave /inner s\ not to open a door for them to come in, if they will or can ; not to make a way palftable, that they may be ftaved ; not to purchafe reconciliation and pardon of his Father, which per¬ haps they fthall never enjov ; but adlually to fave them from all the guilt and power of fin, and from the wrath of God for fin ; which if he doth not accomplifh, he fails of the end of his coming ; and if that ou^ht not to be affirmed, furely be came for no more, than towards whom that effe£l is procu¬ red. The compa£l of his Father with him, and his promifte made unto him, o \ feeing his feed , and carrying along ike plea - fur e of the Lord pro ftperou fly, lfa. liii. 16, 11. I before de* dared ; from which it is apparent, that the decree and pur- pofe of giving adlually unto Chrift a believing generation, whom he calleth “ the children which God gaveiiim,” Htb . ii. 13. is infeparately annexed to the decree of Chrift’s mak¬ ing his foul an offering jor fin , and is the end and aim thereof.
:«(
'«*
« C
**
1 5
\tlily, As the apoftle Further declareth, Htb. ii For as much as the children are partakers of flefth and blood be himfelf likeways took part of the fame ; that through death he might deftroy him that had the power of death that is, the devil ; and deliver them who, through fesr o' death, were all their life-time fubjeft to bondage.” Thai 'which words, nothing can more clearly fet forth the intin
en<
78
Talfe Ends removed* and the proper
end of that whole difpenfation of the incarnation and offering of Jefus Chrifl; even a deliverance of the children whom God gave him* from the power of death, hell, and the devil, io bringing them nigh unto God ; nothing at all, of the purchaf- ipg of a poffible deliverance for ail and every one ; nay all. are not thofe children which God gave him, all are not deli¬ vered from death and him that had the power of it, and there¬ fore it was not all, for whom he then took flefh and blood.
gthly. The fame purpofe and intention we have, Eph. v,
2 ',, 26, 27. “ Chrifl loved the church and gave himfelf for “ it; that he might fandliiy and cleanfe it, with the wafhing. “of water by the tvord, that he might prefent it to himfelf a 44 glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch “ thing, but that it fhould be holy, and without blemifh.”— As alio Titus ii. 14. 44 He gave himfelf for us, that he might “ redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himfelf a pe- 44 culiar people, zealous ot good works.” I think nothing can be clearer than thoie two places; nor is it poflible for the wit of man to invent expreflions, fo fully and lively to fet out the thing we intend, as it is in both thefe places by the Holy Ghoft.— What did Chrifl do? he gave himfelf, \ fay both thefe places alike; for whom ? for his churcn , faith on for us* faith the other; both words of equal extent and force, as all* men know. To what end did he this? to fan&ify and cleanfe it , to prejent it to himjdf an koly and glorious churchy wilnout fpot or wrinkle , faith he to the Ephefians ; to redeem us from all iniquity , and to purify to himfelf a peculiar people \ zealous of good works , faith he to Titus. 1 afk now, aie all men of this church ? are all in that rank of men, among ljvhom Paul placeth himfelf and Titus f aie all purged, pu¬ rified, fandlified, made glorious, brought nigh unto Chrifl ? or doth Chrifl fail in his aim towards the greatefl part of men ?
I dare not clofe with any of thefe,
St/ily. Will you have our Saviour Chrifl himfelf exprefling this, more evidently reftraining the objedf, declaring his whole defign and purpofe, and affirming the end of his death ? John xvii. 19. 44 For their fakes J fandlify myfelf, that they 44 alfomightbe fandlified through the truth. For their fakes; whole I pray ? 44 the men which thou gave me out of the 44 world,” verfe 6. notthe whole world, whom he prayed not for, verfe 9.' 44 I fanffify myfelf whereunto ? to the work I am now going about, even to be an oblation ; and to what end? HINA KAI AUTOI OSIN hegiasmenoi
en ALETHEI A that they alfo may he truly fanaifed.
» ~ " 1 he
79
End of the Death of Chrifl af tried.
The HINA there, ( that they,) fignifies the intent and purpofe of Chrift ; it defigns out the end he aimed at, which our hope is, and that is the hope of the gofpel, that he hath accomplifhed ; (for “ the deliverer that comes out of Sion, “ turns away ungodlinefs from Jacob,’’ Rom. xi. 26.) ; and that herein there was a concurrence of the will of his Father ; yea that this his purpofe was, to f ulfil the will of his Father which he came to do,
ytkly. And that this alfo was his counfel, is apparent, Gal. i. 3, 4. “ For our Lord Jefus gave hirnfclf for our fins, “ that he might deliver us from this prefent evil world, accor- “ ding to the will of God and our Father.” Which will and purpofe of his, the apoftle further declares, chapter iv. 4. rJf 6. “ God lent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under “ the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we “ might receive the adoption of Sons ; and becaufe ye are “ Sons, God hath fent forth the fpirit of his Son into your “ hearts, crying, Abba Father.” Our deliverance from the law, and thereby our freedom from the guilt of fin ; our a- doption to be Tons, receiving the fpirit, and drawing nigh un¬ to God; are all of them in the purpofe of the Father, giving his only Son for us.
8 thly. I fhall add but one place more, of the very many more that might be cited to this purpofe ; and that is 2 Cor. v. 21. “ He hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no “fin, that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him.” The purpofe of God in making his Son to be fin, is, that thofe for whom he was made fin, might become righteoufnefs ; that was the end of God’s fending Chrifl to be fo, and Chrifl’s willingnefs to become fo. Now, if the Lord did not purpofe what is not fulfilled, yea, what he knew fhould never be fulfilled, and what he would not work at all, that it might be fulfilled, (either of which are aloft atheiflical exprefft- pns) then he made Chrifl fin for no more, than do in the
righteoufnefs in him; fo that die coun¬ fel and will of God, with the purpole and intention of Chrift, by his oblation and bloodfhedding, to fulfill that will and counfel ; is from thefe places made apparent.
From ail which we draw this argument; that which the Fa¬ ther and the Son intended to accomplifii, in and towards all thofe for whom Chrift died, by his death ; that is moft cer¬ tainly effefiled ; (if any fhall deny this propofition, I will at any time, by the Lord’s afliftance, take up the aflertion of it;) but the Father and his Son intended, by the death of Chrift,
to
So Fal/e Ends removed , and the proper
to redeem, purge, fan&ify, purify, deliver from death, Sa¬ tan, the curfe of the law, to quit of all fin, to make righte- ouinefs in Chrifl, to bring nigh unto God ; all thofe for whom he died ; as was above proved ; therefore Chrift died for all thofe, and only thofe, in and towards whom, all thefe things recounted are effected ; which whether they are all and every one, I leave to all and every one to judge that hath any knowledge in thefe things.
II. The fecond rank contains thofe places, which lay down the a£lual accomplifhmcnt and effe£l of this oblation ; or what it doth reallv produce and effeft, in and towards them for whom it is an oblation. Such are,
i ft, Htb. ix. 12,14. “ By his own blood he entered in once 64 into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for “ us; the blood of Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit of- 44 fered himfelf without fpot to God, (hall purge your confci- “ ence from dead works, to ferve the living God.” Two things are here aferibed to the blood of Chrift; one referring to God, It obtains eternal redemption ; the other refpe&ing us, it purgeth our confciences from dead works ; fo that juftificatiori with God, by procuring for us an eternal redemption from the guilt of our fins, and his wrath due unto them, with fanc- tification in ourfelves, (or as it is called, Heb . i. 3. “ a purging “ our fins”) is the immediate produft of that blood, by which he entered into the holy place— of that oblation which, through the eternal Spirit, he prefented to God, Yea, this meritorious purging of our fins is peculiarly aferibed to his offering, as performed before his afcenfion, Eeb- i. 3* “ When 44 he had by himfelf purged our fins, he fat down on the right hand of the Majefty on high; ana again moft exprefsly, Heb, ix. 26. 44 He hath appeared, to put away fin by the facri- “ fice of himfelf;” which expiation and putting away of fin, by the way of facrifice, mull needs take in the a£lual fanfti- fication of them for whom he was a facrifice; even as 44 the 44 blood of bulls and of goats, and the allies of an heifer, fprink- 44 ling the unclean, fantlifieih to the purifying of the ftdh,” verfe 13. Certain it is, that whofoever was either polluted or guilty, for whom there was an expiation or a facrifice allow¬ ed, in thofe carnal ordinances which had a fiaaow of good things to come ; that he had truly a legal cleaning and fancu- fying, to the purifying of the flefh, and a freedom from the punifhment which was due to the breach of the law, as it was the rule of converfation to God’s people; fo much this facri-
fice carnally accoroplilhed, for him that was admitted there- J unto.
End of the Death of Chrift afferted , 8 i
unto. Now, thefe things being but afhadow of good things to come ; certainly the facrifice of Chrift did effe£i fpiritually, for all them for whom it was a facrifice, whatever the orher could typify out; that is, fpiritual cleanfingby fan&ification, and freedom from the guilt of fin ; which the places pro¬ duced do evidently prove. Now, whether this be aecompiifh- ed in all, and for them all; let all that are able, judge. Again, . ^ »
2 dly. Chrift, by his death and in it, is faid to hear our fins i 1 Pet. ii. 24. “ His own felf bare our fins;” where you have, both what he did, bare our fins, (anenenken, he carried them up with him, upon the crofs) and what he intended, that we being dead to fny fiould live unto righte oil fiefs ; and what was the effeft, by whofe Jlripesye were healed. Which lat¬ ter, (as it is taken from the fame place of the prophet, where our Saviour is affirmed to bear our iniquities , and to have them laid on him , I/d. liii. 6, 11.) fo it is expofitory of the former; and will tell us what Chrift did by bearing our f ns ? which phrafe is more than once ufed in the Scripture to this purpofe. Chrift then lo bare our iniquities by his death, that by virtue of the ftripes and affli&ions which be underwent, iri his offering himfelf for us, this is certainly procured and ef- fe&ed, that we fhould go free, and not fuffer any of thofe things which he underwent for us. To which alfo you may refer all thofe places, which evidently hold out a commutation, in this point of fuffering, between Chrift and us; GaL iiu 13. “ He hath redeemed us from the curfe, being made a “ curfe for us ;” with divers others, which we ihall have oc- cafion afterwards to mention.
3 dly. Peace alfo, and reconciliation with God, that is, ac¬ tual peace by the removal of all enmity on both fides, with all the caufes of it, is fully aferibed to this oblation; Col. i* «i, 22. “ And you that were fometime alienated, and ene- mies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he re- M conciled in the body of his fiefh through death ; to prefenf. M you holy and unblameable, and unrcproveable in his fight f as alfo, Epk.ii. 13, 14, 15, 16. “ Ye who fometimes were “ far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrift; for he is “ our peace, having abolifhed in his ilefh the enmity, even “ the law of commandments, that he might reconcile both “ unto God in one body by the crofs, having {lain the enmity “ thereby.” To which add all thofe places, wherein plenary deliverance from anger, wrath, death, and him that had the power of it, is likewife afferted as the fruit thereof, as Rom *
' L Yi
82
Falfc Ends removed , and the proper
y. 8, 9, 10. and ye have a further difeovery made, of the immediate cffedl of the death of Chuff. Peace and recon¬ ciliation, deliverance from wrath, enmuy, and whatever lay againff us, to keep us from enjoying the love and favour of God ; all thefe he effe&ed for his church, “ with his own blood,’5 AEts xx. 28. Whence all and ever)^ one for whom he died, may truly fay, “ Who (hall lay any thing to out charge r It is God that juflifieth ; who is he that con- “ depine th ? It is Ghrift that died, yea, rather that is rifen a- 41 g^; is even at the right hand of God, who alfomak- eth intercefiion for us,'5 Rom . viii. 33, 34. which, that tney are procured for all and every one of the Sons of Adam, tiiat they all may ufe that rejoicing in full afFurance, cannot be made appear. And yet evident it is, that fo it is with all for whom he died y that thefe are the effe£fs of his death, in and towards them for whom he underwent it for by his being flain, “ he redeemed them to- God by his blood ; cut of eve- “ ry tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and made ct them kings and priefls unto our God,” Rev.w 9, 10. For he “ made an end of their fins, he made reconciliation for “ their iniquity, and brought in everlaffing righteoufnefs,59 Dan. ix. 24.
4 thly. Add all thofe other places, where our life is aferib- ed to the death of Chriff ; and then this enumeration will be perfect. John vi. 33. 44 He came down from heaven, and giveth hie unto the world fure enough, he giveth life to that world, for which he gave his life . It is the world of his fheep, for which he “ laid down his life,” John x. 1 even that he might 44 give unto them eternal life,” that they might 54 never perifh,” verje 28. So he appeared to 44 abolifh death 4,4 to bring life and immortality to light,” 2 Tim. i. 10, as al fo Rom. v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Now there is none of all thefe places, but will afford a Sufficient ftrength againfl the general ranfom, or the univerf- ality of the merit of Chriit. My leifure will not ferve, for fo largea profecution of the fubje&, as the explaining of that would require y and therefore I fhall take from the whole, this general argument, viz. If the death and oblation of Je- fus Chrift (as a facrifice to his Father) doth fanflify all them lor whom it was a facrifice, doth purge away their fin, re¬ deem them from wrath, curfe, and guilt, work for them peace and reconciliation with God, procure for them life and immortality, bearing their iniquities and healing all their dif- eafesr then died he only for thofe that are in the event fanc-
tifiedj.
End oj the Death of Chnjl offer ted . 8j
lifted, purged, redeemed, juftified, freed from wrath and death, quickened and faved ; but that all are not thus iancti- fied, freed, &c. is molt apparent ; and therefore, they can¬ not be faid to be the proper objeH of the death of Chrift.— . The fuppofal was confirmed before ; the fecond proportion. is plain from Scripture and experience ; and the whole argu¬ ment (if 1 iniftake not) folid.
III. Many places theie are, that point out the perfons for whom Chrift died, as defigned peculiarly to be the objeft of this work of redemption, according to the aim and purpofc of God ; of which, fomc we wifi briefly recount. In fome places they are called many ; as Malt, xxv'i. 28. “ The blood 144 of the New-Teflament is (bed for many, for the remiflion 44 of fins ; and, by his knowledge (hall my righteous fervant 44 juflify many, for he Dial! bear their iniquities,” jfa. iiii. 11: 44 For the Son of man came not to be miniftered unto, but
to minifler, and to give his life a ranfom for many,” Mark x. 45 • an dMatt. xx. 28. He was to 44 biing many (ons unto glo- 44 ry;” andfo was to be 44 the captain of their falvation, through fufifering,” Hd\ ii. 10. And though perhaps the word many , it- felf, be not fufficient to retrain the objedt of Ch rift’s, death un¬ to fome, in oppofition to all; becaufe many is fometimes placed ablolutely for all; as Rom. v. lg. yet, thafe many being deferib- ed in otherplaces, to be inch, as it is moll certain all are not ; fo it is a full and evident reftriflion of it. For thole many are the 44 fheep of Chrift,” John x. 15. 44 The children of
u God that were fcattered abroad,” John xi. £2. thofe whom our Saviour called brethren, Heb . ii. n. 4k The children 44 which God gave him,” which were 44 partakers of flefh 44 and blood,” verfes 13, 14. and frequently, thofe who were; £t given unto him” of his Father, John xvii. 2, 6, 9, 11. who fhould certainly be preferved, verfs 12, 44 The fheep, 44 whereof he was the fliepherd, through the blood of the “ covenant,” Heb. xiii. 20. His elec?, Rom . vhi, 33. and his people , Matt . i. 21. further explained to be his 44 vifited 44 and redeemed people,” Luke i. 68. even the people which he foreknew, Rom. xi. 2. even Inch a people as he is faid to have at Corinth before their converfton ; his people by elec¬ tion, Ads xv iii. 10. T he people that -he 44 (Suffered for with* 44 outt’negat^, that he might fan&ify,” II b. xiii. 12. His 44 church which he purchafcd with his own blood,” Alls xx. 28. which “ he loved, and gave himfelf for,” Epk. v. 2,5. the many, whole 44 fins he did bear,” Heb. ix. 28. with whom 44 he confirmed the covenant,” Dan. ix. 27. Thofe
many
S4
Falfc Ends r moved, and the proper
many being thus defcribed and fet forth, with fuch qualifica¬ tions as by no means are common to all, but proper only to the eleft, do moil evidently appear, to be all and only thofe that are chofen of God, to obtain eternal life through the of¬ fering and bloodfhedding of Jefus Chrift. Many things are here excepted, with much confidence and clamour, that may eafilv be removed. And fo you fee the end of the death of Chrift, as it is fet out in the Scripture.
That we may have the clearer paftage, we muft remove the hindrances that are laid in the way, by fome pretended an- fwers and evafions, ufed to efcape the force of the argument drawn from the Scripture, affirming Chrift to have died for many, his fheep, his ele£l, and the like. Now to this it is replied ; that this reafon, as it is called, is weak and of no force, equivocal, fubtile, fraudulent, falfe, ungodly, deceit¬ ful and erroneous ; for all thefe feveral epithets are accumu¬ lated, to adorn it withal, (More's Univerfality of free Grace, pag. 1 6.) Now this variety of terms, (as I conceive,) ferves only to declare, what copia verborum the unlearned eloquence of the author is woven withal ; for fuch terrible names, im- pofed on that which we know not well how to gainfay, are a ftrong argument of a weak caufe. When the Pharifees were not able to refift the Spirit whereby our Saviour fpake, they call him devil and Samaritan, Waters that make a noife are are ufually but fhallow. It is a proverb among the Scythians, That the dogs which baik moft, bite leaft. Bet let us fee, Quid dignum t^nto feret hie refponfor hiatu ; and hear him f peak in his own language. He fays then,
i ft, “ This reafon is weak, aad of no force; for the word e< [ many ] is of:en fo ufed, that it both fignifies all and every “ man, and alfo amplified! or fetteth forth the greatnefs of p< that numbei ; as in Dan. xii. 2. Rom. v. 19. and in o-
ther places, where [many] cannot be, nor is by any chrif- nan underftood, for lefs than all men.” To which I reply, that,
1. If the proof and argument were taken merely from the word many, and not from the annexed defeription of thofe many, with the prefuppofed diftin£lion of all men into feveral forts, by the purpofe of God, this exception would bear iome colour ; but for this fee our arguments following. On¬ ly by the way obferve, that he that fhall divide the inhabitants of any place, as at London , into poor and rich, thofe that want, said thofe that abound ; afterwards affirming, that he will be- &qw his bounty on many at London , ©a the poor, on thofe
End of the Death of Chrijl ajfcrted. 85
that want : he will be eafily underftood to give unto, and be¬ llow it upon them, only.
2. Neither of the places quoted prove direaiy, that many inuft neceffarily in them be taken lor all . In Dan . xii. 2. a diftribution of the word to the leveral parts of the affirmation muft be allowed ; and not an application oi it to the whole, as fuch ; and fo the fenfe is, the dead fhall arife, many to life, and many to fhame ; as in another language it would have been exprelled ; neither are fuch Hebrailms unufual ; be- lides, perhaps, it is not improbable, that many are (aid to rife to life, becaufe as the apoftle fays, all (hall not die. The like alfo may be faid of Rom . v. 19. Though the many there feem to be all, yet certainly they are not called fo ; with any intent to denote all, with an amplification, (which that many fhould be to all, is not likely ;) for there is no comparifon there inflituted at all, between number and number, of thofe that died by Adams difobedience, and thofe that are made a- live by the righteoufnefs of Chrift ; but only in the effe6!s of the fin of Adam and the righteoufnefs of Chrift, together with the way and manner of communicating death and life from the one and the other ; whereinto any confiderati- on of the number of the participators of thofe effe&s, is not inferted.
3. The other places whereby this fhould be confirmed, I am confident our author cannot produce, notwithftanding his free inclination tor fuch a relerve, thefe, thefe being the places which are in this cafe commonly urged by Armtnians ; but if he could, they would be no way material to infringe our argument ; as appeareth by what was faid before.
2 dly. “ This reafon (he adds) is equivocal, fubtile and 44 fraudulent ; feeing where all men and every man is affirm - “ ed of, the death of Chrift, as the ranfom and propitiation, 44 and the fruits thereof only, is affirmed for them; but where 44 the word many is in any place ufed in this bufinefs, there are 44 more ends of the death of Chrift, than this one affirmed 44 of.”
Reply , 1. It is denied that the death of Chrift, in anyplace of Scripture, is faid to be for all men, or for every man ; which with fo much confidence is fuppofud and impofed on us, as a thing acknowledged.
2. That th ere is any other end of the death of Chrift, be- fides the fruit of his ranfom and propitiation, direffly intend- ed, and not by accident attending it ; is utterly falfe; yea what other end the ranfom paid by Chrift, and the atonement
made
Falfe Ends removed] and the proper
c>3
made by him, can have, but the fruits of them, is not irna* ginable. The end of any work, is the fame with the fruit* effe6f , of product of it ; fo that this wild diflin£iion, of the ranfoin and propitiation of Chrifi with the fruits of them to be lor all, and other ends ol his death to be only for many, is an alfertion neither equivocal, fubtile, nor fraudulent; but I fpeak to what I conceive the meaning of the place ; for the words thcnafelves bear no tolerable fenfe.
3. The obfervation, that where the word many is ufed, many ends are defigned, but where all are fpoken of, there only the ranfoin is intimated, is, (1.) Difadvantageous to the author's perfuafion, yielding the whole argument in hand ; by acknowledging that where many are mentioned, there all cannot be underllood ; becaufe more ends of the death of Chuff, than do belong to all, are mentioned ; and fo confef- dedly all the other anfwers, to prove that by many, all are to be underfload, are againft the author’s own light. (2.) It is frivolous ; for it cannot be proved, that there are more ends of the death of Chrifi, befides the fruit of his ranfom, (3.) It is falfe; for where the death of Chrifi is fpoken of, as for many , he is faid to give his life a ranfotn for them, Matt » xx'. 28. which are the very words, where he is faid to die for all, 1. Tim, . ii. 6. What difference is there in thefe, what ground for this obfervation ? Even fuch as thefe, are divers others of that author’s obfervations ; as his whole 10th chap¬ ter is fpent to prove, that wherever there is mention of the redemption purchafed by the oblation of Chrifi, there they for whom it is purchafed are always fpoken of in the third perfon, as by all the world, or the like; when yet, in the iff chapter of his book, himfelf produceth many places to prove this general redemption, where the perfons for whom Chrifi is faid to fuffer, are mentioned in the firfl or fecond perfons, as 1 Pet. ii. 24, and iii *8. If a. liii. 5, 6. 1 Cor . xv. 3. Gal, iii. 13, &c.
*dly, He proceeds ; “ This reafon is falfe, and ungodly ; t6 lor it is no where in Scripture faid, that Chrifi died or gave 4t himfelf a ranfom but for many, or only for many, or only ** for his fheep ; and it is ungodlinefs to add to, or diminifh Ci from, the words of God in Scripture.”
Reply 1. Topafs by the loving terms of the author, and allowing a grain to make the fenfe current ; I fay, that Chrifi a {firming that he gave his life for many, for his llieep, being faid to die lor his Church, and innumerable places of Scripture witnefEng, that all men are not of his fheep.
End of the Death of Chrijl ajfcrted .
87
of his Church ; we argue and conclude, by jufl and un¬ deniable confequence, th^t he died not for thofe who are not fo. If this be adding to the word of God, (being only anexpofitfon and unfolding of his mind therein) who ever fpake from the word of God and was guiltlefs ? But it were cafy to recriminate.
# Let i* be obferved, that in the very place where our Sa. viourfays, that he gave his life for his fheep, he prefently adds, that fome are not of his fheep, John x. 26. which if it be not equivalent to his fheep only , 1 know not what is. \thly* l&uiy fay s he% the reafon is deceitful and erroneous ;
for the Scripture doth no where fay, thofe many he died for are his fheep, (much lefs his ele£I, as the reafon intends it) As for the place, John x. 15. ufually inflanced to this end, it is therein much abufed ; for our Saviour, John x. t did n°t fet forth the difference between fuch as he died for, " and f^ch as he died not for ; or fuch as he died for fo end " fo, 2nd not fo and fo; but the difference between thofe that " believe on him, and thofe who believe not on him, verfts “ 4* 5, *4, 27* The one hear his voice and follow him,
the other not. Nor did our Saviour here fet forth the pri- ^deges of all he died for, or whom he died for fo and fo ; “ of th)Pfc ■ lhat believe on him through the miniffration or the gofpel, and fo to know him, and approach to God and enter the kingdom by him, verfes 3, 4, 9, 27. Nor
was our Saviour here fetting forth the excellency of thofe
J for whom he died, or died for fo only ; wherein they arc Preferrea before others ; but the excellency of his own * love, with the fruits thereof, to thofe (not only tha> be " died *°r’ but alr°) diat are brought in by his miniffration' !° believc. on him, verfes 11, 27. Nor was our Saviour here treating fo much of his ranfom-giving and propitiation- ,« maklnS> « of his miniflration of the gofpel ; and fo of his ^ love and faithfulnefs theretn ; wherein he laid down his „ 1 e> f°r ‘ho-e mtmftred to, and therein gave us an exam- “ buffering ” maKe ProPuiati°n for fin, but to teflify love in
1 Perhiaded that nothing but an acquaintednefs ‘ n the condition of the times wherein we live, can afford me ianttuary from the ccnfure of the reader, to be lavifli of precious hours, in confidering and transcribing fuch canting ines as thefe lull repeated. But yet, feeing better cannot be ari lorded, we muf{ be content to view fuch evafions as thefe; all whole ltreugih is tn incongruous exp teutons, incoherent
firucture.
6i
«<
«.
it
((
it
Cl
<(
n
ft
88
Falft Ends removed, and the proper
0
ftru&tire, cloudy and windy phrafes ; all tending to raife fuch a mighty fog, as that the bufinefs in hand might not be per¬ ceived, being loft in this (moke and vapour, caft out to dark¬ en the eyes and amufe the fenfes of poor feduced fouls. The argument undertaken to be anfwered, being, that Chrift is faid to die for many, and thofe many are defcribed and de- figned to be his fheep, as John x. What anfwer, I pray, or any thing like thereunto, is there to be picked out of this confufed heap of words which we have recited ? So that I might fafely pafs the whole evafion by, without further ob- fervation on it, but only to defire the reader to obferve, how much this one argument preffeth, and what a nothing is that heap of confufion which is oppofed to it. But yet, left any thing fhould adhere, I will give a few annotations to the place, leaving the full vindication of them, until I come to the prefTing of our arguments. I fay then,
1. That the many Chrift died for, were his fheep, was before declared; neither is the place of John x. at all abufed, our Saviour evidently fetting forth a difference between thorn for whom he died, and thofe for whom he would not die; calling the firft his fheep, verfe 15. thofe to whom he would give eternal life, verfe 28. thofe given him by his Father, chapter xvii. evidently diftinguifhing them from others who were not fo* Neither is it material, what was the primary intention of our Saviour in this place ; from which we do not argue, but from the intention and aim of the words he ufes, and the truths he reveals, for that end aimed at, which
was the confolation of believers.
2. For the difference between them he died for fo and fo\ and thofe he died for fo and fo ; we confefs he puts none ; for we fuppofe that this Jo and foy doth neither exprels nor intimate any thing, that may be fuitable to any purpole of God, or intent of our Saviour in this bufmefs ; to us, for whom he died, he died, in the fame manner, and for the fame
end. ' ' . ,
3. We deny, that the primary difference that tiere is made
by our Saviour, is between believers and not believers ;
but it is between ele£l and not ele£f, fheep and not fheep ; the
thing wherein they are thus differenced, being, the believing
of the one, called hearing of his voice and knowing him, and
the not believing .of the other ; the foundation of thefe aas
being, their different condition, in refpecl oi God s purpo e
and thrift's love, as is apparent from the antithefis and op-
pofition which ye have in verfes 26 and 27. “ Ye believe not, r becauie
Wk -
End of the Death of Chrijl offer ltd.
bccaufe ye are not of my fheep; and , my fheep hear my voice.'* Firft, there is a diftin&ion put in — the a£t of believing and hearing; and then is the foundation of this diftin&ion averted, from their diftinguifhed (late and condition ; the one being not his fheep, the other being fo, even them whom he loved and gave his life for.
4. It is nothing to the bufinefs before us, what privileges our Saviour here exprefTeth; our queftion is, for whom he fays he would give his life* and that only. Again, the fre¬ quent repetition of that ufelefs fo and fo9 ferves for nothing but to puzzle the poor ignorant reader. Moreover we deny that Chrift died for any, but thofe who fhall certainly be brought unto him by the miniflration of the gofpel ; fo that there is not (a not only thofe whom he died fory but alfo thof& that are brought in unto him ) for he died for his fheep, and his fheep hear his voice; they for whom he died, and thofo that come unto him, may receive different qualifications; but they are not feveral perfons.
5. The queftion is not at all, to what end our Saviour here makes mention of his death ; but for whom he died, who are exprefsly faid to be his fheep, which all are not. His inten¬ tion is, to declare the giving of his life for a ranfom, and that according to the commandment received of his Father, verft 18.
6. The love and faithfulnefs of Jefus Chrift, in the mini- ftration of the gofpel, that is, his performing the office of the Mediator of the new-covenant, is feen in nothing more, than in giving his life for a ranfom, John xv. 13. Here is not one wordof givingus an example; thoughin laying down his life, he did that alfo; yet here, it is not improved to that purpofe.
From thefe brief annotations, I doubt not but that it is apparent, that that long difeourfe before recited, is nothing but a m ifer able miftaking of the text and queftion; which the author perhaps perceiving, he adds divers other evafions ; which follow :
gthly . “ Befides, (faith he) the oppofition appears here to “ be, not fo much between ele£i and not ele£I; as between “ Jews called, and Gentiles uncalled.”
Reply . The oppofition is between fheep and not fheep ; and that with reference to their eleflion, and not their vocation# Now, who would he have fignified, by the not fheep? thofe that were not called, the Gentiles ; but that is againft the text, terming them fheep; that is, in defignation, though not as yet called, verfe 16. And who are the called ? ^he Jews ;
M frrue;
GO
Falfe Ends removed*, and the propet
true, they were then outwardly called ; yet many of them, were not fheep, verfe 26. Now truly, fuch evalions from the to rce of truth, as this, by fo foul corrupting of the word of Ood , isnofmall provocation of the eve at his glory. But he adds, 6th(y . “ Befides, there is in Scripture great difference be- u tween fheep, and fheep of his flock and pafture, of which he here fpeaketh, verfes 4, r}> it, 13, 16.”
Rep. This unrighteous diftin£tion, well explained, mufl needs no doubt (if any know howj give a great deal of light to the bufinefs in hand. If there be a diftindlion to be allow¬ ed, it can be nothing, but that the fheep who are fimplv fo called, are thofe who are only fo to Chrift from the donati¬ on of his Father ; and the fheep of his pafture, thofe who by the effectual working of the Spirit are a&ualiy brought home to Chrift : and then of both forts we have mention in this chapter, verfe 16. vefe 27. both making up the number of: thofe fheep for whom he gave his life, to whom he giveth life. But he proceeds.
jthly. “ Befides, fheep {verfe 4, 5, 11, 15.) are not mentis
<«
M
ft
oned, as all thofe for whom he died ; but as thofe who by his miniftration are brought in to believe, and enjoy the benefit of his death, and to whom he miniflreth and com- municateth the Spirit. ”
Rep . 1. The fubftance of this and the other exceptions, is, that by fheep is meant believers ; which is contrary to verfe 16. calling them fheep who are not as yet gathered to his fold* 2. That his fheep are not mentioned, as thofe for whom he efied, is in terms contradi&ory to verfe 15, “ I lay down my “ life for the fheep. 99 3. Between thofe for whom he died,
and thofe whom he brings in by the miniftration of his Spirit, there is no more difference, than is between Peter , James and John, and the three Apoftles that were in the mount with our Saviour at his transfiguration. This is childifh fo- phiftry, to beg the thing in queftion ; and ihruft in the opi¬ nion controverted, into the room of an anfwer. 4. That bringing in, which is here mentioned, to believe, and enjoy the benefit of the death of Chrift ; is a mod fpecial fruit and benefit of that death, certainly to be conferred on all them for whom he died ; or elfe, moft certainly his death will do them no good at all. Once more, and we have done;
8 thly. “Befides, here is more ends of his death mentioned, *'• than ranfom or propitiation only ; and yet it is not faid, M only for his fheep ; and when the ranfom or propitiation
onlv is mentioned, it is faid for all men. So that this rea-
“ fan
End of the Death of Ghriji offer led.
9*
« fon appears weak, fraudulent, ungodly and erroneous.”
Reb i Here is no word mentioned nor intimated, of the
death of Chrift; but only that which was accomplifhed by his bein^ a propitiation, and making his oeatn a ranlom tor us with the fruits which certainly and infallibly fpring therefrom. 2. If more ends than one, of the death of thru! , are here mentioned, and fuch as belong not unto all ; why do you deny, that he fpeak.s here ot his (beep only take heed or you will fee the truth. 3. Where it is faid ot all men, i know not ; but this I am fare of, that ChriH is faid to give his lite a ranfom, and that only mentioned, where it is not faid for all, as Matt. xx. 28. Mark x. 45. And fo from thofe brief annotations I hope any indifferent reaacrwill be able to judge; whether the reafon oppofed, or the excepti¬ ons againd it devifed, be to be accounted weak, irauament,
o
ungodly and erroneous. .
Although I fear, that in this particular I have alreaay en¬ trenched upon the reader s patience ; yet I cannot h~t pa s the difeourfe immediately following in the fame autnor, to thofe exceptions which we lad removed, (laid by bim again it the arguments we bad in hand,) without an obehfk ; as al o an oblervation of his great abilities, to cad down a man ot clouds, which himfelf had fet up, to manifed his fkill in ns dedru£Iion. To the preceding dilcourfe, he adds another ex¬ ception, which he impofeth on thofe that oppofe univeifal redemption, as though it were laid by them, againdthe under¬ standing of the general expreflions in the Scripture, in that way and fenfe wherein he conceives them ; and it is, that thofe words were fitted for the time of Chrid and his apodles, having another meaning in them than they reem to import. Now, having thus gaily trimmed and let up this man of draw, to whofe framing I dare boldly lay, not one of his adverfaiies did ever contribute a penful of ink ; to fhew his rare fkill, he chargeth it with I know not how many errors, blafphemies, Ives fet on with exclamations and vehement outcries, until it tumble to the ground. Had he not fometimes antwereu an ar¬ gument, he would have been thought a mod unhappy difpu- tant; now, to make fure that once he would do it, 1 believe he was very careful that the objedtion of his own framing, Ihould not be too drong for his own defacing. In the mean time, how blind are they that admire him for a combatant ; who is fkilful, only at fencing with his own fhadow ; and yet with fuch empty janglings asthefe, proving what none denies, an- fwering what none objefds ; is the greated part of Mr. More s book duffed. CHAP ,
Falfe Ends r moved y and the proper CHAP. IV.
Of the diftin&ion of impetration and application ; the ufe and abufe thereof ; with the opinion of the adverfaries , upon the
whole matter m controverfy , unfolded ; and the quejliort on both fides fated .
THE farther reafons whereby the precedent difcourfe may be confirmed, I defer, until I come to oppofe fame ar¬ guments to the general ranfom. For the prefent, I fhall on¬ ly take away that general anfwer which is ufually given to the places of Scripture produced, to wave the fenfe of them ; which is PHARMACON pansophok to our adverfaries, «nd ferves them, as they fuppofe, to bear up all the weight wherewith in this cafe they are urged. °
I. They fay then, that in the oblation of Chrift, and con¬ cerning the good tnings by him procured, two things are to. be confidered ; nrft, the impetration or obtaining of them ; and jecondly, the application of them to particular perfons. The firfl (fay they) is general, in refpe£t of all ; Chrift obtained and procured all good things by his death, of his Father, re¬ conciliation, redemption, forgivenefs of fins, for all and eve- fy man in the world ; if they will believe and lay hold upon iiim ; but in refpe£i of application , they are a&ually beftowed ®nd conferred Dut on a few ; becaufc but a few believe, which is the condition on which they are beftowed. And in this latter fenfe «re the texts of Scripture, which we have ar¬ gued, all of them to be uaderftood ; fo that they do no whit impeach the umverfahty of merit , which they affert; but on¬ ly the umverfality of application , which they alfo deny. Now this anfwer is commonly fet forth by them in various terms, and divers dreftes ; according as it feems beft to them that ufe it, and moft fubfervient to their feveral opinions. For, \f. Some of them fay, that Chrift by his death and pafli- on did ahfolutely, according to the intention pf God, pur- chafe for all and every man, dying for them, remiflion of fins and reconciliation with God ; or a reftitution into a ftate of grace and favour ; all which fhall be a&ually beneficial to them, provided that they do believe. So the Armi- mans .
2 dly. Some again ; f that Chrift died for all indeed ; but conditionally for fome, if they do believe, or will fo do, (which he knows they cannot of themfelves ;) and ahfolutely
for
t Camera, Tefardus , Amiraldus ,
’ nnnirtM i *i
End of the Death of Chrif afferted . g ^
for bis own, even them on whom he purpofeth to beftow faith and grace, fo aftually to be made pofleffors of the good things by him purchafed, So Carrier o , and the divines of France , which follow a new method by him devifed.
3 dly. Some + diftinguifh of a two-fold reconciliation and redemption ; one wrought by Chriftwith God for man, which (fay they) is general for all and every man ; fecondly, a re¬ conciliation wrought by Chrift in man unto God, bringing them a&ually into peace with him.
And fundry other ways there are, whereby men exprefs their conceptions in this bufinefs. The fum of ail comes to this, and the weight of all lies upon that diftinaion which we before recounted, viz. that in refpea of impetration , Chrift obtained redemption and reconciliation for all ; in refpeft of application, it is bellowed only on them who do believe, and continue therein.
II. Their arguments whereby they prove the generality of the ranfom and univerfality of the reconciliation, muft after¬ wards be confidered ; for the prefent, we handle only th* <Min£lion itlelf, the meaning and mifapplication whereof I fhaU briefly declare; which will appear, if we confider, l ft. The true nature and meaning of this diftinaion,* and the true ufe thereof; for we do acknowledge, that it may be ufed in a found fenfe and right meaning, which way foever you exprefs it ; cither by impetration and application, or by procuring reconciliation with God, and a working of recon¬ ciliation in us. For by impetration , we mean the meritorious purchafe of all good things made by Chrift for us, with and of his Father ; and by application, the aflual enjoyment of thofegood things upon our believing; as if a man pay a price lor the redeeming of captives ; the paying of the price fuppii- cth the room of the impetration of which we fpeak, and the
freeing of the captives, is as the application of it. Yet then we muft obferve,
i. That this diftinaion hath no place in the intention and
purpofc of Chrift, but only in refpea of the things procured by him. For in his purpofe, they are both united ; his full end and aim being, to deliver us from all evil, and to procure all good aaually to be beftowed upon us ; but in refpea of
tju of themfelves, they may be confidered as either procur¬ ed by Chrift, eras beftowed on us. P
2. That the will of God is not at all conditional , in this bufi- fcefs ; as tho he gave Chrift to obtain peace, reconciliation
and.
t More, with fome others of late .
94
Talfc Ends removed , and the proper
and forgivenefs of (ins, upon condition that we do .believe. There is a condition in the things, but none in thewiH of God ; that is abfolute, that (uch things (hould be procured, and bellowed.
3. That all the things which Chrift obtained for us, are not be ft owed upon condition ; but fomeoi them abfolutely ; and as for thole that arc bellowed upon condition ; the condition on which they are bellowed, is adlually purchafed and procur- 1 cd for us, upon no condition, but only by virtue ot the pur- chafe. For inllance ; Chrift hath purchafed remiflion of fins and eternal life for us, to be enjoyed on our believing, upon the condition of faith ; but faith it fell, which is the condition 01 them, on v/hofc performance they are be flowed, that he hath procured for us abfolutely, on no condition at all. For, what condition foever can be propofed, on which the Lord {hould bellow faith; I (hall afterward fhew it vain, and to
run into a circle.
4. That both thefe, impetration and application^ hive for their objects the fame individual perlons ; that for whomfo- ever Chrift obtained any good thing by his death, unto them it fnall certainly be applied, upon them it lhall a&ually be bellowed ; fo that it ‘cannot be faid, that he obtained any thing for any one, which that one lhall not or doth not in due time enjoy. For whomfoever he wrought reconciliation with God, in them doth he work reconciliation unto God ; the one is not extended to fome, to whom the other doth not reach. Now, becaufe this being eftablifhed, the oppofite in¬ terpretation and mifapplication ol this diftindlion vamfheth ;
I lhall briefly confirm it with reafons. . _
(1.) If the application of the good things procured oe the end why thev are procured, for whofe fake alone Chrift doth obtain them ; then they muft be applied to all for whom they are obtained ; for otherwife Chrift laileth ot his end and aim ; which muft not be granted. But that this application was the end of the obtaining of all good things for us, appeal eth, fi. 1 Becaufe it it were otherwife, and Chrift did not aim at the applying ot them, but only at their obtaining; then might the death of Chrift have had its full effea and iffuc, without the application of redemption and falvation to any one foul, that being not aimed at ; and fo notwithflanding all that he did for us, every foul in the world might have penfhed eter¬ nally ; which, whether it can Hand with the dignity and luttici- ency of his oblation, with the purpofe of his Father, and his own intention, who came into the world to fave Jinners , that
95
End of the Death of Clin ft off tried.
which was loft, and to bring many fons unto glory ; let all judge. [2.] God, in that aftion of fending his Son, laying the weig it of iniquity upon him, and giving him up to an ac- curfed death; mu ft be affirmed to be altogether uncertain, what event all this fhould have in refpeft of us. For, did he intend that we fhould be faved by it ? then the application of at, is that which he aimed at, as we affert : Did he not ? cer¬ tainly he was uncertain what end it fhould have ; which is blafphemy, and exceeding contrary to feripture and right rea- fon. Did he appoint a Saviour , without thought of them that were to be faved? a Redeemer, not determining who fhould be redeemed ? Did he refolve of a mean, not fietermin- ing the end ? It is an aflertion oppofite to all the glorious pro¬ perties cf God.
(2.) If that which is obtained by any, do, by virtue of that a£lion whereby it is obtained, become his in right, for whom it is obtained ; then for whomfoever any thing is by Chrift obtained, it is to them applied . For that muft be made theirs in fa£I, which is theirs in right : hut it is mod certain, that whatfoever is obtained for any, is theirs bv right for whom it is obtained. The very fenfe of the word, whether you call it merit , impetration , pur chafe , acquifition or obtaining ; doth befpeak a right in them for whole good the merit is of¬ fered, and the purchafe made. Can that be laid to be ob¬ tained for me which is noways mine ? When I obtain any thing by prayer or intreaty of any one; it being obtained, it is mine own : that which is obtained by one, is granted by him of whom it is obtained ; and if granted, it is granted by him to them for whom it is obtained. — But they will fay, it is obtained upon condition ; and until the condition be fulfil¬ led, no right doth accrue. Ianfwer; if this condition be equally purchafed and obtained, with other things that are to be beftowed on that condition, then this hinders not, but that every thing is to be applied that is procured : but if it be un¬ certain whether this condition will be fulfilled or not, then, ft.] This makes God uncertain what end the death of his Son will have; [2.] This doth not anfwer, but deny the thing we are in proving ; which is confirmed,
(3*) -Becaule the feripture perpetually conjoining thefe two things together, will not fuffer us to fever them, as that the one Ihould belong to fome and not to others, as though they could have feveral perfons for their obje&s : as Ifa . liii. 1 1. By his knowledge fnail my righteous fervant j 11 ftify many, there is the application of all good things ; for he ; Jliall bear their ini -
Fal/e Ends removed, and the proper
gutties , there is the impetration ; he jollified all whofe iniqui¬ ties he bore. As alio verfe g. of that chapter, But he was wounded for our tranfgreffions , he was bruifed for our iniquu ties , the chaflifement of our peace was upon him , and with his jtripes we are healed : his wounding and our healing, impe¬ tration and application, his chaflifement and our peace, are infeparablv aflbeiated. So Rom . iv. 2£, Who was delivered for our offences , and was raifd again for our juftijication : and Rom. v. 18, By the nghteoufnefs of one , ( th*t is his impetra- tionj the free gift comes upon all men unto fuftiftcation of life, in the application. See there who are called all men, raoft clearly, Alfo Rom. viii. 32, 33, 34, “ He that fpared not 41 his own Son, but delivered him up to the death for us all, “ how (hall he not with him alfo freely give us all things ? “ Who lhall lay any thing to the charge of God’s cleft ? It is “ God that juftifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift “ that died, yea, rather that is rifen again ; who is even at «* the right hand of God, who alfo maketh interceflion for “ us.” From which words, we have thefe feveral reafons of our aflertion : [1.] That for whom God gives his Son, to them in him he freely gives all things ; therefore all things obtained by his death, mull be bellowed, and are, on them for whom he died, verfe 32. [2.] They for whom Chrift
died, are jullified, are God’s eleft, cannot be condemned, nor can any thing be laid to their charge ; all that he hath pur- chafed for them mull be applied to them, for by virtue there¬ of it is that they are fo faved, verfes 33, 34. [3.] For whom Chrift died, for them he maketh interceflion : now his inter¬ ceflion is for the application of thofe things, as is confefled, and therein he is always heard; thofe to whom the one be¬ longs, theirs alio is the other. So John x. 10. the coming of Chrift is, that his fheep might have life , and have it abun¬ dantly'. as alfo 1 John iv. 9. and Heb. x. 10. By the which will we are JanRified , that is the application ; thro the offer¬ ing of the body of Jefus Chrift, that is the means of impetrati¬ on ; “ for by one offering he hath perfefted for ever them «• that are fanftified,” Heb. x. 14. In brief, it is proved by all thofe places which we produced, rightly to aflign the end of the death of Chrift ; fo that this may be relied on, I conceive as firm and immoveable ; that the impetration of good things by Chrift, and the application of them, refpeft the &me individual perfons.
2 dly. We may confider the meaning of thofe who feek t®
maintain univerfal redemption by this difiinftion ; and to
wh*t
*:•,**.
End of the Death of Chrijl ajftried .
ivhat ufe they do apply it. Chrifi (fay they) died for all men* and by his death purchased reconciliation with God I’or them, and forgivenefs of fins ; which to forne is applied, and they become aflually reconciled to God, and have their fins forgiven them ; but to others not, who therefore pe- rifh in the flate of irreconciliation and enmity, under t be guilt of their fins. This application (fay they) is not procur¬ ed norpurchafed by Chrifi; for then he dying for all, ail mult be actually reconciled, and have their fins forgiven them, and be faved ; but it attends the fulfilling of the condition which God is pleafedtoprefcfibe unto them, that is, believing; which (fay fome, though not in terms, yet by direfl coh'fequence) they can do by their own flrength ; others fay not, but God mufl give it. So that when it is faid in the Scripture, Chrifi hath reconciled us to God, redeemed us, faved us by his blood, underwent the punifhment for our fins, and fo made fatisfaflion for us; theyafiert that no more is meant, but that Chrifi did that which, upon the fulfilling of the condition that is of us required, thefe things will follow. To the death of Chrifi, indeed, they ailign many glorious things; but what they give on the one hand, they take away with the other ; by fufpending the enjoyment cf them on a condition by us to be fulfilled, Hot by him procured; and in terms a fieri, that the proper and full end of the death of Chrifi, was, the doing of that whereby God, his juflice being fatisried, might fave Tinners if he would, and on what condition it pleafed him; that a door of grace might be opened to all that would come in; and not that aflual juflification and remiflion of fins, life and immortality, were procured by him, but only a poflihiUty of thofe things, that fo it might be. Now, that all the venom that lies under this expofition and abufe of the diflinfilion, may the better appear; I fhall let down the whole mind of them that ufe it, in a few alTertions; that it may be clearly feen what we do oppofe.
i. “ God (fay they) confidenng all mankind as fallen from that grace and favour in Adam wherein they were created, “ and excluded utterly from the attainment of falvation by “ virtue of the covenant of works, which was at the firfl made 44 with him ; yet by his infinite goodnefs was inclined to de~
4t fire the happinefsof them all and every one, that they might “ be delivered from mifery, and be brought unto himfelf ;
which inclination of his, they call his uhiverfal love and “ antecedent will, whereby he would defiroufly have them alt to-be faved; out of which love he fendeth Chi i id.” — — As
N to
9§ Talfc Ends removed, and the proper
to which, obferve,
(1.) That God hath any natural or neceflary inclination, by his goodnefs or any other property, to do good to us or any of his creatures; we do deny ; every thing that concerns us, is an a£i of his free-will and good pleafure, and not a natural neceflary a£l of his deity ; as fhall be declared.
(2.) The afcribing an antecedent conditional will unto God, whofe fulfilling and accompiiflimerit fhould depend on any free contingent aft or work of ours, is injurious to his wifdom, power, and fovereignty ; and cannot well be excuf- ed from blafphemy ; and is contrary to Rom . ix. 19. “ Who “ hath refilled his will ?”
(3.) A common affe6tion and inclination to do good to all, doth not feem to fet out the freedom, fulnefs, and dimenfi- ons of that mofl intenfe love of God, which is aliened in the Scripture to be the caufe of fending his Son ; as John iii. 16. “ God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten “ fon.” Rom . v. 8. “ God commendeth his love towards us; “ in that while we were yet finners, Chrift died for us.” Thefe two I fhall by the Lord’s afliftance fully clear ; if the Lord give life and flrength, and his people encouragement, to go through with the fecond part of this controverfy.
(4.) We deny that all mankind is the objeft of that love of God, which moved him to lend his Son to die ; God hav¬ ing made fome jor the day of evil , Prov. xvi. 4. hated them before they were born , Rom . ix. 11, 13. Before of old ordained them to condemnation, Judeiv. Being fitted to dejlruflion, Rom, ix. 22. made to betaken and deJlroyed% 2 Pet. ii. 12. appointed to wrath , 1 Thef. v. 9. to go to their own place , A&s i. 25.
2. “ The juftice of God being ( injured by fin; unlefs “ fomething might be done for the fatisfaftion thereof, that “ love of God whereby he wouldeth good to all finners, could “ no way be brought forth into aft ; but mull have its eternal “ refidencein thebofomof God, without any effeft produced.”
Of. (1.) That neither Scripture nor right reafon, will en¬ force nor prove an utter and abfolute want of power in God, to fave finners bv his own abfolute will, without fatisfaftion to his juflice. Suppofing his purpofe that fo it fhould be, in¬ deed it could not be otherways ; but without the confiderati- on of that, certainly he could have effefted it ; it doth not imply any violating of his holy nature.*
(2.) An aftual and neceflary velleity , for the doing of any thing which cannot poflibly be accomplifhed without fome
work
See the note on page 73,
End of the Death of Chrift afferted . 99
work fulfilled outwardly of him, is oppofite to his eternal bleffednefs and all-fufficiency.
3. “ God, therefore, to fulfil that general love and good “ will of his toward all, and that it might put forth itfelf in 144 fuch a way as fhould feetn good to him to fatisfy his juftice “ which flood in the way and was the only hindrance ; he ** fent his Son into the world to die.”
Obf The failing of this affertion, we {hall lay forth ; when we come to declare that love, whereof the lending of Chrift was the proper iflue and effefiL
4. “ Wherefore the proper and immediate end and aim of ** the purpofe of God, in fending his Son to die for all men, “ was, that he might what way he pleafed him lave finners, “ his juftice which hind-red being fatisfied, as Arminius ; or
that he might will to lave finners, as Cormnus : and the in- “ tention of Chrifl, was, to make fuch fatisfaflion to the juf- “ tice of God, as that he might obtain to himfelr a power of “ faving, upon what conditions it feemed good to his Father “ to preferibe.”
Obf. Whether this was the intention of the Father in fend¬ ing his Son, or not ; let it be judged. Something was faid. before upon the examination of thofe places of Scripture which deferibe hispurpoie ; let it be known from them, whe¬ ther God, in fending of his Son, intended to procure tohim- felf a liberty to fave us if he would ; or to obtain certain fal¬ vation for his elefft.
(2.) That fuch a poffibility of falvation, or at the utmoft, a velleity or willing of it, upon an uncertain condition to be by us fulfilled, fhould be the full, proper, and only immedi¬ ate end of the death of Chrift ; will yet fcarcely go down with tender fpirits.
(3.) The expreflion of procuring to himfelf an ability to fave, upon a condition to be preferibed, feems not to anfwer that certain purpofe of our Saviour in laying down his life ; which the Scripture faith was to fave his Jkeep , and to bring many Jons to glory , as before ; nor hath it any ground in Scripture.
5. “ Chrifl therefore obtained for all and every one recon- “ ciliation with God, remiflion of fins, life and falvation ; “ not that they fhould aftually be partakers of thefe things ; “ but that God (his juftice now not hindering) might and ‘4* would preferibe a condition, to be by them fulfilled, where- 64 upon he would a&ually apply it, and make them partake ^ of all thofe good things purchafed by Chrift.’, And here
* comes
*00 lalfe Ends removed, and the proper
comes in their diftin£Hon of impetration and application, which we before intimated ; and thereabout, in the explication of this aflertion, they are wondroufly divided.
(i.) Some fay, that this proceeds fo far, that all men are thereby received into a new covenant ; in which redemption Adam was a common perfon, as well as in his fall from the old, and all we again reftored in him ; fo that none {hall be damned, that do not fin a&ually againft the condition where¬ in they are born, and fall from the ft ate whereinto all men are affumed through the death of Chrift. So Borreus, Ccr- vinus, and one ci late in plain terms ; that all are reconciled, redeemed, faved and juftified in Chrift ; though how, he would not uncerfiand, (More page 10.) But others, more warily, deny this ; and affert, that by nature we are all chil¬ dren of wrath , and that until we come to Chrift the wrath cf God abideth on all, fo that it is not aflually removed from any ; fo the afferters of the univerfality of grace in France .
(2.) Some fay, that Chrift by this fatisfa&ion removed ori¬ ginal fin in all ; and, by confequent, that only : fo that ail infants, though of Turks and Pagans out of the covenant, dying before they come to the ufe of reafon, mu ft undoubted- ]y be faved ; that being removed in all, even the calamity, guilt, and alienation contracted by our firft fall, whereby God •may fave all upon a new condition. But others of them (more warily) obferving, that the blood of Chrift is faid to “ g urge all our fins,” 1 John i. 7. 1 Pet . i. i8. If a. liii. 6. they fay he died for all fins alike ; abfolutely for none, but conditionally for all. Further, lome of them affirm, that af¬ ter the fatisfaClion of Chrift, or the confideration of it in Goa’s prefcience, it was abfolutely undetermined what condi¬ tion fhould be preferibed; fo that the Lord might have reduc¬ ed all again to the law and covenant of works ; fo Corvinus . Others, that a procuring of anew way of lalvation, by faith, was a part of the fruit of the death of Chrift ; fo' More „
Page 3 5- m
(3.) Again, fo-me of them fay, that the condition preferibed is by our own ftrength, (with the help of fuch means, as God at all times and in all places and unto all is ready to afford,) to be performed. Others deny this ; and affirm that effe&ual grace, flowing peculiarly from eleClion, is neceffary to be¬ lieving : the firft cflabliffiing the idol of freewill, to maintain their own after lion ; others overthrowing their own affertion, lor the eftablifhment of grace. So Amiraldus, Camtro , &c.
(4.) Moreover forae lay, that the love of God, in fending
.0/
End of the Death of Chrift offer ted.
10 i
®f Chrift is is equal to all ; others go a ftrain higher, and maintain an inequality in the love of God ; although he fend his Son to die for all, and though greater love there can¬ not be, than that whereby the Lord lent ins Son to die for us, as Romans viii. 32. and fo they fay, that Chrift purchafed a greater good for fome, and lefs for others. And heie they put themfelves upon innumerable uncouth dijhndlions, or ra¬ ther (as one calieth them) extinBions ; blotting out all fenfe and realon, and true meaning of the Scripture; witnefs Eef tardus , Amir aid: and as every one may fee that can but read EngHJh , in T. M. Hence that multiplicity of the feveral ends of the death ot Chrift; fome that are the fruits of his ranfom and fatisfa&ion, and fome that are I know not what ; be fides his dying for fome fo andfo, for others fo and fo, this way and that way ; hiding themfelves in innumerable unintelligible expref- lions, that it is a moil difficult thing to know what they mean ; and harder to find out their mind, than to anfwer their reafons.
{5.) In one particular they agree well enough, viz. in de¬ nying that faith is procured or merited for us, by the death of Chrift. So far they are all of them conftant to their own principles ; for once to grant it, would overturn the whole fabric ot univerfal redemption’, but in afligning the caufe of faith, they go afunder again.
Some fay, that God lent Chrift to die for all men; but on¬ ly conditionally, if they did or would believe ; as though, if they believed, Chrift died for them, if not, lie died not ; and lo make the a 61, the caufe of its own obje£L Other fome teach, that he died abfolutely for all, to procure all good things for them ; which yet they fhould not. enjoy, until they fulfil the condition that was to he prescribed unto them. Yet all conclude, that in his death Chrift had no more refpe£t unto the elefl than others ; to luftain their perfons, or to be in their room ; but that; he was a public perfon, in the room of all mankind.
III. Concerning the clofe of all this, in refpefl of the e- vent and immediate produdf of the death of Chrift, divers have diverfly exprefted themfelves ; fome placing it in the power , fome in the will of God ; feme in the opening of a door of grace, fome in a right. purchafed to himfelf of having whom he pleafed ; fome, that in refpeft of us he had no end at all, hut that a*l mankind might have perifhed after he had done all. Others make divers and diflindl ends, not al- moft to be reckoned, of this one aB; of Chrift ; according £0 the diverfitv of the perfons for whpro he died, whom they
grant
i 02
Falfe Ends removed, and the proper
grant to be didinguiflied and differenced by a foregoing de* cree ; put to what purpofe the Lord fhould fend his Son to die for them, whom he himfelf had determined not to fave, but at lead to pafs by and leave to irremedilefs ruin for their fins, I cannot fee ; nor the meaning of the twofold dedinati- on, by fome invented. Such is the powerful force and evi¬ dence of truth, that it fcatters all its oppofers, and makes them fly to feveral hiding corners ; who if they are not wil¬ ling to yield and fubmit themfelves, they fliall finely lye down in darknefs and error. None of thefe or the like intricat© and involved impedite diflin&ions, hath truth itfelfany need oi ; into none ol fuch poor {hilts and devices, doth it com¬ pel its abettors ; it needeth not any windings and turnings, to bring itfell into a defenlible poflure ; it is not liable to contradictions, in its own fundamentals ; for without any further circumdances, the whole of it, in this bufinefs, may be thus fummed up, viz .
“ God out of his infinite love to his ele£l, fent his dear
Son in the fulnefs of time, whom he had promifed in the 44 beginning of the world, and made erfe&ual by that pro- “ mile.; to die, pay a rardom of infinite value and dignity; “ for the .purchafing of eternal redemption ; and bringing
unto himfelf, all and every one ol thefe whom he had be- “ fore ordained to eternal life, for the praife of his own ** glory .;” fo that freedom from all the evil from which we are delivered, and an enjoyment of all the good things that are bedowed on us, in our tradu&ion from death to life, from hell and wrath, to heaven and glory ; are the proper iflues and effe£ls of the death of Chrill, as the meritorious caufe of them all. Which may, in all the parts of it, be cleared by thele few allertions, viz.
i ft. The fountain and caufe of God's fending Chrid, is his eternal love to his ele£f, and to them alone; which I fliall not now further confirm ; referving it for the fecond general head of this whole controverfy.
2 dly. The value , worth and dignity of the ranfom which Chrid gave himfelf to be, and of the price which he paid* was infinite and unmeafureable ; fit for the accomplifhing of any end, and the procuring of any good, for all and every one for whom it was intended, had they been mii lions of men more than ever were created. Of this alio afterwards. See Ads xx. 28. “ God purchafed the church with his own “ blood.” 1 Pet . i. 18, 19. “ Redeemed, not with filver 44 and gold ; but with the precious blood of Chrid and
that
End of the Death of Ckrift offer ted.
log
a
it
it
tt
that anfwering the mind and intention cA Almighty God, John \ iv. 31* “ As the Father gave ine commandment, e- “ ven fo I do who would have fuch a price paid, as might be the foundation of that ceconomy and difpenfation of his love and grace which he intended, and of the way whercbv he would have it difpenfed; Adis xiii. 38, 39. “Through “ this man is preached unto you the forgivenels of fins ; and “ by him all that believe are juftified from all things, from “ which ye could not be juftified by the law of jViofes,” 2 Cor. v. 20, 21. “ We are ambaffadors for Chrifl, as though God did befeech you by us; we pray you in Chrifl’s ffead, be ye reconciled to God : for he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin ; that we might be made the right eouf- nefs of God in him.”
3 diy. The intention and aim of the Father, in this great work, was bringing of thofe many fons to glory, viz. his e- ie& ; whom by his free grace he had chofen from amonoft all men, of all forts, nations and conditions, to take them in¬ to a new covenant of grace with himfeif ; the former beina- as to them, in refpe£l of the event, null and abolifhed : of which covenant, Jefus Chrifl is the firft and chief prornife ; as he that was to procure for them all other good things pro- mifed therein ; as (hall be proved.
4 tkly. The things pur chafed or procured for thofe perfons, which are the proper effe&s of the death and ranfom of Chrifl, in due time certainly to become theirs, in pofteffion and enjoyment ; are remiffion of fin, freedom frem wrath and the cuife of the law, juftification, fanftification, reconcB liation with God, and eternal life; for the will of his Father fending him for thefe, his own intention in laying down his life for them, and the truth of the purchafe made by him, is the foundation of his interceflion, begun on earth and continu¬ ed in heaven ; whereby he, whom his Father always hears, defires and demands, that the good things procured 'by him may be aflually bellowed, on them all and every one for whom they were procured. So that the whole of what we affert in this great bufinefs, is exceedingly clear and apparent, without any intricacy or the lead difficulty at all ; not clouded with ftrange expreflions, and unnecefFary divulfions and tearings of one thing from another, as is the oppofite o- pmion ; which in the next place fhall be dealt withal by ar¬ guments ; confirming the one, and everting the other. * But becaufethe whole flrength thereof lyeth in’, and the weioht M all lyeth upon, that one diftin&ion we before Fpakeof,
• by
104
Falfe Ends removed, and the proper
by our adverfaries diverfly expreffed and held out ; we will a little further confider that ; and then come to our argu¬ ments ; and To to the anfwering of the oppofed objections.
«$* 4* *j* ■'t* 4 4* *#* •** 4-' ’** ^ *t* ^ *5* ^ •***'
CHAP. V.
Of application and impdration .
THE allowable ufe of this diflinCtion, how it maybe tak¬ en in a found fenfe, the feveral ways whereby men have expreffed the thing which in thefe words is intimated* and fome arguments for the overthrowing of the falfe ufe of it, however expreffed ; we have before intimated and de¬ clared. Now, feeing that this is the proton pseudos of the oppofite opinion, underffood in the fenfe and accord¬ ing to the ufe they make of it : I fhal! give it one blow more, and leave it I hope a-dying.
I. I fhal 1 then briefly declare, that although thefe two things may admit of a diftin&ion, yet they cannot of a fepa- ration ; but that for whomfoever Chrift obtained good, to them it muff be applied ; and for whomfoever he wrought re¬ conciliation with God, they rnuft aCfuatiy unto God be re¬ conciled ; fo that the blood of Chrift, and his death, in the virtue of it, cannot be looked on (as fome do) as a medicine in a box, laid up for all that fhall come to have any of it; and fo applied, now to one, then to another, without any re- fpeCf or difference ; as though it fhould be intended no more for one than for another; fo that, although he hath obtained all the good that he hath purchafed for us ; yet it is left in¬ different and uncertain, whether it fhall ever be ours or not. For it is well known, that notwithftanding thofe glori¬ ous things that are affigned, by the Arminians, to the death of Chrift; which they fay he purchafed for all, as remifticn of fins, reconciliation with God, and the like ; yet they for whom this purchafe and procurement is made, may be damn¬ ed ; as the greateft part are, and certainly fhall be. Now, that there fhould be inch a diftance between thefe two.
if. It is contrary to common fenfe, or cur ufual form of {peaking; which muft be wrefted, and our underftandings forced, to apprehend it. When a man hath obtained an office, or any ether obtained it for him, can it be faid, that
it is uncertain whether he fhall have it or not? If it be ob¬ tained
End of the Death of Ckrijk offer ted. 105
tained for him, is it not his in right, though perhaps not in pofleflion ? That which is impetrated or obtained by petition, is his by whom it is obtained. It is to offer violence to com¬ mon fenfe, to fay, a thing may be a man’s, or it may not be his, when it is obtained tor him ; for in fo faying, we fay it is his; and fo it is, in the purchafe made by Jefus Chrift, and the good things obtained by him, for all them for whom he died.
2 dly. It is contrary to all reafon in the world, that the death of Chrift in God’s intention, fhould be applied to any one, that {hall have no (hare in the merits of that death : God’s will that Chrift fhould die for any, is his intention that he (hall have a (hare in the death of Chrift, that it ftiould be¬ long to him, that is, be applied to him; for that is in this cafe faid to he applied to any, that is his in any relpedl accord¬ ing to the will of God ; but now the death of Chrift, ac¬ cording to the opinion we oppofe, is fo applied to all; and yet, the fruits of this death are never fo much as once made known to far the greateft part of thofe all.
3 dly. That a ranfom ftiould be paid for captives, upon compaft for their deliverance, and yet, upon the payment, thofe captives not be made free and fet at liberty, (the death of Chrift is a ranfom, Matt . xx. 28. paid by compact for the deliverance of captives for whom it was a ranfom, and the promife wherein his Father flood engaged to him, at his undertaking to be a Saviour and undergoing the office im- pofed on him, was their deliverance (as was before declared) upon his performance of thefe things, that the greateft num¬ ber of thefe captives fhould never be releafed) feems ftrange and very improbable.
4 thly. It is contrary to fcripture, as was before at large de¬ clared. See alfo book III. chop. 10th.
II. But now, all this our adverfaries fuppofe they fhall wipe away, with one flight diftin£tion, that will make, as they fay, all we affirm in this kind to vaniffi. And that is this ; it is true, (fay they) all things that are abfolutely procured and obtained for any, do prefently become theirs in right, for whom they are obtained ; but things that are obtained upon condition, become not theirs until the condition be fulfilled ; now Chrift hath purchafed by his death, for all, all good things, not abfolutely, but upon condition; and until that condition come to be fulfilled, unlefs they perform what is required, they have neither part nor portion, right unto, nor pofleflion of diem, Alfo, what this condition is, they give
O out
out in fundry terms ; fome calf it a not rejijling of this redemp¬ tion offered to them ; fome, a yielding to the invitation of the gofpel ; fome in plain terms, Faith. Now be it fo, that C hi iff purchafed all things for us; to be beftowed on this condition, that we do believe it ; then 1 affirm, that,
yt. Certainly this condition ought to be revealed to all for whom this purchafe is made, if it be intended for them in good earned . ; all lor whom he died, muff have means to know that his death will do them good, if they believe ; e- fpecially it being in his power alone to grant them thefe means, who intends good to them by his death. If I fhould intreat a pb) fician, that could cure fuch a difeafe, to cure all that
came unto him ; but fhould let many reft ignorant of the
giani which I had procured of the phyfician, and none but my felf could acquaint them with it, whereby they might go to him and be healed ; could I be fuppofed to intend the
healing of thofe people ? doubtlefs no : the application is eafy. ^
2 dly- This condition of them to be required, is in their
power to perform, or it is not ; if it be, then have all men power to believe ; which is falfe. If it be not ; then the Lord will grant them grace to perform it, or he will not ; if he
will, why then do not all believe ? why are not all faved ?
if he will not ; then this impetration or obtaining falvation, and redemption for all, by the blood of Jefus Chrift, comes at length to this; God intendeth that he [hall die jor all , to pro¬ cure Jor them re minion of fins , reconciliation with him , eternal redemption and glory ; hut yet Jo , that they Jhall never have the leajl good by thefe glorious things, unlefs they perform that which he knows they are no ways able to do, and which none but himfelj can enable them to perform, and which concerning far the greatejl part of them he is refolved not to do. Is this to in¬ tend that Chrift fhould die for them, for their good ? or rather that he fhould die for them, to expofe them to fhame and mifery ? Is it not all one, as if a man fhould promife a blind man a 1000 pounds, .upon condition that he will fee ?
3 dly. This condition of faith, is procured for us by the death of Chrift ; or it is not. If they fay it be not ; then the chiefeft grace, and without which redemption itfelf, (expref- fed how you pleafe) is of no value, doth not depend on the grace of Chrift, as the meritorious procuring caufe thereof: which is exceedingly injurious to our bleffed Saviour, and feryes only to dimmifh the honour and love clue to him.
And
Mf a* r
gf the Death of Chrijl ajf tried.
10J
And it is contrary to Scripture, Jit . iii. 6. 2 ur. v. 21 He became “ fin for us, that we might be made the righte- “oufnefsof Godin him;” and how we can become the righteoufnefs of God, but by believing ; I know not. Yea exprefsly faith the apoftle ; “ It is given to us, in the behalf « of Chrift, to believe on him,” Phil. . i. 29. “ God bleffing *• us, with all fpiritual bleflings in Chrift^ hph . i. 3’ where¬ of furely faith is not the leaft. II it be a fruit of the death of Chrift ; why is it not bellowed on all, fince ue oiio. lor ad : efpecially fince the whole impetration of redemption is alto¬ gether unprofitable without it, II they do invent a condition upon which this is bellowed ; the vanity of that [had be af¬ terwards difeovered. For the prefent, if this condition be, fo they do not rfuje or refjl the means of grace ; then I afk * if the fruit of the death of Chrift fhall be applied to ad, fulfil this condition of not refufing or not refilling the means of grace? If not, then why is tnat produced ? If lo; then mull all be faved, that have not or do not refill the means 01 grace ; that is, all pagans , infidels , and thole try ants, to whom
the gofpel was never preached.
4 thly. This whole aflertion tends to make Chrift but an half Mediator ; that (hould procure the end, but not the means conducing thereunto. So that notwitmtanding this exception and new diftinfilion, our affertion Hands firm ; tnat the fruits of the death of Chrift, in refpect o i impetration of good and application to us, ought not to be divided ; and our arguments to confirm it, are unfhaken.
For a clofe of all ; that which in this caufe we affirm, may be luinmed up in this ; Chrift did not die for any, upon con¬ dition if they do believe ; but he died lor all God s elect, that they fhould believe, arid believing have eternal file. Faith itfelf, is among the principal effefls and fruits of the death of Chrift ; as fhall be declared. It is no where faid in Scripture, nor can it reafonably be affirmed, that if we be¬ lieve, Chrift died for us ; as though our believing fhould make that to be, which otherwife was not, the a£l create the obje£i : but Chrift died for us, that we might believe ; falva- tion indeed is bellowed conditionally ; but faith, which is the condition, is abfoiutely procured. 1 he queftion being thus Hated, the difference laid open, and the thing in contro- verfy made known ; we proceed, in the next place, to draw forth fome of thofe arguments, demonftrations, teftimonies and proofs, whereby the truth we maintain is eftablifhed, in which it is contained, and upon which it is firmly founded ;
onn/
i0° Arguments again ft.
only defiring the reader to retain fome notions in his mind of thofe fundamentals which in general we laid down before; they {landing in fuch relation to the arguments which we fhall ufe, that I am confident not one of them can be throughly an- Iwered, before they be everted. '
book in.
CHAP. I.
Arguments again jl the university of redemption. The two
Jlp > Jrom the nature of the covenant , and the difpenfation thereof . J
ARGUMENT I.
TH E firfl argument may be taken from the nature of the covenant of grace ; which was efhblifhed, ratified and confirmed, in and by the death of Chrift, That was the Tef ament whereof He was the Teftator, which was ra¬ tified in his death, and whence his blood is called “ the blood “ of the new teflament,” Matt. xxvi. 28. neither can any effeSs thereof be extended beyond the compafs of this cove¬ nant ; but now, this covenant was not made univerfally with all, put particularly only with fome ; and therefore, thofe a- lone were intended, in the benefits of the death of Chriff.
The affumption appears, from the nature of the covenant itfelf; defcribed clearly, ferern. xxxi. 31, 32. “1 will make “ a new covenant with the houfe of Ifrael, and with the houfe of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their Fathers, in the day that I took them by 4i the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt , (which “ my covenant they brake, although I was an hufband unto “ them faith the Lord. ”j and Hebrews viii. p, 10, 11, “Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, 4‘ in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out “ of the land of Egypt ; beeaufe they continued not in my co- “ venant, and I regarded them not, (faith the Lord ;) for 44 this is the covenant that 1 will make with the houfe of If- rael after thofe days, (faith the Lord ;) I will put my laws 44 into their mind, and write them in their hearts ; and I will be to them a God, and they fhall be to me a people ; and they fhall not teach every man his neighbour, and every
“ man
,^-V-
Vnivetfal Redemption . tog
u man bis brother, faying, Know the Lord ; lor all fhall fi< know me, from the leaft to the grcateff.” Wherein the condition of the covenant is not faid to be required ; but it is abfolutely promifed ; “I will put my laws into their mind, e< and write them in their hearts.” And this is the main dif¬ ference, between the old covenant of works, and the new one of grace ; that in that, the Lord did only require the fulfilling of the condition prefcribed ; but in this, he promif- eth to effe£i it in them himfelf, with whom the covenant is made. And without this fpiritual efficacy, the truth is, the new covenant would be as weak and unprofitable lor the end of a covenant, (the bringing of us and binding of us to God,) as the old. For in what confifted the weaknds and unprofit- ablenefs of the old covenant, for which God in bis mercy a- bolilhed it ; was it not in this ? becaufe, by reafon of fin, we were no way able to fulfil the condition thereof, Do this and live ; otherways the connexion is ftill true, that he that doth thefe things Jhall live . And are we, of ourfelves, any way more able to fulfil the condition of the new covenant ? Is ic not as eafy, for a man, by his own ftrength, to fulfil the whole law, as to repent, and favingly believe the promife of the gof- pel ? This then is one main difference of thefe two covenants; that the Lord did, in the old, only require the condition ; but in the new, he will alfo effe£t it in all the federates to whom this covenant is extended. And if the Lord fhould only exa£t obedience required in the covenant of us, and not work andeffe£t it alfo in us ; the new covenant would be a fiiew, to increafe our mifery, and not a ferious imparting and com¬ municating of grace and mercy. If then this be the na¬ ture of the New Teftament, (as appears from the very words ot it, and might abundantly be proved ;) that the con¬ dition ol the covenant fhall certainly, by free grace, be wrought and accomplifhed in all that are taken into covenant; then no more are in this covenant, than in whom thofe con¬ ditions of it are effe&ed.
But thus, as is apparent, it is not with all ; for all men have not faith , it is ol the ele 61: of God ; therefore it is not made with ail ; nor is the compafs thereof to be extended beyond the remnant that are according to eleBion. Yea, every bief- fing ol the new covenant, being certainly common, and to be communicated to all the covenantees ; either faith is none of them, or all muff have it, if the covenant itfelf be general. But fome may fay ; that it is true, God promifeth to write his law in our hearts , and put his fear in our inward parts;
but
a**0*
1 10
Arguments againjl
but it is upon condition. Give me that condition, and I will yield the caufe. Is it, if they do believe ? nothing elfe can be imagined ; that is, if they have the law written in their hearts, (as every one that believes hath ;) then God promif* eth to write his law in their hearts; is this probable, friends ? is it likely ? I cannot then be perfuaded, that God hath made a covenant of grace with all ; efpecially thofe who never heard a word of covenant, grace, or condition of it ; much lefs received grace for the fulfilling of the condition, without which the whole would be altogether unprofitable and ufelefs. The covenant is made with Adam , and he is acquainted with it, Gen. iii. 15. renewed with Noah, and not hidden from him, again eftablifhed with Abraham , accompanied with a full and rich declaration of the chief promifes of it, Gen. xii. which is 1110ft certain not tobeeffe&ed towards all, as after¬ wards will appear. Yea that firft diftinftion, between the feed of the woman and the feed of the ferpent, is enough to overthrow the pretended univerfality of the covenant of grace ; for who dares affirm, that God entered into a cove¬ nant of grace with the feed of the ferpent ?
Moft apparent then it is, that the new covenant of grace, and the promifes thereof, are all of them of diftinguifhing mer¬ cy ; retrained to the people whom God did foreknow, and fo not extended univerfally to all. Now, the blood of Jefus Chrift being the blood of this covenant, and his oblation in¬ tended only for the procurement of the good things intended and promifed thereby, (for he was the furety thereof, Hebrews vii. 22. and of that only ;) it cannot be conceived to have refpeft unto all, or any, but only thofe that are intended in this covenant.
«*♦ 4*' 4* % *$*■ ^ 4* 4* 4*
ARGUMENT II.
If the Lord intended that he fhould, and he by his death did, procure pardon of fin and reconciliation with God, for all and every one ; to be aflually enjoyed, upen condition that they do believe ; then ought this good will and intention of God, with this purchafe in their behalf by Jefus Chrift, to be made known to them by the word, that they might believe; « for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of « God" Rem. x. 17. For if thefe things be not made known and revealed, to all and every one that is concerned
in them, viz, to whom the Lord intends, and for whom he
hath
Univerfal Redemption .
11
hath procured fo great a good ; then one of thefe things will follow ; either, that they may be faved without faith in, and the knowledge of Chrift, (which they cannot have unlefs he be revealed to them ;) which is falfe, and proved fo ; or elfe that this good will of God, and this purchafe made by Jefus Chrift, is plainly in vain and fruftrate, in refpeft of them ; yea a plain mocking of them, that will neither do them any good to help them out of mifery, nor ferve the juflice of God to leave them inexcufable ; for what blame can redound to them, for not embracing and well ufing a benefit which they never heard of in their lives ? Doth it become the wifdam of God, to fend Chrift to die for men that they might be faved ; and never caufe thefe men to hear of any fuch thing ; and yet to purpofe and declare, that unlefs they do hear of it and. believe it, they fhali never be faved? What wife man would pay a ranfom, for the delivery of thofe captives, which he is fare fhali never come to the knowledge of any fuch payment made; and fo never be the better for it p'Is it anfwerable to the goodnefs of God, to deal thus with his poor creatures ? to hold out towards them all, in pretence, the moft intenfe love imaginable, beyond all compare and il- luftration, as his love in fending his Son is fet forth to be, and yet never let them know of any fuch thing, but in the end to damn them for not believing it? Is it anfwerable to the love and kindnefs of Chrift to us ; to aflign unto him, at his death fuch a refolution as this ; “ I will now, by the obla- “ tionofmyfelf, obtain for all and every one, peace and re.
“ conciliation with God, redemption and everiafting faivation " eternal glory in the high heavens ; even for all thefe poor miferable wretched worms, condemned caitiffs, that every hour ought to expeft the fentence of condemnation- and all thefe fhali truly and really be communicated to them if they will believe ; but yet withal I will fo order things that innumerable fouls (hail never hear one word of all this that I have done for them, never be perfuaded to believe nor have the objeaof faith that is to be behaved propofed to them ; whereby they might indeed poflibly partake of thefe things ? Was this the mind and will, this the debar* and purpofe of our merciful high prieft ? God forbid, his all one, as if a prince biould fay and proclaim ; that whereas there be a^number of captives held in fore bondage in fuch "a place, and he hath a full treafure, he is refoived to redeem them every one ; fo that every one of them fliall come out of pnfon, that will thank him for his* good will ; and in tin
n
n
«
n
10
raeaa
mean time never take care to let thefe poor captives know his mind and pleafure ; and yet be fully allured, that unlefs he effea it himfelf, it will never be done ; would not this be conceived a vain and oftentatious flourilh, without any good intent indeed towards the poor captives ? Or as if a phyfician (hould fay, that he hath a medicine that will cure all difeafes, and he intends to cure the difeafes 61 all ; but lets but very few know his mind, or any thing of his medicine ; and yet is allured that, without his relation and particular information, it will be known to very few : and {hall he be fuppofed to de¬ fire, intend or aim at the recovery of all ?
Now it is molt clear from the Scripture and experience of a'd ages, both under the old difpenfation of the covenant and the new ; that innumerable men, whole nations, tor a long fealon, are palled by in the declaration of this myftery ; the Lo'rd doth not procure, that it lhall by any means in the lealt meafure be made out to all ; they hear not fo much as a rumour or report of any fuch thing. Under the Old Tefta- ment, “ in Judah was God known, and his name was great “ in Ilrael ; in Salem was his tabernacle, and his dwelling “ place in Sion,” Pfal. lxxvi. 1,2. “ He (hewed his word
unto Jacob, and his judgments unto Ifrael ; he hath not 11 dealt fo with any nation, and as for his judgments they “ have not known them,” cxlvii. 19. 20. Whence thofe apel- lations of the heathen, and imprecations alio ; as Jer. x. syu 4‘ Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee nj^
“ and upon the famiUes that call not on thy name ;” ofwhjM
vou have a full defeription, Eph. 11. 12. “ Wnho^ ut Ch*| “ aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, and It rang® “ from the covenants of promife ; having no hope, and witM out God in the world.” And under the New 1 e (lament ; though the church have confirmed her cords ana (lengthened her (lakes, and many nations are come in to the mountain or the Lord ; lo many, as to be called, all people, all nations yea
Univerfal Redemption , 13g
wherein he fujfered all nations to walk in their ozun mays, Ads xiv. 1 6. And tor experience ; not to multiply particulars, do but afk any of our brethren who have been at any time in the Indies, and they will eafily refolve you in the truth thereof.
The exceptions againft this argument, are poor and frivo¬ lous ; which we referve tor a reply. In brief ; how is it re¬ vealed to thofe thoufands of the offspring of infidels, whom the Lord cuts off in their mfancy, that they may not pefier the world, per fecute his church, nor difturb human focietv ? How to their parents ; of whom Paul affirms, that by the works of God they might be led to the knowledge of his" eternal power and god-head ; but that they Jhould know arty thing of Redemption or a Redeemer , was utter iy impojjihle .
•4* *$*■ 't' *?* *f* t *r 4* 4" *«*
C IT A P. II.
Containing three other arguments »
ARGUMENT III.
IF Jefus Chrifl died for all men ; that is, purchafed and procured for them, according to the mind and will of God, all thofe things which we recounted and the Scripture fetteth forth, to be the effe&s and fruits of his death, which may be fu mined up in this one phrafe, eternal redemption : then he did this, and that according to the purpofe of God ~ either abfolutely , or upon fome condition by them to be ful¬ filled. If abfolutely; then ought, all and every one, abfbiute- ly and infallibly, to be made adual partakers of that eternal redemption fo purchafed : for what, i pray, ffrould hinder the enjoyment of that to any, which God abfolutely intended,- and Chrifl abfolutely purchafed for them. If upon condition ; then he did either procure this condition lor them, or he did not ? If he did procure this condition for them ; that is, that it fhould be bellowed on them, and wrought within them; then he did it either abfolutely again, or upon a condition. If abfolutely ; then are we as we were before : for to procure any thing for another, to be conferred on hitn unon fucli a condition, and withal, to procure that condition abfolutely to be bellowed on them ; is equivalent to the abfolute procur¬ ing of the thing iifelf. For fo we affirm in this very bufinefsj Chrifl procured falvation for us, to be bellowed condition-
P aliv9
<9 7
• •
1 14
Arguments agaipjt
if we do believe; but faith itfelf, that he hath abfolute- ly piocured, without a preferibing of any condition. Whence we affirm, that the purchafing of falvation for us, is equwa. lent to what it would have been, if it had been fo purchafed as to have been abfolutely bellowed, in refpeft of the event and lflue : fo that thus alfo, mult all be ablolutely Caved.— But if this condition be procured upon condition, let that be affigtied ; and we will renew our query concerning the pro¬ curing of that, whether it were abfolute or conditional ; and
fo never reft, until they come to fix fomewhere, or flili run into a circle. -
oa the othei fine, is not this condition procured by him, on whole penoimance all the good things purchafed by him are to be aftoally enjoyed ? Then firft, this condition muft be made known to all, as Arg. 2. Secondly; all men are able of themfelves to perform this condition, or they are not . It they are ; then, feeing that condition is faith in the promifes, aS is on all fides confefted, all men are of them* fLlvcs, b> the power 01 their own free will, able to believe ; which is contrary to the Scriptures ; as by the Lord’s affiftl ance fhall be declared. It they cannot ; but that this faith muft be bellowed on them and wrought within them, by the tree grace of God : then, when God gave his Son to die For them, to piocure eternal redemption for them all, upon condition that they did believe; he either purpofed to work faith in them all by his grace, that they might believe, or he did not ; If he did ; why doth be not afftually perform it ; feeing he is of one mind, and who can turn him ? why do not all believe ? why have not all men faith ? or doth he fail of his purpofe ? It he did not purpofe to beftow faith on them all, or (which is all one) if he purpofed not to beftow faith on all, (for the will of God doth not confift in a pure negation of any thing,— what he doth not will that it fhould be, he wills that it fhould not be) then the fum of it comes to this that God gave Chrift to die for all men ; but upon this condition, that they perform that which of themfelves with¬ out him they cannot perforin, and purpofed that for his part he would not accomplifh it in them.
Now, if this be not extreme madnefs ; to aflign a will un¬ to God, of doing that which himfelf knows and orders that it fhall never be done, of granting a thing upon a condition which without his help cannot be fulfilled, and which help he purpoled not to grant ; let all judge. Is this any thing, but to delude poor creatures ? Is it poflible that any good at all
fhould
Univcrfal Rt dnnplton . 1 1 g
Should arife to any, by fuch a purpofe as this, fuch a giving of a redeemer ? Is it agreeable to the goodnefs of God, to in¬ tend fo great a good as is the redemption purchafed by Chrift ; and to pretend that he would have it profitable for them : when he knows that they can no more fulfil the condition which he requires, that it may be by them enjoyed ; than Lazarus could, of himfelf, come out of the grave ? Doth it befeem the wifdom of God, to purpofe that which he knows (hall never be fulfilled ? If a man fhould promife to give a 1000 pounds to a blind man, upon condition that he will open his eyes and fee ; which he knows well enough he cannot do ; were that promife to be fuppofed to come from an heart-pitying of his poverty ; and not rather from a mind toillude and mock at his mifery ? If the King fhould pro¬ mife to pay a ranfom for the captives at Algiers , upon con¬ dition that they would conquer their tyrants, and come away, which he knows full well they cannot do : were this a kingly aft ? Or if a man fhould pay a price to redeem captives, but not that their chains may be taken away, without which they cannot come out of prifon ; or promife dead men great re¬ wards, upon condition they live again of themfelves : are not the fe to as much end, as the obtaining of falvatio.n for men upon condition that they do believe ; without obtaining that condition for them ? Were not that the afligning fuch a will and purpofe as this to Jefus Chrift : “ I will obtain eter- “ nal life, to be beftowed on men and become theirs by the “ application of the benefits of my death, but upon this “ condition that they do believe ; but as I will not reveal my “ mind and will in this bufinefs, nor this condition iifelf, to £‘ innumerable of them ; fo concerning the reft, I know they “ are .no ways able of themfelves (no more than Lazarus was “ to rife, or a blind man is to fee) to perform the condition that I do require, and without which none of the good “ things intended for them can ever become theirs ; neither “ will I procure that condition ever to be fulfilled in them : “ that is, I do will that that {hall be done, which I do not “ only know fhall never be done, but that it cannot be done, “ becaufe I will not do that, without which it can never be accomplifhed.” Now whether fuch a will and purpofe as this, befeems the wifdom and goodnefs of our Saviour; le$ the reader judge.
In brief, an intention of doing good unto any one, upon the performance of fuch a condition as the intender knows is ahfolutely above the ftrength of him of whom it is required,
(efpecially
•*"* e m
f io Arguments againjt.
(eipecially if he know that it can no way be done but by hfs concurrence, and he is refolved not to yield that afliflance which is neceftary to the a£lual accomplifhment of it) is a vain truitlefs fl uiifh. That Chrift then fhould obtain of his Father eternal redemption, and the Lord fhould through his .Son intend it for them who fhall never be made partakers of it, bccaufe they cannot perform, and God and Chrift have purpofed not to beftow, the condition on which alone it is to be made aRually theirs ; is unworthy of Chrift, and unpro¬ fitable to them for whom it is obtained ; which that any thing that Chrift obtained for the Tons of men, fhould be fo unto them, is an hard faying indeed. Again, if God through tChrift purpofe to fave all if they do believe, becaufe he died for ail ; and this faith be not purchafed by Chrift, nor are men able of themfelves to believe : how comes it to pafs, that anv are faved ?
4 . s
If it be anfwered ; God be flows faith on fome, not on others : I reply ; is this diftinguifhing grace purchafed for thole fome, comparatively, in relpeft of thofe that are paffed by without it ? If it be, then did not Chrift die equally for all, for he died that fome might have faith, not others: yea in comparifon, he cannot be laid to die for thofe other fome at all; not dying that they might have faith, without which he knew that all the reft would be unprofitable and fruitlefs But is it not purchafed for them by Chrift ? then have thofe that be faved no more to thank Chrift for, than thofe that are damned ; which were ftrange, and contrary to Rev. i. 5, 6 : C4 Unto him that loved us, and wafhed us from our fins in his 6t own blood ; and hath made us kings and priefts unto God f6 bis father,” &c.
For my part, I do conceive that Chrift hath obtained falva- iion for men ; not upon condition if they would receive it, but fo fully and perfe£tly— -that certainly they fhould receive it : he purchafed falyation , to be bellowed on them that do believe ; but withal faith , that they might believe. Neither can it be objefted, that, according to our do£lnne, God re¬ quites any thing of men that they cannot do; yea faith, to believe in Chi iff : lor, 1. Commands do not fignify what is God’s intention fhould be done, but what is our duty to do ; which may be made known to us, whether we be able to per¬ form it or not : it figmfteth no intention or purpofe of God. 2. For the promifes, which are propofed together with the command to believe ; (1 j they do not hold out the intent and purpofe of God, that Chrift fhould die for us if we do be¬ lieve ;
117
Vniverjal Redemption .
fieve ; which is abfurd, that the aft ffiould be the conftituter of its own objeft, which muft be before it ; and is preiup- pofed to be, before we are delired to believe it : nor, [2.) the purpofe of God, that the death of Chrift fliould be pro¬ fitable to us it we do believe ; which we before confuted ; but, (3.) only that faith is the way to falvation, which God hath appointed ; fo that ail that do believe, fhall undoubtedly be faved ; thefe two things, faith and falvation, being infe- parably linked together, as lhall be declared,
ARGUMENT IV.
If all mankind be, in and by the eternal purpofe of God, diflinguifhed into two forts and conditions, feverally and dillinftly defcribed and let forth in the Scripture ; and Chriff be peculiarly affirmed to die tor one of thefe forts, and no where for them of the other : then did he not die for all ; lor of the one fort he dies for all and every one, and of the other for no one at ad. But,
iff There is fuch a difcriminating diftinguiffiment among men, bv the eternal purpofe of God, as thofe whom he loves and thofe whom he hates, Rom. ix. 13. Thofe whom he knoweth , and whom h z knoweth not ; John x. 14. 1 know my Jheep : 2 Tim. ii. 19. The Lord know eth them that are his ;
Rom. viii. 29. whom he did foreknow : Rom. xi. 2. His people which he foreknew : Matt. xxv. 12. T know you not : fo John xiii. 18. I [peak not of you all ; 1 know whom l have chofen . Thofe that are appointed to life and glory, and thofe that are appointed to and fitted for deftruftion ; eleft and re¬ probate ; thofe that were ordained to eternal life, and thofe who before were of old ordained to condemnation : as Epb. i. 4. He hath chofen us in him : Afts xiii. 48. ordained te eternal life: Rom. viii. 30. Whom he did predeftinate, them he at fo called ; and whom he called them he alfo juflified; and whom he juflified; them he alfo glorified. So on the other fide ;
1 Thef. v. 9. God hathnot appointed us to wrath , but to obtain falvation; appointed to wrath : Rom. ix. 18, 19, 20, 21. He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy , and whom he will he hardeneth ; thou wilt fay then unto me. , why doth he yet find fault ? for who hath refified his will? nay , but 0 man , who art thou that reply ejl againfl God ? fhall the thing formed fay to him that formed it , why hafi thou made me thus ? hath not the potter power over the clay , of the fame lump to make one vejfel
uni$
1 1
8
Arguments againjl
unto honour and another unto difhonour ? Jude iv. Ordained to this condemnation; 2 Pet. ii. 12. Made to he taken and destroyed: Matt. xxv. 32. Jheep and goats : John x. pafjim. I hofe that ar& his peculiar people and children according to promife, that are not oj the world , his church ; and thofe that in oppofition to them are the world, not prayed for , not his peo¬ ple ; as Tit . ii. 14. Gal. iv. 28. johnxv. 19, and xvii.9, 10. Co/, i. 24. Johnxi.gz. Iieb.n. 10, 12, 13. Which diftinftion of men is every where aferibed to the purpofe, will, and good pleafure of God : Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelj \ even the wicked for the day oj evil : Matt. xi. 25, 26. 1 thank thee 0 Father , becaufe thou hajl hid thefe things from the wife and prudent, and hajl revealed them unto babes ; even fo Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight: Rom. ix. 11, 12. The children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the pur - poje of God according to eledion might fand, not of works , but ef him that calleth ; it was Jaid unto her, The elder fiall ferve the younger : verfe 16, 17. So then it is not of him that willeth , nor oj him that runneth, but of God that fheweth mercy; for the Scripture faith unto Pharaoh, even jor this fame purpofe have Iraifedthee up, that I might fiew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth: Rom. viii. 28, 29, 30. Who are called according to his purpofe ; for whom he did foreknow, he aljo did predefhnate to be con¬ formed to the image oj his Son, that he might be the firjl born among many brethren ; moreover whom he did predefhnate, them he aljo called, and whom he called, them he alfo jufifed, and whom he jujhfied, them he aljo glorified . So that the fir ft part of the propofnion is clear from the Scripture. Now, •idly. Chrift is laid exprefsly and pun&ually, to die for them on the one fide ; [ox his people. Matt. i. 21. his Jheep , john x. 11, 12, 14. his church, A6fs xx. 28. Eph. v. 25. as diftinguifhed from the world, Rom. v. 8, 9. John xi. 51 f 32. his eUcl, Rom. viii. 32, 33, 34. his children, Heb. ii. 13, as before more at large. Whence we may furely con¬ clude, that Chrift died not for all and every one; to wit, not for thofe he never knew, whom he hateth, whom he hard - aieik, on whom he will not fiew mercy, who were before of old ordained to condemnation ; in a word, for the reprobate% for the world, jor which he would not pray. That which fome except, that though Chrift be faid to die for his fieep, for his elecl, his chofen ; yet he is not faid to die for them only, that term is no where expreft ; is of no vaiue ; for is it not ivhhoutany forced interpretation, in common fenfe and ac¬
cording
Univerfal Redemption. i uj
cording to the ufual courfe of fpeaking, to diflinguifh men into two fuch oppofite conditions, as eleG and reprobate, ftieep and goats ; and then affirming that he died for his deft, to be equivalent to this, he died for his eleft only ? Is net the fenfe as clearly reftrained, as if that reftriftive term had been added ? or is that term always added in the Scripture, in every indefinite afTertion ; which yet mud of neceffity be limited and reftrained, as if it were exprei'sly added ? As where our Saviour faith, “ I am the way, and the life, and “ the refurre£]ion,” John yaw 6. and xi. 25. He doth not fay, that he only is fo ; and yet of neceffity it muff be fo un¬ derflood. As alfo in that, Col. i. 19. “ It pleafed the Fa- •* ther, that in him ffiould all fulnefs dwell he doth not exprefs the limitation only : and yet it were no lefs than blaf- phemy, to fuppofc a poffibiiity of extending the affirmation to any other. So that this argument, notwithflanding this exception, is, as far as I can fee, unanfwerable : which alfo might be further urged, by a more large explication of God's purpofe of eleftion and reprobation; fhewing how the death of Chrift was a means fet apart and appointed for the laving of his eleft, and not at all undergone and fufFered for thofe, which in his eternal counfel he did determine fliould perdh for their fins, and fo never be made partakers of the benefits thereof. But of this more mull be fpoken ; if the Lord preferve us, and give affiftance for the other part of this controverfy, concerning the cauie of fending Chrifl.
* j. ^
ARGUMENT V.
That is not to be afferted and affirmed, which the Scrip¬ ture doth not any whe<e go before us in ; but the Scripture no where faith, Chrifl died for all men, much lefs for all and every man, (between which two, there is a wide difference, as fhall be declared) therefore this is not to be afferted. It is true, Chrifl is faid to give his life a ranfom for all , bur. no where for all men* And becaufe it is affirmed exprefsly in other places, that he died for many, for his church , for them that believe , for the children that God gave him, for us ; fome of forts, though not exprefsly, yet clearly in terms equi¬ valent, Rev. v. 9, 10. it muff be clearly proved, that where all is mentioned, it cannot be taken for all believers, all his ele£l, his whole church, all the children that God gave him, f@mc of all forts ; before an univerfal affirmative can be
thence
Arguments againjl
thence concluded : and if men will but confider the parties- lai places, and contain therrifelves until they have done what is requited ; we [hall be at quiet, lam perfuaded, in this bufinels.
CHAP. III.
Containing iwo other arguments ; from the, p erf on which Lhrijt fujiained , in this bujinefs .
ARGUMENT VI.
FOR whom Chrift died, he died as a Sponfor in their [lead :
as is apparent, Rom , v. 6, y, 8. “ For when we were
6i yet without ftrength, in due time Chrifi: died [or the un¬ godly ; for fcarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perad venture for a good man feme would even d are to die ; ct but God commendeih his iove towards us, in that while “ we were yet finners Chrift died torus;” Gal. iit. 13 He was “ made a curie for us 2 Cor. v. 21. “ He hath made him to be fin for us.” All which places do plainly fignify and hold out a change or commutation ot perfons ; one be¬ ing accepted in the room ot the other. Now if he died as the fponfor or furety of them for whom lie died, in their head ; then thefe two things, at leaf!, will follow.
ijly That he freed them from that anger, and wrath, and guilt of death, which he underwent tor them ; that they fhould, in and for him, be all reconciled, and be freed from the bondage wherein they are by reafon of death : for no other reafon in the world can be afiigned, why Chrift fhould undergo any thing in another’s Head ; but that this other might be freed from undergoing that which he underwent for him. And all juftice requires, that fo it fhould be; which alfo is exprelsly intimated, when our Saviour is laid to be engyos, “a furety of a better Teftanrent,” Hcb. vii. 22. that is, by being our prieft, undergoing the chaffifement of our peace, and the burthen of our iniquities, IJa. liii. 6,
' 7. He was “ made (in for us, that we might be made the “ righteoufnefs of God in him,” 2 Cor. v. 21, But now all are not freed from wrath and (he guilt of death, and a£lua!!y reconciled to God; which is to be juftifted, through an im¬ putation of righteoufnefs, and a non-imputation of iniquities : for until a man come to Chrift, “ the wrath of God abidetli
“ on
If St I
mi 1 i
Vnivcrfal Redemption.
12 i
« on i.:m ” John iii. 36. which argueth and iritimateth, a not removal of wrath, by reafon of not believing. He cloth not fav it comes on them; as though, by Chnft’s death, thev were freed from being under a ftate and condmon of wrath which we are all in by nature, Eph. ii, 3. tut HtN t, r, it remaineth or abideth ; it was never removed ; and to them the gofpel is a favour of death to death ; bringing a new death and a fore condemnation, by its being defpiled, unto that death the guilt whereof they before lay under, home have indeed affirmed ; that all and every one are redeemed, reftored juftified, and made righteous in Chnlt, and by Ins death : but truly this is fo wretched; I will not fay pervert- inp- of the Scriptures, which give no colour to any fuch aiier- tion but fo dired an oppofition to them ; as I judge it fruit- lefs and loft labour, to go about to remove fuch exceptions,
(Mldly. Knows, that Chrift made fatisfaaion for the fins of all and every man ; if he died lor them ; for the reafon w’nv he underwent death for us as a furety, was to make ;a- tisfaclion to God’s juftice for our fins, fo to redeem us to himfelf; neither can any other be afligned. But Chrift ham not fatisfied the juftice of God, for all the fins of all and every man ; which may be made evident by divers lesions ;
as
1. For whofe fins he made fatisfadion to the juftice of God, for their finsjuftice is fatisfied ; or elfe his fatisfadion was rejeded as inlufficient ; for no other realon can be affignea of fuch a fruitlefs attempt ; which to aver, is blafphemy in the higheft degree. But now, the juftice of God is not fatis- fied lor ail the fins of all and every man ; which aho is no lefs apparent* than the former; for they that mu ft undergo eternal puniffiraent themfelves for their fins, that the juftice of God may be fatisfied for their (ms ; the juftice of Goa was not fatisfied without their own punifhment, by the pu- niftiment of Chrift; for they are not healed by ins i.rip-s- But that innumerable fouls ffiall, to eternity, undergo the puniffiment due to their own fins; 1 hope needswitliclin.lt- ans no proving ; now, how can the juftice of God requne fatisfadion of them for their fins ; if it were before .atished for them in Chrift ? To be fatisfied, and to require iatislafcu- on that it mav be fatisfied, are contradictory ; and cannot be affirmed of the fame, in refped of the fame ; but that the Lord will require of fome the utmoft farthing, is moil clear,
\ i> 261 « , < «
Can it
G
Arguments againjl
2. Chill., by undergoing death For us as our furety, fatisfi-
CC f°r f° nm01e rtha? he intencied f° to do. So great a thins: as iatisfaaion for the fins of men, could not accidentally Happen befides his intention, will, and purpofe; efpeciallycon- lidermg that his intention and good will, in fan&ifying him-
e |° be an oblation, was of abfolute neceffity to make his death an acceptable offering. But now, Chrift did not in- tend to latisfy for the fins of all and every man : for innu¬ merable foil's were in hell, under the puniffiment and weight ol their own fins, from whence there is no redemption ; be. lore, and athiaJly then, when our Saviour made himfelf an oblation for fin. Now fhall we fuppofe that Chrift would make himfelf an offering for their fins, whom he knew to be pall recovery • and that it was utterly impoftible, that e- ver they fhoud have any fruit or benefit by his offering?
hall we think, that the blood of the covenant was call a- way upon them, for whom our Saviour intended no good at all ? to intend good to them, he could not ; without a dire& opposition to the eternal decree of his Father, and there¬ in of his own eternal deity. Did God fend his Son, did Chnft come to die for Cain and Pharaoh ; damned fo many years before his Offering ? credat Afiella . The exception, that Chnft died for them, and his death would have been a- vailable to them, if they had believed and fulfilled the condi- onr equired ; is in my judgment of no force at all. For,
(i.) For the mod part, they never heard of any fuch con¬ dition.
(2.) Chrift at his death knew full well, that they had not fulfilled the condition ; and were afilually cut off from any poftibility ever fo to do ; fo that any intention to do them good by his death, muft needs be vain and fruftrate ; which muft not be afligned to the Son. of God.
(3.) This redemption conditional ij they believe ; we fhall rejett anon. Neither is that other exception, that Chrift might as well fatisfy for them that were eternally damned at the time of his fuffering (for whom it could not be ufefu!,) as for them that weie then aclually faved (for whom it was not needful ;) of any more value/ For,
O] T hofethat were faved, were faved upon this ground; that Chnft fhould certainly fuffer for them in due time ; which fuffering of his was as effe£lual in the purpofe and pro- mife, as in the execution and accomplifhment. It was in the mind of God accounted for them as accomplifhed ; the com- pa£l and covenant with Chrift about it being furely ratified
12g
Univerfal Redemption .
upon mutual unchangeable promifes, (according to our con¬ ception ;) and To our Saviour was to perform it ; and fo it was needful for them that were aftually faved. But for thofe that were actually damned ; there was no.fuch inducement to it, or ground for it, or iftue to be expefted out of it.
[2.] A fimile will clear the whole. If a man fhould fend word to a place where captives were in prifon, that he would pay the price and ranfom that was due for their deli¬ very ; and to defire the prifoners to come forth, for he that detains them accepts of his word and engagement ; when he comes to make payment, according to his promife; if he find fome to have gone forth according as was propofed ; and o- ther continue obftinate in their dungeon ; fome hearing of what he had done, others not, and that according to his own appointment, and were now long fince dead ; doth he, in the payment of his promifed ranfom, intend it for them that died ftubbornly and obftinately in the prifon ? or only for them who went forth ? Doubtlefs, only for thefe laft. No more can the paffion of Chrift be fuppofed to be a price paid for them that died in the prifon of fin and corruption, before the payment of his ranfom ; though it might full well be for them that were delivered, by virtue of his engagement for the payment of fuch a ranfom*
3. If Chrift died in the {lead of all men, and made fatis- fa&ion for their fins ; then he did it for all their fins, or only for fome of their fins. If for fome only, who then can be faved ? if for all, why then are not all faved ? They fay, it is becaufe of their unbelief ; they will not believe, and there¬ fore are not faved ; that unbelief, is it a fin, or is it not ? If k be not ; how can it be a caufe of damnation ? if it be ; Chrift died for it, or he died not. If he did not ; then he died not for all the fins of all men ; if he did, why is this an obftacle to their falvation ? Is there any new fhift to be in¬ vented for this ? or muft we be contented with the old, viz. becaufe they do not believe ; that is, Chrift did not die for their unbelief, or rather, did not by his death remove their unbelief ; becaufe they would not believe, or becaufe they would not rhemfelves remove their unbelief ; or, he died for their unbelief conditionally, that they were not unbelievers. Thefe do not feein to me to be fober aflertions.
ARGUMENT.
Arguments againft
ARGUMENT VII.
124
For whom Chrift died, for them he is a Mediator ; which is apparent : for the oblation or offering of Chrift, which he made of himfelf unto God, in the {bedding of his blood, was ' one of the chiefeft a£ls of his mediation. But he is not a Mediator for all and every one ; which alfo is no lefs evi¬ dent : becaufe, as Mediator, he is the prieft for them for whom he is a Mediator. Now, to a prieft it belongs, as was declated before, to facrifice and intercede : to procure good things, and to apply them to thofe for whom they are pro¬ cured ; as is evident, Heb. ix. and was proved before at large : which confeffedly Chrift doth not for all : Yea, that Chrift
r *
is not a Mediator for every one, needs no proof : experience fufficiently evinceth it ; befides innumerable places of Scrip¬ ture. It is I coniefs, replied by fome ; that Chrift is a Me¬ diator for fome, in refpe£t of fome a£ls, and not in refpeft of others: but truly this, if I am able to judge, is a difhoneft iubterfuge ; that hath no ground in Scripture, and would make our Saviour a half Mediator in refpefcb of fome, which is an unfavoury expreflion. But this argument was vindicat¬ ed before.
4^. .J* 4" *1* *1* *$* ‘‘t* ^
CHAP. IV.
Of fandif cation , and of the cauje of faith ; and the procure - went thereof by the death of Chrift .
ARGUMENT VIII.
ANOTHER argument may be taken, from the ejfeEt and f ruit of the death of Chrift unto fandif cation ; which which we thus propofe, viz. If the blood of Jefus Chrift doth wafh, purge , cleanfe , and fandif y them for whom it was fhed, or for whom he was a facrifice ; then certainly he died, Died his blood, or was a facrifice, only for them that in the event are wafhtd , purged , cleanfed , and j an tti fed ; which that all or every one are not, is moft apparent ; faith being the firft principle of the heart’s purification, Ads xv 9. and all men have not faith, 2 Ihef iii. 2. it is of the e!e£l of God, Titus i. 1. The confequence 1 conceive is undeniable, and not to be avoided with any diftinFtions. But now we fhalJ make it evident, that the blood of Chrift is effeflual for all thofe
Univerfol Redemption.
12 5
ends ot wajhing, purging , and JanRifying, which we before recounted : and this we fhal! do, firlt from the types of it ; and fecondly, by plain expreffions concerning the thing it-
fclf.
xjl. For the type, that which we (hall now confider is the facrifice of expiation ; which the Apuftle fo exprefsly compar- etb, with the facrifice and oblation of Chrift. Of this he af¬ firmed! , Heb. ix. 13. that it legally fanftijied them , ior whom it was a facrifice ; for, faith he, “ The blood of bulls and of goats, and theafhes of an heifer, fprinkling the unclean, fanc- « tifieth to the purifying of the flefh now that which was done carnally and legally in the type, muff be fpirilually ef¬ fected in the antitype, the facrifice of Chrift, typified by that bloody facrifice of beafts. This the Apoflle aflerteth in the verfe following ; “ How much more (faith he) (hall the blcod « of Chrift, who through the eternal fpirit offered himfelf « without fpot to God, purge your conference from dead « works to ferve the living God ?” If I know any thing, that anfwer of Arminius and fome others to this, viz. that th$ facrifice did fan&ify, not as offered , but as /prinkled ; and the blood of Chrift, notin refpett the of oblation, but of its ap¬ plication, anfwereth it ; is weak and unfatisfa&ory ; for it only afierts a divifion between thfe oblation and application oi the blood of Chrift ; which though we allow to be diftin- guifhed, yet fuch divifion we are now difproving ; and to weaken onr argument, the fame divifion which we difprove is propofed ; which (if any) is an eafy, facile way of an- fwering. We grant that the blood of Chrift fandifi- eth, in refpefl: of the application of the good things pro¬ cured by it ; but withal prove, that it is fo applied to all for whom it was an oblation ; and that becaufe it is faid to fane- tify and purge ; and rnuft anfwer the type, which did fanftify to the purifying of the flefh.
2 dly. It is exprefsly, in divers places, affirmed of the blood- fhedding and death ol our Saviour ; that it doth effe£i thefe things, and that it was intended for that purpofe. Many places for the clearing of this, were before recounted. I fhall now repeat fo many of them, as fhall be fufficient to give ftrength to the argument in hand ; omitting thofe which before were produced ; only defiring, that all thofe places which point out the end of the death of Chrift, may be con- fidered as of force to eftablifh the truth of this argument.
1. Rom * vi, 5, 6. “ For if we have been planted toge-
ther in the likenefs of his death, we fhall be alfo in the
“ likenefs
I
31 Arguments againft
** likenefs of his refurrefHon ; knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be C5 deftroyed, that henceforth we fhould not ferve fin,’* The words of the latter verfe , yield a reafon of the former afferti- on in verfe 3, viz . that a participation in the death of Chrift, fhall certainly be accompanied with conformity to him in his refurrefilion ; that is, to life fpiritual, as alfo to eternal ; be- caul tour old man is crucified with him , that the body of fin might be defir oyed ; that is our finful corruption and deprava¬ tion of nature, are by his death and crucifying effeaually and meritorioufly flain, and difabled from fuch a rule and domi¬ nion over us, as that we fhould be fervants any longer unto them ; which is apparently the fenfe of the place ; feeing it is laid as a foundation, to prefs forward unto all degrees of fan£Hfication, and freedom from the power of fin.
2. The fame apoftle alio tells us, 2 Cor. i. 20. “ All the pro- mifes of God in him are yea and amen ; unto the glory of “ God by us. They are yea and amen ; confirmed, ratified, unchangeably eftabiifhed, and irrevocably made over to us ; now this was done in him ; that is, in his death and blood- fhedding, for the confirmation of the teftament, whereof thefe promifes are the conveyance of the legacies to us ; con¬ firmed by the death of him the Tefi at or, Heb. ix. 16. for he was the furety of this better tefamentt Heb. vii. 22. which teftameni, or covenant , he confirmed with many , by his being cut off for them, Dan. ix. 26, 27. Now, what are the promifes that are thus confirmed unto us, and eflablifhed by the blood of Chrift ? The fum of them you have, Jer . xxxi. 33* 34* wlience they are repeated by the apoftle, Heb . viii. 10, 11, 12. to fet out the nature of that covenant which was ratified in the blood of Jefus ; in which you have the fumma- ry defcription of all that free grace towards us ; both in fanc- tification, verfe 10, 11. and in juftification, vtrf'e 12. A- raongft thefe promifes alfo is that mo ft famous one of circum- cifing our hearts, and of giving new hearts and fpirits unto us; as Dent. xxx. 6. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. So that our whole fanfilification and holinefs, with juftification and reconci¬ liation unto God ; is procured by, and eflablifhed "unto us with unchangeable promifes in, the death and biood-fhedding of Chrift ; Hie heavenly or fpiritual things , being purified with that facrifice of his, Heb. ix. 23. For “ we have re- demption through his blood, even the forgivenefs of fins,” Col. i. 14. “ Through death he deftroyed him that had the power oT death, that is, the devil; that he might deliver
“ them
♦
ti
Univerfal Remdeption. t2j
%i them who through fear of death were all their life-time “ fubje£l to bondage,” Heb . ii. 14. 15.
3. Do but take notice of thofe two mod; clear places, Tit. iii. 14. Epk. v. 2£, 26. In both which*, our clearing and lan&ification is affigned, to be the end and intendment of Chrift the worker ; and therefore the certain effecl of his death and oblation, which was the work ^ as was before proved. And I ffiall add but one place more to prove that „ which I am forry, that I need produce any one to do ; to wit, that the blood of Chrift purgeth us from all our fin ; and it is 1 Cor . i. 30. “ Who of God is made unto us wifdom, and “ righteoufnefs, and fan&ffication, and redemption of which, becaufe it is clear enough, I need not fpend time to prove, that he was thus made unto us of God, in as much as he Jet him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, Rom. iii. 25. fothat our fan&ification, with all other effe&s of free grace, are the immediate procurement of the death of Chrift. And of the things that have been fpoken, this is the fum ; fan&ification%nd hofinefs is the certain fruit and effe& of the death of Chrift, in all them for whom he died • but all and every one are not partakers of this fanaification* this purging, cleanfing and working of holinels ; therefore Chrift died not for all and every one, quod erat demonjtrandum .
It is altogether in vain to except, as fome do ; that the death of Chrift is not the foie caufe of thefe things, for they are not anally wrought in any, without the intervention of the Spirit’s working in them, and faith apprehending the
(i*) Though many total caufes of the fame kind, cannot concur to the producing of the fame effe£f ; yet feveral caufes of feveral kinds, may concur to one effe& ; and be the foie caufes, in that kind wherein they are caufes. The Spirit of God, is the caufe of fanFtification and hohnefs ; but what kind of caufe I pray ? even fuch a one, as is immediate¬ ly and leaky efficient of the efFeft. Faith is the caufe of pardon of (in ; but what caufe ? in what kind ? why merely as an inftrument, apprehending the righteoufnefs of Chrift Now, do thefe caufes, whereof one is efficient and the other ^-mental, both natural and real, hinder that the blood of Chrift may not only concur, but alfo be the foie caufe moral and meritorious of thefe things ? doubtlefs they do not. Nay they do fuppofe it fo to be ; or elfe they would, in this work, be neither inftrumental nor efficient ; that being the ioJe foundation of the Spirit’s operation, and efficienee ; and
the
128
Arguments againjl
the foie caufe of faith’s being and exiftence. A man is de¬ tained captive by his enemy ; and one goeth to him that de¬ tains him, and pays a ranfom for his delivery ; who thereup¬ on grants a warrant to. the keepers of the prifon, that they fhall knock off his (hackles, take away his rags, let him have new cloaths, according to the agreement ; faying, Deliver him, for I have found a ranfom ; becaufe the jailor knocks off his {hackles, and the warrant of the judge is brought for his difcharge ; fhall he or we fay, that the price and ranfom which was paid, was not the caufe*, yea the foie caufe of his delivery ? confidering that none of thefe latter had been, had not the ranfom been paid ; they are no lefs the effedl of that ranfom, than his own delivery. In our delivery from the bondage of fin, it is true, there are other things in other kinds which do concur, befides the death of Chrift ; as the operation of the Spirit, and the grace of God ; but thefe be¬ ing in one kind, and that in another ; thefe alfo being no lefs the fruit and effe£l of the death of Chrift, than our deli¬ verance wrought by them ; it is moft apparent, that that is the only main caufe of the whole.
(2.) To take off utterly this exception, with all of the like kind ; we affirm, that faith itfelfis a proper immediate fruit and procurement of the death of Chrift, in all them for whom he died ; which (becaufe if it be true, it utterly ovei throws the general ranfom, or univerfal redemption ; and if it be not true, I will very willingly lay down this whole controverfy, and be very indifferent which way it be determined, for go it which way it will, free will muff be eftabhfhed ;) I vviU prove apart by itfelf, in the next argument.
4. 4. * * 4- 4- 4* *1* * * ❖ * * 4* * *h
ARGUMENT IX.
I. Before I come to prefs the argument intended, I mu ft premife fome few things ; as ..
i/i. Whatever is freely beftowed upon us, in and through
Chrift ; that is all wholly the procurement and merit of the death of Chrift ; nothing is beftowed through him, on thole that are his, which he hath not purchafed ; the price where¬ by he made his purchafe, being his own blood. For the co¬ venant between his father and him, of making oat a p*rit^ al bleflings to them that were given unto him ; was expreisly founded on this condition, that he ftiould “ make his ou “ an offering for fin,” If a. lid* i0*
129
Vniverfal Redemption,
vdly. That confefledly on all fides, faith is, in men of un« der (landing, of fuch abfoiute indifpenfable neceflity unto fal- vation, there being no facrifice to be admitted lor the want of t in the new covenant ; that whatever God hath done, in ihis love fending his Son, and whatever Chrifl hath done or doth, in his oblation or lnterceflion for all or lome, without this in us, is, in regard of the event, of no value, Worth or profit unto us ; but ferveth only to encreafe and aggravate condemnation ; for whatsoever is accornplifhed beficles, that is mail certainly true, — He that belzeveth not,Jhall be damned , Mark xvi. 16. (So that if there is in ourfelves a power of believing, and the aft of it doth proceed from that power, and is our own alfo ; then certainly and undeniably, it is in our power to make the love of God and death of Chnft ef- fe£lual towards us, or not ; and that in believing we 2£lually do the one, by an a£l of our own ; which is fo evident, that the molt ingenious and perfpicacious of our adverfaries have in terms confefFed it ; as I have declared * ellewhere.) I his being then the abfoiute neceflity of faith; it feems to me that the caufe of that, mult needs be the prime and principal caufe of falvation ; as being the caufe of that without which the whole would not be; and by which the whole is, and is ei- fe£lual.
3 dty, I fhall give thofe that to us in this are Contrary mind¬ ed, their choice and option ; fo that they will anfwer direct¬ ly, categorically, and without uncouth infignificaut cloudy diflinCtions, whether our Saviour, by his death and inter- ceffion fwhich we proved to be conjoined) did merit or pro¬ cure faith tor u% or not p or which is all one ; whether faith be a fruit and effect of the death of Chrifl, or not ? and ac¬ cording to their anfwer I will proceed :
If they anfwer affirmatively, that it is* cr that Chrifl did procure it by his death ; (provided always that they do not wilfully equivocate, and when I fpeak of faith as it is a grace in a particular perfon, taking it fubje6live!y, under- fland faith as it is the doctrine of faith or the way of falvation declared in the goipel, taking it objectively ; which is another thing, and befides the prefent queflion: although by the way I muff tell them, that we deny the granting of that new way of falvation in bringing life and immortality to light by t tie gofpel in Chrifl, to be procured for us by Chrifl ; hiinfeif be¬ ing the chiefefl part of this way, yea the way itfelf ; and that lie fhould himfelf be procuted by his own death and cbla-
R lion.
* Difplay oj Arminianifmx
*39 Arguments againjt
tion, a very Grange contradictory affertion, befeeming them wno have ufed it (More, page 35.) It is true indeed, a lull and plenary carrying of his cleft to life and glory by that way, we afcribe to him, and maintain it againft'all ; but tne granting of that way, was of the fame free grace and un¬ procured Jove, which was alfo the caufe of granting himfelf unto us, Gen. iii. lg.) if, I fay, they anfwer thus affirmatively; then I demand, whether Chrift procured faith for all for whom he died, abfolutely, or upon fome condition on their part to be fulfilled ? If abfolutely, then furely if he died for an, they muff ad aofolutely believe; for that which is abfo- tute y pi oc tired (or any, is abfolutely his, no doubt ; be that h'jiii aofolutely piocuredan inheritance, by what means fo- cver, who can hinder that it fhould not be his ? But this is contrary to that of the apofile, all men have not faith , 2, ThefT. iii. 2, a n A faith is of God s eledi, Tit. 1. 1. If they fay that he procuieo ii for them, that is, to be bellowed on them conditi¬ onally ; I defite that they would anfwer, bona fde; and round¬ ly in terms, without equivocation, or blind diftinftions, af- fign that condition, that we may know what it is, feeing it is a thing of fo infinite concernment to all our fouls ; let me know this condition which ye will maintain; and en herb am amici , the caufe is yours. Is it as fome fay, if they do not l efift the grace of God ? now what is it not to refill the grace of God ; is it not to obey it ? and what is it to obey the grace of God ; is it not to believe ? fo the condition of faith, is faith lifeif : Chrijl procured that they fhould believe , upon con¬ dition that they do believe ; are thefe things fo P But they can affign a condition on our part required, of faith, that is not faith itfelf ; can they do it ? let us hear it then ; and we will renew our inquiry concerning that condition, whether it be procured by Chrift or not. If not ; then is the caufe of faith ftiil refolved into ourfelves : Chrift is not the author and finifher of it. If it be ; then are we juft where we were be¬ fore, and mull follow with our queries, whether that condi¬ tion was procured abfolutely, or upon condition : depinge ubifijlam. But, ' <
2. It they will anfwer negatively ; as, agreeably to their own principles, they ought to do ; and deny that faith is pro¬ cured by the death of Chrift ; then,
(1.) They mull maintain, that it is an aft of our own wills ; fo our own, as not to be wrought in us by grace ; and that it is- wholly fituated in our power, to perform that fpiritual aft; nothing being bellowed upon us by free grace, in and
through
:.<ta
Univerjal R cdanption .
through Chrifl:, (as was before declared) — hut what by him, in his death and oblation, was procured. Which is contrary | l.] to exprefs feripture, in exceeding many places ; which i fhai not recount ; [2.] to the very nature of the bein</ of the new covenant ; which doth not prefcribe and require the condition of it, but effe&uaiiy work it in ail the covenantees, Jtr. xxxi. 33, 44. EzeL xxxvi. 26. Hcb. viii. 10, 11! [3.] to the advancement of the free grace of God ; in letting up the power of free will in the ifate of corrupted nature, to the flighting and undervaluing thereof ; [4.] to the received do&rine, of our natural depravednefs and diiabiiity to any thing that is good ; yea, by evident unltrained confequence, overthrowing that fundamental article of original fin; yea, f«5*] t0 right reafon; which will never grant that the natural faculty is able of itfelf, without lorne fpirituai elevation, to produce an aft purely fpirituai; as 1 Cor . ii. 14.
# (2J They mull refolve ahnoft the foie caule of our falvation, into ourfelves ultimately ; it being in our own power, to make ail that God and Chrift do unto that end, effeftua), or to fruflrate their utmolt endeavours for that purpofe. For all that is done, whether in the Father’s loving us and fending his Son to die for us, or in the Son’s offering himfelf for an oblation in our Head, (or tor us, in our behalf) is confeffedly (as before; oi no value nor worth, in refpefl of any profitable ifTue, unlefs we believe ; which that we fhall do, Chrifl hath not effefted nor procured by his death; neither can the Lord fo work it in us, but that the foie calling voice (if I may fo fay) whether we will believe or no, is left to ourfelves. Now •whether this be not to affign unto ourfelves the caufe of our
own happinefs, and to make us the chief builders of our own glory, let all judge.
- Thefe things oeing thus premifed, I fhall briefly prove tnat which is denied, viz. d. hat faith is procured for us by the death of Chrifl ; and fo confequently he died not for all and every one, for all men have not faith. And this we may do, by thefe following reafons :
ljl. T. he death of Jefus Chrifl purchafed holinefs and fane- tification for us ; as was at large proved, Arg. 8th ; but faith, as it is a grace of the fpirit inherent in us, Is formally a part or our fanftification and holinefs; therefore he procured faith for us. The affumption is moil-certain, and not denied ; the propofition was fufficiently confirmed, in the foregoing argument; and I fee not what may be excepted, againlt the truth of the whole. If any fhall except and fay, that Chrift
might
132
Arguments againjt
might procure for us fome part of holinefs (for we fpeak of pans and not of degrees and meafure) but not all ; as the fan&ification of hope, love, meeknefs, and the like; I alk firft, what warrant have we tor any fuch diftin£hon be¬ tween the graces ot the Spirit ; that fome of them fhould be of the purchafing of Cln ill, others of our own flore? Se¬ condly ; whether we are more prone of ourfelves to believe, and more able, than to love, and hope ? and where may. we have a ground for that ?
idly. All the fruits of ele&ion are purchafed for us by Je- fus Chrifl ; for we are chofen in him , Eph. i. 4. as the only caufe and fountain of all thole good things which the Lord choofeth us to, for the praife of his glorious grace, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. I hope I need not be lo foiicitous about the proving of this ; that the Lord Jefus is the only way and mean , by and for whom the Lord will certainly and actually collate upon his ele£l, all the fruits and effe£ls or intendments of that love whereby he chofe them ; but now, faith is a fruit, a principal fruit of our ele&ion ; for (faith the apoflle) we are chofen in him , before the foundation of the world , that we fhould be holy, Eph. 1.4, of which holinefs, faith, purifying the heart, is a principal (hare. Moreover , whom he did predejlinate , them alfo he cal¬ led, Rom. viii. 30. that is, with that calling which is ac¬ cording to his purpofe ; effe£fually working faith in them, by the mighty operation of the Spirit according to the exceed- ing greatnefs of his power, Eph. i. 19. And fo they believe, (God making them differ from others, 1 Cor. iv. 7. in the enjoyment of the means) who are ordained to eternal life , A&s. xiii. 48. their being ordained to eternal life, was foun¬
tain from whence their faith did flow; and fo the eleBion hath obtained , and the ref were blinded , Rom. xi. 7.
3 dty. All the bleflings of the new covenant are procured and purchafed, by him in whom the promifes thereof are ratified, and to whom they are made; for all the good things thereof are contained in and exhibited by thofe promifes, through the working of the Spirit of God. Now, concern¬ ing the promifes of the covenant, and their being confiimed in Chrifl, and made unto him, as GaL iii. 16. with what is to be underilood in thofe expreflions ; was before declaied. Therefore all the good things of the covenant are the effe&s, fruits, and purchafe of the death of Chrift ; he, and all things for him, being the fubffance and whole of it. Further, that faith is of the good things of the new covenant, is apparent
Univerfal Redemption.
J33
from the defcription thereof, Jer. xxxi. 33. Hebrews vui. 10.
* Ezek. xxxv.. 26. with divers other places ; as might dear¬ ly be manifefled, if we affefcied copioufnefs in cavfafaali.
Athiy. That without which it is utterly .mpol hble that we fhould be laved, mull of neceffity be procured by him by whom we are fully and effeftually faved ; et them that can declare how he can be faid to procure falvation fully and effectually lor us, and not be the author and purchafer ot that, (lor he is the author ot our falvation by way ot pur- drafe) without which it is utterly tmpoffible we flrou d attain falvation. Now, without latth it is utteily lmpoflible that ever anv Ihould attain falvation. Heb. xt. 6. Mark xyi. 16. But Telus Chrtft (according to his name) doth perleftly Javt us Matth. i. 21. procuring for us eternal redemption , Heb. ix.’ 12. being able to fave to the uttermojl , them that come un¬ to God by him, Hebrews vii. 25. and therefore mult faith alfo be within the compafs of thofe things that are procured
^ rthly. The Scripture is clear in exprefs terms, and fuch as are fo equivalent that they are not liable to any evafion , as Phil. i. 20. It is given unto us, hyper Christou in thebe- half of Chrift, for Chuffs fake, to believe on him. Faith or belief is the gift, and Chrift is the procurer of it : God hath bleffcd us with all fpiritual blejjings in heavenly places , in thrifts Ep.i. i. 5. It faith be a fpiritual blefling, it is bellowed on us in him ; and fo alfo for his fake ; if it be not, it is not worth contending about, in this fenfe and way; fo that, letotheis look which way they will, I defire to look to Jefus as tae au¬ thor and jinijher of our faith, Heb. xii. 2.
Divers other reafons, arguments, and places of Scripture, might be added ; for the confirmation ol this truth ; but I hope I have faid enough, and do not defire to fay all. The fum of the whole reafoning may be reduced to this hear], viz. If the fruit and efFe£l procured and wrougnt by the death 01 Chrift, abfolutely, not depending on any condition in man to be fulfilled, be not common to all ; then did not Chrift die for all ; but the fuppofal is true ; as is evident in the grace oi faith, which being procured by the death of Chrift, to be abfolutely beftowed on them for whom he died, is not com- mon to all; therefore our Saviour did not die for all.
ARGUMENT
13
34
Arguments againjt
ARGUMENT X.
fje<4 ffr?Ue/*°v11 *•!? ^Pf tG aruit7Pe> or thing figni* ~ c L>1 9 1 "hlch™iU evidenil7 retrain the oblation of Chrift
i iG C^1* Tie Pe°ple of Ifrael were certainly in all leinarkable things that happened unto them, typical of the
t Lurch of God ; as the apoftle declares, , Cor.^ L Ef!
PL-ua - l \,elf '/‘buttons and ordinances were all reprefent-
“‘uer ot the fprrrtuai things of the gofpel ; their priefts altar"
IeCfusflChrift -rthbUt r* fhad°WS °f theg00d thing^to come in Jcius Cbr ill , their Canaan was a type of Heaven, Heb iv
3’ 9- f *lfo Hterufaletn or Sion, Gal. iv. 2 6.—Heb. xii 22' i ne whole people itfelf was a type ot God’s church, his eleft'
, :S, c‘ 0 en ant ca'!c^ people ; whence as they were called an holy people, a royal priefthood, fo alio, in allufon to them are believers, , Pa. ii. 5, g. Yea, God’s people aS in i”’
“7 » i« » fu.ll*? expounded.
7-' ■ ' 8’ a f f ¥raelite is as much as a true believer, Joan 1. 47. and he is a Jew which is one inwardly, in the hidden man of the heart, Rom. iii. 29. I hope it n7’eds n“
y. proved that that people, as delivered from bondage, pre- > ta'e‘t oig t unto God, brought into Canaan , was ty¬ pical ol God s fpintual church, of eleft-believers. Whence we thus argue Thofe only are really and fpiritually redeemed byJelusChnft, who are defigned, fignified, typified by the px. pie of Ifraei, in their carnal typical redemption ; (for no fealon in the world can be rendered, why fome Ihould be typed out, in the fame condition partakers of the fame good and not others ;) but by the people of the Jews, in their de¬ liverance from Egypt, bringing into Canaan, with all their oiainances and inliitutions, only theeleft, the church of God vvas typed out ; as was before proved. And in truth, it is the molt fenfelefs thing in the world, to imagine that the Jews were under a type to all the whole world, or indeed to any but God’s chofen ones, as is proved at large, Heb. ix. 10.-— Were the Jews and their ordinances, types to the leven na¬ tions whom they deftroyed and fupplanted in Canaan ? were they lo to Egyptians, infidels, and haters of God and his Chull ? we conclude then alTuredly, from thatjuft proportion tnat ought to be obferved between the types and the things typified, that only the cleft of God, his church and chofen ones, are icdeemed bv Tefus Chrift.
3 * J
wm
mmtmm
Univerfal Redemption . i g r
CHAP. V.
a continuance of arguments, from the nature and de¬ fer iption of the thing in hand : And firjl , g/' redemption .
ARGUMENT XI.
THAT doftrine which will not by any means fuit with, nor be made conformable to the thing fignified bv it, and the expreflions literal and deduftive, whereby in Scripture, it is held out unto us, but implies evident contradictions unto them, cannot poflibly be found and fin cere, as is the milk of the word ; but now fuch is this perfuafion of univerfal re¬ demption, it can never be fuited nor fitted to the thing itfeif, cr redemption, nor to thofe exprefTions whereby in the Scrip- ture it is held out unto us ; univerfal redemption, and yet many die in captivity, is a contradiction irreconcilable in it¬ feif. To manifefl this, let us confider fome of the chiefefl words and phrafes, whereby the matter concerning which we treat, is delivered in the Scripture, fuch as are redemption, reconciliation , fatisfadlion , merit , dying for us, hearing cur f ns, fret) flip ; his being God, a common perfon, a Jefus, faving to the utmoff, a facnfice putting away fin, and the like ; to which we may add the importance of fome prepo- fitions, and other words ufed in the original about this bufi- nefs, and doubt not but -we fhall eafily find that the general rardom, or rather univerfal. redemption, will hardly 'fuit to any of tnem ; but it is too long for the bed, and muff be cropped at head or heels.
I. Begin we with the word redemption itfeif; which we will confider, name and thing. Redemption, which in the Scripture is Lytrosis fometimes, but mo ft frequently
A^OL^TR°SIS’ tf1* delivery of any one from captivity and rnijery , by the intervention Lytron of a price or ran font. That this raofom or price of our deliverance, was the blood of Ghnft, is evident; he calls it Lytron, Matt.xx.2S. and antilytron, 1 Tun. ii. 6. tnat is, the price of fuch a re¬ demption ; that which was received, as a valuable confidera- tion for our difmiflion. Now that which is aimed at, in the payment of this price, is the deliverance of thofe from the evil wherewith they were oppreffed, for whom the price is paid : it being m this fpiritual redemption, as it is in corpo- rai and civil ; only with the alteration of fome circumfian- ces, as the nature of the thing inforceth. This the holy Spi¬ rit
*36
Arguments againjl
rit manifefteth ; by comparing the blood of Chrift in this work of redemption, with filver and gold, and fuch other things as are the intervening ranforn in civil redemption, i Pet . i. 18, 19. The evil wherewith we were oppreffed, was the punifhment which we had deferved ; ihat is the fatisfac- tion required, when the debt is fin : which alfo we are by the payment of this price delivered from ; fo Gal. iii. 13. For we are jujlified freely by his grace , thro * the redemption that is in Jefus Chrift. Rom. iii. 24. In zuhom we have redemption thro ’ his blood , the forgivenefs of fins , Eph. i. 7. Col. 1. 15. Free juftification from the guilt, and pardon of fin, in the deliverance from the punifhment due unto it; is the effeft of the redemption procured, by the payment of the price we before mentioned : as if a man fhould have his friend in bon¬ dage ; and he fhould go and lay out his eftate to pay the price of his freedom, that is fet upon his head by him that detains him ; and fo fet him at liberty. Only, as was before intimated, this fpiritual redemption hath fome fupereminent things in it, that are not to be found in other deliverances ; as,
1 ft. He that receives the ranfom, doth alfo give it ; Chrift is a propitiation, to appeafe and atone the Lord ; but the Lord himfelf fet him forth fo to be, Rom. iii. 24, 25. Whence he himfelf is often laid to redeem us ; His love is the caufe of the price in refpebd of its procurement, and his juftice accepts of the price in refpefft of its merit : for Chrift came down from Heaven, to do the will of him that fent him, John vi. 38* Heb. x. 9, 10. It is otherways, in the redemption amongft men ; where he that receives the ranfom, hath no hand in the providing of it.
2 dly. The captive or prifoner is not fo much freed from his power who detains him, as brought into his favour. Whpn a captive amongft men, is redeemed by the payment of a ranfom ; he is inftantly to be fet free from the powe* and authority of him that did detain him : but in this fpiritual redemption, upon the payment of the ranfom for us, whicn is the blood of Jefus ; we are not removed from God, but are brought nigh unto him, Ephefi ii. 13. not delivered from his power, but reftored to his favour : our mifery being a pu¬ nifhment by the way of banifhment, as well as thraldom.
3 dly. As the judge was to be fatisfied, fo the jailor was to be conquered. God the judge, giving him leave to fight o. his dominion; which was wrongfully ufurped, though that whereby he had it, was by the Lord juftly inflidled, an IS thraldom by us rightly deferved, Heb. ii. 14* ii ij' ^
1
*37
tlniverfal Redemption .
hfe lofl his power, as flrong as he was, for flriving to grafp more than he could hold : lor the foundation of his kingdom being fin, afTaulting Chrifl who did no fin, he lofl his power over them that Chrifl came to redeem, having no part in him ; fo was the flrong man bound, and his ho life fpoiled.
In thefe and fome other few circumflances is our fpi ritual redemption diverfified from civil ; but for the main, it ari- fwers the word in the propriety thereof, according to the ufe that it hath amongfl men. Now there is a two-fold way, whereby this is in the Scripture expreffed : for fometimes our Saviour is (aid to die for our redemption , and fometimes for the redemption of our tranfgreffions ; both tending to the fame purpofe ; yea both expreflions, as I conceive, fignify the fame thing. Of the latter you have an example, Heb. ix. 15. he died Eis apolytrosin parabaseon : which fay fome is a metonymy, tranfgrejfons being put for trarfgrejjors ; others, that it is a proper expreflion for the paying of a price, where¬ by we may be delivered from the evil of our tranfgreflions. The other expreflion you have EpheJ. i. 7. and in divers other places, where the words lytron and apolytrqsis do concur; as alfo Matt . xx. 28 and Mark x. 45. Now thefe words, efpeeially that of antilytron, i Tim. ii. 6. do al¬ ways denote, by the (not to be wrefled) genuine fignification of them, the payment of a price ; or an equal compenfation, in lieu of fomething to be done, or grant made by him to whom that price is paid. Having given thefe few notions, concern¬ ing redemption in general ; let us now fee, how applicable it is unto general redemption.
Redemption is the freeing of a man from mifery, by the in¬ tervention of a ranfom ; as appeareth : now when a ranfom is paid for the liberty of a prifoner, is it not all the jufl'ice in the world, that he fhould have and enjoy the liberty fo pur- chafed for him by a valuable con fideration ? If I fhou-ld pay a thoufand pounds for a man’s deliverance from bondage, to him that detains him, who hath power to fet him' free, and is contented with the price I give ; were it not injurious to me and the poor prifoner, that his deliverance be not accomplifh- ed ? Can itpoflibiy be conceived, that there fhould be a re¬ demption of men, and thofe men not redeemed ?' that a price fhould be paid,' and the purchafe not confummated ? yet all this muff be made true, and innumerable other abfurdities, if univerfal redemption be aflertcd. A price is paid for all, yet few delivered ; the redemption of ail confummated, j et few of them redeemed : the judge fatisfied, the jailor con-
S quered ;
*38
Arguments again]}.
m
quered ; and yet the prifoner inthralled. Doubtlefs, univer- Jal and redemption , where thegreateft part of men perifh, are as irreconcileable as Roman and Catholic . If there be an uni- verfal redemption of all, then all men are redeemed ; if they are redeemed, then are they delivered from all mifery virtu¬ ally or a£lually, whereunto they were inthralled, and that by the intervention of a ranfom : why then are not all faved ? In a word, the redemption wrought by Chrift, being the full deliverance of the perfons redeemed, from all mifery wherein they were enwrapped, by the price of his blood ; it cannot poflibly he conceived to be univerfal, unlefs all be faved : fo that the opinion of the univerfalifts is unfuitable to redemption.
+ 4* * * * + *
CHAP. VI.
0] the nature of reconciliation ; and the argument taken
from thence .
ARGUMENT* XII.
II. \ NOTHER thing afcribed to the death of Chrift, XJL and by the content of all extending itfelf unto all for whom he died, is reconciliation. This, in Scripture, is clearly propofed under a double notion : firft of God to us ; fecondly, of us to God : both ufually afcribed to the death and blood-ihedding of Jefus Chrift ; for thofe who were ene¬ mies \ he reconciled in the body o] his fiefi thro ’ death , Col. i. 21, 22. And doubtlefs, thefe things do exa&ly anfwer one another ; all thofe to whom he hath reconciled God, he doth alfo reconcile unto God : for unlefs both be effected, it can¬ not be faid to be a perfe£l reconciliation. For how can it be, if peace be made only on the one fide, yea it is utterly im- poffible, that a divifionof thefe two can be rationally appre¬ hended : for if God be reconciled, not man ; why doth not he reconcile him, feeing it is confeffedly in his power ? and if man (hould be reconciled, not God ; how can he be ready to receive all that come unto him ? Now, that God, and all and every one in the world, are a&ually reconciled and made at peace in Jefus Chrift, I hope will not be affirmed : but to clear this, we mull a little confider the nature of reconci¬ liation , as it is propofed to us in thegofpel, unto which alfo fome light may be given, from the nature of the thing itfelf, and the ufe of the word in civil things.
Reconciliation
Vniverfal Redemption. ,
Reconciliation is the renewing of friendfhip, between parties before at variance : both parties being properly faid to be re¬ conciled ; even both he that offendeth, and he that was of¬ fended. God and man were fet at diflance, at enmity and va- r‘anoe> by fin : man was the party offending, God offend- ed, and the alienation was mutual on either fide ; but yet with this difference, that man was alienated in rel'peft of af- tethons the ground and caufe of anger and enmity, God, m reTpeft of the effefts and lfTue of anger and enmity, The word, in the New Teffament, is katallage, and the verb XATALLASSO; reconciliation, to reconcile; both from allatto, to change, or to turn from one thing, one mind to another ; whence the firfl native fignification of thofe* words, is permulatio and permutare ; fo AriJl, Eth. <1. ton bion pros mikra kerde katallatton tai ; becaufe molt commonlv thofe that are reconciled are changed, in re- fpefcf of their affefttons, always in refpeftof the diflance and va¬ riance, and in refpeft of the efTefts ; thence it fignifieth re- conciliation and to reconcile. And the word may not be
ar/Tn u an^ bub,le|s> or any men ; until both parties aie actually reconciled, and all differences removed, in
relpeft of any former grudge and ill-will ; if one be well-
pleafed with the other, and that other continue akatal-
lartos, inappeafed and implacable, there is no reconcili-
T°nr ^ ,en ourr Saviour gives that command, that he
,hrTght hu fft (° the altar> and there remembered that his brother had ought againft him, were offended with
him for any caufe, he fhould go and be reconciled to him ; he r y mtendeth a mutual returning of minds one to another elpecially refpefting the appeafmg and atoning of him that was o en e , neither are thefe words ufed among men in a- ny. ojher fenfe ; but always denote, even in common fpeech, a ull redintegration 01 friendfhip between difTenting parties ; wtth reference, moft times, to fome compenfation made to the offended party, The reconciling of one party and the o- ther, may be d.ftingu.fhed ; but both arc required, to make up an intire reconciliation.
As then the folly of Socinus and his feaaries is remarkable who would have the reconciliation mentioned in the Scrip¬ ture, to be nothing but our converfton to God ; without the appealing of his anger, and turning away his wrath from us • cpb ,S a reconciliation hopping on one leg ; fo, that dif- ftion of fome between the reconciliation of God to man waking that to be untverfal towards all; and the reconcilia-
tion
vV
Arguments againjl
1 40
lion of man to God, making that to be only of a [mall num¬ ber of thofe to whom God is reconciled ; is a no leis moni- trous figment. Mutual alienation mull have mutual recon. filiation ; feeing they are correlate. The Hate between God and man, before the reconciliation made by Lhrilt, was a Hate of enmity ; man was at enmity with God, we were his enemies, Col/i. 21. Rom. v. 10. hating him, and oppofing ourfelves to him, in the higheft rebellion, to the utmofl of our power. God alfo was thus far an enemy to us, that his wrath was on us, Epkef. ii. 3. which remaineth on us, until we do believe, John iii. 36. To make per. e£l reconci¬ liation. ! which Chrifl is faid in many places to do) it is re¬ quired. firfl, that the wrath of God be turned away, his an- per removed, and all the eflfe&s of enmity on his part to¬ ward us ; iecondly, that we be turned away from our op- pofiuon to him, and brought into voluntary obedience; until both thefe be effeaed, reconciliation is not perfected. Now both thefe are in the Scripture alfigned to our Saviour,
as the effe-£ls oi his death and facnfice. , .
u « He turned away the wrath of God Irom us, and lo ap- «afed him towards us ; that was the reconciling of God oy his death : for when we were monies, we were reconciled, to .God by the death of his Son, Rom. v. to. That here is meant the reconciling of God, as that part of reconciliation which conlifleth in turning away his wrath from us, is nmlt ap a- rent; it being that whereby God chiefly comiftendeth Hs Jove to us, which certainly is in the forgivenefs of fin, y the averfion of his anger due toil; as alfo being W to our being faved from the wrath to come, in the latter end of the verb?; which comprifeth our converf, on and whole reconciliation to God. Befides verje 11. we are faid to re¬ ceive TEN katallagen, this reconciliation, (which I know not by what means, we have tranflated -atonement j which cannot be meant of our reconciliation to God, or converfion, which we cannot properly be. laid o accept 01 receive ; but of him to us, which we receive when it .s ap-
t'X'n l “«i, „ ft- -«*- -w-3
God; redeeming »d reconciling u. .0 God, Wfct-j .of his crofs, Col. i. so. to wit, then meri.onoufly atisfam torily, by the way of acquifnion an pure a .c.’ <- both
jng it in due time, actually and efficient : y y ms ^ p >
tl.efe ye have jointly ntenticmTl, hj cil’,d to9’us in Where we may fee, t. God s b-mg recot cit a .
Unimrfal Redemption
141
Thrift • which confifteth in a not imputation of iniquities, and is the fubjea matter of the nun, ft tv, verfis 18, ,9- and 2 The reconciling ot us .0 God. by accept, ng me pardon of our fins which is the end of the min. (f ry, verfe 20. as the
.fate i, alfo at large declared, Epluf. »■ 13. j4’ J be 'lc' mai then, and cffeftual accomplilhment of bot.i thde, Jim ui
|
rfoitTriT’mi places afligned ,0 be ; We aremoneijed to God by the death of his Son, Rom. v. 10. And you that were jbmelimes alienated , hath. he .immakd m ine body of Im S through death. Col. i. 21, 22. Which »* », Jundry places lo evident in the Scripture, that none can poffibly deny reconciliation to be the immediate effeft and pioduft of the
Now, how, this reconciliation can poffibly be reconciled with univerfal redemption, I am no way ab e to difcern 1; for if reconciliation be the proper effect cl the death of Chnft, as is confeft by all ; then if he died for all I afk (1.) How cometh it to pafs, that God is not reconciled to all ? as he is not • for his wrath abideth on feme, John m. 36. and re¬ conciliation is the averfion.of wrath. (2.) 1 hat all aie not re¬ conciled to God ? as they are not ; for by nature ah are, the children of wrath, Eph. ii. 3. and feme all thetr lives do no¬ thing but treafitre up wrath againfl the day of wrath Korn, ii r fo) How then can it be, that reconciliation ihouiki be wrought. between God andali men ; and yet neither God [re¬ conciled to all, nor .all reconciled to God ? (4.) If -Gcd be
reconciled to all, when doth he begin to be unreconciled to¬ wards them that .periih ? by what alteration is it ? in hut will or nature’? (5.) If all be reconciled by the death or Chrnr, when do they begin 10 be unreconciled who periih, being bom children of wrath ? (6.) Seeing that reconciliation on the
part of God, conffils in the turning away ol his wrath, and not imputing of iniquity, 2 Car. v. 18, 19. which >s jolli¬ fication, rendering us bleffed, Rom. iv. 6, 7, <>• why, it God be reconciled to all, are not all juft. Tied and made moled, through a non-imputation of their fin ? They who have found out a redemption where -none aie redeemed, anil a re¬ conciliation where none arc reconciled , can eaft.y on- wet thefe and fuch other queftions. Which to do, 1 leave them their leifure ; and m the mean time conclude this pat tot
ouv
1 42
Arguments againfl
our argument, that reconciliation, which is the renewing r Oft fnendfhip, the flaying of enmity, the making I f ! °f
edevvhheafUIS °f God and turning away of his wrath, auend’
feSoZrrtr • ™d ■>» z.
yitton to God, by faith and repentance: this I fa v he;™
that reconctliation which is the effeft of the de’ath and blood
n Cfl‘r j “ r"? be aflerted in reference to any nor Can ft laid to aie for any other, but only thofe concerning
wnotn all the properties of it, and afts wherein it doth co„7ftS
Titbit Jufi ^ ^ «* k of
* * $> * ♦{* <$* <f» ♦$, ♦$. aj* «}. <g,
CHAP. VII.
0//^ Mfere of the fatisfaBion of Ckrifl ; with arguments
from thence .
argument XIII.
HL A Third way whereby the death of Chrift for finners
X.Visex pre fled, is faiisfaBion, viz. that by his death he mate Satisfaction to the juftice of God for their fins for whom he died, that fo they might go free. It is true, the word JatisJaBion is not found in the Latin or Enshfh bibles applted to the death of Chrift; in the New Teftamfnt it is not at all, and in the Old but twice, Numb. xxxv. 31, 32. But ti e thing ltfelf intended by that word, is every where aferibed to the death of our Saviour; there being alfo other words, in 1 ;e original languages, equivalent to that whereby we exprefs the thing in hand. Now that Chrift did thus make fatisfac- tion for all them., or rather for their fins, for whom he died is (as far as I know) confefled by all that are but outwardly call¬ ed after his name ; the wretched Socinians excepted, with wnom at this time we have not to do. Let us then firft fee
what this fatisfaction is ; then, how inconfiftent it is with uni- verfal redemption.
1 ft* Satisfaction is a term borrowed from the law, applied properly to things, thence tranflated and accommodated unto perfons, and it is a full compen/atim of the creditor from the uehtcr. 1 o whom any thing is due from any man, he is in that regard that man’s creditor, and the other is his debtor;
H] u horn chere is an obligation to pay or rcflore what is fo
due
t
Univerfal Redemption* 14$
due from him, until he be freed by a lawful breaking of that obligation, by making it null and void ; which rnuli be done, by yielding fatisfadion to what his creditor can require, by virtue of that obligation. As, if I owe a man an £ . 100, l am his debtor, by virtue of the bond wherein 1 am bound, un¬ til fome fuch thing be done as recompenceth him, and moveth him to cancel the bond; which is called fatis faction. Hence, from things real , it was and isifrranflated to things per jonal; perfonal debts are injuries and faults, which when a man hath committed, he is liable to punifhment ; he that is to inflict that punifhment, or upon whom it lieth to fee that it be done, is or may be the creditor ; which he muff do, unlefs fatislac- tion be made. Now there may be a twofold fatisfa&ion, viz . by a folution or paying the very thing that is in the obligation, either by the party himfelf that is bound, or by fome other iri his Head ; as, if I owe a man 20, my friend goeth and pay- eth it, my creditor is fully fatisfied ; or by a folution or pay¬ ing of fo much, although in another kind, not the fame that is in the obligation ; which, by the creditor’s acceptation, Hands in the lieu of it; upon which alfo, freedom from the obligation followed, not neceffarily, but by virtue of an act of favour.
In the bufinefs in hand, the debtor is man ; he oweth the 10,000 talents, Matt . xviii. 24. The debt is fin ; forgive us our debts , Matt. vi. 12. That which is required in lieu thereof, to make fatisfaft ion for it, is death ; in the day that thou eateji thereof, \ thou fhalt furdy die , Gen. ii. 17. The wages of fin is death , Rom. vi. 23. The obligation whereby the debtor is tied and bound, is the law ; cur/ed is every one that conlinuetk not m all things which are written in the book of the law , to do them , Gal. iii. 10. the juflice of God, Rom. \.
^32. and the truth of God, Gen. iii. 3. The creditor that re¬ quired this of us, is God; confidered as the party offended, fevere judge, and fupreme Lord of all things. And that which interveneth, to the deftruaion of the obligation, is the ranfom paid by Chrilf, Rom. iii. 25. God Jet him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood .
I fhall not enter upon any long difeourfe, of the fatisfaftion made by Chrift; but only fo far clear it, as is neceffary to give light to the matter in hand. To this end two things mufl be cleared; firft, that Chrift did make fuch faiisfa&ion as whereof we entreat, as alfo wherein it doth confiff ; fecund* ly, what is that a£l of God towards man, the debtor, which doth and ought to follow the fatisfaftion made,
1. For
M4
A rg umen (s agtunft
i. For the ffrfl ; I told yon the word Me if doth not occur in this bu finch in the Scripture ; the thing fignified by it (be¬ ing a compensation made to God by Cirri ff lor our debts) mail frequently. For to make fatisfadlion to God for our fins, it is required only, that be undergo the pumjhment due to them; for that is the fmsfafiion required, where fin is the debt. — Now this Chrifi hath certainly effected ; for his own ftlf bare, our fins in ins own body on the tree , 1 Pet. ii. sq. By his knowledge Jhall my righteous fervant jujlify many, for he Jhctll bear their iniquities , Ifaiah liii. n. The word NASA alfo verfe 12. arguing a taking of the punifhment of fin from us and tramflating it to himfelf, hgnifieth as much , yea all that we do mean by the word fatisjatlion. So alfo doth that of anenenren, ufed by Peter in the room thereof ; for to bear iniquity, in the Scripture language, is to undergo the punifhment due to it, Lev . v. 1. which we call, to make fatisfaBion for it ; which is further illuflrated, by a declaration how he bare our fins ; even by being wound - ed for cur tranfgrefjions , and bruifed for our iniquities , I fa. liii. 5, whereunto is added in the dole, that the chajlifement cj our peace was upon him. Every chaftifement is either nouthetike, for inflruBion, or par aoigmatire, lor example, punifhment and corre&ion ; the firfl can have no place in our Saviour, the Son of God hath no need to be taught with fuch thorns and briers ; it rnufl therefore be for punifhment and correction, and that for our fins then upon him, whereby cur peace or freedom from punifhment was procured.
Moreover, in the New Teflament there be divers words and expreffions concerning the death of our Saviour ; hold¬ ing out that thing which by fatisfaBion we intend; as when it is termed prosphora Epk . v. ii. parf.doken heauton fro s P no ran ii A i thy si an, an oblation or facrifice of expiation; as appeareth by that type of it, with which it is compared, Heb . ix. 13, 14. Of the fame force alfo is the word ASCHAM, Ifaiah liii. 10. Leveticus vii. 2. He made his foul an offering for fin, a piacular facrifice for the removing of u away ; which the apofllc abundantly cleareth, in fay ing that he was made iiamartia, fin itfelf, 2 Cor . v. 21. fin being there put for the adjunB of it, or the pu- nifhment due unto it. So alio is lie termed hi lasmos,
1 John ii. 2. Whereunto anfwers the Hebrew chitte , ufed Gen. xxx i. 39. (ANICHI CHITTENAH, egoillud expiabam) which is to undergo the debt, and to make compenfation for
iG
145
Univirfal Redemption .
it • which was the office of him who was to be Job’s God, 'fob xix. 2.5. All which and divers other words, which m part fliall be afterwards conlidered, do deciaie the very fame thine which we intend by fatisfaftion ; even a takmg upon him the whole punifhment due to fin ; and in the offering of himfelf, doing that, which God, who was offended, was more delighted and pleafed withal, than he was difplea-ed and of¬ fended with all the fins of all thofe that he fufferea and offer- ed himfelf for. And there can he no more compleat latis- faftion made to any, than by doing that which he is more contented with, than difcontented and troubled with that tor which he mult be fatisfied. God was more pleafed with th« obedience, offering, and facrifice of his Son, than difpleaied with the fins and rebellions of all the cleft. As, if a good kino- (hould have a company of his fubjefts ftand out in re¬ bellion again ft him, and he were thereby moved to deftrov them becaufethey would not have him reign over them; and the only fon of that king fhould put in for their pardon, mak¬ ing a tender to his father of feme excellent conqueft by him latelv atchieved, befeeching him to accept of it, and be pleafed with his poor fubjefts, fo as to receive them into fa- vour again ; or, which is nearer, fhould offer himfelf to un¬ dergo that punifhment which his juftice had allotted for the rebels, and fhould accordingly do it ; he fhould properly make fatisfaftion for their offence, and in drift juftice they ouofht to be pardoned. This was Chrift ; as that one Hircus APOPOMP AIOS, fent^away goat, that hare and carried away all the fins of the people of God, to fall himfelf under them ; though with affurance to break all the bonds of death, and to live for ever. Now, whereas I faid that there is a twofold fatisfaftion, whereby the debtor is freed from the obligation that is upon him ; the one being folutio . ejufdem* payment of the fame thing that was in the obligation ; the other folutio tantidem , of that which is not the fame, nor e- quivalent unto it, but only in the gracious acceptation of the creditor ; it is worth our inquiry, which of thefe it was that our Saviour did perform.
He who is efteemed by many to have handled this argu¬ ment with moft exaftnefs, denieth that the payment m«m., by Chrift for us (by the payment of the debt of fin, underhand by analogy, the undergoing of the punifhment c*Uv unto it) was folutio ejufdem , or of the fame thing direfchy which was in the obligation ; for which he giveth fome reafons ; viz. kecaufe fuch a folution, fatisfaftion or payment, is attended
X with
i/}6
Arguments again Jl
. f '!a .‘l£CMm fr,um the obligation ; and bccaufe wher-- — a lo.uuon is made, there is no room for remiffion or pardon. It is true (faith he) deliverance followeth upon it >u this dcuverance cannot be by way of gracious pardon ■
grace But now (faith he) that fatisfaftion whereby fome other thing is offeied than which was in the obligation may be admitted or refined according as the creditor pleafeth ; and emg a muted for any, it is by an aft of grace ; and fuch was the fat, slaft, on made by Chrift. Now truly, none of thefe reafons feem of fo much weight to me, as to draw me
into that perluafion. For,
(1.) ThefirJt reafonrefts upon that for the confirmation of it. which cannot be granted, viz. that aftual freedom from
ru ,fhgf “"d u0th, "0t foiiovv the fatisfaftion made bv
ud i. or by his death he did deliver us from death, and
dial aftually ; fo far as that the eleft are fajd to die and rife w,in him ; he did aftually, or ipfo fade, deliver us from the curie, by uetng made a curfe for us ; and the hand-writing that was againff us, even the whole obligation, was taken out of the way, and nailed to his crofs. It is true, all for whom he did this, do not inftantly aftually apprehend and perceive “• w,hich 1S tmpoffible ; but yet that hinders not, but that tney have all the fruits of his death in aftual right, though not in aftual poffeffion ; which laft they cannot have, until at leaft it be made known to them. As if a man pay a ranfom for a pnloner detained in a foreign country ; the very day of the payment and acceptation of it, the prifoner hath right to his liberty ; although he cannot enjoy it, until fuch time as ti¬ dings of it are brought unto him, and a warrant produced for Ins delivery ; fo that this reafon is nothing but a begging TOU EN ARCHE. 55 h
(2.) The fatisfaftion of Chrift, by the payment of the lame thing that was required in the obligation, is no way prejudicial to that free gracious condonation of fin, fo often mentioned, God s gracious pardoning of fin comprifeth the whole difpenfation of grace towards us in Chrift, whereo" there are two parts, viz. The laying of our fin on Chrift, or making him to be fin lor us; which was merely and purely an acf of free grace, which he did for his own fake ; and then” the gracious imputation of the righteoulnefs of Chrift to us or making us the righteoufnefs of God in him ; which is no lejs of grace and mercy ; and that becaufe the very merit of Chrift himfe! f Jiath its foundation in a free cempaft and co¬ venant
Univerfal Redemption. 147
venant. However, that remiflion, grace and pardon, which is in God for finners, is not oppofed to Chrift’s merits, but ours; he pardoneth all to us; but he fpared not his only Son, he bated him not one farthing. The freedom then of pardon, hath not its foundation in any defetl of the merit or fatisfac- tion of Chrifl ; but in three other things, viz . f 1.] The will of God, freely appointing this fatisfaftion of Chrifl, John iii. 16. Rom . v. 8. 1 John iv. 9. [ 2.] In a gracious- accep¬ tation of that decreed fatisfaflion, in our Heads ; fo many, no more. [3.] In a free application of the death of Chrifl unto us.
Remiflion, then, excludes not a full fatisfa£lion, by the folution of the very thing in the obligation ; but only the fo- lution or fatisfaflion of him, to whom pardon and remiflion is granted ; fo that notwithftanding any thing (aid to the con¬ trary, the death of Chrifl made fatisfaftion in rhe very thing that was required in the obligation. He took away the curfe by being made a curfe^ Gal. iii. 13. He delivered us 'from fin, being made Jin , 2 Cor. v, 21. He underwent death, that we might be delivered from death ; all our debt was in the curfe of the law, which he wholly underwent. Nei¬ ther do we read of any relaxation of the punifhment, in the Scripture ; but only a commutation of the perfon ; which being done, God condemned Jin in the jlejli of his Son, Rom. viii. 3. Chrifl {landing in our ftead ; and fo reparation was made unto God, and fatisfa£lion given, for all the detriment that might accrue to him, by the fin and rebellion of them for whom this fatisfa£lion was made. Hisjuftice was violated ; and he fets forth Chrifl to be a propitiation for our fins ; that he might be jujl , and the jujlifer of him which believetk in fas , Rom. 111. 25, 26. and never indeed was his juftice more clearly demonftrated, than in caufng the iniquity of us all to meet upon him. His law was broken ; therefore Chrifl: comes to be the end of the law jor righteousnefs , Rom. x. 4. Our offence and difobedience was to him diftafleful ; in the obedience of Chrifl, he took full pleafure, Rom. v. 17. Matt. iii. 17.
Now from all this, thus much (to clear up the nature of the fatisfa&ion made by Chrifl) appeareth, viz. it was a full valuable coinpenfation, made to the juftice of God, for all the fins of all thofe for whom he made fatisfaftion ; by un¬ dergoing that fame puniftiment, which, by reafon of the obli¬ gation that was upon them, they themfelves were bound to undergo. When I fay the fame , I mean effentially the fame
Arguments againjt
in weight and prefTure, though not in all accidents, of dura¬ tion and the like ; for it was impoflible that he fhould be de¬ tained by death. Now, whether this will fland in the juftice of God, that any of thefe fhould perifh eternally, jor whom Jefus C hrift made fo full, perfect, and compleat fatisfaftion, we fhall prefently inquire ; and this is the firft thing that we are to confider in this bufinefs.
2. We mult look what aft of God it is that is exercifed, either toward us or our Saviour, in this bufinefs. That God, in the whole, is the party offended by our fins, is by all con- feffed ; it is his law that is broken, his glory that is impaired, his honour that is abafed by our fin ; If I be a Father , (faith he) where is mine honour ? Mai. i. 6. Now the law of nature and umverfal right requireth, that the party offended be re- compenfed, in whatfoever he is injured by the fault of ano¬ ther, Being thus offended, the Lord is to be confidered un¬ der a twofold notion, viz. (1.) In refpeft of us he is as a cre¬ ditor, and all we miferable debtors ; to him we owe the ten thoufand talents, Matt, xviii. 24. and our Saviour hath taught us to call our fins our debts, Matt. vi. 12. and the payment of this debt the Lord requireth and exafteth of us. (2.) In refpeft of Chrift, (on whom he was pleafed to lay the punifh* vnent of us allt to make our iniquity to meet upon him , not /paring him> but requiring the debt at his hands to the ut* mo ft farthing) God is confidered as the fupreme Lord and governor of all, the only law-giver ; who alone had power fo far to relax his own law, as to have the name of a furety put into the obligation, which before was not there, and then to require the debt of that furety : for he alone hath power of life and death, James iv. 12.
Now thefe two a£ls are eminent in God, in this bufinefs ; (l.) An aft of fevere juftice, as a creditor; exafting the payment of the debt at the hand of the debtor : which, where fin is the debt, is punifhment, as was before declared ; the juftice of God being repaired thereby, in whatfoever it was before violated. (2.) An aft of fovereignty, or fupreme dominion ; in tranfiating the punifhment from the principal debtor, to the furety, which of his free grace he himfelf had given and bellowed on the debtor ; He fpared not his own Son , but delivered him up to death jor us all. Hence let thefe two things be obferved.
(1.) That God accepteth of the punifhment of Chrift, as a Creditor accepteth of his due debt ; when he fpares not the debtor, but requires the utterinoft farthing. It is true, of
punifhment
Univerjal Redemption.
M9
«;
*<
<(
punishment , , puniihme.h “ “ “tmeKfn'' JZ
t » Ui . . £*• »i. ... i. ...» be paid
fnm the hands of feme creditor ; * as this ml iinto.be hands of God - whence Chrifl is faid to come to do Gods will, Heb l a. and to fatisfy him, as John vi. 38. Neither in¬ deed do^he arguments that feme have ufed, to prove that
God m a creditor cannot infltft punifhment, nor yet by virtue of fupreme dominion, feem to me of any great weig it. Divers I find urged by him, whofe great flail in the law and fuch terms as thefe, might well give him fanftuary from fuch weak examiners as myfelf ; but he that hath fo foully betray¬ ed the truth of God, in other things, and corrupted his word ; deferves not ouraffent in any thing, but what by evidence ot reafon is extorted. Let us then fee what there is ot that, in
this which we have now in hand. . .
fr.-l He tells us, that “ The right of pun.ft.ng m the reHor or law-giver, can neither be a right of abfolute do- “ minion, nor fright of a creditor ; becaufe thefe things « belong to him, and are exercifed for his own fake, who hath them : but the right of puntlhing, is for the good ot
the community.” . , . , r
Anfzver. Refer this reafon unto God, which is the aim o
it ; and it will appear to be of no value : for we deny that there is any thing in him, or done by him, primarily for the good of any but himfelf ; his autarkei A or fclf-fufficiency will not allow, that he fhould do any thing with an Ultimate refpeft to any thing but himfelf. And whereas he faith, that the right of punifhing is for the good of community ; we an- fwer, that bonum univerfi, the good of community, is t e glory of God, and that only ; fo that thefe things in him can¬ not be diftinguifhed. . . f . r ,, ,
r2 1 He addeth, “ Punifhment is not in and tor ltlelt ae-
“ firable, but only for community’s fake ; now the right of dominion, and the right of a creditor, are things in them- felves expetible and defirable, without the confideration 0i
any public aim.’
Anfwer. That the comparifon ought not to be, between punifhment and the right of dominion ; but between the right of punifhment, and right of dominion ; the faft of one, is not to be compared with the right of the other. Again, God defireth nothing, neither is there any thing defirable to him, but only for himfelf ; to fuppofe a good, defirable to
God for its own fake, is intolerable. Moreover, there be
fume
4<
H
150
Arguments againjl
in‘hemfe,ves and for their
deny but .JafcCdm^ To. ["**'“* ^ ^ ^ **
» wroLHr Pr,T.Cede^’ “ Any one may. without any
“ clu'>rfhm8 h°n ^'r thj nght °f fuP,eme dominion or ere, « :S n “- ,hc; tf* cannot omit the a£t of puniihment
•; Goa may, by Virtue of his fuoreme dominion o.
It 3ny Wron?or Prejudice to hisjuftice.
-no ° th,nS> t0 impute fin where it is not. and to
sssrtr upon *« » "»> •» s
that non d rem°Ve’ °r not to Punifhment, upon
Cl r- mf lf “? 5 L°W the firft of thePe God did towards nft , and therefore he mav do the latter * Moreover the
S™ n)"“ice of ”;p»ilhi»e »y Sn or a™, dS’S
tea" God’s wi,i’ whereby he hath p-
« M .^eadds, “None can be called juft, for ufing his own right or lordfhip ; but God is called juft, for punifh- ing or not.- emitting fin, Rev. xvi. 5.” J P
Anjwer. However it be in other caufes, yet in this, God i y ceitamly be fatd to bejuft in exafting his debt, or ufine his dominion; cecaufe his own will is the only rule of iuftice.
n fWC Pn°Oay, punifhing is an aft of dominion, but an ,f ° exafttng a aue debt ; the requiring this of Chrift in our SJf,> ‘uppofmg the intervention of an aft ot fupreme domi-
<4 ^ai£, re3'on is, “ Becaufe that virtue, whereby
<t ^rom dominion, or remitteth his debt, is
^iueraluy; but that virtue whereby a man abflaineth from ^ pumihing, is clemency; fo that punifiiment can be no aft ot exacting a debt, or afting a dominion.”
Mwer. The virtue whereby a man goeth off from the ex- aamg of tnat which is due, univerfally confidered, is not al.
k erality ; foi as Grotius himfelf confefleth, a debt mav anie and accrue to any by the injury of his fame, credit, or name,^ by a lie, Hander or otherwife. Now that virtue whereby a man is moved, not to exaft payment by way of re¬ paration, is not in this cafe liberality ; but either clemency,
°* 1 grace of the gofpel for which moralifls have no name; anuroit is with every party offended ; fo often as he had a
right
,f See the. note on page yg.
Univerfal Redemption.
15 s
right of requiring punifhment from his offender, which yet he doth not. So that notwithstanding thefe exceptions, tins is eminently feen in this bufinefs of fatisfa&ion, that God, as a creditor, doth exaftly require the payment of the debt, by the way of puftifhment,
(2.) The fecond thing eminent in it is, an a£l of fupreme fovereignty and dominion ; requiring the puni’fhtnenc of Chrift, for the full compleat anfwering of the obligation,, and fulfilling of the law Rom. viii. 3. Rom. x. 4.
Now thefe things being thus at large unfolded, we may fee in brief fome natural cdnfequences, following and attend¬ ing them as they are laid down ; as, [1.] That the full and due debt of all thofe for whom Jefus Chrift was refponfible, was fully paid in to God, according to the lUrnofl extern of the obligation. [2.J That the Lord, who is a j aft creditor, ought in all equity to cancel the bond, to furceafe all fuitsr a&ions, and molefiations againft the debtor ; full payment being made unto him for the debt. [3. That the debt thus paid, was not for this or that fin, but all the fins of all thole lor whom and in whofe name this payment was made, 1 John i. 7. as^ was belore demonllrated. [4.] That a lecond pay¬ ment of a debt once paid, or a requiring of it, is not anlwer- able to the juftice which God demonllrated in fetting forth Chrifl to be a propitiation for our tins, Rom. iii. 2^. jby] That whereas to receive a diicharge from further trouble, is equitably due to a debtor who hath been m obligation, his debt being paid ; the Lord having accepted of the payment fi om Chtill, in the flead of all them lor whom he died, ought ifi juftice, accoiding to that obligation, which in free grace he hath put upon himfelf, to grant them a difeharge. [6.1 That confidering that relaxation of the law, which by the’fu- prerne power of the law-giver was efTefled, as to the perfohs iufrenng the punifhtnem required, Inch aftnal fatisfaflion is maue thereto, that it can lay no more to their charge for whonr Chrifl; died, than if they had really fulfilled in the w a*, of obedience whatfoever it did require, Rom. viii. 90 34* ?
*a/y. Now, how confident thefe things (in themfelves evi¬ dently and clearly following the docirine of Chrifl’s fatisfac- tion belore declared] are with univerfal redemption, is eafilv di fee rn able. For, 1. If the fail debt of all be paid, to the utmolf extent of the obligation, how comes it to pafs* that fo many are (hut up in prifon to eternity, never freed from their uebrs ; 2. it the Lord as a jnli creditor ought to cancel ad
obligations.
7
Q n O J»
*52 Of the Satisfaction
obligations, and furceafe all fuits againft fuch as have their debts To paid ; whence is it that his wrath fmokes againft fome to all eternity ? Let none tell me, that it is becaufe they walk not worthy of the benefit beftowed ; for that not walking wor¬ thy is part of the debt which is fully paid ; for (as it is in the third inference) the debt fo paid is all our fins. 3. Is it prob¬ able that God calls any to a fecond payment, and requires fa- tisfa&ion of them, for whom, by his own acknowledgement, Chrift hath made that which is full and lufficient ? hath he an after reckoning, that he thought not of ? for, for what was before him, he fpared him not, Rom. viii. 32. 4. How
comes it, that God never gives a difcharge to innumerable fouls, though their debts be paid ? 5. Whence is it that any one foul lives and dies under the condemning power of the law, never releafed ; if that be fully fatisfied in his behalf, fo as it had been all one, as if they had done whatfoever it could require ? Let them, that can, reconcile thefe things : I am no Oedipus for them. The poor beggarly diftin&ions, whereby it is attempted, I have already difcufted. And fo much for fatisfa&ion.
t
*t**$**t>*t**$**t<",f**t**t**i**t**t>*t**t,'>t* *%**!**£*
CHAP. VIII.
A digrejjion ; containing the fubjlance of an occajional confer - ence , concerning the JadsfaClion of Chrift.
MUCH about the time that I was compofing that part of the laft argument, which is taken from the fatisia£iion of Chrift, there came one (whofe name and all things elfe concerning him, for the refpe£l I bear to his parts and mo- defly, {hall be concealed) to the place where I live, and in a private exercife, about the fufferings of Chrift, feemed to thofe that, heard him, to enervate, yea to overthrow the fa- tisfa&ion of Chrift ; which I apprehending to be of danger¬ ous confequence, toprevent a further inconvenience, fet my- felf briefly to oppofe ; and alfo a little after willingly enter¬ tained a conference and debate (defired by the gentleman,) about the point in queftion. Which being carried along, with that quietnefs and fobriety of (pint which befeemed lov¬ ers of and fcarchers after truth ; 1 eafily perceived not only what was his perfuafion, in the thing in hand, but alfo what was the ground and foie caufe of this mifapprehenfion. And
*<53
and Merit of Chrifl.
it was briefly this ; That the eternal unchangeable love of God to his ele£l, did a&ually enftate them in fuch a conditi¬ on, as wherein they were in an incapacity of having any fa- tisfa&ion made for them ; the end of that, being to remove the wrath due unto them, and to make an atonement for their fins ; which, by reafon of the former love ot God, they flood in no need of ; but only wanted a clear manifeflation of that love unto their fouls ; whereby they might be delivered from all that dread, darknefs, guilt, and fear, which was in and upon their confciences, fbv reafon ot a not-underflanding ot this love) which came upon them through the tall of Adam . Now, to remove this, Jefus Chrifl was fent to manifeft this love, and declare this eternal good will of God towards them; fo bearing and taking away their fins, by removing from their confciences that mifapprehenfion of God and their own condition, which by reafon of fin they had before ; and not to make any fatisfaflion to the jufiice of God for their fins, he being eternally well pleafed with them. The fum is, election is afferted, to the overthrow of redemption. That which followed in our conference, with what fuccefs by God’s biefiing it did obtain, (had for my part reft in the minds and judgments of thofe that heard it, for whofe fake alone it was intended. The things themfelves being of great weight and importance, of fingular concernment to all chriflians ; as alfo containing in them a mixture of undoubted truth, and no lefs undoubted errors, true propofnions, and falfe inferences, affertions ot neceflarv verities, to the exclu¬ sion of others no lefs neceflary ; and bikeways dire£l!y belong¬ ing to the bufinefs in hand; 1 fhall briefly declare and con¬ firm tne whole truth in this bufinefs, fo far as occafion was given by the exercife and debate before mentioned :
I. Beginning with the firfl part of it: concerning the e- ternal love ol God to his elefl, with the flate and condition they are placed in thereto y ; concerning which you may ob~ ferve.
1 ft* That which is now by feme made to be a new doc¬ trine of free grace, is indeed an old objeQion againfi it. That a non-neceffity of fatisiadlion bv Chrifl, as a confequent of eternal ele'Qion, was more than once, for the fubftance of it, objected to Aujiine by the old Pda, gran heretics, upon his clearing and vindicating that do&ripe; is mod apparent; the fame objection renewed by others, is alfo anfwered by Calvin, Injlitut . lib. ii. cap . 1 6. as alfo divers fchool-rnen had before, in their way, propofed it to themfelves, as Thom. o. y. 40. a. 4- • U ° ° Yet
1,54 Of the Satisfa&ion
Yet, not*, vith (landing the apparent fenfeJefnefs of the thing itfeH, together with the many folid anfwers whereby it was long before removed; the Armimans at the fynod of Dort greedily (hatched it up again, and placed it in the very front of their arguments againft the effeftuai redemption of the elect by Jefus Gmft. Now that which was in them on¬ ly an objection, is taken up by fome amongft us, as a truth; the abiurd inconfequent confequence of it, owned as juft and good; and the conclufion deemed neceffary, trom the grant¬ ing of eleftion, to the denial of fatisfaftion.
2 diy, Obferve, that there is the (ame reafon of eleftion and reprobation, (in things fo oppofed, fo it muft be) Jacob have l loved, but Efau have I hated, Rom. ix. 13. By the one, men are ordained to eternal life, Afts xiii. 48. by the other, before of old ordained to condemnation, Jude verfe 4. Now if the eleft are juflified and fanftified and faved, becaufe of God’s decree that fo they (hall be; whereby they need no¬ thing but the manifeftation thereof; then likeways are the reprobates, as foon as they are, finally impenitent, damned, burned ; and want nothing but a manifeftation thereof ; which whether it be true or no, confult the whole difpeniation of God towards them.
3 dly. Confider what is the eternal love of God; is it an affection in his eternal nature, as love is in ours? it were no lefs than blafphemy once fo to conceive ; his pure and holy nature, wherein there is neither change nor (hadow of turning, is not fubjeft to any fuch paflion ; it muft be then an eternal aft of his will, and that alone ; in the Scripture it is called, his good pleafare , Matt. xi. 26. his purpofe according to eledlion , Rom. ix. 1. the foundation of God , 2 Tim. ii. 19. Now e- very eternal aft of God’s will, is immanent in himfelf, not really diftinguifhed from himfelf; whatever is fo in God, is God; hence it puts nothing into the creature concerning whom it is, nor alteration of its condition at all; producing indeed no effeft, until fome external aft of God’s power do make it out. For inftance, God decreed from eternity that he would make the world ; yet we know the world was not made until about five thoufand five hundred years ago. But ye will fay, it was made in God’s purpofe; that is (fay I) he purpoled to make it; fo he purpofeth there (hall be a day of judgment; is there therefore aftually an univcrfal day of judgment already ? God purpofeth that he will, in and through Chrift, juftify and fave fuch and fuch certain per- fops ; are they therefore juftified, becaufe God purpofeth it?
and Merit of Chrift .
it is true they (hall be To, becaufe he hath purpofed i< ; but that they are To, is denied. The confequence is good, from the divine purpofe to the futurition of any thing, and the certain¬ ty of its event ; not toils aftual cxiftence; as when the Lord in the beginning went aftually to make the woild, there was no world ; fo when becomes to beftow faith, and aftually to juftify a man, until he hath fo done, lie is not juftified. The fum is:
1. The eternal love of God towards his cleft, is nothing but his purpofe, good pleafure, a pure aft of his will ; where¬ by he determines to do Inch and fuch things for them, in his own time and way.
2. No purpofe of God, no immanent eternal aft of his will, doth produce any outward efTeft, or make any change in the nature and condition of that thing concerning which his purpofe is; but. only makes the event and fucccfs nec'efla- ry, in refpeft of that purpofe.
3. The wrath and anger of God, that Tinners lie under, is not any paflion in God; but only the outward effefts of anger, as guilt, bondage, &c,
4. An aft of God’s eternal love, which is immanent in himfelf, doth not exempt the creature from the condition wherein he is under anger and wrath ; until feme temporal aft of free grace do really change its ftate and condition. For God beholding the lump oi mankind in his own power, as the clay in the hand of the potter; determining to make Tome veflels unto honour, for the praife of his glorious grace, and others to difhonour, for the manileftation of his reveng¬ ing juftice; and to this end fufFers them all to fali into Tin, and the guilt of condemnation, whereby they became all li¬ able to his wrath and curfe; his purpofe to fave fome cf thefe, doth not at all exempt or free them from the common condition of the reft, in refpeft of themfelves and the truth of their eftate ; until fome aftual thing be accomplifhed, for the bringing of them nigh unto himfelf, fo that notwith¬ standing his eternal purpofe, his wrath in refpeft of the c f- fefts abideth on them ; until that eternal purpofe do make out itfelf, in fome diflinguifhing aft of free grace ; which may receive further manifeflation, by thefe enfuing arguments.
(1.) If the Tinner want nothing to acceptation and peace, but a manileftation of God’s eternal love; then evangelical j unification is nothing but an apprehenfion of God’s eternal decree and purpofe ; but this cannot be made out from the Scripture, viz, that God’s juftifying of a perfon, is his making
known
5 <5 6 Of the Satisfaction
known unto him his decree ofeleftion; or man’s j unification, an apprehenfion of that decree, purpofe, or love. Where is any fuch thing in the book of God? It is true there is a difcovery thereof made to juftified believers, and therefore it is attainable by the faints; God fiedding abroad his love in their hearts , by the Holy Ghojl which is given unto them , Rom. v. 5. But it is alter they ar z jujlifyed by faith, and have peace with God , verfe 1. Believers are to give all diligence , to make their calling and eledion Jure; but that juftification fhould confift herein is a ftrange notion, Juftification in the Scripture, is an aft of God; pronouncing an ungodly perfon, upon his believing, to be abfolved from the guilt of fin, and interefted in the all fufficient righteoufnefs of Chrift; fo God jufifies the ungodly /, Rom. iv. 4. by the righteoufnefs of God, which is by the faith of Chrift unto them, Rom, iii. 22. mak¬ ing Chrift to become righteoufnefs to them, who were in themfelves fin; but of this manifeftation of eternal love, there is not the leaft foundation, as to its being the form of jufti¬ fication ; which yet is not without fenfe and perception of the love of God, in the improvement thereof.
(2.) The Scripture is exceeding clear, in making all men before aftual reconciliation, to be in the like ftate and con¬ dition; without any real difference at all ; the Lord referv- ing to himlell his diftinguilhing purpofe, of the alteration which he will afterwards by his free grace effeft, There is none that doth goody no not one , Rom. iii. 13. for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles , that they are all under fin, verfe 9. All mankind is in the fame condition, in refpeft of themfelves and their own real ftate ; which truth is not at all prejudiced, by the relation they are in to the eternal decrees. For every wouth is flopped, and all the world is become guilty before God. Rom. iii. 19. hypodikos obnoxious to his judgment. Who maketh thee to differ from another , and what hajl thou that thou didjl not receive ? 1 Cor. iv. 7. All diftinguifh-
inent, in refpeft of ftate and condition, is by God’s aftual grace, for even believers are by nature the children of wrath even as others , Ephef. ii. 3. The condition then of all men, during their unregeneraey, is one and the fame ; the purpofe of God, concerning the difference that fhall be, being referred jo hiinlelf. Now 1 afk whether reprobates in that condition lie under the effefts of God’s wrath or not? if ye fay not, who will believe you ? if fo, why not the eieft alfo? The fame condition hath the fame qualifications; an aftual diftin- guifti'tnent we have proved there is not ; produce fome dif¬ ference
and Writ of ChriJL
[5f
ference that hath a real exigence; or the caufe is loft.
(q ) Confider what it is to lie under the riFe^s of God s Wrath according to the declaration of the Scripture, and then fee how the elett are delivered therefrom, before their actual calling. Now this confifts in divers things, as [l.J 1 o be m fuch a Hate of alienation from God, as that none of their fervices are acceptable to him ; tne prayer of the \vic *e is an abomination to the Lord, Prov. xxviii. 9. [2J . 0
no outward enjoyment fanflified, but to have ail things un¬ clean unto them, Tit. 1. 15. [VJ To be undcr th* of Satan, who rules at his pleaiure in the children of dilobe-
dience, Eph. ii. 2. [4.] To be in bondage unto death, lleb.
ii. 15. r<5-i T° be under the curle and condemnins p°^er
of the law, Gal. iii. 13. [6. ] To be obnoxious to the judg¬
ment of God, and to be gui ty of eternal death and dam¬ nation, Rom. iii. 19. [7.] To be under the power and do¬
minion of fin, reigning in them, Rom. vi. 17. i hele an fuch like, are thofe which we call the effe6is of God s anger.
Let now any one tell me, what the reprobates in this lue lie under more? and do not all the ele6t, until their a£luai re¬ conciliation in and by Chnff, lie under the very fame? hoi, £1.] Are not their prayers an abomination to the Lord ? Can they without faith pleafe Gcd ? [Heb. xi. 6.) and faith we fuppofe them not to have ; for it they have, they are actual¬ ly reconciled. [2.] Are their enjoyments fanclified unto them? hath any thing a lanflified relation, without faith ? lee 1 Cor. vii. 14. [3.] Are they not under the power of Satan ?
if not, how comes Chrifl in, and for them, to deftroy the works of the devil ? did not he come to deliver his people from him that had the power of death, that is the aevii ? Heb .
ii. 14. Eph . ii. 2. [4.] Are they not under bondage unto
death ? the apoftle affirms plainly that they are fo all their lives, until they are affually freed by Jefus Chrift, Hub. ii. 14. [5.J Are they not under the curfe of the law ? how are they’ freed from it? by Chrift being made a curfe for them, Cal.
iii. 13 . [6.] Are they not obnoxious unto judgment, and
guilty of eternal death ? How is it then that Paul lays, that there is no difference ; but that all are fubjecl to the judgment of God, and are guilty before him? Rom. iii. 9. and that •Chrift laves them from this wrath, which (in refpeti of merit) was to come upon them? Rom. v. 9, — 1 Tlitj. i. 10. f 7.] Are they not under the dominion of fin ? Cod be, thanked, fays Paul, ye were the fervants of Jin, but yt have obeyed, Sec. Korn. vi. 17. In brief, the Scripture is in nothing more
plentiful
ft
M 1
%\v
iliif
(li
*<5$
Of the Satisfaction
Fr “j’ Ilanin ,a>'ingand charging all the mifery and wrath r ant- ,0 an unreconciled condition, upon the eleft of
ou, until they actually partake in the deliverance by Chrift.
.But now, fame men think to wipe away all that hath been
“"!• m a word; and tel1 us, that all this is fa, but only in their own apprc-henfion ; not that thofe things are fa indeed, and in themfelves. But, if thefe things be fa to them, onfa in their apprehensions, why are they otherways, to the reft
1 rflwho!e 'Vi°' d ? 1 ‘!e ScriP‘ure gives us no difference jior c.iftina.on between them; and if it be fa with all, then
e. all get this apprehenfion as fall as they can, and all faall he well with the whole world, now miferably captivated under a mifapprehenfion ol their own condition ; that is, let them (ay the Scripture is a fable, and the terror of the Almighty a fcareci ow to fright children ; that fin is only in conceit ; and fo fquare their conversion to their blufphemous fancies.— ^ome men s words eat as a canker.
(4 ) Of particular places of Scripture, which might abun¬ dant,)- be produced to our purpofe, 1 fhall content myfelf to name only one ; John iii. 36. Ik that beheveth not the Son, the wrath of God ahddh on him. It abideth ; there it was, and there it fhali remain, if unbelief be continued ; but upon believing, it is removed. But is not God’s love unchangeable, by which zoe fall be freed from this wrath ? who denies it ? But is an apprentice free, becaufe he fhall be fa at the end of feven years? becaufe God hath purpofed to free his, in his own time, and will do it; are they therefore free, before he otn it? But cue we not in Chrijl from all eternity ? yes, c jOi£n in him we are, therefore in fome fenfe in him; but Iiovy ? even as we are. A£lually a man cannot be in Chrift, until lie be : Now, how are we from eternity ? Are we eter¬ nal ? no. Omy God from eternity hath purpofed that we fhall be . Doth this give us an eternal being p alas we are of } cftei day. Our being in Chrift, refpeBeth only the like pur¬ pofe, and therefore from thence can be made only the like in¬ ference.
II. This being then cleared, it is, I hope, apparent to all, liow rmfeiabie a Itramed confcquence it is, to argue from God s decree of eleflion, to the overthrow of Chrift’s merit and fatisfaflion ; the redemption wrought by Jefus Chrift, be¬ ing indeed the chief means of carrying along that purpofe un¬ to execution; theplealure of the Lord profpering in his hand, i ea, the argument may he retorted, kata to biaion, *n<] will hold undeniably on the other fide; the confequence
being
and Merit of Chrifi.
being evident, from the purpofe of God to fave Tinners, to the fatisfafHon of Chrifi for thofe Tinners. The fame a£l of God’s will, which fets us apart from eternity for the enjoy¬ ment of all fpiritual bleflings in heavenly places, lets alio a- part Jefus Chrift to be the purchafer and procurer of ail thofe fpiritual bleflings ; as alfo to make fatisfa&ion for all then- fins; which that he did, (being the main thing oppofed) we prove by thefe enfuing arguments.
■*$* ■4*’ 4* 4* 4* 4* ***■ 'V 4*
CHAP. IX.
Being a fecond part of the former digreffion.
Arguments to prove the Jatisfatlion of Chrfi.
Arg, I. T F Chrift fo took our Tins, and had them by God 1 fo laid and impofed on him, as that he underwent the punifhment due unto them in our Head, then he made la- tisfa&ion to the juftice of God for them, that the Tinners might go free; but Chrift fo took and bare our Tins, and had them fo laid upon him, as that he underwent the punilhment due unto them, and that in our ftead, therefore, he made la- tisfa&ion to the juftice of God for them. The consequent of the proportion is apparent, and was before proved. Of the aflumption there be three parts, feverally to be confirmed ; firft, that Chrift took and bare our Tins, God laying them ori him ; Tecondly, that he fo took them, as to undergo the pu~ niftiment due unto them ; thirdly, that he did this in our ftead.
i \Jl. For the firft, that he took and bare our Tins ; ye have it, John i. 29. HO airon &c. who iaketh away the fm of the world. 1 Pet. ii. 24. hos anenenken, who Ins own j elf bare our fins in Ins own body , Ifa. liii. 21. HU JISSABEL, their iniquities he {hall bear; and verTe 12. NASH A he bare the fm of many. That God alio laid or impofed our fins on him, is no lefs apparent ; Ifa. liii. 6. the Lord HIPHGIAH made to meet on him the iniquity of us all; 2 Cor. v. 21. hamartian epoiesen he made him to be fin for us.
2diy. The fecond branch is, that in thus doing, our Sa¬ viour underwent the punifhment due to the Tins which he bare, which were laid upon him, which may be thus made manifeft. — Death, and the curfe of the law, contain the whole of the punifhment due to Tin, Gen. ii,. 17.
^ f -A
1^° Of the Satisfatlion
MOTH HAMOTH dying thou {halt die , is that whiefe was threatened. Death was that which entered hy fin, Rom, v. 12. which wmid, in thofe places, is comprehenfive of all mifery due to our tranfgreffion. Which alfo is held out in the curfeof the law, Deut. xxvii. 2 6. Curfed be he that con- frmeth not the words of this law to do them . That all evils of punifhment whatfoever are compriled in thefe, is un- queftionably evident ; now Jefus Chrift:, in bearing our fins underwent both thefe; for by the grace of God he tajled death \ Heb. li. g. By death delivering from death , verfe 14. He was not fpared, but given up to death for us all , Rom. viii. 32. So alio the curfe of the. Jaw, Gal. iij. 13. genomenos KATARA he was made a curfe for us; and epikataratos, curfed , and tms by tne wray of undergoing the punifhment that was in death and curfe; for by thefe, it pleafed the lord to bruife him , and put him to grief Ifa. liii. 10. Yea, ouK EPHEISATO he fpared him "not, Rom. viii. 32. but 'condem¬ ned fin in his flefh, Rom. vifi. 3.
3 dfy- It remaineth only to fhew, that he did this in our Heads, and the whole argument is confirmed. Now this alfo our Saviour hinafclf maketh appaient, Matt. sx. 28. He came dunai ten psychen lytron anti pollon, to give him (elf a ranfom for many. The word anti always fuppofeth a commutation and change, of one perfon or thing inffead of another, as fhall be afterwards declared ; fo Matt. ii. 22. 1 Tim . ii. 6. Thus 1 Pd. iii. 18, Hedged for us, the juft for the unjuft ; and Pfa!, ixix. 4. / reft ore d (or paid) that which l took not away , viz. our debt, fo far as that thereby we are difeharged ; as Rom. viii. 34, where it is aflerted, upon this very ground, that he died in our Head. And fo, the fevera! parts of this firft argument, are con¬ firmed.
Arc. II. If Jefus C h r 1 id. paid into his Father’s hands, a valuable price and ranfom for our fms, as our furety.— Ifo difebarging the debt that we lay under, that we might go free ; then did he bear the punifhment due to our fms, and make fatisfaciion to the juflice of God for them ; (for to pay fuch a ranfom, is to make fuch fatisfaaion ;) but Jefus Chrift paid fuch a price and ranfom, as our lurefy, into his Father’s hands : ergo , &c.
There are four things to be proved in the affumption, or fecond propoOtion : Firft, that Chrift paid fuch a price and ranfom ; Secondly, that he paid it into the hands of his Fa¬ ther; Thirdly, that he did it as our furety ; and, Fourthly*
that
and Merit of Chrift. i6i
that we might go free. All which we (hall prove in order,
ijl. For the firft, our Saviour himfelf affirms it. Matt. xx. s He came to give his life lytron aranfom , or price of redemption for many ; which the apoftle terms anti lytron 1 Tim . ii. 6. a ranfom to be accepted in the head ot others ; whence we are faid to have deliverance dia tes apol / - TRoseos, by the ranfom-paying of Chrift, Rom. ju 24. He bought us with a price * 1 Cor. vi. 20, which price was his own bloody A£fs xx. 28. being compared to, and ex¬ alted above filver and gold, in this work of redemption, 1 Pet. i. 18. So that this firft part is moft clear and evident.
2 dly. He paid this price into the hands of his Father. A price mull be paid to fomebody ; in the cafe of deliverance from captivity by it, it muft be paid to the judge or jailor ; that is, to God or the devil. To fay the latter, were the higheft blafphemy ; Satan was to be conquered, not fatisfF ed ; for the former, the Scripture is clear ; as it was his wrath that was on us, John iii. 36. It was he that had fhut us all up under fin, Gal . iii. 22. He is the great king to whom the debt is owing, Matt, xviii, 23, 34. He is the only lawgiver , who is able to fave and to defir oy , James iv. 12. Nay, the ways whereby this ranfom-paying is in the Scripture expreffed, abundantly inforce the payment of it into the hands of his Father ; for his death and blood-fhedding is faid to be prosphora and thysia, an oblation and facrificc> Eph. Vi 2. and his foul to be A SAM a facrifice or offer¬ ing for fin, Ifa. liii. 10. Now certainly, offerings and facri- fices are to be direfted to God alone.
g dly. That he did this as our furety , we are allured, Heb . vii* 22. He was made egguos, a furety of a better tefia- ment ; and in performance of the duty which lay upon him as fuch, he paid that which he never took, Pfal. lxix. 4.
4 thly. All which could not poflibly have any other end, but that we might go free.
ARG. III. To make an atonement for fin, and to recon¬ cile God unto the Tinners, is in effect to make fatisfaBion unto the juftice of God for fin, and all that we underftand thereby ; but Jefus Chrift, by his death and oblation, did make an atonement for fm, and reconcile God unto finners :
ergo , &c.
The firft propofition is in itfelf evident. The affhmption is confirmed, Rom. iii. 24, 25. We are jufified freely through the ranfom-paying that is in Ckrijl ; whom God hath
102
Of the Satisfaction
fd foith to be in l ast erion, a propitiation, an atonement a mercy-feat, a coveringof iniquity; and thatEis Endeixin/
?I|AI^U'!ES autou for the mamfejlation ofkisjuf.
dedared in the going forth and accompliftment thereof, o i 'ewi Heb. ii. 17. He is faid to be a jnerciful high- priejt, EIS TO HILASKESTHAI TAS AM ARTI AS TOU LA°u, to make reconciliation for the fins of the people ; to re¬ concile God unto the people ; the meaning of the words be¬ ing HILASKESTHAI TO THEON PERI TON AM ARTIOM tou laou, to reconcile God who was offended with the 7lnS 0 lls PeoP^ i which reconciliation we are faid to receive
Kom- v- : ll: (the word stallage there, in our com-’ iron tranllation rendered atonement, is in other places in the ame rendered reconciliation ; being indeed the only word incd for it in the New Teftament) And all this is faid to be ac-
comphlhed DIA HENOS DiKAioMATQs.Rom. v. 18 by one right eoufnejs or fatisfaftion, that is of Chrifl ; (the words will not bear that fenfe, wherein they are ufually rendered by the nghteoufnefs of one ; for then muff it have been, nr a m- kaiomatos TOU HENOS.) And hereby were we delivered from that, from which it was irrpoffible we fhould be other- wife delivered, Rom . viii. 3,
Arg^ IV. That wherein the exercife of the prieffly office of Jefus Chriff whilft he was on earth, doth confiff, cannot be reje£fed or denied without damnable error ; but the exer¬ cife of the prieffly office of Jefus Chriff whilft he was upon the earth, confiffed in this, to bear the puniffiment due to our fins , to make atonement with God, by undergoing his wrath, and reconciling him to Tinners upon the fatisfa&ion maoe to his juffice 5 therefore cannot thefe things be denied,, without damnable error. That in the things before recount¬ ed, the exercife of Chrift’s prieffly office did confiff, is moft apparent ; ifl. From all the types and facrifices whereby it was prefigured ; their chief end being, propitiation and atone¬ ment. 2 dly, Prom the very nature of the facerdotal office, appointed ror factificing j Chriff having nothing to offer but his own blood, through the eternal Spirit. 3 dly. From divers, yea innumerable texts of Scripture affirming the lame.
It would be too long a work, to profecute thofe things fe- verally and at large ; and therefore I will content rnyfelfwith one or two places, wherein all thofe tefiimonies are comprif- ed ; as Heb. ix. 13, 14. If the blood of bulls and goats, &c. km much more fault the blood of Chrifl , who through the eter¬ nal
and Merit of Chrijl . iffg
nal Spirit offered himfelf without fpot to God , &c. ? Here the death of Chriff is compared to, exalted above, and in the an¬ titype anfwered the facrifices of expiation, which were made by the blood of bulls and goats ; and lo muff, at leaft fpiritu- ally, effeff what they did carnally accomphfh and typically prefigure, viz . deliverance from the guilt of fin, by expiati¬ on and atonement. For as in them, the life arid blood of the facrifice was accepted in the ftead of the offerer, who was to die or the breach ol the law according to the rigour of it ; fo in this of Chriff, was his blood accepted as an atonement and propitiation for us ; himfelf being prieff, altar, and facrifice. So Heb. x. 10, 12. he is faid exprefsly, in the room of all old infufffeient carnal facrifices which could not make the comers thereunto perfeft, to offer up his own body , a facri- jice for fens ; for the remiffion and pardon of fins, through that offering of himfelf, as it is verfe 18. And in the perform¬ ance alfo, do we affirm, that our Saviour underwent the wrath of God, which was due unto us. This becaufe it is by fome queftioned, I fhall briefly confirm ; and that with thefe following reafons.
1. The punifhment due to fin, is the wrath of God, Rom.
i. 18. The wrath of God is revealed againjl all ungodhnefs . Chap. ii. g. the day of wrath , and revelation of the righteous judgment of God . Ephef. ii. 3. children of wrath . John iii. 36. The wrath of God abidetk on him. Now Jefus Curiff underwent the punifhment due to fin, 2 Cor. v. 21. made Jin for us . Ifa. iiii. 6. Iniquity was laid upon him . i Pet.
ii. 24. He bare our fins m his own body on the tree . There¬ fore he underwent the wrath of God.
2. The curfe of the law, is the wrath of God taken paf- fively, Bent . xxix. 20, 21. Rut Jefus Chriff; underwent the curfe of the law, Gal. iii. 13. made a cur fe for us ; the curfe they lie under which are out of Chriff, who are of the works of the law, verfe 10. Therefore he underwent the wrath of God.
3. The death that finners aie to undergo, is the wrath of God ; but Jefus Chriff did tafle of that deaths which finners for them fe Ives were to undergo, for he died as our furety, Heb. vii. 22. and in our ffead, Matt. xx. 28. Hence his fear, Heb. v. 7. agony, Luke xxii. 44. aflonifhment and amaze¬ ment, Mark xiv. 33. derehffion, Matt. xxvi. 46. forrow, heavinefs, and unexpreffible preflures.
Arg. V. That doftrine cannot be true nor agreeable to the gofpel, which ftrikes at the root of gofpehfaith; and plucks away the foundation of all that flrong confolation, which
God
Of the Satisfaction
God is fo abundantly willing we fhould receive ; but fuch is that of denying the fatisfa&ion made by Chrift ; his anfwer- mg the juftice, and undergoing the wrath of his Father ; it makes the poor foul to be like Noah's dove in its diflrefs, not knowing where to reft the foal of her feet. When a foul is turned out of its felf-righteoufnefs, and begins to look abroad, and view heaven and earth for a refting place ; and per¬ ceives an ocean, a flood, an inundation of wrath to cover all the world ; the wrath ot God revealing itfelf from heaven a- gainft all ungodlinefs, fo that it can obtain no reft nor abid¬ ing ; heaven it cannot reach by its own flight, and to hell it is unwilling to fall ; it now the Lord Jefus Chrift do not ap¬ pear as an ark in the midft of the waters, (upon whom the floods have fallen, and yet is got above them all,) for a re* fuge ; alas ! what fhall it do ? When the flood fell, there were many mountains, glorious in the eye, far higher than the ark ; but yet thofe mountains were all drowned, whilft the ark Hill kept on the top of the waters. Many appearing hills and mountains of felf-righteoufnefs and general mercy* at the fir ft view feem to the foul much higher than Jefus Chrift ; but when the flood of wrath once comes and fpreads itfelf, all thofe mountains are quickly covered : only the ark, the Lord Jefus Chrift, though the flood fall on him alfo, yet he gets above it quite, and gives fafety to them that reft upon him.
Let me now afk any of thofe poor fouls, who ever have been wandering and toffed with the fear of the wrath to come ; whether ever they found a refting place, until they came to this ; God fpared not his only Son, but gave him up to death for us all ; that he made him to be fin for us ; that he put all the fins of all the ele£i into that cup which he was to drink off ; that the wrath and flood which they feared, did fall upon Jefus Chrift, (though now as the ark he be above it,)
10 that if they could get into him, they fhould be fafe ; the Itorm hath been his, and the fafety fhall be theirs ; as all the waters which would have fallen on them that were in the ark, fell upon the ark, they being dry and fafe ; fo all the wrath that fhould have fallen upon them, fell on Chrift, which a- lone caufeth their folds to dwell in fafety ? Hath not, I fay, this been your bottom ? your foundation ? your refting place ?
11 not. (for the fubftance of it,) I fear you have but rotten bottoms. Now, what would you fay, it a man fhould come and puli this ark from under you : and give you an old rot- ■cn poft to fwim upon, in the flood of wrath ? It is too late
and Merit of Chrift . ^5
to tell vou, no wraih is due unto you ; the word of truth, and your own confciences, have given you other informati¬ on ; you know, I he wages of fin is death , m whomfoever n be ; he muft die, on whomfoever it is found L So that truly the foul may well fay, bereave me of the fatisfaftion of Chrift, and I am bereaved ; if he fatisfied not juftice, I mult ; it he underwent not wrath, I muft to eternity ; O rob me not of my only pearl. Thus, a denying the fatisfaftion ot Chuit,
deflroys the foundation of faith and comfort.
Arg. VI. Another argument we may take from two par¬ ticular places of Scripture, which inftead of many I (hall pro-
tfl. 2 Cor. v. 21. He hath made him to he fin for us , who knew no fn. He made him to be fin for us ; how could that be? are not the next words, he knew no fin? was he not a lamb without fpot, and without blemifh? Doubtlefs he did no fin, neither was guile found in his mouth. What then is this, God made him to he fin ? it cannot be, that God made him finful, or a finner by any inherent fin; that will not (land with the juftice of God, nor with the holinefs of the perfon of our Redeemer. What is it then? he made him to be fn who knew no fin? why clearly, by difpenfation and confent he laid that to his charge, whereof he was not guilty. He charged upon him and imputed unto him, all the fins of all the eleft; and proceeded againft him accordingly. He flood as ourfurety, really charged with the whole debt; and was to pay the uttermoft farthing, as a furety is to do if it be required of him; though he borrow not the money, nor have one penny of that which is in the obligation ; yet if he be fued to an execution, he muft pay all. The Lord Chrift (if I may fay fo) was fued by his Father’s juftice unto an ex¬ ecution ; in anfwer whereurito he underwent all that was due to fin, which we proved before to be death, wrath, and curfe.
If it be excepted (as it is) that God was always well-pleaf- ed with his Son, he teflified it again and again from heaven ; how then could he lay his wrath upon him? I anfwer, It is true he was always welif leafed with him; yet it pleajed him to hruife him , and put him to grief. He was always well p’eai- ed with the holinefs of his perfon, the excellency and per- feftnefs of his righteoufnefs, and the fweetnefs of his obedi¬ ence ; but he was difpleafed with the fins that were charged on him ; and therefore it pleafed him to bruife and put him to grief, with whom he was always well pleafed.
Nor
j66
Of the Satisfaction
Nor is that other exception of any more value. That , 11 1 underwent no more than the deft lay under; but thev
lay not under wrath and thepunilhment due to fin ; becaufe
; „ | l _ 1 1 • y # ere any more truth
m the alfumption. I<cr Chrilt underwent not only that
wrath (taking it paffively) which the elea were under; but that alio which tney humid have undergone, had not he borne it for them ; delivered them from the wrath to come Moreover the cleft do in their feveral generations lie undei ad the wrath of God, in refpeft of merit and procurement though not in refpeft of aftnal endurance ; in refpea of guilt’ not prelent punifhment. So that, notwithflanding thefe exl
ceptions, it Hands firm ; 1 hat he was made Jin for us who knew no Jin .
ialy. Ifa.lui. 5. He was wounded Jor our tranferefRons he was bruifed jor our iniquities, the chaftifement of our peace was upon him, and with his /tripes we are healed. Of this’ place (omething was faid before ; Ifhall add fome fmall en- iargements, that conduce to difeover the meaning, of the
words. The chajiifement of our peace was upon him; that is
he was chadded or punifhed, that we might have peace, that we might go free ; our fins being the caufe of his wounding and our iniquities of his being bruifed; all our fins meeting upon him , as verfe 6. that is, he bare our Jins, in Peter j in- terpretation. He bare our fins, (not as fome think, by de¬ claring that we were never truly finful; but) by being wounded lor them, bruifed for them; undergoing the chaf¬ tifement due unto them, confiding in death, wrath, and curfc ; fo making his foul an offering for fn. He bare our fins ; that is, fay fome, he declared that we have an eternal nghteouinefs in God ; becaufe of his eternal purpofe to do us good; but is this, to interpret Scripture; or to corrupt the word of God ? Afk the word, what it means by Chrift’s beainig o! fin ? It will tell you; his being Jtncken for our tranfgreflions, [fa. liii. 8. his being cut off for our fins, Dan. ix. 26. Neither hath the exprefiion of bearing fins* any other fignificadon in the word, Lev. v. i. be that heareth ^wearing and doth not reveal ii,Jhali bear his iniquity . What is that ; he fiiall declare himfeit or others to be free from fin ? No douhdefs ; but he fhall undergo the punifhment due to fin; as our Saviour did, in bearing our iniquities.
I le mud be a cunning gamefier indeed, that fiiall cheat a be¬ liever of this foundation.
More arguments or texts on this fubjeft, I fhall not urge
or
and Merit oj Chrifl ,
6y
*
or produce ; though the caufe itfelf will enforce the mod: unfkilful to abound. I have proceeded as far, as the nature of a digreflion will well bear ; neither fhall I undertake, at this time, the anfwering of objeflions to the contrary. A lull difeuffion of the whole bufinefs of the fatisfaft ion of Chrill, fhould caufe me to fcarch for, draw forth, and confute all obje£fions to the contrary ; being not by me intended. And for thofe which were made, at that debate which gave occa¬ sion to this difeourfe, I dare not produce them ; left haplv I fhould not be able to reftrain the conjectures of men, that I purpofely framed fuch weak objections, that I might obtain an ea(y conquefi over a man ot flraw of mine own ereCtion ; fo weak were they ; and of fo little force, to the (baking of fo fundamental a truth as that is which we do maintain. So of this argument hitherto.
4* 4- 4* *{• 4 *f*
CHAP. X.
Of the merit of Chrifl ; with arguments from thence.
A R G U M E N T XIV.
*V. A Fourth thing aferibed to the death of Chrifl, is JC\. merit; or that worth and value of his death whereby he purchafed and procured unto us and for vs all tnofe good things, which we find in the Scripture for his death to be beflowed upon us. Of this, much I (hail not fpeak; having confidered the thing itfelf, under the notion
e rew
ohferva-
of impetration, already; only I (hall add fom_ .... u,„c, tions,_ proper to that particular ol the controvcrfy which we have in hana. The word merit, is not at all to be found in the NewTeftament, in no tranflation out of the original that I have fee n. The vulgar Latin once reads promeretur, Hcb.
T'\l6\ anfl fcBAcmJs, to preferve the found, have ren¬ dered Mpromenud. But thefe words, in both languages, are uncouth and barbarous; befides that they no wav°an{Wer EUARESTEITAI, the word in the original, which mves no ^colour to merit, name, or thing. Nav, I fuppole it win prove a difficult thing, to find out any one word in ehher of the languages, wherein the holy Scripture was written that doth, properly and immediately in its fir ft native iml porianse, figntfy merit; fo that about the name we fhall not trouoie out (elves, if the thing itfelf intended thereby be made
apparent;
i68
Arguments againjt
apparent; which it is both in the Old and New Teftameht? As Ifa. liii. g. The chaflifement of our peace was upon him, and with his Jlripes we are healed; the procurement of o^ peace and healing, was the merit of his chaftifement and ftripes ; fo Heb. ix. 12. DIA TOU IDXOU AIMATOS AlONtAN lutrosin EUR A men os, obtained by his blood eternal redemption , is as much as we intend to fignify by the merit of Chrift. The word which comes neareft it in lignification, we have A&s xx. 28. peripoiesato pur chafed with his own blood; pur chafe and impetration, merit and acquifition, being in this bufinefs terms equiva¬ lent ; which latter word is ufed in divers other places, as, i Thef v. 9. Ephef. i. 14. 1 Pet. ii. 9. Now that, which by this name we underfland, is, the performance of fuck an aElion , as whereby the thing aimed at by the agent is due unto him , according to the equity and equality required injuf tice ; as, to him that worketh , is the reward not reckoned of grace , but of debt , Rom. iv. 4. That there is fuch a merit attending the death of Chrift, is apparent from what was laid before; neither is the weight of any operous proving of it impofed on us, by our adverlaries Teeming to acknowledge it no lefs themfelves; fo that we may take it for granted; un¬ til our adverfaries clofe with the Socinians in this alfo.
Chrift then, by his death, did merit and purchafe, for all thofe for whom he died, all thofe things which in the Scrip* ture are afligned to be the fruits and effe&s of his death* Thele are the things purchafed and merited, by his blood- fhedding and death : which may be referred unto two heads, ifly Such as are privative; as, 1. Deliverance out of the hands of our enemies, Luke i. 74. From the wrath to come, 1. Thef. i. 10. — 2. The deflruttion and abolition of death in his power , Heb. ii. 14.— 3. of the works of the devil , 1 John iii. 8. — 4. Deliverance from the curfe of the law , Gal. iii.
from our vain conversation, 1 Pet. i. 18.— 6. from the prefent evil world, Gal. i. 4.-7. from the earth, and from among men. Rev. xiv. 3* 4. — 8. Purging of our fins, Heb. i. 3. 2 dly. Such as are pofuive; as, 1. Reconciliati¬ on with God , Rom.- v. 10. Ephef. ii. 16. Col. i. 20. 2
Appeafng or atoning of God by propitiation , Rom. 111. 2^. 1 John ii. 2. 3* Peacemaking, itphef. ii. 14* 4* Salvati*
on, Matt. i. 21.
All thefe hath our Saviour by his death merited and pur¬ chafed, for all them for whom he died ; that is, fo procured
them of his Father, that they ought in refpeci of that m^nt,
according
169
Univcrfal Redemption .
according to the equity of juftice, to be bellowed on them for whom they were fo purchafed and procured. It was ablohue- ly of free'grace, in God, that he would fend Jefus Cbrift <0 die for any; it was of free grace, tor whom he would fend him to die; it is of free grace, that the good things procured by his death be bellowed on any perfon, in refpeft of tho'e perfons on whom they are bellowed ; but confidering bis own appointment and conllitution, that Jelus ChriH by his death ihould merit and procure grace and glory for thofe for whom he died, it is of debt in refpefl of Chrifl, that they be com¬ municated to them. Now that which is thus merited, which is of debt to be bellowed, we do not fay that it may be be¬ llowed, but it ought fo to be, and it is injultice if it be not.
Having laid this iittle of the nature of merit, and of the merit of Chrifl, the procurement of his death for them in whofe Head he died, it will quickly be apparent, how unre- conciieable the general ranfom is therewith. For the demon- flraticn whereof, we need no more but the prbpoling of this one quellion, viz. If Chrill hath merited grace and glory, for all thofe for whom he died, if he died for all, how comes it to pafs that thefe things are not communicated to and bellow¬ ed upon all? is the defe£l in the merit of Chrifl, or in the jullice of God ? How vain is it to except, that thefe things are not bellowed abfolutely upon us, but upon condition, and therefore were fo procured ; feeing that the very condi¬ tion itfelf is alfo merited and procured, (as Eph. i. 3. 4. Phil . i. 29.) hath been already declared.
ARGUMENT XV.
V. The very phrafes of dying for us, bearing our f ns, being our furety , and the like, whereby the death of Chrifl for us is exprelfed, will not Hand with the pavment of a ran¬ fom for all. To die for another, is in Scripture to die in that other’s Head, that he might go free ; as Judah besought his brother Jofeph to accept of him for a bondman, inliead of Benjamin, that he might be fet at liberty, Gen. xliv. 33. and that to make good the engagement wherein he Hood bound to bis father, to be a furety for him. He that is fur tty for ano¬ ther, (as Girin was for us, Heb. vii. 22.) is to undergo the danger, that the other may be delivered. So David wifhing that he had died for his fon Abjalom , 2 Sam . xviii. 33. in¬ tended doubt] efs a commutation with him, and a fubftitution of his life for his. fo that he might have lived, Paul alfo,
Y Rom .
[fig. IB
i.w.
Arguments againjt
Rom.v.y. intimates the fame ; fuppofing that fuch a thing might be found among men, that pne fhould die for another ; no doubt alluding to the Decn , Menec<zust Euryalus , and fuch Others, whom we find mentioned in the ftories of the heathen, who voluntarily caff themfelves unto death, for the deliver- ^ nee of their country or friends ; continuing their liberty and freedom from death, who were to undergo it, by taking it upon themfelves to whom it was not direcfly due. And this plainly is the meaning of that phrafe, Chrijl died for as,- that is, in the undergoing of death, there was a fubrogation of his perfon in the room and (lead of ours.
Some indeed except, that where the word hyper is ufed in this phrale, as Heb. ii. p. That he by the grace oj God fiould tajle death Jor every man9 there only the good and profit of them for whom he died is intended, not enforcing the neceflity of any commutation. But why this exception fhould prevail, I fee no great reafon; for the fame prepofuion being ufed in the like kind in other cafes, doth corifeffedly intimate a commutation, as Rom. ix. 4. where Paul affirms that he could wifh himfelf accurfed from Chrift hyper ton ADELPHON, for his brethren, that is tin their fiead; Co alfo 2 Cor. V. 20. HYPER CHRISTON PRESBEUOMEN, We are ambaffadors in Chrift’s Jlead. So the fame apoftle, 1 Cor. i. 13. alking, and ffrongly denying by ivay of interrogation; ME PAULOS ESTAUROTHE HYPER HYMON ? Was Paul crucified for you? plainly fheweth that the word hyper, ufed about the crucifying of Chrift for his church, doth argue a commutation or change, and not only defigns the good of them for whom he died; for plainly Paul might himfelf have been crucified for the good of the church ; but in the ftead thereof , lie abhorreth the leaft thought of it.
But concerning the word anti which alfo is ufed, there is no doubt, nor can any exception be made ; it always fignifieth a commutation and change, whether it be applied to things or perfons. So Luke xi. 11. ophis anti icHthyos, a ferpent injlead of a fifh; Matthew v. 38. ophthalmos anti opthalmou, an eye for an eye ; Heb. xii. 16. prototokia anti broseos his birth-right for meat. And for perfons, Archelaus is faid to reign anti Herodou tou patros, Matt. ii. 22. rVz- feadofhis father. — Now this word is ufed of the death of our Saviour, Matt. xx. 28. The Son oj man came dounai ten pschen antou lytron anti pollon which words are repeated again, Mark x. 45J that is, to give his life a ranforn
in
Univerfal Redemption . 17 1
in. the fiead of tke lives of many. So that plainly, Chrift’s dying for us as a furety > Heb, vii. 22. and thereby and there¬ in bearing our fins in his own body\ 1 Pet. ii. 24. being made a curfe for us , was an undergoing of death, punilhment, curfe, wrath, not only lor our good, but direflly in our dead ; a commutation and fubrogation of his perfon in the room and place of ours, being allowed and of God accepted.
This being cleared, I demand, 1 JL Whether Chrift died thus for all ? that is, whether he died in the room and dead of all, fo that his perfon was fubdituted in the room of theirs ? as, whether he died in the dead of Cain and Pharaoh , and the red, who long before his death were under the power of the fecond death, never to be delivered? 2 dly. Whether it be judice, that thofe or any of them in whofe dead Chrift died, bearing their iniquities, fhould themfelves alfo die and bear their own fins to eternity ? 3 dly. What rule of equity is there, or example for it, that when the furety hath anfwer- ed and made fatisfa&ion to the utmoft of what was required in the obligation wherein he was a furety, that they, for whom be was a furety, fliould afterwards be proceeded againd? qthly. Whether Chrift hung upon the crofs in the room or ftead of reprobates? gtkly. Whether he underwent all that which was due unto them for whom he died ? if not, how could he be faid to die in their ftead ? if fo, why are they not all deliver¬ ed ? I fhall add no more but this, that to affirm Chrift to die for all men, is the readied; way to prove that he died for no man, in the fenfe which Chriftians have hitherto believed, and to hurry poor fouls into the bottom of Socinian blas¬ phemies.
•$. ♦$» 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* 4* ❖ 4* 4*' 4“ 4- * 4*
CHAP. XI.
The lafl general Argument .
ARGUMENT XVI.
VI. U R next argument is taken from fame particular places of Scripture, clearly and diftin6lly in them¬ felves holding out the truth of what we do affirm; out of the great number of them I fhall take a few to infid upon, and therewith to clofe our arguments.
tfi. The firft that I fhall begin withal is the firft mentioning of Jefus Chrid, and the firft revelation of the mind of God, concerning a diferimination between the people of Chrift and
his
*7 2 Arguments againjl
his enemies, viz . Gen. iii. 15. 1 will put enmity between thee (the ferpent] and the woman , and between thy feed and her feed . By the feed of the woman is meant the whole body of the ele& ; Chriil in the firft place as the head, and all the reft as his mem¬ bers ; by the ieed of the ferpent, the devil with all the whole multitude of reprobates, making up the malignant ftate, in oppofi -on to the kingdom and body of Jefus Chrift.
i- That by ihe firft part, or the feed of the woman, is meant Chrift with all the deft, is moft apparent ; for they in whom ail things that are here foretold of the feed of the woman do concur, they are the, feed of the woman ; (for the properties of any thing, do prove the thing itfelf ;) but how in theeleft, believers, in and through Chrift, are to be found all the properties of the feed of the woman ; feeing for them, in them, and by them is the head of the ferpent broken, Sa¬ tan trodden down under their feet, the devil difappointed in his temptations, and the devil’s agents fruftrated in their un¬ dertakings. Principally and efpecially this is fpokenof Chrift himfelf ; colle&ively of his whole body, which beareth a continual hatred to the ferpent and his feed.
2. By the feed of the ferpent is meant, all the reprobate men of the world, impenitent, unbelievers. For,
(i.) The enmity of the ferpent lives and exercifeth itfelf in them ; they hate and oppoie the feed of the woman, they have a perpetual enmity with it ; and every thing that is faid of the feed of the ferpent, belongs properly to them.
(ii.) They are often fo called in the Scripture, Matt. iii. 7. 0 generation of vipers, or feed of the ferpent ; fo alfo, Matt . xxiii. 33. and Chrift telleth the reprobate Pharifees, ye are of your father the devil, and his lufls ye will do, John viii. 44. fo again, the child of the devil, A£ls xiii. 10. that is, the feed of the ferpent ; for he that committeth fn is of the de¬ vil, 1 John iii. 8.
Thefe things being undeniable, we thus proceed ; Chrift died for no more, than God promifed him unto, that he ftiould die for them ; but God did not promife him to all, as that he ftiou!d„die for them ; for he did not promife the feed of the woman to the feed of the ferpent, Chrift to repro¬ bates ; but in the firft word of him, he promifeth an enmity again ft them. In fum, the feed of the woman died not for ihe feed of the ferpent.
2 dly. Matt. vii. 23. I will profefs unto (hem, 1 never inew you ; Chrift at the faff day will profefs to fome, that he never knew them : Chrift faith dire&ly, that he knows his
own
i
Univerfal Redanplion. *73
«wn whom be layeih down hu life for, John ix. 14, *5> ‘7* and furely he knows whorri, and what tie Hath bought. Wet’e it not ftrange, that Chrift fhould die for them and buy them that be will not own, but profefs he never knew them ? If they are bought with a price, furely they are his own, t Cor. vi 20. It Chrift did fo buy them, and lay out the price of his precious blood for them, and then at lalt deny that he e- ver knew them; might they not well reply all Lord ! was not thy foul heavy unto death lor our fakes ? didit thou not for us undergo that wrath that made thee fweat drops of blood ? didft thou not bathe thyfelf in thine own blood, that our bloods might be fpared ? didft thou not fanftify thyfelf to be an offering for us, as well as tor any of the apofties ? was not thy precious blood by ftripes, by fweat, by nails, by thorns, by Ipear, poured out for us ? didft thou not remem¬ ber us,’ when thou hung’ft upon the crofs P and now doff thou fay thou never kneweft us? Good Lord, though we be unworthy finners, yet thine own blood hath not defeived to be defpifed ; why is it that none can lay any thing to the charge of God’s eleft? is it not becaufe thou diedft for them ? and didft thou not do the fame for us P why then are We thus charged, thus rejected ? could not thy blood fatisfy thy Father, but we ourfelves muft be punifhed ? could not juf- tice content itfelf with that facrifice, but we muft now hear. Depart, 1 never knew you ? What can be anfwered to this plea, upon the granting of the general ranfom, I know not.
3 dly. Matt. xi. 25, 2 6. I thank thee, 0 Father % Lord of heaven and earth , becaufe thou haji hid thefe things from the wife and prudent , and haji revealed them unto babes ; even fo , Father , for fo it feemed good in thy fight : thofe men from whom God, in his fovereigntv as Lord of heaven and earth of his own good pleafure, hideth the gofpcl, either in refpeft of the outward preaching of it, or the inward revelation of the power of it in their hearts ; thole certainly Chrift died not for. For to wffiat end ffiould the Father fend his only Son, to die for the redemption of thofe, whom he for his own good pleafure had determined fhould be everlalling ftran- gers from it, and never fo much as hear of it, in the power thereof revealed to them. Now that fuch there are, our Sa¬ viour here affirms; and thanks his Father for that difpenfati- on, at which fo many do at this day repine.
4 thly . John x. 11, 15, 16, 26, 27, 28, 2 g. This clear phee, which of itfelf is fufficient to evert the general ran-
fom,
174 Arguments againff
iom, hath been a little confidered before ; and therefore I unall pafs it over the more briefly. 1. That all men are not the fheep of Chrift, is moft apparent; for, (1.) He himfelf faith fo, verfe 26. ye are not of my fheep, (2.) The diftin&i- on at the laftday will make it evident, when the fheep and the goats fhall be feparated. (3.) The properties of the fheep here, that they hear the voice of Chrift that they know him* and the like, aie not in all. 2. The fheep here mentioned, are all his eleft ; as well thofe that were to be called, as thofethat were then already called, verfe 16. Some were* not as yet of his fold , of called ones ; fo that they are fheep by cleaion, and not by believing. 3. Chrift fo fays that he laid down his life for his fheep, that plainly he excludes all others; for, (1.) He laid down his life for them as fheep ; now that which belongs to them as fucb, belongs only to fuch ; if he lays down his life for fheep as fheep, certainly he doth it not for goats and wolves and dogs. (2,) He lays down his life as a fhepherd, verfe 11. therefore for them as the fheep ; what hath the fhepherd to do with the wolves, un- lefs it be to deftroy them ? (3.) Dividing all into fheep, and others, verfe 26. he faith, he lays down his life for his fheep; which is all one as if he had faid, he did it for them only. (4.) He defcribes them for whom he died, by this, My Fa - ther gave the?n mey verfe 29, asalfo chap. xvii. v. 6. thine they were , and thou gavef them me; which are not all; for alt that the Father giveth him Jhall come to himy (John vi. 3 7.) and he gives unto them eternal life , and they Jhall never perifh , verfe 28. Let but the fheep of Chrift keep clofe to this evi¬ dence, and all the world fhall never deprive them of their in¬ heritance. — Further to confirm this place, add Matt. xx. 28. John xi 52.
gthly. Rom . viii. 32, 33, 34 The intention of the apoftle in this place, is to hold out confolation to believers in affliftion, or under any diftrefs ; which he doth, verfe 31. in general, from the aflurance of the prefence of God with them, and his aftiftance at all times, enough to conquer all oppofitions, and to make all difficulty indeed contemptible, by the af- furance of his loving kindnefs which is better than life itfelf; if God be for us , who com be agairft us? To manifeft this his prefence and kindnefs, the apoftle minds them of that moft excellent, tranfcendent and fingular aft of love towards them, in fending his Son to die for them ; not fparing him, but re¬ quiring their debt at his hand; whereupon he argues from liie (Treater to the lefs, that if he have done that for us, furely
he
Univerfal Redemption. tj£
he will do every thing elfe that (hall be requifite ; if he did the greater, will he not do the lefs ? if he gave his Son ta death, will he not alfo with him jreely give us all things t Whence we may obferve, l. That the greateft and moil exi~ mious expreflion of the love of God towards believers, is in fending his Son to die for them, not fparing him for their fake; this is made the chief of all ; now if God fent his Son to die for all, he had as great love, and hath made as great a manifeftation of it to them that perifh, as to thofe that are faved. 2. That for whomfoever he hath given and not Ipared his Son, unto them he will afluredly freely give all things; but now he doth not give all things that are good for them unto all, as faith, grace and glory ; from whence we con¬ clude, that Chrift died not for all.
Again, verft 33. he gives us a defeription of thofe that have a fhare in the confoiation here intended, for whom God gave his Son, to whom he freely gives all things, and that is, that they are his eled ; not all, but only thofe whom he hath choien before the foundation of the world, that they fhould be holy ; which gives another confirmation of the reftraint of the death of Chrift to them alone.
This he yet further confirms, verfe 34. by declaring that thofe of whom he (peaks fliall be freely juftified and freed from condemnation; whereof he gives two reafons : 1. Be- caufe Chrift died for them : 2. Becaufe he is riien and makes interceflion for them for whom he died ; affording us two in¬ vincible arguments to the bufinefs in hand : (1.) From the in¬ fallible effe£fs of the death of Chrift ; who fhall lay any thing to their charge? who (hall condemn them? Why? what reafon is given ? it is Chrift that died, fo that his death doth infallibly free all them from condemnation for whom he died. (2.) From the connexion that theapoftle here makes, between the death and interceflion of Jefus Chrifi ; for whom he died, for them he makes interceflion ; but he faveth to the uttermojl them for whom he intercedeth, Heb. vii. 25. From all which it is undeniably apparent, that the death- of Chrift, with the fruits and benefits thereof, belongeth only to the ©left of God.
6thly. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption . If his blood were ffied for all, then all muff have a fhare in thofe things that are to be had in his blood ; now among!! thefe is that redemption that confifts in the forgiveneis of fins, which certainly all have not; tor they that have areblefled, Rom . iv. *?. and fhall be bleffed for evermore ; which bleffipg comes not
up cm
iy6
Arguments againjl Univerfal Redemption .
upon ail, but upon the feed of righteous Abraham , verft 16, ythly. 2 Cor. v. 21. He hath made him to be fin for us , that we might be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. It was in his death that Chrifl was made fin, or an offering for it; now for whomfoever he was made fin, they are made the righteoufnefs of God in him ; with his Jlripes we, are healed , Ifa. liii. 5. And John xv. 13. greater love hath no man than this , that a man lay down his life for his friends. To inter¬ cede therefore, is not of greater love than to die, or any thing elfe that he doth for his elea. If then he laid down his life for all, which is the greateft, why doth he not alfo the reft for them, and fave them to the uttermofl?
8 thly. John xvii. 9. I pray for them; I pray not for the world , but for them which thou hafl given me, for they are thine . And verfe 19. For their fakes, I fanBify myfelf gthly. Epn. v. 2.5. Hufbands love your wives ; even as Chrijl alfo loved the church , and gave himfelf for it. Alfo • Aas xx. 28. The objea of Chrift’s love and his death is here afferted to be his bride, his church ; and that as properly as a man's own wife is the only allowed objea of his conju¬ gal affeaions; and if Chrift had a love to others, fo as to die for them, then is there in the exhortation a latitude left unto men, in conjugal affeaions for other women befides their wives.
I thought to have added other arguments, as intending a clear difcuffing of the whole controverfy, but upon a review of what hath been faid, I do with confidence take up and conclude, that thefe which have been already urged, will be enough to fatisfy them who will be fatisfied with any thing, and thofe that are obftinate will not be fatisfied with more. — So of our arguments here fhall be an end.
BOOK IV.
CHAP. I.
Things previoufy to be confidered , to the folution of objections.
r"f TiERE being fundry places in the holy Scripture where - . JL in the ranfom and propitiation made by the blood of Chriff, is fet forth in general and indefinite expreflions; as alfo a fruidefnefs or want of fuccefs in refpeft of fome,
• through
General Anfwers unto % Tj
through their own default, for whom he died feemingly, in¬ timated ; with general profers, promifes and exhortation* made for the embracing of the fruits of the death of Chrift, even to them who do never afUjally perform it ; whence fome have taken occafion to maintain an univer fahty cj re~ demption , equally refpe£ting all and every one ; and that with great confidence, affirming that the contrary opinion cannot poflibly be reconciled with thofe places of Scriptuie, wherein the former things are propofed ; thefe three heads, being the only fountains from whence are drawn (but with violence) all the arguments that are oppofed to the peculiar effe£lual redemption of the ele£t only ; I fhall (before I come to the anfwering of obje£iions, arifing from a wrefted inter** pretation of particular places) lay down fome fuch funda¬ mental principles, as are agreeable to the word, and largely held forth is it, and no way difagneeable to our judgment in this particular ; which do and have given occafion to thofe general and indefinite affirmations, as they are laid down in the word, and upon which they are founded ; having their truth in them, and not in an univerfal ranfom for all and e- very one ; with fome diftin£lions, conducing to the further clearing of the thing in queflion ; and waving of many lalfe imputations of things and confequences, erroneoully or ma? iicioufly impofed on us.
I. The firft thing that we fhall lay down, is concerning the dignity, worth, pretioufnefs and infinite value of the blood and death of Jefus Chrift. The maintaining and declaring of this, is doubtlefs efpecially to be confidered ; and every opinion that doth but feemingly clafh againft it, is exceed¬ ingly prejudiced, at leaft defervedly fufpe&ed, yea prefently to be reje&ed by chriftians, if upon fearch it be found to do fo really and indeed ; as that which is injurious and derogato¬ ry to the merit and honour of Jefus Chrift. The Scripture alfo to this purpofe is exceeding full and frequent, in fetting forth the excellency and dignity of his death and facrifice ; calling his blood, by reafon of the unity of his per Ton, God's own blood , A£h xx. 28. exalting it infinitely above all other facrifices ; as having for its principle the eternal Spirit , and being hfelf without fpol, Heb. ix. 14. tranicendently more precious than Jilver or gold or corruptible things , 1 Pet. i. 38. Able to give jufiification from all things, from which by trie law men could not be juftified , A6f. xiii. 39. Now fuch as was the facrifice and offering of Chrift in itlelf, fuch was it in? tended by his Father it fhould be; it was then the purpofe and
Z intention
r y ■ ' * * * * 4
1 7% Arguments for Univerfal Redemption .
intention of God, that his fon fhould offer a facrifice of infinite worth, value and dignity ; fufficient in itfelf for the redeem¬ ing of all and every man, if it had pleafed the Lord to employ it to that purpofe ; yea and of other worlds alfo, if the Lord fhould freely make them, and would redeem them. Suffici¬ ent we fay then was the facrifice of Chrift, for the redempti¬ on of the whole world ; and for the expiation of all the fins, of all and every man in the world.
This fufficiency of his facrifice, hath a twofold rife, viz. The dignity of the per fon that did offer and was offered ; as al¬ fo ^ the greatnefs of the pain he endured ; by which he was able to bear, and did undergo, the whole curfe of the law and wrath Oi God due to fin ; and this Jets out the innate real true worth and value of the bloodjhedding of Jefus Chnjl ; this is its own true, internal perf'eblion and fufficiency. That it fhould be applied unto any, made a price for them, and be¬ come beneficial to them, according to the worth that is in it ; is external to it, doth not arife from it, but merely depends upon the intention and will of God. It was in itfelf of infinite value and fufficiency to have been made a price, to have bought and purchased all and every man in the world; that it did for¬ mally become a price, for any, is folely to be afcribed to the purpofe of God, intending their purchale and redemption by it. The intention of the offerer and accepter, that it fhould be for fuch, fome, or any, is that which gives the formality of a price unto it ; this is external ; but the value and fitnefs of it to be made a price, arifeth from its own internal fuffici¬ ency.
Hence may appear, what is to be thought of that old dif- tin&ion of the fchoolmen , imbraced and ufed by divers pro - teflant divines , though by others again reje&ed ; viz. that Chrifldied for all in refpeft of the fufficiency of the ranfom he paid ; but not in refpeft of the efficacy of its application ; or, the blood of Chrift was a fufficient price for the fins of all the world ; which laft expreffion is corre&ed by forae, and thus afferted, viz. That the blood of Chrift was fuffici¬ ent to have been made a price for all ; which is moft true. Tor its being a price for all, or fomc, doth not arife from its own fufficiency, worth or dignity ; but from the intention of God and Chrift, ufing it to that purpofe, as was declared ; and therefore it is denied, that the blood of Chrift was a fuf¬ ficient price and ranfom for all and every one ; not becaufe it was not fufficient, but becaufe it was not a ranfom. And fo it eafily appears, what is to be owned in the diftin&ion it-
fclf
General Anfwers unis
179
feif before expreft. If it intend no more, but that the blood of our Saviour was of fufficient value for the redemption of all and every one, and that Chrift intended to lay down a price which fhould be fufficient for their redemption ; it is acknowledged as molt true; but the truth is, that exp ref lion (to die for them ) holds out the intention of our Saviour in the laying down of the price, to have been their redemption, which wc deny ; and affirm that then it could not be, but that they mud be made aftual partakers of the eternal redemption purchafed for them ; unlels Grod failed in his dehgn, tnrough the deleft of the ranfom paid by Chrift, his juitice refufing to give a difmiffion, upon the delivery of the ranfom.
Now the infinite value and worth which we aflert to be in the death of Chrift, we conceive to be exceedingly underva¬ lued by the affertors of univerfal redemption ; for that it fhould be extended to this or that objeft, fewer or more, we fhewed before to be extrinfical to it ; but its true worth con- fifls in the immediate effefts, produfts and iffues of it, with what in its own nature it is fit and able to do ; which they o- penly and apparently undervalue, yeaalmoft annihilate, bor they ufe thofe expreffions concerning it, viz. That by it a door of grace was opened for Jinntrs ; where (I fuppofe) they know not; but that any were effectually carried in at the door by it, that they deny. Affo, That God might if> he would , and upon what condition he pleafed , fave thofe for whom Chrift died : but that a right of falvation was by him purchafed for any, they deny. Hence they grant, that after the death of Chrift, God might have dealt with man upon a le¬ gal condition again ; likewife that all and every vrian might have been damned , and yet the death of Chrift have had its Juil eff'ett ; as alfo moreover, that faith and fandification are not pur chafed by his death ; yea, no more purchafed for any (as before) than what he may go to hell withall. And divers other ways do they exprefs their low thoughts, and flight imagin¬ ations, concerning the innate value and fufficiency of the death and blood -ffiedding of Jefus Chrift. — To the honour then of Jefus Chrift our Mediator, God and man, our all- fufficient Redeemer, we affirm, that fuch and fo great was the dignity and worth of his death and blood-fhedding, of fo pre¬ cious a value, of fuch an infinite fulnefs and fufficiency was this oblation of himfelf ; that it was every way able and per- feftly fufficient to redeem, juflify and reconcile and fave, all the Tinners in the world, and to fatisfy the juft ice of God for all the fins of all mankind, and to bring them every one to
ev dialling
Arguments for Univerfal Redemption.
Everlafting glory. Now this fullnefs and fufficiency of the merit bi the death of Chrift, is a foundation unto two things, viz.
ijl. The general publifhing of the gofpel unto all nations, with the right that it hath to be preached to every creature*, jMata. xxvm* 19. Mark xvi. 1 Becaufe the way of falvi- tion which it declares, is wide enough for all to walk in; there is enough in the remedy it brings to light, to heal all their difeafes, to deliver them from all their evils; if there were a thoufand worlds, the gofpel of Chrift might, upon this ground, be preached to them all; there being enough in Chrift for the falvation of them all, if fo be they will derive virtue from him by touching him in faith, the only way to draw refrefhment from this fountain of falvation. It is then altogether in vain which fome objeft ; that the preach¬ ing of the gofpel to all, is altogether needlefs and ufelefs, if Chrift died not for a!!; yea, that it is to make God call up¬ on meri to believe that which is not true, viz. that Chrift died for them. For, 1. befides that amongft thofe nations whith¬ er the gofpel is fent, there are fome to be faved, (I have muck people in this city , A8s xviii. 10.) which they cannot be, in the way that God hath appointed to do it, unlefs the gofpel bo preached to others as well as themfelves ; and, 2. befides that in the ceconomy and difpenfation of the new covenant, (by which all external differences and privileges of people, tongues and nations, are abolifhed and taken away) the word of grace was to be preached without diftin&ion, and all men called every where to repent ; and, 3. that when God called upon men to believe, he doth not in the firft place call upon them to believe that Chrift died for them, but that there is none ether name under heaven given among men , taker eby toe tnujl be faved , but only of Jefus Ckrifl, thro’ whom falvation is preached : I fay, befides thofe certain truths, fully taking oft' that objeftion, this one thing of which we fpeak, is a fufti- cient bafs and ground for all thofe general precepts of preach¬ ing the gofpel unto all men ; even that fufficiency which we have deferibed.
2 dly. That the preachers of the gofpel in their particular congregations, being utterly unacquainted with the purpofe and fecret counfel of God, being alfo forbidden to pry or fearch into it, Deut . xxix. 29. may from hence juftifiably call upon every man to believe, with affurance of falvation to every, one in particular upon his fo doing ; knowing and be¬ ing fully perfuaded of this, that there is enough in the death of Chrift to fave every one that fhall fo do ; leaving the pur¬ pofe
I
General An/wers unit i 1S1
pole *nd counfel of God, on whom he will bellow faith, and for whom in particular Chrift died, (even as they arc
commanded,) to himfelf. . , r .
And this is one principal thing, which being well observed,
will crufh many of the vain flourifhes of our adveifaries , as
will in particular hereafter appear.
II. A fecond thing to be confidercd, is the ^economy or ad-
miniftration of the new covenant , in the times of the gofpcl ; with the amplitude and enlargement of the kingdom and do¬ minion of Chrift, after his appearance in the flefh ; whereby J! external differences being taken away, the name of Gen¬ tiles removed, the partition wall broken down ; the promife to Abraham , that he fbouid be heir of the world, as he was father of the faithful, was now fully to be accomplifhed, Now this adminiftration is fo oppofite to that dnpenfation which was reftrained to one people and family, who weie God’s peculiar and all the reft of the world excluded, that it gives occafion to many general expreffions in the fcnpiurei which are far enough from comprehending an univerfality of all individuals, but denote only a removal of all fuch reftrain- ing exceptions as were before in force. So that a confidera- tionoftheend whereunto thefe general expreffions are ufed* and of what is aimed at by them, will clearly roanifeft their na~ ture, and how they are to be underftood ; with who they are, that are intendened by them and comprehended in them. For it being only this enlargement of the vifible kingdom of Chrift, to all nations in refpeft of right, and to many in re- fpe£l of fa6l, (God having ele& in all thofe nations to be brought forth, in the feveral generations wherein the means of grace are in thofe places employed,) that is intended ; it is evident, that they import only a dijlnbution of men through all differ¬ ences whatfoever, and not an univerfal colledion of all and e- very one ; the thing intended by them, requiring the one, and not the other.
Hence thofe objeclions which are made again ft the parti¬ cularity of the ranfom of Chrift, and the reftraining of it on¬ ly to the ele£t ; from the terms of all , all men , all nations % the world , the whole world , and the like ; are all of them ex¬ ceeding weak and invalid, as wrefting the general expreffions of the °Scripture beyond their aim and intent: they being ufedby the Holy Choft, only to evidence the removal of all perfonal and national difttn£tion, the breaking up of all the narrow bounds of the Old Teftament, the enlarging the kingdom of Chrift beyond the bounds of Jewry and Salem ; t
abolifhing
Arguments jor Univerfal Redemption*
abolifhlng all old reftriftions, and opening a way for the left amongft all people (called the fulnefs of the Gentiles) to coiiie in, there being now neither Greeks Jew, circumcifon nor uncircumcifion , Barbarian , Scythian , bond or free , but Chrifl is all and m all , Col. lii* n. Hence the Lord promif- eth to pour out his Spirit upon all JleJh% Joel ii. 28. which Peter interpreted to be accomplifhed, by the filling of the a- pollles with the gifts of the Spirit, that they might be enabled to preach to feveral nations, Afts ii. 17. having received grace and apojtlejhip , for obedience to the faith among all natim ons% Rom. i. g. not the Jews only, but fome among all na¬ tions ; the gofpel being the power of God unto falvation , to e- very one that believeth, the Jew and alfo the Greek, verfe 16. intending only as to falvation, the peculiar people bought by Chrift ; which he redeemed out of every kindred , and tongue , and people , and nation , Rev. v. 9. where ye have an evident diflribution of that, which in other places is generally fet down ; the gofpel being commanded to be preached to all thefe nati¬ ons, Matt, xxviii. 19. that thole bought and redeemed ones among ft them all, might be brought home to God, John x i. £2. And this is that which the apoftle lo largely fets forth, Epkef ii. 14, 15, 16, 17. Now in this fenfe which we have explained, and no other, are thofe many places to be taken, which are ufually urged for univerfal grace and redemption ; as lhall afterwards be declared in particular.
III. We multexaftly diltinguifh betwixt man’s duty and God’s purpofe, there being no connexion between them. The purpofe and decree of God, is not the rule of our duty ; neither is the performance of our duty, in doing what we are commanded, any declaration of what is God’s purpofe to do, or his decree that it Ihould be done. Efpecially is this to be feen and confidered, in the duty of the minifters of the gof¬ pel ; in the difpenfingof the word, in exhortations, invitati¬ ons, precepts and threatenings, committed unto them ; all which are perpetual declaratives of our duty ; and do mani- feft the approbation of the thing exhorted and invited to, with the truth of the connexion between one thing and another; but not of the counfel and purpofe of God, in refpeft of indi¬ vidual perfons, in the miniftry of the word. A minifter is Bot to make enquiry after, nor to trouble himfelf about thofe fecrets of the eternal mind of God, viz . whom he purpofeth to fave, and whom he hath lent Chrift to die for in particu¬ lar ; it is enough for them to fearch his revealed will ; and thence take their dire&ions , from whence they have their
commifjions .
General Anfwers unt» i8g
eommijjions. Wherefore there is no fequel from the univer- fal precepts of the word concerning the things % unto God’s purpofe in himfelf concerning perfons : they command and invite all to repent and believe ; but they know not in parti¬ cular, on whom God will beftow repentance unto falvation, nor in whom he will effeft the work ot faith with power. When they make profers and tenders in the name of God to all, they do not fay to all, it is the purpofe and intention of God that ye fhould believe; who gave them any luch power ? but that it is his command, which makes it their duty, to do what is required of them ; and docs not declare his mind, what himfelf in particular will do. The external offer is fuch, as from which every man may conclude his own duty ; none, God’s purpofe ; which yet may be known upon performance of his duty. Their obje&ion then is vain, who affirm that God hath given Chrift: tor all, to whom he offers Chrifl in the preaching of the gofpel ; for his offer in the preaching of the gofpel, is not declarative to any in particular, neither ot what God hath done, nor of what he will do, in reference to him; but of what he ought to do, if he would be approved of God, and obtain the good things promiied ; whence it will follow,
ljl. That God always intends to fave fome, among them to whom he lends the gofpel in its power; and the minifters of it being, 1. unacquainted with his particular purpofe ; 2. bound to feek the good ot all and every one, as much as in them lies ; 3. to hope and judge well ot all, even as it is meet for them ; they make a proffer of Jefus Chrift, with life and fal- vation in him ; notwithftanding that the Lord hath given his Son only to his ele£L
zdly. That this offer is neither vain nor fruitlefs, being declarative of their duty; and of what is acceptable to God, if it be performed as it ought to be, even as it is required ; and if any afk, what it is ot the mind and will of God that is de¬ clared and made known, when men are commanded to believe for whom Chrift did not die ? I anfwer, 1. what they ought to do, if they will do that which is acceptable to God ; 2. the fufficiency of falvation that is in Jelus Chrift, to all that be¬ lieve on him; 3. the certain infallible, inviolable connexion that is between faith and falvation ; fo that whofoever per¬ forms the one, ffiall furely enjoy the other ; for whoever come to Chrift, he will no ways caft out ; of which more af¬ terwards.
IV, The engrafted erroneous pcrfuafion oft he' Jews, which for
a while
Arguments for Univerfal Redemption.
a while had a ftrong. influence upon the apoftles themfelves refiraining falvation and deliverance by the Meffiasox prornif* ed feed, to themfelves alone, who were the off-fpring of Abra¬ ham according to the flefli ; muff be confidered as the ground of many general expreflions and enlargements of the obje&s of redemption ; which yet being fo occafioned, give no co¬ lour of any unlimited univerfality. That the Jews were ge¬ nerally infe&ed with this proud opinion, that all thepromifes belonged only to them and theirs, towards whom they had an univerfality ; exclufive of all others, whom they called dogs, uncircumcifed, and poured out curfes on them ; is mo A apparent. Hence, when they faw the multitude of the Gentiles coming to the preaching of Paul; they were filled with envy , contradicting, blafphemmg , and Jtirred up perfecuti- on againji them , A 61s xiii. 45, 50, which the apoftle again relates of them, 1 Thef. ii. 15. 1 6. They pleafe not God , faith he, and are contrary to all men ; forbidding us to to fpeak to the Gentiles , that they might be faved ; being not with a- ny thing more enraged, in the preaching of our Saviour, than his predicling of letting out his vineyard to others.
That the apojtles themfelves alfo had deeply drunk in this opinion, learned by tradition from their fathers, appeareth ; not only in their queAioning about the reAoration of the kingdom unto Ifrael, A61s i. 6. but alfo moA evidently in this, that after they had received commiAion to teach and baptize all nations. Matt, xxviii, ig. ox every creature, Mark xvi. 15. and were endued with power from on high fo to do, according to the promife, Acls i. 8. yet they feern to have underAood their commiAion, to have extended only to the loA Aieep of the houfe of Ifrael ; for they went about and preached only to the Jews , A6ls xi. 19. And when the con¬ trary was evidenced and demonArated to them, they glorified God, faying, Then hath God alfo to the Gentiles granted repent¬ ance unto life ! A6ts xi. 18. admiring at it, as a thing which before they were not acquainted with. And no wonder, that men were not eafily nor foon perfuaded to this ; it being the great my Aery which was not made known in other ages, as it was then revealed to Goa's holy apofles and prophets by the Spi¬ rit, viz. that the Gentiles Jhould be fellow heirs and of the fame body, and partakers of his promife s mChriJl , by the gof- pel, Ephef. iii. 5, 6.
But now this being fo made known unto them by the Spi¬ rit ; and that the time was come wherein the little ffer was t# be confidered, the prodigal brought home, and Japhet
perfuaded
General Anfaers unto
I-*— - *■?. -mz ss? bias’s
all means to root it out or / -ai rare • as
rc #r» the fledi of whom they hau a ipecial caie , as
cording to the tlelh, ot w t eunuch that he
alfo to leave no fcrup e in J - cut 0ff iron.
ii ° o »I.S” nd',he, »fe di,e;s gen-1 ex-
the people ot coa , ODDOfition to that tormer erroi,
which *i abSUcly deftruftive lo ihe kp gdo m »f
demption/and preaching of thegolpel, thefe things eing noue (trained, according as they fuppofed, to one certain na- don and family ; but extended to the university of Gods people fcattered abroad in every region under heaven. Ef- necfallv are thefe expreflions ufed by John; who living
Fee the firft coming of the Lord, in that fearful judgment and vengeance which he executed upon the y^tnauon fome
forty years after his death ; is very frequent in the allcrting of ttebenefit of the world by Chnlt, in opposition, as I fa.d b - fore, to the Jewilh nation ; giving us a rule how to under ftand
fuch phrafes and locutions, Jonn xi. 51, 5-- P )lfltion
that 7efus [hould die for that natidn ; and not for tnatnatio ell but that alfo he Jhould gather together tn one the ch i- dun of God that were flattered abroad. Contormable whe e- unto he tells the believing Jews that Cfanft « n* * prob¬ ation for their fins only, but alfo for the fins of the whole world, , 1 John ii. 2. or the people ol God lcatteied through¬ out the whole world ; not tied to any one nation, as the/ fometime vainly imagined. And this may and doth give much light, into the fente and meaning of thofe places where the words world and all are ufed, in the bulinels ot redemp 1- on ; they do not hold out a colledme univerfahty ; out a ge¬ neral difiribution into men of all forts, inoppofition to t e
fore recounted erroneous perluafion. .
V. The extent, nature and fignification of tho.e general terms, which we have frequently ufed indefinitely mt e Scripture, to fet out the objeft of the redemption oy Chn*. , muff ferioufly be weighed. Upon thefe exprefTions hangs the whole weight of the oppofite caufe ; the chief, if not o y argument for the univerfality of redemption, being taken from words which feem to be of a latitude in their figmficau- on, equal to fuch an affertion; as th e world, the whole wo? Id, all, and the like ; which terms when they have once iaUen-
A a
u
; V)
‘
* i
\L
i t v
1 86
Arguments for UniverfaC Redemption.
wtre^fu’relyVeir" W* *' f ,tho' the ^ory
men, who canoppofek? CalUhem ^
feveral places where the word* . tbe context in the pretation, mind them of the ' ^ n aPPeal rules of inter¬
face, the fen(^t thetme JUTm ,1CeSand fc°Pe * the fore-named helps and Xh'^'u
ffss °< f “•
IS theirs; away with the glofs and'int^ the ktter
leave to believe what the lord exteST^0".’ P£ US hope) imagining, being deluded with L t ’’ f l faS 1
darling, that if this affenion be genera ^71° °Wn allow us the gift of interpretation agreeable m thP ^ of faith; that at one clap thev confirl 7k 7 , pr0portlon the Anthropomorpkites aflianin m ‘he cnrfed madnefs of
fliape unto God, who hatfmume ^andPh1 ^ f°rm and ment of tranfubftantiation, overthrowing thTb ^ Sg~
who hath one; with divers mher mt^ ^ °f ChRIST- Let them then as long as thev n 1^0. pernicious errors,
clamours ; fit to terrify and fhake VeakTiTunfta? lor the truth’s fake we will not be filent And 5 t me" 5
fliall very eafily make it appear that th* And 1 hope we
are ufed in this bulinefs, Jin indeed gi« no'Sir'.o"' 'ha' Sr Uni,"“ "Lber its
flnmb^ffillirrheXrS" t?
ttiSS are urged “t'H j» *■/« of
lor the prefent only fhew that the words themfehP d
c|Ke'h„^s;
.?n.erXredb,XS,"r,dhe flopeof 't*
c.ll£ Kost'orlrS ',h,! N-To«an.ent i,
aranflaied v ”,d i) ' X !! ,T'l ”"d
ter; noting rather Ld ’- thatr belonSs not to this mat-
S&S-s s
,».in,ed„ef, in ibf b” t ,<‘L7. 7Si bSf", “’“t
many
General Jnfwers unto
*8/
r •£ of it as (hall make it apparent,
many vanow f>gnlfica“°"f a fw0’ru> fo exceedingly equivo¬ cal from the bare uiage or dtftinguilhed, and
cal, no argument can be ate • , evinced, irom
the meaning thereoi in that parucuidi
whence the argument is taken.
Mu nous fumitur,
I. Subjeftive : tmo» holik6s
2 do meriK-os ; pro,
1. Coelo afpeftabili.
2 Terra habitabili.
II. Adjunaive: ratione,
imo. Incolarum; idque,
1. Colleaive, kata pantas.
2. Diftributive ; pro, (1.) Quibufvis.
(2.) Muitis.
3. Signanter ; pro, (1.) Bonis, feueleais. (2.) Malis, feu repro- V bis.
4. aoristos feucom- muniter.
5. Reftriaive, feu
SYNECDOCHIKOS ; pro, (1.) Praecipuis.
£2,) Romanis.
2 do. Accidentium ;
1. Corruption^ — Un¬
de fumitur pro,
•»
A.) Ipfa corruption*:. U.) Sede corruptionis.
\3-) Terrena conditio- ne.
2. Malediaionis.
The world is taken,
I. Subjeaively :
1 ft. Totally.
2 dly. Partially ; tor,
1. The vifible heaven.
2. The habitable earth.
II. Adiunaively : in refpea
of’
tjl. The inhabitants ; and that,
1. Colleaively, for
the whole
2. Diftributively: for (1.) Any.
(2.) Many.
3. Signally ; for,
(1.) The good, or elea.
{2.) The wicked, or re¬
probate.
4. Indifferently, or
in common. Reftriaively, or fynecdochically ; ior (1.) The chief.
(2.) The Romans.
2 dly. The accidents ;
1. Of corruption, — whence it is taken for,
(1.) Corruption itfelf. (2.) The feat of corrup¬ tion.
(3.) The earthly condi¬ tion.
2. Of the curfe.
Thefe diftinftions of the ule of the word, the following obfervations.
are made out in
The
188
Arguments for Univerfal Redemption.
wap" v f m’U ‘h' ScriP“re » » general taken E„e
S'-jmsss » if' Ci-5>r^ h«n„e;ns
quently, as Pfal. xxiv. i . and xc viii 7 Ma,?d - * H fr*'
«• 9- and iii. 17, lp. and Vr x] and •• Xm- 3^ j0hn 15. and vi. 7. y andxvi1- Ji. 1 Tim, i.
2. For the world contained \ tfpeciallv men in u
reltriflion or enlargements, John wli. I’ltJ. S”’i 1''"'l‘r°llj
xvii, at. 1 Cor. iv. * I 4 ®=™' *• &
great par, of the Lu, Rom. ^^STSST^ xxvi. jo. Rom y (r \ n -n. , cr* XXIV* 14* and
^.,“:rs;!:’s:S:sS'StnK'“s;rp'ii
w, 3 ‘ ', *'or t!lf. corrupted, or that univerfal corruption
winch is in ail things ,n it ; as Gal. i. 4. and vi 1, Fnh
£ *• Ja!nes '• 2vnd iv- 4* 1 John ii. 1<5) l6 4;7 ph;
Co. vi. 3,. 33. Col ii. 8. 2 Tim. iv. 10. Rom XJ 2 1 tor. ,. 2o, 21. and iii. ,8, ,9. xu* 2‘
PA‘ ,For.a terrene worldly ejlate or condition of men or things
Pff lxx!il- 12- ^ke xvi. 8. Johnxviii. 36. j 7oho iv f and very many other places. 6 ** 0 v' <5*
7il F°r the ™°rld occur fed, as under the power of Satan
n ior ,V 71 r -3°- a"d™' *•" 83- • Cor.
2 ^or* u* 4. Fph. vi. 12.
And divers other fignifications hath this word in holv writ wh.chj are needlefs to recount. Thefe I have rehearfed to Slew tne vanity of that clamour wherewith fome men ’fill
their
General Anfwers unto
their mouths , end fright® uuditble k«W£j. ^ ture mentioning (world) fo often ; intlie bulinds otredemp-
tiott, a. though tome Uteng.h ‘
ft tales haoet ; 11 their gredit j a
ihnatlCve ISJrZt as 1 have declared.
endeavour is like to prove Jiumtjs.' . n-ntnrp* fo
that it hath divers other acceptations in Sonpture
when I come to a confideration of their obvious, that ole the word tor Utis purpofe, I hope . b, God’s aIM.nce to fltew. that in no one place wherein it is ufed in this bufmefs of re¬ demption, that it is or can be taken for all and every man in
the world; as indeed it is in very few places befides. So
that concerning this word, our way will be clear; il to what hath been faid ye add thefe obfervations.
(i.) That as in other words, fo m this, ‘here >s >n the Scripture ufually an antanaklasis , w ere } * e fame word is ingeminated, in a different fenfe and accep¬ tation, fo Math. viii. 22. Let the dead bury their dead ; dead, in the firft place denoting them that are fpirit ually dead in fin; in the next, thole that are naturally dead, by a oiffolution ©f the foul and body. So John i. n. he came eis ta ioi A unto his own-, even all things that he had made; kai hoi idioi, his own, that is the grealeft part of the people re- ceived him not. So again, John in. 6. That which is born of the fpirit is fpirit; fpirit in the firft place, is the A - mighty Spirit of God ; in the latter, a fpmtual life of grace received from him. Now, in fuch places as thefe, to ar¬ gue that fuch is the fignification of the word in one place therefore in the other; were violently to pervert the mind o
the Holy Ghoft.
Thus alfo is the word, world , ufually changed in the niean- ing thereof; fo John i. 10, He was in the world , and the world was made by him , and the world knew him not; he that Ihould force the fame fignification upon the word, in that triple mention of it, would be an egregious gl offer; for in the firft, it plainly fignifieth lome part of the inhabitable earth, and is’ taken fubjedivf merikos ; in the fecond, the whole frame of heaven and earth, and is taken Jubjetlwe HQLiKos; and in the third, tor fome men living in the earth viz, unbelievers, who may be faid to be die world adjuntlive . So again, John iii. 17. Godfent not Jus Son into the world , to condemn the world ; but that the woild through
him might be favtd ; where by the world in the firft, ȣ ^eeefi* 0 1 iarily
Arguments for Vnwerjul Redemption.
wherein 5" "o de.rftood that Part of the inhabitable world wherein our Saviour converfed ; in the fecond all men „
our Savin' “ '°me fuppofe : aIlb there » a truth in it, as
condemns?; "0t t0 condemn a!) men in the world; for
bu?he am?To°f:,?enVWaS n0t thf prime aim of his doming ;
uu'- Iie came to lave ms own neon p ariri _ , , , o *
all) inthethirrl r vi'. i and Io "ot to condemn
■ i ■ , » s eleft or be levers living in the wnrld
7 ! «bo were they wfo" £ 'nTeni
the endeavour of Chrift is’ infnffiV f* ^ pUrp°fe’ and
of that ^hereunto it fs defied "" ** ™*&*°**
hmhZ\° arfmer!t can be tak“ from a phrafe of peech in the Scripture, m any particular place if in other
places thereof where it is ufed, the fignification preflbd froS
that place is evidently denied; uniefs the fcope Ef the place
or (ubjeft matter, do enforce it. For inftance, God is faid to
love the world, and fend his Son ; to be in Chrift reconci-
Km Ttl t0/h)mfel7, and Chrift t0 bs a propitiation for therms of the whole world; if the fcope of the places where
S' enfo 1 U°nS tnf fubjeft matter of wl»ch they treat,
wih enforce an un.veriahty of all perfons to be meant by
the word world-, io let it be, without controul. But if not l lere e no enforcement of any fuch interpretation from the places themfelves ; why fhnuld the world there fignify al. and every one ? more than in John i. io. The world knew him not; winch if it be meant of all without exception, then no one did believe in Cm. ft, which is contrary to ver/e 12; or in u 'en. i. That all tne world fliould be taxed; when none u t e chief inhabitants of the Roman empire can be under- ftooo ; or m John viii. 26. / [peak to the world thofe things which 1 have heard of him ; undemanding the Jews to whom he fpaice, who then lived in the world, and not every one to whom he was not fent ; or in John xii. lg. Behold the world is gone after Him; which world was nothing but a great multitude of one fmall nation; or in 1 John v. io. The whole world lieth in wickedne/s ; from which notwith¬ standing, all believers are to be underflood as exempted ; or m i\ev. xiii. g. All the world wondered after the beajl ; which whether it be affirmed of the whole univerfality of individu¬ al in toe woild, let all judge. That all nations, an exprefli- oa 01 equal extent with that of the world, is in like manner to be underftood, is apparent, Rom. i. 5. Rev. xviii. a, 2a.
1 la!, cxym. 10. 1 Chron. xiv. 17. Jer. xxviii. 7, And it
feeing evident that the words, world, all the world, the whole
world ,
General Anfwers unto igi
world— dc, where taken adjunftively for men in the world, u- fually and almoft always denote only fome ; or many men in the world, diftinguilhed into good or bad, believers or unbehe- vers eleft or reprobate; by what is immediately in the feveral places affirmed ot them; I fee noreafon in the world, why they ihonld be wrefted to any other meaning or fenle, m the places that are in controverfy between us and oui opponents. 1 he particular places we fiiall afterwards confider.
zdly. Now as we have faid of the word world, fo we may of the word all ; wherein much ftrength is placed, and many caufelefs boaftings are raifed from it. That it is no where affirmed in the Scripture, that Chrift died for all men, or gave hirafelf a ranfom lor all men, much lefs for all and eve¬ ry man, we have before declared. That he gave himfelf a, ranfom for all, is exprefsly affirmed, 2 Tim. n. 6. but now who this all ffiould be, whether all believers, oral! the eleft, or fome of all forts, or all of every fort ; is in debate. Our adverfaries affirm the laft ; and the main reafon they bring to affert their interpretation, is from the importance of the word itfelf ; for, that the circumftances of the place, the analogy of faith, and the other helps for expofition, do not at all favour their glofs, we fhall {hew, when we come to the particular places urged. For the prelent, let us look upon the word in its ufual acceptation in the Scripture ; and fearch whether it always neceirarily requires fuch an in- terpretation.
That the word all , being ufed among all forts of men, fpeaking and writing or any way exprefling themfelves, but efpeciallv in holy writ ; is to be taken either colleElively , lor all in general, without exception, or dij l rib u lively, tor tome of all forts, excluding none ; is more apparent, than that it can require any illuftrarion. That it is fometimes taken in the firft fenfe, for all colle&ively, is granted, and I need not prove it ; they whom we oppofe, affirming that this is the only fenfe of the word : though I dare boldly fay, it is not once in ten times fo to be underflood, in the ufage ot it through the whole book ot God ; but that it is commonly, and indeed properly, ufed in the latter fenfe, for fome ot a’l forts, concerning whatfoever it is affirmed ; a few inftances for many that might be urged, will make it clear. Thus then ye have it, John xii. 32. And /, if 1 bt lifted up from the earth , will draw all unto me : that we tranflate it all meny as in other places, (for though I know the fenfe may be the fame, yet the word men being not in the original, but only
PANT AS,
Arguments for Univerjal Redemption.
pantas, all) I cannot approve. But who (I pray) are thefe all ? are they all and every one ? then are all and eve
ry?nff d!\wn t0 C.hnft. made believers, and truly converted" and lha.l be certainly faved ; for thofe that come unto him’ y his and h1S Father s drawing, he will in no ways cqfl out John vi. 37. AU then, can here be no more than' many fome oi all forts, no fort excluded; according as the word is in erpreted in Rev. v. 9. Thou hajl redeemed us out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Thefe are the c/. he draws to him ; which expofition of this phrafe, is u uh me of more value and efteem, than a thoufand gloffes of the fons of men. So Luke xi. 42. where our tranflator have made the word to figmfy immediately and properly (for tranflators are to keep clofe to the propriety and native fini- ncation of every word) what we aflert to be the right inter- pretation of it ; for they render pan lachanon, (which Rhetos is every herb) all manner of herbs; taking the word (as it mu ll be) diflributively for herbs of all forts, and not for every individual herb, which the Pbarifees did not, could not
‘/‘n6’ 4.nd 10 very fame fenfe is word ufed again, Luke xviu. 12. 1 give tythes of all that I poffefs ; where it
cannot fign.fy every individual thing, as is apparent. Moft evident alfo is this reftrained Ggnification of the word Afts 11. 17. I will pour out of my jpirit upon all fie [h, epi pa- SAN SARK.A ; which whether it comprifeth every man or no, let every man judge ; and not rather men of feveral and lundry forts. The lame courfe of interpretation as formerly is followed by our tranflators, Afls x. 12. rendering pasta ta tetrapoda (literally all beafls, or four footed creatures) all manner of beajls% or beafts of fundry feveral forts. In the fame fenfe aifo muft it be underftood, Rom. xi’v. 2. One believe ta that he may eat all things ; that is what he pleaf- eth, of things to be eaten of ; fee moreover, 1 Cor. i. c. Yea m that very chapter, where men fo eagerly contend that the word all is to be taken for all and everyone, (though fruitlefs and fallely, as fhall be demonftrated ;) viz. 1 Tim. ii. 4. where it is faid, that God will have all men to be faved m that very chapter (confefledly) the word is to be expound¬ ed according to the fenfe we give, viz. verfe 8. I will there- for e that men pray every where enpantx topo; which that it cannot fignify every individual place, in heaven, earth or hell, is of all confeffed, and neederh no proof ; no more than when our Saviour is faid to cure pasan noson, a* Matt. ix. 35. there is need to prove, that he did not cure every difeafe of every man, but only all forts of difeafes. Sun-
*93
9
General Anfwers unta
Sundry other inftances might be given, to tnanifcft that this is the moft ufual and frequent figniHcation of the word all in holy Scripture ; and theretore from the hire word no¬ thing can be inferred, to enforce an ablolute unlimited uni- verfality of all individuals to be intimated thereby, Gie par¬ ticular places infilled on, we fhall afterwards confider .
(hall conclude all, concerning thefe general expreflions that are uled in the Scripture about this bufinefs, in thefe obier- vations, viz .
1. the word all, is certainly and unqueftionably fometimes reftrained, and to be reftrained to all of joint forts ; although the qualification be not exprelTed, which is the bond of the limitation ; fo for all believers, l Cor. xv. 22. Lphef. iv. 6. and Rom. v. 18. The free gift came upon all men unto juflification of life; which all men, that are fo aftually j ufti— fied, are no more nor lefs than thofe that are Chrift s ; that is, believers ; for certainly juflification is not without fait n .
2. The word all is fometimes uled for fome of all foils f as in Jer. xxxi. 34. where they word KQLIM is by Paul rendered pantes, all , Heb. viii. 11. lo John xii. 32, and 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2, 3. which is made apparent Dy the men¬ tion of kings , as one fort of people there intended. And I make no doubt but it will appear to all, that \.he word mull be taken in one of thefe fenfes, in every place where it is ufed in the bufinefs of redemption; as {hall be proved.
3. Let a diligent companion be made, between the gene¬ ral expreflions of the New, with the predi&ions of me Old Teftament ; and they will be found to be anfwerable to, and expofnory of one another ; the Lord affirming in the New, that that was done, which in the Old he foretold fhould be done. Now in the predictions and prophecies of the Old Teftament, (that all nations, all flejh, all people, all the ends , families , or kindreds of the earth, the world, Pie whole earth, the ifles, fhall be converted, look up to Chrift, come to the mountain of the Lord, and the like,) none doubts but that the ele£t of God in all nations, are only flgmfied ; knowing that in them alone, thofe prediftions have the truth of their accompliffiments; and why fhould the fame expreflions uled in the gofpel, and many of them aiming dire£l!y to declare the fulfilling of the other, be wire drawn to a larger extent, fo contrary to the mind of the Holy Ghoft 1 In fine, as when the Lord is faid to wipe tears from all faces, it hinders not but the reprobates fhall be cafl out to eternity, where thefe is
weeping
B h
*94 Arguments for Vniverfai Redemption .
weeping and Wailing ; fo when Chrift is faid to die for all it Hinders not* but thofe reprobates may perifh to eternity for tlieir (ms ; without any effe&ua! remedy intended for them, inough occafionaily propofed to fame of them.
VL Ohferve* that the Scripture often fpeaketh of things and per.ons according to the appearance they have, and the
iu count that is of them amongft men ; or that efleem that
.y nravc t^em> to whom it fpeaketh ; frequently fpeak- icg o men and unto men, as in the condition wherein they are according to outward appearance, upon which human judgment muff proceed ; and not what they are indeed, ihus, many are called and faid to be wife , Sufi, and righto- ous, according as they are fo effeemed ; though the Lord know them to be foohfh fmners. So Jerufaltm is called the ioi\ city , i xxvii. £3, becaufe it was fo in efleem and ap¬ pearance ; when indeed it was a very den of thieves. And £ ^nron. xxvm. 23. it is faid of Akaz that wicked King of Judah, that tie facrificed to the gods of Damafcus, which fmote him; it was the Lord alone that fmote him ; and thofe idols to whom he facrificed, were but flocks and flones, the work of men s hands, which comd no way help themfelves, much lefs frmte their enemies ; yet the Holy Ghoft ufeth an expreflion anfwermg his idolatrous perfuafion ; and faith, They fmote him. NTay is it not faid of Chrifl, John v. 18. that he had broken the aabbath ; which yet he only did, in the corrupt o- pinion of the blinded Pharifees ? r
Add moreover to what hath been faid, that which is of no efs an undeniaole truth ; viz. that many things which are pioper and peculiar to the children of God, are oft and fre¬ quently affigned to others, who live in the fame outwTard com¬ munion with them, and are partakers of the fame external privileges ; though indeed aliens in refpeft of the participati¬ on of the grace of the promife. Put, I fay, thefe two things, whicn aie moll evident, together ; and it will eafily appear, inat thofe places which feem to exprefs a poflibility of pe- lifhing and eternal deflru£lion, to them who are faid to be re¬ deemed by the blood of Chrifl, are no ways advantageous to the adverfaries of the effedlual redemption of God’s ele£i by the blood of Chrifl ; becaufe fuch may be faid to be redeem¬ ed KATA TEN DOXAN, not KATA TEN ALETHE 1 AN ; KATA to pi-iainesthai, not kata to einai ; inref-
pe£l of appearance, not reality, as is the ufe of the Scripture, in divers other things.
VII. That which is fpoken according to the judgment ef
charity,
General Anfwers unto 19$
oharity , on our parts, muft not always be exaRly fquared and made anfwerabie to verity , in iefjpe6t oi them of whom any thing is affirmed ; for the reditude of our judgment it iuf- ficeth, that we proceed according to the rules of judging that are given us; for what is out of our cognifance, whether that anfwers to our judgments or not, belongs not to us. i hus oftentimes the apoftles in the Scriptures write unto men, arid term them holy, faints , yea defied ; but from thence pofitive- ly to conclude that they were fo all indeed, we have no war¬ rant. So Peter calls all the Grangers to whom he wrote, fcattered throughout Pontus , Galatia , Capadocia , Afia, and Bithynia , tied according -to the fore-knowledge oj God the Fa¬ ther, 1 Pet. i. 1, 2. and yet that I have any warrant to con¬ clude de fide , that all were fuch, none dare affirm. So Paul tells the Thejfatonians , the whole church to whom he wrote, that he knew their eledion of God , 1 The IT. i. 4. and 2 ThefT. ii. 13. he bleiTeth God who hath chofen them to falva- tion ; now, did not Paul make his judgment of them by the rule of charity ? according as he affirms in another place, it is meet for me to think this of you all , Ph. i. 7. and can it, ought it hence to be infallibly concluded, that they were all ele&ed ? If fome of thefe ffiould be found to fall away trom the gofpel, and to have periffied ; would an argu¬ ment from thence be valid, that the ele£f might perilh ? would we not prefently anlwer, that they were laid to be e- !e£Ied according to the judgment of charity, not that they were fo indeed ? And why is not this anfwer as fufficient and fatisfying, when it is given to the objection taken from the periffiing of fome, who were faid to be redeemed merely in the judgment of charity ; as they were faid to be e- le£led ?
VIII. The infallible connexion, according to God’s purpofe and will, of faith and falvation, which is frequently the thing intended in gofpel propofals; rnuft be confidered. The Lord hath in his counfel eftabiiffied it, and revealed in his word, that there is an diffoluble bond between thefe two things, lo that whofoever believeth fhall be faved, Mark xvi. 16. which indeed is the fubftance of the gofpel, in the outward promul¬ gation thereof. This is the teftimony of God, that eternal life is in his Son ; which whofo believeth, he fets to his feal that God is true ; he who believer, not, doing what in him lieth to make God a liar, 1 John v. 9, io, 11. Now this connexion of the means and the end , faith and life, is the on¬ ly, thing which is fignified and held out to innumerable perfons
to
*9^ Arguments for Univerfal Redemption »
to whom the gofpel is preached ; all the commands, profers, and promifes that are made to them, intimating no more than this will of God, that believers fhall certainly be faved; which is an unqueftionable divine verity, and a fufficient objeft for fuper natural faith to reft upon ; and which, being not clofed with, is a fufficient caufe of damnation, John viii. 24. If you believe not that I am he , (that is, the way, the truth and the life) yt fhall die in your Jins . ?
It is a va;n imagination of ifome, that when the command find promife of believing are given out to any man ; that tho’ lie be of the number of them that (hall certainly periffi, yet the Lord hath a conditional will of his falvation ; and* in- tends that he fhall be faved, on condition that he will believe; when the condition lieth not at all in the will of God, which is always abfolute ; but is only between the things to them propofed, as was before declared, and thofe poor deluded things, who will be ftanding upon their own legs, before they are able to crawl, and might juftly be perfuaded to hold by men of more ftrength, do exceedingly betray their own con¬ ceited ignorance ; when with great pomp they hold out the broken pieces of an old Arminian fophifm, with acclamations of grace to this new difcovery, (for fo they think of all that’s new to them,) viz. that, as is God’s profer, fo is his intenti¬ on ; but he calls to all to believe and be faved, therefore he intends it to all. For,
lft. God doth not profer life to all, upon the condition of faith ; paffing by a great part of mankind, without any fuch profer made to them at all.
2 dly. If by God’s profer , they underftand his command sind promife ; who told them that thefe things were declara¬ tive of his will and purpofe, or intention? He commands Pharaoh to let his people go ; but did he intend he fhould fo do, according to his command ? had he not foretold, that he would fo order things, that he fhould not let them go ? I thought always that God’s commands and promifes had re¬ vealed our duty, and not his purpofe ; what God would have ns to do, and not what he will do. His promifes indeed, as particularly applied, hold out his mind to the perfons to whom they are applied ; but as indefinitely propofed, they reveal no other intentions of God, but what we before difco- vered, which concerns things, not perfons ; even his deter¬ minate purpofe infallibly to conne£l faith and falvation.
3 dly. If the profer be (as they fay) univerfal, and the in¬ dention of God be anfwerable thereunto ; that is, he intends
the
General Anfaers unt9 1 97
' / t?
the falvation of them to whom the tender of it upon faith it made or may be fo ; then, l. What becomes of eleaion and reprobation ? neither of them, certainly can confift with this univerfal purpofe of faving of all. 2. If he intends it, why is it then not accomplifhed ; doth he fail ol his purpofe ? Dum vitant vitium Jlulti , in contraria currunt ; is not this certain Scylla, worle than the other feared Charybdis ?
3ut they fay he intended it only upon condition / and the con~ dition being not fulfilled , he fails not tn his purpofe, tho the thing be not conferred . But did the Lord foreknow, whether the condition would be fulfilled by them to whom the pro- pofal was made, or not ? if not ; where is his prcfcience, his omnifcience ? if he did ; how can he be faid to intend fal¬ vation to them, of whom he certainly knew that they would never fulfil the condition on which it was to be attained ; and moreover, knew it with this circumftance, that the condition was not to be attained without his bellowing, and that he had determined not to bellow it ? Would they aferibe fuch a will and purpofe to a wife man, as they do ignorantly and pre- lumptuoufly to the only wife God ? viz. that he fhould intend to have a thing done, upon the performance of fuch a con¬ dition as he knew full well without him could never be per¬ formed, and he had fully refolved not to effeft it : for in- flance, to give his daughter in marriage to fuch a one, upon condition he would give him fuch a jewel as he hath not, nor can have, unlefs he beflow it upon him; which he is refolved never to do. Oh whither will blindnefs and ignorance, ef- teemed light and knowledge, carry poor deluded fouls ?
This then is the main thing demoriilrated and held out in the promulgation of the gofpel, efpecially for what concerns unbelievers : even the flrift connexion between the duty of faith afligned, and the benefit of life promifed : which hath a truth of univerfal extent ; grounded upon the plenary fuffi- ciency of the death of Chrift, towards all that fhall believe. And I lee no reafon why this fhould be termed part oj the myjlery oj the univerfalijis , (though the lowelt part) (as it is by M. S . page 202) that the gofpel could not be preached to all , unlefs Chrifl died for all : which, with what is mentioned be¬ fore, concerning another and higher part of it, is an old rot¬ ten, carnal and long-fmce-confuted fophifm ; arifing out of the ignorance of the word and right reafon, which are no way contrary.
IX. The mixt diflribution of the ele£l and reprobates, be¬ lievers and unbelievers, according to the purpofe and mind
of
%
i 3
Arguments for Univerfal Redemption .
of God, throughout the whole world, and in the federal places thereof, in all or mo ft of the fingle congregations ; jg another ground of holding out a tender of the blood of J&* fits Chrilt, to them for whom it was never fhed, as is appa¬ rent in the event, by the ineffeCiualnefs of its propofals. The mi; iflers of the gofpel, who are ftewards of the myfteries of Chrift, and to whom the word of reconciliation is committed, brng acquainted only with revealed things, (the Lord lodg¬ ing his purpofes and intentions towards particular perfons in the feeret ark of his own bofom, not to be pryed into) are bound to admonifh all, and warn all men, to whom they are lent : giving out the fame commands, propofing the fame promifes, making tenders of Jefus Chrift in the fame manner to all ; that the ele&, whom they know not, but by the event, may obtain, while the reft are hardened. Now thefe things being thus ordered by him who hath the fupreme dilpofal of all, (viz. full, that there fhould be fuch a mixture of eleCl and reprobate, of tares and wheat, to the end of the world; and fecondly, that Chr ift, and reconciliation through him, fhould be preached by men ignorant of his eternal diferimi- nating purpofes) there is an abfolute neceflity of two other things : firft, that the promifes muft have a kind of unre - /trained generality , to be fuitable to this difpenfaiion before recounted ; fecondly, that they muft be propofed to them, to¬ wards whom the Lord never intended the good things of the promifes ; they having a iliare in this propofal, by their mix¬ ture in this world with the eleCf of God. So that from the general propofuion of Chrift in the promifes, nothing can be concluded concerning his death for all to whom he is propof- ; as having another rife and occafion.
The fum is, — the word of reconciliation being committed to men unacquainted with God’s diftinguifhing counfels, to be preached to men of a various mixt condition in refpeCf of his purpofe ; and the way whereby he hath determined to bring his own home to himfelf, being by exhortations, m- tveauss, promifes, and the like means, accommodated to the isafonable nature, whereof all are partakers to whom the work is lent ; which are fuited alfo to the accomplifhment of ether ends, towards the reft, as conviction, reftrainr, harden¬ ing, knexcufablenefs : it cannot be, but the propofal and offer jkuft neceftarily be made to fome upon condition ; who in- teniionally and in refpeft of the purpofe of God, have no rj„ht unto it, in the juft aim and intendment thereof. Only
for a dole, obferve thefe two things : firft, that the profer
itfelf
ed
General Anfwers nnt$ jety
itfelf neither is, nor ever was abfolutely universal to all, but only indefinite, without refpett to outward differences ; fe~ condly, that Chrift being not to be received without faith, and God giving faith to whom he pleafeth ; it is manifeff that he never intendeth Chrift to them, on whom he will not beftow faith.
X. The faith which is enjoined and commanded in the gofpel, hath divers feveral a&s, and different degrees ; in the exercife whereof it proceedeth orderly, according to the natural method of the propofal of the objefis to»be believed ; the confideration whereof is of much uie in the bufinefs in hand; our adverfaries pretending that if Chrift died not for all, then in vain are they exhorted to believe ; there being in¬ deed no prop- r obje£t for the faith of innumerable perfons, becaufe Cl.nft did not die for them : as tho* the gofpel did hold out this do&rine, in the very entrance of all, that Chrift died for every one, eie£l and reprobate ; or as tho* that the firft thing which any one living under the means of grace is exhorted to believe, were, that Chrift died for him in par¬ ticular; both which are notorioufly falfe, as I hope in the clofe of our undertaking will be made manifeft to all. Fur the prefent I (hall only intimate fomething of what I faid be¬ fore, concerning the order of txercifing the * feveral ails of Jaiih ; whereby it will appear, that no one in the world is commanded or invited to believe, but that be hath a futfici- ent obje£l to fix the a61 of faith on, of truth enough for its foundation, and latitude enough for its utmoft exercife which is enjoined him.
ijt. The fir ft thing which the gofpel enjoineth fmners, and which it perfuades and commands them to believe, is, that falvation is not to be had in themf elves , in as much as all have finned and come Jhort of the glory of God ; nor by the works of the law, by which no fifth living can he juft fed. Here is a fa vi ng gofpel truth for boners to believe, which the apoftle dwells upon wholly, Rom. chap. i. ii. hi. to prepare a way lor juftification by Chrift. Now what numberlefs numbers are they to whom the gospel is preached, who never come fo far as to believe fo much as this ? attiongft whom you may reckon almoft the whole nation of the Jews , as is apparent Rom. ix, x. 3. 4. Now not to go one ftep further with a- ny propofal, a contempt of this objefil of faith is the fin of infidelity.
2 dly\ The gofpel requires faith to this, that there is faiva- &jor, to be had in the pro-mi fed feed, m him who was before
ordained
2®0
Arguments jor Univerfat Redemption .
ordained to be a captain of falvation to them that do be¬ lieve ; and here alfo at this trial, fome millions of the great army of men outwardly called, drop off; and do never believe with true divine faith, that God hath provided a way for the faving of finners.
3 dly, That Jefus of Nazareth, who was crucified by the Jews , was this Saviour, promifed before ; and that there is no name under heaven given whereby they may be faved , bejides his . And this was the main point upon which the Jews broke off ; refufing to accept of Chrift as the Saviour of men, but rather profecuting him as an enemy of God; and are there¬ upon fo oft charged with infidelity and damnable unbelief. The queftion was not between Chrift and them, whether he died for them all or not ; but whether he was the Mejias promifed ; which they denied, and perifhed in their unbelief. Now, before thefe three afts of faith be performed, in vain is the foul exhorted further to climb the uppermoft Heps, and mifs all the bottom foundation ones.
4 thly. The gofpel requires a refling upon this Chrift, fo difeovered and believed on to be the promifed Redeemer, as an all-fufficient Saviour ; with whom is plenteous redemp¬ tion, and who is able to fave to the utmofl them that come to God by him, and to bear the burden of all weary labour¬ ing fouls, that come by faith to him. In which propofal there is a certain infallible truth, grounded upon the fupera- bundant fufficiency of the oblation of Chrift in itfelf, for whomfoever (fewer or more) it be intended. Now much felf-knowledge, much conviftion, much fenfe of fin, of God’s juftice, and free grace, is required to the exercife of this aft of faith. Good Lord ! how many thoufand poor fouls within the pale of the church can never be brought un¬ to it ? The truth is, without the help of God’s Spirit none of thofe three before, much lefs this laft, can be performed ; which worketh freely, when, how and in whom it pleafeth.
gthly. Thefe things being firmly feated in the foul, (and not before) we are every one called, in particular, to believe the efficacy of the redemption that is in the blood of Jefus, toward our own fouls in particular: which every one may affuredly do, in whom the free grace of God hath wrought the former afts of faith, and doth work this alfo, without either doubt, or fear of want of a right objeft to believe, if they Ihould fo do; for certainly Chrift died for every one, in whofe hearts the Lord by his almighty power works effeftu- ajSy faith, to lay hold on him, and affent unto him accord-
• i n
I
General Anfwers unto &c<
20i
ing to that orderly propofol that is held forth in the gofpe'.
Now according to this order (as by fome it is obferved) are the articles of our faith difpofed in the apoftles erect. , (that 'antient fummary of chriftian religion, commonly fo called) the remilTion of our fins, and life eternal, being in the lalt place propofed to be believed : lor before we attain o <u, the reft muft be firmly rooted. So that it is a fentelels vanity^ to cry out of the nullity of the objeft to be believed, it 11 1 died not for all ; there being an abfolute truth in every thing which any is called to aflent unto, according to the or¬ der of the gofpel. f
And fo I have propofed the general foundations or tnole
anfwers, which we fhall give to the enfuing objeflions : whereon to to make particular application of them, will oe an eafy rafk ; as I hope will be made apparent unto all.
4. 4* 4 4 4 4 4* ❖ * * * * + 4* ^
chap. ii.
ir
An entrance to the anfwer unto particular objections.
NOW we come to the confideration of the obje&ions* wherewith the doBrine we have from the word of Go i undeniably confirmed, is ufually with great noiie and cla¬ mour aflaulted : concerning which I muft give you theie three cautions, before I come to lay them down.
The fir ft whereof is this,— -that for my own part 1 had ra« ther they were all buried, than once brought to light in op- pofition to the truth of God, which they feem to deface ; and therefore were it left to my choice, I would not produce any one of them : not that there is any difficulty or weight in them, that the removal ffiould be operofe or burdenfome 5 but only that I am not willing to be any way inftrumenta!, to give breath or light to that which oppofeth the truth of God. But becaule in thefe times of liberty and error, 1 fuppofe the moft of them have been objeQed to the reader already, by men lying in wait to deceive ; or are likely to be fl> 1 fhall therefore (hew you the poifon ; and withal turnilh you with an antidote againft the venom of inch felf-feekers as our days abound withal.
Secondly, I muft defire you, that when ye hear an oo« je£tion, ye would not be carried away with the found of: words, nor fuffer it to take an impreffion upon your f pirns *
Q e
remembering
ObjeSims particularly &nfwtred%
sememfeering with how many demon ft rations, and innuraer- able places of Scripture, the truth oppofed by them, hath been confirmed : bin reft yourfelves until the places be well weighed, the arguments pondered, the an! wets fet down ; and
then the Lord dtre& you to try all things, and hold fail* that which is good.
Thirdly, That you would diligently obferve, what comes near thtjlre/s ol the controvedy, and the thing wherein the difference hetb ; ieaving ail other ilourilhes and fwelling w'ouis of vanity, as of no weight, of no importance.
Now the objections laid again!! the truth maintained, are of two forts ; toe fiofi, taken from the Scripture perverted, the $ther from reafoa abufed : we begin with the firft, viz!
OBJECTIONS jrom SCRIPTURE.
All the places of Scripture that may any way feem to con- tradiR our affertion, are by our ^jirongejl adversaries in their greatejl Jlrength, referred to three heads : Ri ft, thofe places that affum that Cnnll died for the world > or otherways that make mention of the word world , in the bufinefs of redemp¬ tion ; fecondly, thofe that mention all, and every man ; either in the work of Chrift’s dying for them, or where God is faid to will their falvation ; thirdly,— thofe which affirm Chrift bought, or died for them that periffi. Hence they draw out three principal arguments or fophifms , on which they much infill ; all which we ffiall by the Lord’s affillance confider in their fevera! order, with the places of Scripture brought to confirm and ftrengthen them.
OBJECTION I.
1 he Rrft k taken from the word world ; and is thus pro- poled by them, to whom our poor pretenders are indeed ve¬ ry children, viz .
“ He that is given out of the love wherewith God loved the world,” as John iii. 16. “that gave himfelf for the life of the world,” as John v i. 51. and was “a propitiation ** f°r the fins of the whole world,” 1 John ii. 2. (to which add John i. 29. and iv. 42. 2 Cor . v. 19. cited by Armin . page «53°> <53 1 and Corvin. and Molin . page, 442. chap. 29.) He was given and died for every man in the world ; but the is true of Chrift, as appears by the places before
“ alledged;
* Remonjlrmiium affa Syngdalia.
f
and Places- of Scrip/me opened*
*03-
» alledued • therefore he died for all and eve»y one.” Hctjou*
aQ? Synod! page 300. and to das they fay iter adverfane*
But granting them the liberty of boafttng ; we «Wy«tejr. without feeking for colours, the confequem of the fail pro- pofition ; and will by the Lord’s help at any time pm u to the trial, whether we have not juft caufe Jo to do or not. There be two ways whereby they go about to prove thts con- fequent from the word world, to ^ and every one: firft. by reafon and the lenfe of the word ; fccondly, from the coaf- deration of the particular places ol Scripture urged. We
will try them in both. / • f
I. If they will make it out by the way of realomng, I
conceive they mull argue thus ; . . / j
T Jilt whole world contains all and every man in .at world ;
Chnj died for the whole world ; therefore, 13c.
An [ho. Here are manifeftly lour terms in this fyllogifm, a. rifing from the ambiguity of the word world ; and .0 no tru* medium on which the weight ot the conclufton fliould hang . The world, in the firft propofuion, being taken for the world sontainmg ; in the fecond, for the world contained, or men in the world, as is, too apparent, to be made a jhing to b# proved ; fo that unlefs ye render the conclufton, therefore Chn/l died for that which contains all the men in the world,. and affert in th tajfumption, that Chrift died for the world ' con¬ taining, or the fabric of the habitable earth, (which is a ,ien- zy ;) this fyllogifm is mod fophiftically falfe. It then ye wnl take anv proof from the word world; it mult not be from the thing itfelf, but from the fignifkation ot the wotd in the
sully. This word world in the Scripture, fignifieth all and re- very man in the world ; hut Chrijl is J aid to die for hit wor.d ;
ergo. kc. . , ~ • <- •
Anfzv. The firft propofuion, concerning trie jignracatien.
and meaning^of the word world, is either univcrfal compie- hendin<* all places where it is ufed ; or particular, intending onlv fome. If the firft, the propofuion is apparently falle, as was manifefted before ; if in the fecond way, then the argu¬ ment muft be thus formed ;
<xdly. In fome places in Scripture, the word \vox\a. fignifieth all and every man in the world, of all ages, times and conditi¬ ons ; but Chrift is faid to die for the world ; ergo, 13 c.
Anfw. That this fyllogifm is no better than the former, is
moft evident ; an univerlal conclufton being inferred from a
particulaf
particularly anfwered \
L,iuT PrTfi"?n- Butnow> thefirft propofition being
g* y foitned : I have one quell ion to demand concerning
he Second, or the affumption, viz. whether in every place w ere there is mention made of the death of Chrift, it is laid’ • iie died for the world ; or only in fome places ? If Ve fav in
every place ; that 1S apparently falle, as hath been already difcovered by thofe many texts of Scripture before product reftram.ng the death of Chrift to his ded, his V, his’ church; in companion whereof thefe other texts afe but few : it the fecond, then the argument muft run thus ;
, ,f 7' jn (?me, few 'Places °f Scripture, the word world do h fignify aL and every man in the world-, but in fome feu
faus thrift is fold to die for the world, (though not in ex- ftrejs words, yet in terms equivalent ;) ergo, 8tc
'Jft Th!S ar?un,ent is fo weak, ridiculous and fophifti- y laife, that it cannot but be evident to any one • and
yet clearly Iron, the word world itfelf, it will not be made a- ny better ; and none need defire that it fhould be worfe. It concludes an untverfal, upon particular affirmatives ; and be¬ iges with four terms apparent in ^ unlefs the
J,ome places tn the firfl propofition, be proved to be the very iome p aces in the affumption ; which is the thing in quefti- on. So that if any lirength be taken from this word, it muft £>e an argument in this form ;
If the word world doth fignify all and every man , that ever
tvere or Jhalt be , m thofe places where Ch rijl is [aid to die for the
tvorid; then Chrijl died for all and every man ; but the word
word, in all thofe places where Chrijl is faid to die for the
dd :0t, d7Smjy and every man in the world : therefore Chnjl died for them.
1 hat it is but in one place faid, that Chrift gave his life lor the v/orld, or died for it ; which holds out the in¬ dention of our Saviour; all the other places, feem only to hold out the fufficiency of his oblation, tor all ; which we aifo maintain. . a. We abfolutely deny the affumption ; and ap- Pe3i tor trial, to a confideration of all thofe particular places wherein fuch mention is made. r
Thus have I called this argument to rule and meafure, that it might be evident where the great ftrength of it lieth : (which is indeed very weaknefs) and that for their fakes, who having caugnt nold of the word world , run prefently away with the bait, as though all were clear for univerfal redemption ; when yet, if yc dehre them to lay out and manifeft the ilrength of ifceir realon, they know not what to fay but the worlds the
and Places of Scripture opened. 205
whole world; undemanding indeed neither what they fay, nor whereof they do , affirm. And now, quid dignum tanto? what caufe of the great boaft mentioned in the entrance ? a weaker argument, I dare fay, was never by rational men
produced, in fo weighty a caufe.
II. This will further be manifefted, by the confideration of the feveral particular places produced to give it counte¬ nance ; which we fhall do in order.
i //. The firft place we pitch upon, is that which by our adverfaries is firft propounded, and not a little refted upon ; and yet n@twithftanding their clamorous claim, there are not a few who think that very text as fit and ready to overthrow their whole opinion, as Goliali s fword to cut off his own head ; many unanfwerable arguments agajpft the univerfality of redemption, being eafily deduced from the words of that text. The great peaceable King of his church, guide us to make good the interefl of truth, to the place in controverfy ; which through him we fhall attempt, firft, by opening the words ; and fecondly, by ballancing of reafonings and arguments from them. And this place is John iii. 16. 6t God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son ; “ that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perifh, but have everlafting life.”
This place (I fay) the univerfalifts exceedingly boaft in; for which we are perfuaded they have fo little caufe, that we doubt not but with the Lord’s affiftance to demonftrate, that it is deftru&ive to their whole defence. To which end I will give you in brief, a double paraphrafe on the words ; the firft containing their ,fenfe, the latter ours.
1. Thus then our adverfaries explain thefe words : [ God Jo loved ] had fuch a natural inclination, velleity and propen- fity to the good of [ the worldj Adam with all and every one of his pofterity of all ages, times and conditions, (whereof fome were in heaven, fome in hell long before ;) [ that he gave his only begotten Son ,] caufing him to be incarnate in the fulneis of time, and to die ; not with a purpofe and refolution to iave any ; but [ that whofoever J what perfon foever of thofe which he had propenfity unto [ believeth in him, fhould riot penjh , hut have everlajling life ] fhould have this fruit and if* fue, that he fhould efcape death and hell, and live eter¬ nally.
In which explication of the fenfe of the place, thefe things are to be obferved, viz. (1.) What is that love , which was the caufe of fending or giving Chrift ; which they make to
be
6
Objections particularly anfwered ,
be a natural propenfdy to the good of all. (2.) Who are the objeft of this love, all and every man of all generations. (g.J Wherein this giving confifleth ; of which I cannot End* whether they mean by it the appointment of Chrifl to be & recoverer; or his a£lual exhibition in the flefh, for the ac¬ compli (h merit of his miniftratiom (4.} Whofoever , they make diflributive of the perfons in the world; and (o not re- ftri&ive. in the intention, to fome. (5.) That life eternal, is the fruit obtained by believers ; but not the end intended by God.
2. Now look a little, in the fecond place, what we con¬ ceive to be the mind of God in thofe words ; whofe aim we take to be the advancement and fetting forth of the free love of God to lofl Tinners, in fending Chrifl to procure for theta eternal redemption ; as may appear in this following para- phrafe, viz, [God ] the Father, [fo loved ] had fuch a peculiar tranfcendent love, being an unchangeable purpofe and a£l of his will concerning their falvation, towards [the world ) miferable finful loft men of all Torts, not only Jews but Gen¬ tiles alfo, whom he peculiarly loved ; [that] intending their falvarion, as in the laft words, for the praife of his glorious grace ; [he gave ] he prepared a way to prevent their ever- lafting deflru£lion, by appointing and fending [his only be¬ gotten Son] to be an all-fufficient Saviour to all that look up unto him ; that [whofoever believeth in him] all believers whatfoever, and only they, [Jhould not ptrifh but have ever- lafiing life ;] and fo effeftually be brought to the obtaining of thofe glorious things through him, which the Lord in his free love had defigned tor them.
In which enlargement of the words, for the fetting fortfi of what we conceive to be the mind of the Holy Ghofi in them, thefe things are to be obfeived, viz. (1 ) What we tmderfland by the love of God, even that ati of his will which was the caufe of fending his Son Jefus Chrifl ; being the moft eminent a£t of love and favour to the creature ; for love is mile aheuibonurn, to will good to any; and never did God will greater good to the creature, than in appointing his Son for their redemption. Notwithftanding I would have it obferved, that I do not make the purpofe of fending or giving Chrifl, to be abfolutely fubordinate to God’s love to his eiea, as though that were the end of the other abfolutely: but rather that they are both co-ordinate to the fame fupreme end, or the manifeflation of God’s glory, by the way of mercy tem¬ pered with juftice, hut in refpeft of our apprehenfion, that
is
and Places oj Scripture opened .
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is the relation wherein they Hand one to another. Now this love we fay to be that, greater than which there is none.
By the world , we underitand the elea of God only, though not confidered in this place as Juch; but under iuch a notion, as being true of them, ferves for the further exalta¬ tion of God’s love towards them, which is the end here de¬ fined ; and this is, as they are poor, miferable, loll crea¬ tures ; in the world, of the world, fcattered abroad in all places of the world ; not tied to fcws or Greeks , but difperfed in any nation, kindred and language under heaven. (3.) HINA PAS HO PISTEUON is to us, that every believer ; and is declarative of the intention ot God, in fending or giv¬ ing his Son ; containing no diftribution of the world belov¬ ed, but a dire&ion to the perfons who*e good was intended ; that love being an unchangeable intention of the chiefeft good. (4.) Should not periJJi, but have ever lafling life, contains an expreflion of the particular aim and intention of God in this bufinefs, which is the certain falvation of believers by Chrift. And this, in general, is the intei pretation of the words which we adhere unto ; which will yield us fundry ar¬ guments, fufficient each of them to evert the general, ran- fom ; which that they may be the better bottomed, and the snore clearly convincing ;
3. We will lay down and compare the feveral words and *xprefiions of this place, 'about whole interpretation we dif¬ fer ; with the reafon of our rejecting the one fenfe and em¬ bracing the other. The firft difference in the interpretation of this place, is about the caufe of fending Chrift, called here love ; the fecond, about the objeft of this love, called here the world ; thirdly, concerning the intention of God in fending his Son ; faid to be, that believers might be faved. And,
1. By love , in this place, all our adverfaries agree, that a natural ajje Elion and propenfity in God , to the good of the creature , lojt under f n> in general , which moved him to take fame way whereby it might pojjibly be remedied ; is intended . We on the contrary fay, that by love here is not meant an inclination or propenfity of his nature, but an aEl ofkis will (where we conceive his love to be feated) and eternal pur - po/e , to do good to man ; being the mojl tranfeendent and emi¬ nent act oj God's love to the creature .
That both thefe may be weighed, to fee which is moft a- greeable to the mind of the holy Ghoft ; I (hall give you, djirft fame of the re a foils whereby we oppofe the former inter¬ pretation
' '
Objections particularly an/toered \
prctation; and fecondly, thofe whereby we confirm nwr own.
i* If no natural ajfeBion , whereby he ftiould neceffarily be carried to any thing without himfelf, can or ought to be afcribed unto God ; then no fuch thing is here intended in the word love; for that cannot be here intended ; which is not in God at all ; but now* ihat there neither is nor can be any fuch natural affeaion in God, is moft apparent ; and may be evidenced by many demonffrations. I fhall briefly re¬ count a few of them.
(it) Nothing that includes any imperfeaion, is to be affigned to Almighty God. He is God all-fujficient , he is our rock and his work is perfed ; but a natural affeaion in God to the good and falvation of ail, being never compleated nor per- ieaed, carrieth along with it a great deal of imperfeaion and weaknefs ; and not only fo, but it mull alfo needs be ex¬ ceedingly prejudicial to the abfolute bleffednefs and happi- nefs of Almighty God. Hook how much any thing wants3 of the fulfilling of that whereunto it is carried out with any defire natural or voluntary ; fo much it wanteth of bleffed¬ nefs and happinefs ; fo that without impairing of the infinite bleffednefs of the ever bleffed God, no natural affe£fion unto any thing never to be accomplifhed, can be afcribed unto him ; fuch as this general love to all, is fuppofed to be.
(2.) If the Lord hath a natural affeaion to all* as to love them fo far as to fend his Son to die for them ; whence is it that this affeciion of his doth not receive accomplifhment ? whence is it that it is hindered, and doth not produce its ef- fefts ? why doth not the Lord engage his power for the ful¬ filling of his defire ? It doth not feem good to his infinite wifdom (fay they) fo to do. Then is there an affeaion in God to that, which in his wifdom he cannot profecute ; this among the fons of men ; the worms of the earth, would be called a brutilh affeaion.
(3.) No affeaion or natural propen fity to good is to be af¬ cribed to God, which the Scripture no where affigns to him, and is contrary to what the Scripture doth affign to him. Now the Scripture doth no where affign unto God any natural af¬ feaion, whereby fie fhould be naturally inclined to the good of the creature; the place to prove it clearly, is yet to be pro¬ duced. And that it is contrary to what the Scripture affigns him, is apparent; for it deferibes him to be free, in fhewing mercy ; every aft of it, being by him performed freely, e- vca as he pleafeth ; for he hath mercy on whom he will have
mercy.
md Places of Scripture opened , 2C9
mercy. Now, if every aft of mercy fhewn un!o any, rlo proceed from the free diftinguilhing will of God, (as is appa¬ rent:) certainly there can be in him no fuch natural affeftion; and the truth is, if the Lord Ihould not (hew mercy, and be carried out towards the creature, merely upon his own , • m- euifhing will, but (hould naturally be moved to Inew mercy to the miferable ; he Ihould be no more merciful to men than to devils, nor to thofe that are laved than to thole that are damned ; lor that which is natural mult be equal in all its o- perations, and that which is natural to God mud e eteim Many more effeftual reafons are produced by our divines, ior the denial of this natural affeftion in God, in the refolution of the Arminian didinftion (I call it lo as now / them abufed) of God’s antecedent and confequent wi.l ; to whom the learned reader may repair ior fatisfaftion. at
the love mentioned in this place, is not that natural affection
to all in general, which is not : But, • ^
2. It is the Jpecial love oj God to his elect, as we arm m , and fo confequently, not any fuch thing as our adverfanes fuppofe to be intended by it, viz. a vdltity or natural inclina¬ tion to the good of all . For, .
(i.) The love here intimated, is abfolutely the molt emi¬ nent and tranfcendent love that ever God (hewed or bore to¬ wards any miferable creature ; yea the intention of our Savi¬ our, is lo to fet it forth ; as is apparent by the empnaucal ex- preflions of it ufed in this place. The particles (Jo* that,) declare no lefs ; pointing out an eximioufnefs, peculiarly re¬ markable, in the thing whereof the affirmation is, above any other thing in the fame kind.
Expofitors ufually lay weight uponalmod every particular word of the verfe, for the exaltation and demonstration of the love here mentioned. (So) that is, in fuch a degree, to fuch a remarkable aflonifhable height : ( God) the glorious all diffident God, that could have manifeited his juflice to e- ternity in the condemnation of all (inners ; and no way wanted them, to be partakers, of his bleflednels : (loved.) with fuch an earned intenfe affeftion ; confiding in an eter¬ nal unchangeable aft: and purpofe of his will, for the bellow¬ ing of the! chiefed good (the choiced effeftual love ;) (the world) men in the world, of the world, fubjeft to the iniqui¬ ties and miferies of the world, lying in their blood; having nothing to render them commendable to his eyes, or helot© him ; ( that he gave) did not, as he made all the world at fi d,
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* 10 ObjeBions particularly anfwtrtd f
(peak the word and it was done; but proceeded higher, to the pei forrnance of a great deal more and longer work ; wherein he was to do more than exercife an a £t of his almighty power, as before ; and therefore gave (his Son ;) not any favourite or other well-pleafmg creature, not fun, moon, or flars, not the nchtreafure of his creation ; all too mean, and coming ihort of exprefling this love ; but his Son, (begotten Son ;) and that not fo called, by reafon of fome near approaches to him and filial ooediential reverence of him, as the angels are called the Tons of God ; for it was not an angel that he gave, w ich yet had been an expreflion of mofl intenfe love, mor yet any Ion by adoption, as believers are the Tons of God ;
ut his begotten Son, begotten of his own perfon from eter¬ nity , and that (his only begotten Son ) not any one of his fons ; but whereas he^had or hath but one only begotten Son, al¬ ways in his bofom, his Ifaac, he gave him ; than which how could the infinite wifdom of God make or give any higher teftimony of Ins iove ? efpecially if ye will add what is here evidently included, though the time was not as yet come that it fhould be openly expreffed, viz. whereunto he gave his Son, his only one ; not to be a king and worfhipped in the fiiff place, but he fpared him not, but delivered him up to death Jor us all , Rom. viii. gs.
Whereunto, for a clofe of all, caff your eyes upon his de- fign and purpofe in this bufinefs; and ye fhall find that it was, that believers, thoie whom he thus loved, might not pe- rifh, that is, undergo the utmoft mifery and wrath to eterni¬ ty which they had deferved; but have everlafling life, eternal glory with himfelf, which of themfelves they could no way attain ; and ye will eafily grant, that greater love hath no man than this. Now if the love here mentioned be the greatefl, highefl and chiefeft of all ; certainly it cannot be that com¬ mon affeftion towards all, that we difcufTed before ; for the love whereby men are aftually and eternally faved, is greater than that which may confift with the perifhing of men, to e- ternity.
(2.) The Scripture pofitively afTerts this very love, as the chiefeft aft of the love ot God ; and that which he would have us take notice of in the firft place, Rom . v. 8. “ God “ commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were ** yet dinners, Chrift died for us ; and fully , 1 John iv. 9. 10.
In this was manifefted the love of God towards us, becaufe 4‘ that God fent his only begotten Son into the world, that ” we might live through him; herein is love, not that we
“ lovei
Sli
and Places of Scripture opened.
« iove(i God, but that he loved us, and fent his Son to be
“ the propitiation for our fins;” in both which places, the eminency of this love is fet forth exceeding emphatically to believers; with fuch expreflions, as can no way be accom¬ modated to a natural velleity to the good of all.
/„ ) That feeing all love in God, is but vetle ahcui bonum, to will good to them that are beloved ; they certainly are the objeft of his love, to whom he intends that good which is the iffue and effea of that love ; but now the iffue of this love or good intended, being not penjhing and obtaining eternal life through Chrift, happens alone to, and is bellowed on, only eleft, believers ; therefore they certainly are the objeft of this love, and they alone; which was the thing we had to
dcclsrCi
(4.) That love which is the caufe of giving Chrift, is alio always the caufe of the bellowing of all other good things, Rom. viii. 32. “ He that fpared not his own Son, but deli- “ vered him up for us all, how fhall he not with him give us « aH things ?” Therefore if the love there mentioned be the caufe of fending Chrift, as it is, it mult alfo caufe all other things to be given with him ; and fo can be towards none but thofe who have thole things bellowed on them, which are only the eleft, only believers ; who elfe have grace here, or glory hereafter ?
(5,) The word here, which is egapesen, fignifieth in its native importance, valde dilexit ; to love, fo as to reft in that love ; which how it can ftand with hatred, and an eter¬ nal purpofe of not bellowing effe&ual grace, which is in the Lord towards fome, will not eafily be made apparent. And now let. the chriflian reader judge, whether by the love of God in this place mentioned, be to be underftood a natural velleity or inclination in God to the good of all, both ele£l and reprobate ; or the peculiar love of God to his ele£l ; be- inrr the fountain of the chiefeft good that ever was bellowed on the fons of men. This is the firft difference, about the iiv* terpretation of thefe words.
2.) The fecond thing controverted, is the objeft oj this (ove, expreffed by the word world; which our adverfaries would have to fignify all and every man ; we, the elefcl: of God Mat¬ tered abroad in the world ; with a tacite oppofition to the nation of the Jews ; who alone, excluding all other nations (fome few profelyies excepted,) before the a&ual exhibition of Chrift in the flefh, had all the benefits of the promifes ap¬ propriated to them, Rom. ix. 4. in which privilege now, all
nations
215 Objections particularly anfzuered ,
nations were to have an equal fhare. To confirm the expofi- ,,on °f word ufed by the univerfalifts, nothing of weight that ever yet I could fee, is brought forth, but only the word 2tieU ; for neither the love mentioned in the beginning, nor the defign pointed at in the end of the verfe, will poffibly a- gree with the fenfe which they impofe on that word in the xniadle. Befides, how weak and infirm an inference from tne word world, , by reafon of its ambiguous and wonderful va¬ rious acceptations, is, we have at large declared before.
1 nree poor fhitts I find in the great champions of this can e, to prove that the word world doth not fignify the eled. juftlv we might have expefted fome reafons to prove, that it dignified or implied all and every man in the world ; which was their own aflertion ; but of this ye have a deep filence - being confcious, no doubt, of their difabiiity for any fuch performance. Only (as I faidj three pretended arguments <aev bring to difprove that, which none went about to prove, viz. that by the world is meant the tied, as fuch • for tnough we conceive the perfons here defigned, direftly men in and of the world, to be all and only God’s eleft ; yet we do not fay, that they were here fo confidered, but rather under another notion, as men fcattered over all the world, in themfelves fubjeft to mifery and fin. So that whofoever will oppofe our expofition of this place, muff either firft prove, that by the world here muff be neceffarily underftood all and’ every man in the world; or lecondly, that it cannot be taken indefinitely for men in the world, which materially are eleft, though not confidered under that formality ; fo that all thofe vain flouriflies which fome men make with thefe words, by putting the word ekcl into the room of the word world , ’and then coining abfurd confluences ; are quite befide the bufi- nefs in hand. Yet further we deny, that by a ftipply of the word eleS into the text, any abfurdity or untruth will juflly follow ; yea and that flourifh, which is ufuaily fo made, is but a bugbear to frighten weak ones. For fuppofe we fhould Je.id it tn us, God Jo loved the eled. that he gave his only begot - ten Sen ; that whojoever believeth in him. Jhould not perijh ; what inconvenience will now follow ? Why (fay they,) (/. That fome of the eled, whom God fo loved as to fend his Son for, may per fh. Why I pray P is it becaufe he fent his Son that they might not perifh ? or what other caufe ? no ; but, J * Becauje it is j n i t not whofoever oj them believeth on him. fhoii. d not perijh ; which intimates , that jome oj them might not behive. Very good ; but where is any fuch intimation ? God
defigns
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and Places of Scripture opened.
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defiens the falvation of all them m exprefs words for whom he fends his Son ; and certainly all that lhail be faved, (hall believe. But, (3. It is in the word who/oever ; which is dif- tributive of the world, into thofe that believe, and tho/e that believe not. I anfwer, if this word whomever be diftributive then it is reftriftive of the love of God to fome, and not to others ; to one part of the dilfribution, and not to the other ; and it it do not reihainthe love of God, intending the falvation ot fome, then it is not dilfributiveof the foretnentioned objec o it; and if it do reftrain it, then all are not intended in the love which moved G~od to give Ins Son. hdoieover, I deny that the word here is dilfributive of the objefci ot God s love ; but only declarative of his end and aim in giving Chrilr, in the purfuit of that love, to wit, that all believers might be fat¬ ed ; fo that the (enfe is ; God (o loved his eleft throughout the world, that he gave his Son with this intention, tua>.
by him believers might be faved. ^
And this is all that is by any (befides a few worthlefs cavils) obje&ed from this place, to difprove our interpretation ; which we (hall now confirm, both pofitively and negatively.
(1.) Our firft reafon is taken from what was before proved, concerning the nature of that love which is here faid to have the world for its objefif ; which cannot be extended to all and everv one in the world, as will be confeffed by all. Now fuch is the world here, as is beloved with that love which we have deferibed, and proved to be here intended; even fuch a love as is, [1.] the moft tranfeendent and remarkable; [2] an eternal a 61 of the will ol God : ["3.] ^ie cau^e °f fending Chrifl ; [4.] of giving all good things in and with him; [5^ an allured fountain and fpring of falvation, to all belovec with it ; fo that the world beloved with this love, cannot pof- fibly he all and every one in the world.
(2.) The word world in the next verle, (which carries a- 3ong the fenfe of this, and is a continuation of the fame mat¬ ter, being a difeovery of the intention of God in giving his Son) muff needs fignify the ele& and believers, at lead only thofe who in the event are laved; therefore fo alfo in this. It is true, the word world is three times ufed in that verle, in a dilfonant fenfe; by an inverfion not unufual in Scripture, as was before declared. It is the latter place that this hath reference to, and is of the fame fignification with the zuorld in verle 16, that the world through him might be faved; HINA so the, that it Jhculd be faved ; it difeovers the aim, purpofe, and intention ot God, what it was towards the world
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ii I
111
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I
”, {; ''A'S..' .
Objections particularly anfwered,
that he fo loved, even its falvation ; now if this be underflood of any but believers, God fails of his aim and intention * which as yet we dare not grant.
(3.) It is not unufual with the Scripture, to call God’s cho- fen people by the name of the world\ as alfo, of all flefh, all naaons, all families of the earthy and the like general expref- fions; and therefore no wonder if here they are fo called ; the intention of the place being, to exalt and magnify the love of God towards them, which receives no fmall advance- ment from their being fet forth as a world. So are they termed, where Chrifl is faid to be their Saviour, John iv. 42, which certainly he is, only of them who are laved ; A Savi¬ our of men not faved , is flrange. Alfo John vi. 51. where he is faid to give himfelf for the life of the world; clearly verfe 33. of the fame chapter , he giveth life unto the world; which whether it be any but his ele6l, let all men judge; for Chrift himfelf affirms that he gives life only to his Jheep , and that thofe to whom he gives life, ffiall never per ifht John x. 27, 28. fo Rom . iv. 13. Abraham is faid by faith to be the heir of the world ; which verfe 11. is called to be the father of allthem that believe ; and Rom . xi. 12. the fall of the Jews is faid to be the riches of the world; which world coraprifeth only believers of &11 forts in the world ; as the apoflle affirm¬ ed, that the word bare fruit in all the world , Col. i. 6. This is that world which God reconcileth to himfelf not imputing their trefpaffes unto them , 2 Cor. v. 19. which is attended with bleffednefs in all them to whom that non-imputation be¬ longed, Rom.iv. 8.
And for divers evident reafons is it, that they have this appellation. Asj~i-] to diflinguifh the obje& of this love of God, from the nature angelical, which utterly periffied in all the fallen individuals ; which the Scripture alfo care¬ fully doth in exprefs terms, Heb , ii. 16. and by calling this love of God philanthropi a , mankind-love , Titus iii. 4. [ 2.] To evert and reje£t the boafling of the Jews , as though all the means of grace, and all the benefits intend¬ ed, were to them appropriated. [3.] To denote that great difference and diflin&ion between the old adminiflration of the covenant, when it was tied up to one people, family, and nation ; and the new, when all boundaries being broken up, the lulnefs of the Gentiles and the corners of the world were to be made obedient to the Sceptre of Chrifl. £4*! To manifdt the condition of the e!e£l tnemfelves who are thus beloved, for the declaration of the free grace of God toward
them ;
. **5
and Places of Scripture opened .
them ; they being divefted of all qualifications, but only thofe that befpeak them terrene, earthly, loft, miferable, cor¬ rupted. So that thus much at lead may eafily be obtained, that from the word itfelf nothing can be oppofed juftly to our expofition of this place ; as hath been already declared, and (hall be further made manifeft.
(4.) If every one in the world be intended, why doth not the Lord, in the purfuit of this love, reveal Jefus Chrift to every one whom he fo loved ? Strange ! that the Lord fhould fo love men as to give his only begotten Son for them, and yet not once by any means fignify this his love to them ; as to innumerable he doth not : that he fhould love them, and yet order things fo in his wife difpenfation, that this love fhould be altogether in vain and fruitlefs ; love them, and yet determine that they fhall receive no good by his love, tho* his love indeed be a willing of the greateft good to them.
(5.) Unlels ye will grant, [1.] fome to be beloved and hated alfo from eternity ; [2.] the love of God towards in¬ numerable, to be fruitlefs and vain ; [3.] the Son of God to be given to them who never heard a word of him, and have no power granted to believe in him ; [4,] that God is mu¬ table in his love, or elfe ftill loveth thofe that be in hell ; [5.] that he doth not give all things to them to whom he gives his Son ; contrary to Rom. viii. 32 ; [6.] that he
knows not certainly before hand who fhall believe and be faved: unlefs (I fay) all thefe blafphemies and abfurdities be granted, it cannot be maintained that by the world here is meant all and every one of mankind ; but only men in com¬ mon fcattered throughout the world, which are the eleft.
3. Tne third difference about thefe words, is concerning the mean whereby this love of the Father, whofe objeft is faid to be the world , is made out unto them : now this is by believing; hina pas ho pisteuon that whofoever be- Ueveth , or, that every believer. •The intention of thefe words, we take to be the defigning or manifefting of the way, where¬ by the elefd of God come to be partakers of the fruits of the love here fet forth, viz. by faith in Chrift ; God having ap¬ pointed that, for the only way whereby he will communicate unto us the life that is in his Son. To this fomething was faid before ; having proved that the term whofoever , is not diftributive of the objeft of the love of God ; to which al¬ fo, we may add thefe following reafons, viz.
1. If the objeft be here reftrained, fo that fome only be¬ lieve and are faved, of them for whofe fake Chrift is fent ;
21^ Gbjethons particularly anjwered
then this reftri&ion and determination of the fruits of thi jove, dependeth on the will of God, or on the perfons them- l elves. If on the perfons themfelves; then make they theml ielves to differ from others, contrary to 1 Cor. iv. y4 If on the will of God ; then you make the fenfe of the place as to th.s particular, to be, -God fo loved all, as that hut 'fame of themjhould partake of the fruits of his love. To what end
then, I pray, did he love thofe other fume ? Is not this _
Out with the fword, and run the dragon through with the fpe'ar ?
2. Seeing uiele woi ds that whofoever believeth, do peculiar¬ ly point out the aim and intention of God in this bufiners • jt it do reftrain the objeft beloved, then the falvation of be¬ lievers is conteffedly the aim of God in this bufinefs, and that diltinguilhed from others* And if fo, the general ranfom is an empty found, having no dependance on the purpofe of God ; his intention being cartied out in the giving of his Son only to the Salvation of believers, and that determinately :
unlefs you will affign unto him, a nefcience of them that fhould believe.
Thefe words then, whofoever believeth, containing a defigna- tion of the mean whereby the Lord will bring us to a partici- pation of life, through his Son whom he gave for us ; and the following words of having life evcrlafting, making out the whole counfel of God in this matter, fubordinate to his own glory: it followeth that God gave not his Son, [i.j for them who never do believe; [2.] much lefs for them who never hear of him, and fo invincibly want means of faith ; fg.l for them on whom he hath determined not to bellow effeflual grace, that they might believe.
Let now the reader take up the feveral parts of thefe oppo¬ site expofitions, weigh all, try all things, efpecially that which is chiefly to be confidered, the love of God ; and fo inquire ferioully, whether it be only a general affeaion, and a natu¬ ral velleity to the good of all, which may Hand with the pe« rifhing of all and every one fo beloved ; or the peculiar tran- fcendent love of the Father to his ele6t, as before laid down; and then determine, whether a general ranfom, fruilefsin re" fpe& of the molt for whom it was paid, or the effe&ual re . demption of the ele£t only, have thefirmelt and llrontrelt foundation in thefe words of our Saviour ; withal remem¬ bering, that they are produced as the llrongelt fupportment of the advei fe caufe ; with which, it is moll apparent, both the caufe of fending Chrilt, and the end intended by the Lord in fo doing, as they are here exprelfed, are altogether inconfift-
CHAP*
wliV
21J
and Places of Scripture opened .
•v
CHAP. III.
An unfolding of the remaining texts of Scripture, produced for the confirmation of the firjl general objeBion, or argument for univerjal redemption .
NEXT to the place before confidered: that which is urg* ed with mod confidence, and preffed with mod impor¬ tunity, for the defence of the general ranfom, in theproiecu-
tion of the former argument, is,
%dly. 1 John ii. i, 2. “ If any man fin, we have an ad- “ vocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous; and he ** is the propitiation for our fins, and not for ours only, but 58 alfo for the fins of the whole world.” Now tbeie words, and the deduBions from thence, have been fet out in various dreffes ; with great variety of obfervations,^ to make them ap- pear advantageous to the caufe in hand. t he weight of the whole hangs upon this, that the apofbe affirms Chrift to be a propitiation for the fins of the zvhole world ; wnicn, fay they 4 manifeftly appears to be all and every one in the world ; and that, Fir ft, From the words themfelves , without any wrejling ; for what can be fgnified by the whole world , but ah men m tat world ? Secondly, From the oppofition that is made between world and believers ; all believers being comprized in tne fir ft part of the apofle s affertion , that Chrifl is the propitiation for our fins ; and therefore by the world oppofed unto them , au 0- thers are underfood . If there be any thing of moment fur¬ ther excepted, we fhall meet with it* in our following open¬ ing of the place. *'
Before 1 come to the further clearing of the mind of the holy Ghoft in thefe words, I muft tell you ; that I might an¬ swer the objeBion from hence very briefly, and yet fo fond¬ ly, as quite to cut off all the cavilling exceptions of our ad- verfaries, viz. that ashy the world in other places, men liv¬ ing in the world are denoted ; fo by the whole world in this, can nothing be underftood but men living throughout the whole world, in all the parts and regions thereof, (in oppo¬ fition to the inhabitants of any one nation, place, or country as Inch) as the redeemed of Chrift are faici to be. Rev. v. q. But be caufe they much boaft of this place, I fhad by God s affiftance fo open the fenfe and meaning of it, that it fhall appear to all, how little reafon they have to place any confi¬ dence in their wrefted interpretation thereof.
21^ Objections particularly 'anfwertd
I o make out the fenfe of this place, three things are to be con fidered, viz. 1. to whom the apoftle writes; 2. what \t Ins purpofe and aim in this particular place; 3. the meaning ot thole twoexpreflions, (1.) Chrift being a propitiation 2. the whole world ; which having done, according to the analogy ol faith, and the fcope of this and other parallel places, with reference to the things, and ufe of the words themfelves; we fhall eafily rnanifeit by undeniable realons, that the text can¬ not rightly be fo underflood as it is urged and wrefted for univerfal redemption.
1. A. difcovery of them to whom the epiJUe was peculiarly aireCted , wili give fame light into the meaning of the apoftle* Fhis is one of thofe things which, in the inve fligation of the right fenfe of anyplace, is exceeding confiderable ; for al¬ though this, anu all other parts of divine Scripture, were given for the ufe, benefit, and direftion of the whole churchy yet that many parts of it were directed to peculiar churches and particular perfons, and fome diflin£l forts of perfons^ and fo immediately aiming at fome things to be taught, re¬ proved, or eflablifhed, with dire£t reference to thofe pecu¬ liar perfons and churches, needs no labour to prove. Now though we have nothing written, exprefsly nominating them to whom this epiflle was primarily directed, to make an af- fertion thereof infallibly true and de fide ; yet by clear arid evident. dedu6tion, it may be made more than probable, that
it was intended to the Jews or believers of the ciriumci(ion»
For,
(*•) J°bn was in a peculiar manner, amihifter and art apof- tle to the Jews ; and therefore they were the moft immediate and proper obje&s of his care ; James , Cephas , and John , gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hands offellowjkip ; that iheyjhould go unto the heathen , and themfelves unto the circum - cifion. Gal. ii. 9. Now as Peter and James, (for it was that James of whom Paul here fpeaks, who wrote the epiflle, the brother of John being flain before) in the profecution of their apoflleihip towards the Jews, wrote epiflies unto them in their difperfion, James i. 1. 1 Pet. i. 1. as Paul did to
all the chief churches among the Gentiles by him planted; fo it is more than probable, that John writing this epiflle, di¬ rected it chiefly and in the firji place unto them , who chiefly and in the firft place were the objefls of his care and apoftle- fhip.
(2.) He frequently intimates, that thofe to whom he wrote were of them, who heard of and received the word from the
beginning ;
and Places oj Scripture opened . 219
beginning ; fo twice together in this chap. v. 7. I write an old commandment which ye hadjrom the beginning , which ye heard jrom the beginning • Now that the promulgation of the gofpel hid its beginning among the Jews , and its firft entrance with them, before the converfion of any of the Gentiles, which was a my fiery for a feafon; is appaient from the ftory of the a6fs of the apofiles chap. i. ii. m. iv. v. vi. xii. To the Jew JirJl and al/o to the Greek , was t^e order divinely appointed, Rom . i. 16.
(3.) The oppofition that the apoftle makes between us and the worldy in this very place, is lufficient to manifeft unto whom he wrote. As a Jew , he reckoned himfelf with and a- mong the believing Jews> to whom he wrote; and fets him¬ felf with them, in oppofition to the refidue of believers in the world ; and this is ufual with this apoflle . wherein, how he is to be underflood, he declares in his gofpel, John xj.
<5** «52*
(4.) The frequent mention, and cautions, that he makes and gives, ojjalje teachers^ Jedacers, and antichrijls , (which in thofe fit II days were, if not ad of them, yet for the greateft part, of the circumcifion, as is manifeft from Scripture and eclefiaftical ftory ; of whom the apoftle faid, that they went out from them, chap. ii. 19. and iv. 1.) evidently declares that to them in fpeciai was this epiftle direfted, who lay more open, and were more obnoxious to the feducements of their countrymen, than others.
Now this being thus cleared ; if withal ye will remind what was faid before, concerning the inveterate hatred of that people towards the Gentiles, and the engrafted opinion they had, concerning their own foie inter ejl in the redemption pro¬ cured and purchafed by their Meffiah ; it will be no difficult thing for any, to difeern the aim of the apoftle 111 this place, in the e^preflion fo much ftuck at. He (faith he) is the pro¬ pitiation oj our jins ; that is, our fins who are believers of the Jews; and left by this aflertion, they fhould take occafion to confirm themfelves in their former error ; he adds, and not for ours only , but alfo for tfe fins^ oj the whole world ; or the children of God throughout the world, as John xi. 51. j2. of what nation, kindred, tongue, or language foever they were. So that we have not here an oppofition, between the cffeftual falvation of all believers, and the ineffectual redemp¬ tion of all others; but an extending of the fame effectual redemption, which belonged to the Jews believers, to all other believers, or the children of God throughout the whole world. a. For
tllp
lt»
Objections particularly anjbcred,
2. bor the aim and intention of the apoftie in thefe words* *t is to give confolation to believers, againft their fins and failings : If any man fin, we have an advocate with the Father , fefus Ckrijl the righteous ; and he is a propitiation for our fins. The very order and Jeriis of the words, without further en¬ largement, proves this to be fo : and that they were believers only to whom he intended this confolation, that they fhould mot defpair nor utterly faint under their infirmities, becaufe oi a fufficient, yea effectual remedy provided, is no lefs evi¬ dent ; tor, (1.) i hey only have an advocate ; it is confefled, that believers only have an intereft in Chrifl’s advocation. (2.) Comfoit in fuch a cafe, belongs to none but them ; unto otheis in a ftate and condition of alienation, wrath is to b& denounced, John iii. 36. (3.) They are the little children to
whom he writes, verfe 1. whom he defcribes verfe 12, 13. to have their fins forgiven them for his names fake , and to have known the Father . So that the aim of the apoftle being, to ?m.ike out conlolation to believers in their failings ; he can jpeak of none but them only : and if he fhould extend that whereof he (peaks, [viz. that Chrift was a propitiation,) to all and every one ; I cannot perceive how this can poflibly make any thing to the end propofed, or the confolation of believers, Tor what comfort can arife from hence to them, by telling them that Ckrijl died tor innumerable perfons that fhall be damned f Will that be any refrefhment unto me, which is common unto me with them that perifh eternally ? is not this rather a punice-ftone, than a breaft of confolation ? If you afk, how comfort can be given to all and every one, unlefs Chrift died for them ? I fay, if by all and every one , you ^jiean all believers ; Chrift is, as in the text afferted, a pro¬ pitiation and an advocate for them all ; if all others, repro¬ bates and unbelievers ; we fay, that there is neither in the death of Chrift, nor in the word of God, any folid fpiritual confolation prepared for them; the children's bread muft not be caff to dogs.
3. The meaning and purport of the word propitiation , which Chrift is laid to be, for us, and the whole world ; is next to be confidered. The word in the original is hilas- mos, twice only ufed in the New Teftament ; here, and chap. iv. io. The verb alfo hilaskomai, is as often ufed, viz. Heb. ii. 17. tranflated there, (and that properly, eonfi dering the conilruQdon it is in,) to make reconciliation : and Luke xviii. 13. it is the word of the publican, hilas- g£Ti MOij he merciful to me* There is alfo another word of
' the
nwn
and Places of Scripture epened.
#2X
the fame original, and a like fign.ficat.on, viz. hilasterion; twice alfo ufed. Rom. iii. *5‘ there tranflaied a propitiation; and Heb. ix. 6. where it is ufed for and alio rendered the merry-feat ; rvhich will give feme light .mo the meaning S the word. That which Exodus xxv. 17. is called uppo- reth, from Caphar, properly to cover ; is here, (Heb. ix. $.) called hilasterion ; that which Cl.r.ft is laid to be, Korn, iii. 2/-.. This mercy- feat was a plate of pure gold, two cubits and a half long, and a cubit a half broad; like the uppermoft plate or board of a table ; that was laid upon the ark, Iha- dowed over with the wings of the cherubim.
Now this word CAPPORETH comes, as was faid, from CAPHAR ; whofe fir It native and genuine fenfe is to cover, /though moft commonly ufed to expiate.) 1 his plate or mer¬ cy-feat was fo called, becaufe it was placed upon the ark, and covered it ; as the wings of the cherubim hovered over that; the myftical ufe thereof being, to hide (as it were) the law/ or rigid tenure of the covenant of works, which was in 2he ark ; God thereby declaring himfelf to be pacified or re conciled, the caufe of anger and enmity being hidden. Hence the word cometh to have its fccond acceptation ; even that which is is rendered by the apoftle (Rom. iii. 25. h i laste- B.ION, placamen, or p lac amentum, that whereby God is ap~ peafed . This it did plainly fignify ; being fhadowed with the wings of the cherubim, (denoting God’s prefence in power and goodnefs,) which were made crouching over it, as the wings of a hen over her chickens. Hence is that expreffion of David, to irujt under the Jhadotu of God’s wings , Pfal. xxxvi. 7. lvii. 1. lxi. 4, lxiii. 7. xci. 4. (and perhaps that allufion of our Saviour, Matt, xxiii. 37.); intimating the fa¬ vourable protefclion of God, in mercy ; denoted by the wings of the cherubim covering the propitiatory, emoracing that which covered the bill of accufation; which typically was that table or golden plate, or covering before deferibed ; truly and really Jefus Chrift, as is exprefsiy affirmed, Rom, iii. 25.
Now all this will give us fome light into the meaning of the word ; and fo confequently into the fenfe of this place, with the mind of the holy Ghofl therein ; iiilasmos and hi¬ lasterion, both tranflated a propitiation , with the verb of the original, (the bottom of them all being hi LAO, not ufed in the New Teflament ; which in Eujiatkius, is irom III EM ax LAEIN, intently and with care to look upon any thing, like the oracle on the mercy- feat,) do fignify that which was done
QX
'gtf w^ss.
- s.
22&
Objections particularly anfwertd.
or typcalfy effeaed by the mercy-feat, viz. to appeafe Da y ana reconcile God, ln refpeft of averfation for’ Hence that phrafe, Heb. ii. 17. HI LAS KES THAI t as martlas; tou l AO U which the Latinift renders ex piare pectaia populi, to expiate the fins of the people * fextri
ZlTm.-f"*?} i! “ «*• *'%£££;
' , Sfre Reges p°rtenta ce“M ccedt aliqua il-
1 exPl<-re> et a fantt m caPlta proccrum depellere Suet in Aeron.) ; we render it to make reconciliation for the fins of >.et„pk. The wed will b=„bo,h; ,he £“„V£l„f to appeafe or pacify, or fatisfy God for fin, that it mfght not be imputed to them towards whom he was fo appealed; hi- laskesthai tashamartias tou laou, is as much
“ ■ LASK.ES™ ai ton thhon peri ton hamarti. ON to pacify God concerning fin. Hence the word re- ceiveth another figmfication : that wherein it is ufed by the publican Luke xvm. ,3, hilastheti moi, be merciful to me; that is, let me enjoy that mercy front whence flows the pardon of fin ; by thy being appeafed towards me, and recon. ciled unto me. from all which it appeareth, that the mean, tng of the word hilasmos or propitiation, which Chrift is laid to be, is that whereby the law is covered, God appear¬ ed and reconciled; fin expiated, and the finner pardoned- whence pardon and remiflion of fin, is fo often placed as the produft and fruit of his blood-fhedding whereby he was a propitiation, Math. xxvi. a8. Eph. i. 7. Col. i. 14. Heb. ix.
22. Rom. 111. 25. Rom. v. 9. 1 John i. 7. 1 Pet. i. %.
Rev. 1.
i-rom that which hath been faid, the fenfe of the place is evident to be, that Chrift hath fo expiated fin and reconciled to Cod, that the finner is pardoned and received to merev for his fake* and that the law fhall never be produced, or brought fortn for his condemnation. Now whether this can be tole¬ rably applied to the whole world , (taking it for all and every man in the world;) let all the men in the world, that are able, judge. Are the fins of every one expiated ? is God reconcil¬ ed to every one ? is every finner pardoned, fhall no one have tne tranfgreflion of the law charged on him? why then is not every one faved ? Doubtlefs all thefe are true of every believer, and of no one elfe in the whole world ; for them the apoftle affirmed that Chrift is a propitiation ; that oe might fhew from whence arifeth and wherein chiefly, if not only, confifts that advocation for them, which he premifeth as the fountain of their confolation, even in a prefentation of atonement made by his blood. He is ^lfo a propitiation
only
223
and Places of Scripture opened,
only through faith, Rom . iii. 25. and furely none have faith, hut believers ; and therefore certainly it is they only through¬ out the world, for whom alone Chrift is a propitiation. Un¬ to them alone God fays, HileoS Esomai, 1 will be propitious , the great word of the new covenant, Hcb. viii. 12. they alone being covenantees.
4. Let us confider, the phrafe holou tou KOSMOU, of the whole world . I fhall not declare how the word world is in the Scripture polysemon, of divers fignifications ; partly becaufe I have in forne meafure already performed it; partly becaufe it is not in itfelf fo much here infilled on, but only with reference to its general adjun£l whole , the whole world; and therefore we muft Ipeak to the whole phrafe toge¬ ther. Now, concerning this expreffion, I fay,
(1.) That whereas, (with that which is equivalent unto it, all the world) it is ufed feven or eight times in the New Teftament ; it cannot be made appear clearly and undeniably, that in any place (fave perhaps one, where it is ufed in re meceffaria) it comprifeth all and every man in the world; fo that unlefs fome circumflance in this place enforce that fenfe, (which it doth not) it will be a plain wrefling of the words, to force that interpretation upon them.
Let us then briefly look upon the places ; beginning with the laft, and fo afeending; now that is B.ev. iii. 10. I will keep thee from the hour of temptation , which fhall come epi tes oikoumenes holes, upon the whole world; (the word world is other in the original here, than in the place we have before us : there being divers words to exprefs the fame thing, confidered under feveral notions) where that it cannot fignify all and every one is evident, becaufe fome are promifed to be preferved from that which is faid to come upon it. Palling the place of which we treat, the next is. Col. i. 6. which is come unto you, kathos kai en panti TO KOSMO, as in all the world , where all and every man can¬ not be underflood, for they had not all then received the gofpel; but only believers are here fignified, living abroad in the world, becaufe the gofpel is faid to bring forth fruit in them to whom it comes, and there is no true gofpel fruit without faith and repentance. Another place is Rom. i. 8. your faith is fpoken of en holo to kosmo, through¬ out the whole world ; did every one in the world hear, and fpeak of the Roman faith ? You have it alfo, Luke ii. 1. there went out a decree from Caefar Auguflus apogr aphestii At p a s an ten OIKOU menem, that the whole world ' Jhould hi
taxed ;
224 Objections particularly an fa erect,
kixed ; which yet was but the Roman empire, jfhort enough of comprizing all Angular perfons in the world. It were needlefs to repeat the reft, being of all the fame indefinite importance and fignification.
If then the expreftion itfelf, doth not hold out any fuch university as is pretended ; unlefs the matter concerning which itisufed, and the circumftances of the place do re¬ quire it, (neither of which inforcements have any appear- ance in this place) there is no colour to faften fuch an ac¬ ceptation upon it. Rather may we conclude, that all the world and the whole world , being in other places taken indefi¬ nitely for men of all forts throughout the world; the fame words are no otherways here to be underftood ; fo that itolos ho kosmos, is here no more than ecclesia KATHOLIKE; the catholic church.
(2.) The whole zvorld , can fignify no more than, all nati* ons> all the families of the earth , allflefh, all men, all the ends oj tne world. Thefe furely are expreftions equivalent unto, and as comprehenfive of particulars as the whole world / but now all thefe expreftions we find frequently to bear out believers only, but as of all forts and throughout the world; and why fhould not this phrafe alfo be affirmed to be, in ihe fame matter, of the fame and no other importance? We may inftance in fome places, viz. All the ends of the earth have feen the falvation of our God , Pfal. xcviii. 3. All the ends of the world fhall remember , and turn unto the Lord ; and all the kindred cf the nations fhall worfhip before thee, PfaL xxii* 27. Ail nations fhall ferve him, Pfal. lxxii. 11, which general expreftions do yet denote no more, but only the believers of all the feveral nations of the world ; who alone fee the faN vation of God, remember and turn to him, and ferve him* So Joel ii. 28. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flejh, and the wordsagain repeated, on the accomplifhment of thepromife, A61s ii. 17. alfo Luke iii. 6. ufing the fame expreftion, as part of a fermon of John Baptift ; All fefh fhall fee the falvation of God. What a conqueft fhould we have had pro¬ claimed, if it had been any where affirmed, — that Chrift di¬ ed for all flePa, all nations, all kindreds, &c. ? which yet are but liveries of believers ; though garments as wide and large as this expreftion, the whole world. Believers are called all nations , Ifa. ii. 2. and Ixvi. 18. yea all men , Titus ii. 11. for to them alone, the falvation-bringing-grace of God is ma« nifeft. If they then, the children of God, be, as is appa¬ rent, in ihe Scripture phrafe, all flefi , all nations , all kin¬ dreds >
and Places of Scripture opened
£25
dreds, all the ends of the world, all the ends of the earth, all
men : why not alfo, the whole wot l
(a) The whole world, doth lomeumes figmfy th c wot fc
part of the world; and why may « not. by a ^^ind C<mify the better part thereof? Rev. xn. 9. "
Satan which deceweth the whole world, was caji out,, that the wicked and reprobate in the world; ot ers rejoici g
his overthrow, verfe 10. Alfo i J°bn y. ig- ho ,
ho los, the whole world heth in wickcdncfs ; w eic .
world, is oppofed to them which art oj God m the begin - g of the verfe. The contrary fenfe you hAe Col u b.
This then being fpoken, to clear the figmficatioi o the ex- preffion here infilled on, will make it evident that there . nothing at all in the words themfelves, that fhou d • « Ore any to conceive that all and every man in the world are de¬ noted by them ; but rather believers, even all that on or Ihould believe, throughout the whole wor d. m opP°fi i only .0 believers of the Jewilh nation. Which th t *t is the meaning of the place, befides what hatn been clearly d.mon
ftrated, I prove by thefe rcafons, viz.
fi.l This place treateth not of the raniom oiChrifl, in fpetl ot imbetration, but of application : for it affirms Chrilt be that by his death, which he is only by faith ; as was ma- nifefted from Romans iii. 25. Alfo from application only, arifeth conlolation. Now never any faid that the applicati¬ on of the death of Chrift was umverfal ; therefore this p.ace
cannot have regard to all and every one. r 1
f2.1 Chrift is here faid to be a propitiation, only for tu.n as are intended in the place ; which is apparent ; but now believers only are intended ; for it is to give them confola oft in their failings ; in which cafe, confolation beiongeth to them alone. Therefore it is believers on.y, though of a! forts, times, places and conditions, lor whom Chrift is la,.
to be a propitiation. . ,
r q.] This kind ot phrate and ex predion in other places
cannot poflibly be tortured to Inch an extenfion, as to com¬ prehend all and every one ; as was apparent from t.ie piaceS before alledged. To which add, Mattll. ill. 5- taen wen eat t» him pasa he Joudaia, kai pasa he peiucho- ROS TOU JORPANOU all Judea and all the region '. round about Jordan: among whom, nolwilhftanding, the 1 haniee rejected his baptifm. Why then Ihould n be fo ainderf ood here ; efpecially all circumftances, (as hath been i.iewed,) be. ing contrary to luch an interpretation
> ‘ f £ 1.4 J 1
226
Obje&icns particularly anfwercd
[4-] The molt clear parallel places in the Scrim,,,-, oppo ne to fuch a lenfe as is impofed ; fee Col. I 6. John
[5-J II the words are to be underftood, to fignifv all an,}
aIetoythnerhn f‘he4 °rid ; ,th,en ‘S ,he whole affeftion ufelefs^ as to the duet end intended, viz. to adminifter confolation
Utetn, but that he would do fo, was altogether uncertain •
ff ^ n'd ,hfm' he would Iuda'n them lufficien.lv tho’
hb comtfv Tl l rgbtJr flarVed> notwi,hHanding
people of God ("oppofed to the Jewiffi nation) fcattered 1- broad throughout the whole world, of what nation kindred tongue or family foever ; who are fome of all forts not all
ITS/0" ; f° ^place**, nothin, for ieZl^l
Some few objeQions there are, which are ufually laid a- gatnll our interpretation of this palTage of the apoftle • but
lhafkffial foffiented °r rem°Ved the exP!icalion itfel’f; fo chat it mall fuffice us to name one or two of them, viz.
Ubjeci. i . It is the intention of the apoftle to comfort all in their fears and doubts ; but every one in the world may
oil refo" he propof“h ,h“ ,hJ
An/ The a// that may be in fears and doubts, in the bufi-
ne,s of confolation, mull of neceffity be reftrained to belie- vers , as was before declared
2. t “
sstji &£?*&£*»> * m °f * js
interred - 'of whom ^ ,he believinS Jews alone are intended , of whom John was one ; and the addition is not
an extending of the propitiation of Chrift, to others than belie-
oerr, but only to other believers. 2. If it might be granted
ffi-Hin, the, foil brallch a" believers then living were Lp e’
to, bv;™),0.n"S,bV1’rer“"Prb' n,ade P>rtak'» «f .hi, cL.
on by truth ; yet the increafe or acceffion mull be bv ana .ogy, only thofe who were to be in after ages, and in remoter
places
*2/
and Places of Scripture opened.
places than the name of Chrift had then reached unto ; even all thofe who, accord.ng to the prayer of our Savour, John xvii. 20. fltould believe on his name, to the end of the world. And thus the two main places produced lor t of the firft argument, are vindicated from the talfe gloffes and violent wreltings of our adverfaries ; the reft will be eahly
cleared. , ~ 7
O dly. The next place urged in the argument >s Johnvx.
m. where our Saviour affirms, that lie will give his fejhjor the life of the world. This giving ot himfelf, was the fanttitying and offering up himfelf an acceptable oblation, for the (ins of them for whom he luffered ; his intention being that they, for whom in dying he fo offered himfelf, might have life e- ternai thereby : which becaufe it was not for the Jews only, butalfo for all1 the eleB of God every where ; he calleth them the world. That the world here cannot f.gmfy all and every one that ever were or fhould be, is as mam e as 1 it were written with the beams of the fun, and that becaule it is made the obje6f of Chrift s intendments, to purchafe lor them and to bellow upon them life and falvation. Now I afk whe¬ ther any man not bereaved of all fpiritual and natuiai ienle, can imagine, that Chrift in his oblation intended to purchale life and falvation, for all them whom he knew to be damned many ages before; the irreverfible decree of wrath being gone forth againft them ? Or who dares once affirm, that Chrift gave himfelf for the life ot them who, notwithftanding that, by his difappointment, do come ffiort ot it to eternity ? So that if we had no other place, to manifeft that the word world doth not always fignify all, but only fome oi all forts, as the eie£t ot God are, but this one produced by our adver¬ faries to the contrary ; I hope with ail equitable readers, our
defence would receive no prejudice.
/^thly. Divers other pWces I find produced by T. M. chap, xiv. of the univerjality of free grace ; to the pretended end in hand ; which, with that whole chapter, {hall be briefly con*
fidered. And,
i. The -firft infilled on by him, is 2 Cor.v. 19. God « was in Chrift reconciling the world unto himfelf, not im-
“ puling their trefpaffes unto them.
Anf. (1.) Really, he mull have no fmall confidence of his own ftrength, and his readers weaknefs, who irom this place {hall undertake to conclude the univerfality of redemption . and that the world doth here fignify ali and every one therein^
They who are called the world, verfe 19, are termed us J verfe
£28
QbjeBions particularly anjwcnd
verfe 18. be hath reconciled us to himftlf by Ckrijl ; as alfb verie 21. where they are further defcribed, by Chrill’s being made Jin for them, and their being made the righteoufnefs oft God in him. Are thefe things true of all in the world ? If this text may receive any light, from what is antecedent and con- iequent unto it ; if the word, any interpretation from thofe expreflions which are direQly expofitory of it ; by the world Iie*ey can be meant none but ele6l believers.
(2.) God's reconciling the world unto himfeif, is defcribed evidently either to eonfift in, or neceflarily to infer, a non- imputation oj fin to them, or to that world ; which is further interpreted to be an imputation of the righteoufnefs of Chrift verie si. Now in thefe two things confifteth the bleffednefs of juflification in Chrift, Rom. iv. 6, 7. Therefore this, vvLo.f^rW, which God in Chrift reconcileth to himfeif, is a biefled juftified world ; not all and every one of the fons of
men that ever were, are, or fhall be in the world; the ereateft part of whom he in evil.
(3-) 1 God in Chrift reconciling , holdeth out an a final
work of reconciiiation ; now this mull be either an abfolute reconciliation, or a conditionate. If abfolute, why are not all actually and abfolutely reconciled, pardoned, juftified ? If conditionate ; then, i.] how can a conditionate reconcilia¬ tion, be reconciled with that which is aSual f 2.1 Why is no condition here mentioned P 3.] What is that condition ? Is it faith and believing ? Then the fenfe of the words mull oe either, ft.] God was in Chrift, reconciling a believing world unto himfeif ; of which there is no need, for believers are reconciled : or [2.] God was in Chrift, reconciling an unbelieving world unto himfeif, upon condition that it do be neve ; that is, upon condition that it be not unbelieving •
mat is, that it be reconciled ; is this the mind of the Holy
spirit ? '
(4.) If this reconciliation of the world eonfift fas it doth) m a not-imputation of fin; then this is either of all their fins or only offome fins; if of fomeonly, then Chrift faves only nom .ome fins ; if of all, then of unbelief alio, or it is no -in; then all the men in the world muff needs be faved as vv iofe unbelief is pardoned. The world here then, is only the woild of bleffed pardoned believers, who are made the rebteoufnefs of God in Chrift.
Tnat which T. M. bringeth to inforce theoppofite fisnifica- Ucn of the word, is in many words very liu|e. Much time be spends, with many uncouth expreflions, to prove a two-fold
reconciliation
and Places oj Scripture opened . 229
reconciliation intimated in the text ; the firft of God to us by Chrift the other of us to God by the Spirit ; which we alfo grant though we do not divide them, but make them feveral parts of the fame reconciliation, the former being the rule of the latter. For to whomfoever God is reconciled in and by Chrift, they fhall certainly, every one of them, be reconcil¬ ed to God by the Spirit : God’s reconciliation to them, con¬ fiding in a not-imputation of their fins ; their reconciliation unto him, in an acceptance of that non-imputation in Jefus Chrift. And as the former is the rule of, fo it is the chief motive unto, the latter ; being the fubjea or matter of the meffage in the gofpel, whereby it is effe&ed. So the afTerti- on of this two-fold reconciliation, or rather two branches of the fame compleat work of reconciliation, ailablifheth our per- luafion, that the world can be taken only for the eie61 therein.
But he brings farther light from the context, to ftrengthen his interpretation. For (faith he) thofe of the world here, are called men, verfe 11. men that muft appear before the judgment-feat of Chrift, verfe 10. that were dead ver. 14. that ought to live unto Chrift, ver. 15. therefore all men. Anjw. Now homini homo quid intereft ? How eafy is it for fome men to prove what they pleafe ? Only let me tell you, one thing moreis to be done, that the caufe may be yours ; viz . a prov¬ ing that the eleft of God are not men, that they may not ap¬ pear before the judgment-feat of Chrift, that they were not dead, that they ought not to live to Chrift ; this do, or you lofe the reward.
But he adds, of the fe fome are reconciled io God , verfe 18. Anfzv* Moft falfe, that there is any limitation or reftri&ion of reconciliation, to fome of thofe concerning whom the apoftle treats; it is rather evidently extended to all of them. But , fays he, fome are not reconciled , verfe 11. Anfw. Not a word of any fuch thing in the text ; nor can the leaft colour be poflibly wrefted thence, for any fuch affertion. Many cor¬ rupt the word of God .
2. A fecond place heurgeth, is John i. 9. “ That was the “ true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the
world.” This world (faith he) is the world of mankind, verfe 4. made by Chrift, verfe 3. which was his own, bv creation, mercy and purchafe ; yet received him not, verfe 3, 10, 11 ; therefore it is manifeft, that there is life, and that Chrift died for all.
Anfw . That by the world here is meant, not men in the world, all, or fome, but the habitable part of the earth ; is
more
*3° ObjeSions • particularly anfwered ,
\
more apparent, than can well admit of proof or illuflration* The phrafe of coming into the world , cannot poffmly be o- therwife apprehended ; it is as much as borny and coming to breathe the common air. Now, among the expofitions of this place, that feems molt confonant and agreeable to the dif- courfe of the apoflle, with other expreflions here ufed, which refeis the word erchomenon, unto phos,
l , dit, f and, no. to an thropon, man , with which it is vulgarly efieemed to agree ; fo that the words fhould be ren¬ dered, that was the true hgnt zohichy coming into the worldy hghteth every man. Thus John iii. 19. h^kt is come into the world ; and John xn. 46. lam come a light into the world; paiallel expreflions unto this. So that from the word world , nothing can hence be extorted, for the univerfality of grace 01 ranlom. The whole weight then muff lye on the words, every man; which yet T. M. doth not at all infill upon: and if any other fhould, the word holding out aftual illumina¬ tion, can be extended, in its fubjeft, to no more than indeed are illuminated.
Chrifl then, coming into the world, is faid to enlighten e- very man ; partly, becaufe every one that hath any light, hath it from him ; partly, becaufe he is the only true light and fountain of illumination, fo that he doth enlighten e- very one that is enlightened ; which is all the text avers, and is by none denied. But whether all and every one in the world, before and after his incarnation, were, are, and fhall be a&ually enlightened with the knowledge of Chrifl, by his coming into the world ; let Scripture, experience, reafon, and fenfe determine. And this in brief may fuffice tomani- fefl the weaknefs of the argument for univerfal redemption, from this place ; waving for the prefent, not denying or op- pofing another interpretation of the words; rendering the en- Jightning here mentioned, to be that of reafon and underftand- ing communicated to all ; Chrifl being propofed, as in his divine nature, the light of all, even the eternal wifdom of his Father.
3. A third place is John i. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Jins of the world : and this (faith he) is fpoken of the world in general.
Anfw. (1.) If it fhould be fpoken of the world in general ; yet nothing could thence be inferred, to an univerfality of in¬ dividuals. (2.) That Chrifl is he, ho AiPvON, which tak¬ eth away , (beareth, purgeth, pardoneth (as the word is ufed,
£ Sam. xxiv. 10.) taketh away by j unification that it fhould
not
23*
and Places of Scripture opened,
not condemn, by fan£lification that it fhould not reign, by glo¬ rification that it fhould not be,) ten hamartian, the Jin? (great fin, original fin) tou kosmou of the world , (com¬ mon to all,) is moft certain ; but that he taketh it away from, beareth it for, pardoneth it unto, purgeth it out of all and every man in the world ; is not in the leaft manner inti¬ mated in the text, and is in itfell exceeding falfe.
4. John iii. 17. is by him in the next place urged ; God fent not his Son into the world to condemn the world , but that
the world through hi?n might be faved .
Anfw . (1.) A notable an tan aklasis, or eminent inversion of the word world , in this place ; was before obferved ; like that of chap, i. 10. he was in the world , or on the earth, a part of it ; and the world was made by him , the whole world, with all things therein contained ; and the world knew him not , or the moll of men living in the world. So here, by the world , in the fir ft claule, that part of the world wherein our Saviour converfed, hath the name of the whole afligned unto it; in the fecond, you may take it for all and every one in the world, if you pleafe (though from the text it cannot be enforced ;) for the prime end of our Savi¬ our’s coming, was not to condemn any, but to fave his own much lefs to condemn all and every one in the world, out of which he was to fave his ele& : in the third claufe, they only are defigned, whom God fent his Son on purpofe to fave « as the words evidently hold out. The having then of them who are called the world , was the very purpofe and defign of God’s fending his fon. Now that thefe are not ail rnen° but only believers of Jews and Gentiles throughout the world is evident; [1.] Becaufe all are not faved ;° and the Lord* hath faid he will do all his pleafure, and his purpofe fliall ftand. [2.] Becaufe the moil of men were at the inffant ac¬ tually damned : did he fend his Son that they mi^ht be fav- ed ? [3,] Becaufe Chriff was appointed for the fail of fome,
Luke ii. 34. and therefore not that ail and every one mio-ht be faved. [4.] The end of Chrift’s aftual exhibition and fending in the flefh, is not oppofne to any of God’s eternal de¬ crees; which were eternally fixed, concerning the condemna¬ tion of forne for their fins ; did he fend his Son to fave fuch ? doth he aft contrary to his own purpofes, or fail in his under¬ takings ? The faved world , is the people of God fcattered a - broad throughout the world,
5. John iv. 42. and 1 John iv. 14. with John vi (which was before ccnfidered) are alfo produced by T.M.
232
ObjeBions particularly ffiifwircd,
in all which places Chrift is called the Saviour of the world*
Anfw . Chrift is laid to be the Saviour of the world ; either firft, becaufe there is no other Saviour for any in the world, and becaufe he faves all that are faved, even the people of God (not the Jews only] all over the world : or fecondly, becaufe he doth aflually fave all the world, and every one in it. If in this latter way, vieijii Mr. More ; it in the for¬ mer, me nomen hosper emen we are ftill where we were.
The urging of John xii. 46. I am come a light into the world , in this bufinefs, deferves to be noted, but not anfwer- ed. The following places, John iii. 16, 17. 1 John ii.
1. 2. have been already confidered. Some other texts are produced ; but fo exceedingly wrefted, ftrangely perverted, and fo extremely ufelefs to the bufinefs in hand, that I dare not make fo bold with the reader’s patience, as once to give him a repetition of them.
And this is our defence and anfwer, to the firft principal argument of our oppofers; with our explication of all thofe texts of Scripture, which they have wrefted to fupport it ; the bottom of their ftrength being but the ambiguity of one word. Let the chriftian reader try all things, and hold faft that which is good.
v CHAP. IV.
Anfwer to ike fecond general obje&ion , or argument for the uni *
verfahty of redemption .
rT^HE fecond argument , wherewith our adverfaries make 1 no lefs flourifh than with the former, is raifed from thofe places of Scripture, where there is mention made of all men and every man , in the bufinefs of redemption. With thofe bare and naked words, attended with fweiling vai* ex- preflions of their own; they commonly rather proda n a viflory, than ftudy how to prevail. , Their argument n eds not to be drawn to any head or form, feeing they pretend to plead from exprefs words of Scripture , wherefore we (half only con Oder the feveral places by them in this kind ufually produced ; with fuch enforcements of their fenfe from them, as by the ableft of that perfuafion have been ufed. The chief places infilled on are, 1 Tim. ii. 4> 6. 2* 9*
ii. 9, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. 1 Cor. xv. 22. Rom. v. 18.
4
and Places of Scripture opened.
*33
&or the u(e and fignification ot the word ad m Scripture, h much hath been fatd aheady by many .hat .« were needled* for me to infift upon it ; fome.h.ng alto to .hi. ; purpoie, hath been fpoken before , and that abundantly lufficient to inanileil, that noitrength of argument can be taken I torn word it fell. Wherefore 1 Avail apply mylelt only to the ex¬ amination of the particular placer urged ; aiv. i ie o je • J--s
from (hem railed* ■ .. , c r ,
L The fir It and chief place is, r Inn. u. 4, 6. L,o„ a). 4 have all men to be [wed, and to come unto me knowledge of ike truth; Chrtjl gave hirnfelj a ran/om for all, to be leafed in due time; hence 'they draw this argument, , f Rem. ettta fynod ) viz, II God will have all men to be faved, then Urrut died lor all ; but God will have all men to be laved and come to the knowledge of the truth ; therefore thrift died for a.
Anfvj. 1 /?. T: -.'hole ilrength of this argument, hes m the ambiguity of me word all ; which being o! various tgnt- fications, and to be interpreted fditabiy to the matter in hand, and the things and perfons whcreol iris fpoken; the who.e may be granted, orfeveral proportions dented, according as the acceptation of the word is enforced on us. i nat ah 01 all men, do riot always comprehend all and every man that were are or iball be, may be made apparent by near five hundred inftances Irom the Scripture. Taking then all and all men; diflributively for force of all forts ; we grant the whole ; tak¬ ing them cciUclively for alt of ail forte, we deny the minor, viz. that God will have them all to be faved. I o make our oeniaj of this appear to be an evident truth, and agreeable to the mod of the holy GhoSl in this place; two things mutt be con. me r- ed, viz what is that will of God here mentioned, woereov he'willeth all to be faved ; and who are the alt, of wnosu
the apofile is in this place treating. ,
1. The will of Guii is ufually diftinguifhed into his will in¬ tending and his will commanding : or rather that word is met* in reterende unto God, in this two fold notion, viz. lor his purpofe, what he will do; and lor his approbation of wnat we do, with his command thereof. Let now cur oppolers lake their option, in whether f.gnification the w.l! of Go . ihall be hete unueiitood, or how he wi’.leth the hlvauon ol } 2
bI ! 1 » -( -
fi.) If they fay he doth it, voluntaU figni, with his . w*U
boiftoianding, requiring, approving; then the feme oi uis
" . v;Oi
5 if
'di
wjcuions p,
uiiiQuiax
unjwertci,
words is this : God commandeth ail men to ufe th« whereby they may obtain the end, or falvation tbfnerT ^
ance whereof « acceptable to God, in any or all- anH'f°-”'
,he farate witl> 'hat of the, apollle in another niace cl /° “ “ ■mandeth all men every where to repent. Now if ’this be°i?' way whereby Gad willed) the falvation of all t! " • he
ed; then certainly thole n// can pSv be n, '"T0"'
whom he grante.h and reveale.h the means 0“^’ wh" h
are indeed a great many h5l> „ * . °\5race; which
Cf the poller,, y of Adam. Befider'tabnsGod’f’w'b ?V falvation of men in this a , & (jr0ii s willing the
piopulitioo, IE'" ChHftdieJ ,f lll'T1 °r““ S,“
r " rSK.’^SKS
by” his decree hanUkSbe^ C0”nexton which himfdf falvation; the d a ho ChnrK" 6 0 ‘W° th,n«S’ faith and
the holding out o tht ' l be,ng *h*nd Efficient, for g or tiiat connexion unto aii ; there hp:ncr *
nongh m it, (0 lave all believers 8
ilJti'Ur' °’rGod' be ,ak“ f» M< tfficadobj .in .
"e ™ l«rT ' “1“ ‘°“I r1"'"" > (» -n.1, .0 1
“! | '| "' » «W “ 7* *. ground and b„ J„ „i £
Thv wil he d. '‘^ tnefe cur prayers, we ffiould fay only i y wdl be done, which 13 to have them all to be fayed- now we have 3 promife to ^ f f'* 1 i r 9
according to hts wh , I b - G°, ’ W,latIbever ws
this vv * ' I c ■ I r. J u- . Jonn 111,22 al,d v. 14. and therefore
-raver'; rr ^ hffC ProPofed a* ‘he ground of our
‘- wh ig neCdS bc h,s efft’aual 6r rather efficacious will wmch is always accompliffied ;) it it be (I fav) thus taken
“r “uft Iulbiieti> and ^ <hofe rived, whom
do 7hf PSP faVed f°r Whalf0ever G- bal1 «b, and Z
and tb^hr-n ' <™rr,derin8 h,S *) none doub 7
“u- e'L dl r “ '“r«. ,bc,eto,« it ,|«fc
he S / fd every one, at! and every one fliall certainly / LVCP (°r wh°katk reeled his will? Rom. ix. jo. He hath
t^StTT P if' PfaK CxV-3- doth according to
theea-th D ^ ° 'rT ‘r’ am0n£ the inkabitant! cf
oi f\’la' ° iVr 3d' 11 ^ then here, be to be underftood 1 uoives ially9 one of thefe two things muff of necer-
tVi, "0 m>7f e|Hher„<faat God faiieth ofliis Purpofe and intec. no,, oi elfe that all men univerfally lhali be faved- which
puts us upon the lecoad thing, confnkrable in the’ w 'rds ^ 0. Who
0 rid Places of Scripture opened . 235
'Who are meant bv all men, in this place. By' all men > tshe aooiUe here intendeth ail forts of men indefinitely, living binder the gofoel, or in thefe latter times under the enlarged difpenfation o! the means ot grace. That men o t *e e tim. s only, are intended, is the acknowledgment Arnnniu^ hirr (elt, treating with Perkins about this place. I he cop - el the apoftle, treating ol the amplitude, enlargement an extent os grace, in the outward adminiff ration thereof un er the gofoel ; will not (uffer it to be denied, d hts he *ays down as a foundation ol ou* praying for all; becaufe it:' rucans 01 grace, and the habitation of the church, are now no longer confined to the narrow bounds of one nation : hut promii* cuoufly and indefinitely extended unto all people, tongues, and languages ; and to all (o • t s of men amonglf them, higu and Sow, rich and poor, one with another. "W e fay thui» that by the words, all men, are he^e intended, cn«y ion ^ of ail forts of men, fuitable to the purpofe of the apoftle, which was to fhew that all external difference between tne fons of men is now taken away ° which, ex aoundanti, ivc. further confirm by thefe following reafons, viz-
(t.j The word all, being in the Scripture molt commonly s nfed in this fenfe, (that is lor many of all forts'* and there be¬ ing nothing in the fubjekt matter of which it is here affirmed, that fhould in theleait meafure impel to another acceptation of the word, efpecially for an univerfal colieTiion of every individual; we hold it fafe, to cleave to the molt ufual fenfo and meaning of it. Thus our Saviour is faic to cure all dif> tafts ; and the Pharifees to tithe p AN lachan o N j ev j Kerb, Luke xi. 42.
(2 ) Paul hisnielf plainly leadeth us to this interpretation of.it ; for after he hath enjoined us to pray for all, hecaufe the Lord will have all to be laved; he exprefsly intimates, that by all men he underffandeth men ot all forts, ranks, conditions and. orders ; by diftributing thofe all into feveral kinds, exprefsly mentioning fome of them, as 'kings ana au in authority Not unlike that expreffion we have, Jsr. xxix. 1,2. Nebuchadnezar carried away all the people captive to Baby¬ lon ; Jecomah the king, and the queen , and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah, and Jerufalem , and the carpenters and the fmiths : where all the people is interpreted to be lome of all Torts ; by a difiribution of them into the feveral orders, cat¬ es and conditions whereof they were. No otherwiie doth the apoftle interpret the all men by him mentioned ; in gtv. iiig us the names of fome of thole orders and conditions
whom
_
Objections particularly anfwered,
whom he inter.deth : pray for all men, (faith he) that h ail orts o men, as magdtrates, all that are in authority • the urns being now conie, whereto, without fuch difiin&ions as
r'>f ni t. r I y have been obferved, the Lord I (ave fome of all iorts and nations.
: (3‘) We are bound to pray for all, whom God would ,ave 10 be laved ; now we ought not to pray for all and eve- ry one, as knowing that fome are reprobates, and Tin unto
death ; concerning whom, we have an exp refs caution not to pray for them.
(4v> All (hall be faved, whom God will have to be faved • this we dare not deny, for who hath refilled his will ? Seeing then it is molt certain that all lhall not be faved, (for fome ihai, Hand on the left hand) it cannot be, that the university or men mould be intended in this place.
(5 ) God would have no more to be faved, than he would have come to the knowledge of the truth ; thefe two things are or equal latitude, and conjoined in the text : but it is not the wiJ of the Lord, that all and every one in all ages, fhould come to the knowledge of the truth. Of old, Hejhewed his
ffTii uni° Jaco^’» his Jlatues and his judgments unto Ifrael ; He Hath not dealt fo with any nation ; and \ as for his judg¬ ments, they have not known them , Pfal. cxlvii. 19, 20. If lie would have them all come to the knowledge of the truth; why did he fhew his word to fome, and not to others, with* out which they could not attain thereunto ? He fujfered all nations in former ages to walk in their own ways, A61s xiv, 26, ana winded at the tim s of this ignorance, Acfs xvii. go. hiding the my tiery of Llvation h om thofe former ages, Col .
J* 26. And he continues the fame difpenfation, even until this day, in refpe£l of fome; and that becaufe, fo itfeemcd good in his fight, Matth xL 2b. It is then evident that God doth not will, that all and every one in the world, of all ages and times, (hould come to the knowledge of the l>uto ; but only aU forts of men without difference * and therefore they only are here intended.
Ihefe, and the like reafons, which compel us to under- i:3nd by all men verfe 4, whom God would have to be faved,, men of ail forts ; doalfo prevail, for the fame acceptation of she word all, verfe 6. where Chrid is faid to give himfdf a ranfomfor all. Whereunto you may alfo add all thofe rea¬ sons whereby we before declared, that it is of abfolute neceL fity andjult equity, that all they for whom a ranfom was paid, fhcuid have a part and portion in that ranfom; and, if
that
<&nd Places of Scripture opened . 23.7
1
ihatbeacceptedasfufficient.be fet at liberty: paying and accepting of a ranfom, intimate a comtiiu'ation, and lotting free of all them for whom the ranloir. is paid and accepted. By all then, can none be underrtood but the redeemed, the ranfomed ones of Jefus Cbrift ; Such as, tor him «>nd y vir. tue of the price ol his blood, are vindicated into the g orious liberty of the children of God: which as fome of ail ions are exprefdy faid to be. Rev. v.9. (which place is interpre¬ tative of this) fo, that all in the world univetfaily aie 10, is
confefledly talfe. . ,
tdly. Having thus made evident the meaning of the words,
our anfwer to the objeftion (whole ftrength is a meet fallacy fiom the ambiguous fenfe of the word all) is eafy and facile. For il by all men , you mean the all in the text, that is, ah forts of men ; we grant the whole, viz that C brill died for all ; but if by all men, you mean all univerfally, we abfoiute- ly deny the minor or aflumption ; having fufficiently proved
that there is no fuch all in the text.
The enforcing of an objection from this place, — 7. in
his universality of grace, makes the lubjefil of one whoie chapter. It is alio one of the two places, which he lays lor the bottom and foundation of the whole building ; and v/hereunto, at a dead lift, he always retires. Wherefore I thought to have confidered that chapter ol his, at large : but upon fecond considerations, have i aid aftde that resolution ;
and that for three reafons, yiz.
1. Becanfe 1 defired not a£lum agere ; to do that which hath already been done : efpecially the thing itfelf being Inch, as fcarce dderveth to me meddled with at all. Now much about the time that I was proceeding in this particular, the learned woik of Mr. Rutherford , about the death of Chrifl and the drawing of Tinners thereby, came to my hand ; wherein he hath fully ardwered that chapter of Mr. M» his book, whither I remit the reader.
2. I find that he hath not once attempted to meddle with any of thofe reafons and arguments, v/hereby we confirm our anfwer to the ohje&ion from the place ; and prove un¬ deniably, that by all men, is meant only men of all forts,
3. Becaule, fetting afide thofe hare naked affertions of his own, whereby he feeks to flrengthcn his argument from an interpretation of this place ; the refidue wherewith he flou- rifheth, is a poor fallacy running through the whole ; the ftrengih of all his arguments confining in this — that l)y all we are to pray for, are not ipeant only all who arc (at pre-
.
■‘""w-'XC
•}jv, “ % I
•■■AM ■/ ■ l
I y/.i
it
1® >i i :
v'Pfi ("
IS r: tel t
M'
Objections particularly anfwered
fent) believers ; which as no man in his right wits wiii affirm - 10 he that will conclude from thence, chat betaule they are not only all prefent believers, therefore they are all the in¬ dividuals ol mankind, is not to be efieemed very fober.— i roceed we then to the next place urged for the general ran- lorn, from the word all : which is,
}l -m \n- 9] nTh,eJ Lord is 'long Suffering to us mar d, not willing tnat any fliould ptrijh, but that all fhoutd come to repentance. I he will ol God (fay fomej for the falvation of
’ aii' IS h^re {ct down negatively , ffiat he would not have any periln ; and pofetively , that he would have all to come to repentance. Now feeing there is no coming to repentance, nor e ( cap mg defiru&ion, but only by the blood ol Chrift • U is mamfeft, that that blood was died for all.
An/w. Many words need not be fpent in anfwer to this obj chiton, wrdied Irotn the mifunderfianding, and palpable corrupting of the fenfe or thefe words of the apofile. That indefinite and general expreffions, are to be interpreted in an anfwerable proportion to the things whereof they are affirm-
; is a rule in the opening of the Scripture. See then of whom the apoftle is here fpeaking; The Lord (faith he) is long JuJJenng to ns-ward , not willing that any fhould periJh ; will not common feme teach us, that fusj is to be repeated in troth the following claufes, to make them up complete and lull ? viz. not willing that any of us ffiould periffi, but that all of us ffiould come to repentance ? Now who are thefe of whom »he apoP*.,i£ fpeaks, to whom he writes ? fuch as had received great and precious promifest chap. \. g.. whom he calls beloved, chap. iii. i. whom he oppofeth to th tjccjfers o\ the lajl days , verfe 3. to whom the Lord hath refpe£i in the ckfpofal of thefe days, who are faid to be cLB, Matth. xxiv. p.2. Now truly to argue, that becaufe God would have noneofthofeto periffi, hut all of them to come to repent¬ ance, therefore he hath the fame will and mind towards all and every one in the world, (even thofs to whom he never makes known his Will, nor ever calls to repentance, and ne¬ ver once hear of his way of falvation) comes not much ffiort of extreme tmdoefs and folly. Neither is it of any weight to the contrary, that they were not all ele£l to whom Peter. wrote ; for in the judgment of charity he cfleemed them fo, defiring them to give diligence to make their calling and elePii - cn Jure , chap. i. 10. even as he exprefsly calieth thofe so whom he wrote his former epiflle, deft, chapter i. 2. and a chofen generation t as well as a pur chafed people , chap. ii. 9.
I Mi
and Places of Scripture opened .
S’
39
e , ( .v • i
I (hall not need to add any thing, concerning the contra. diQions and inextricable difficulties, wherewith the oppe fhe interpretation is accompanied; (as, that God fhould wiii inch to come to repentance, whom he cuts off in their infancy out of the covenant; fuch as he hateth from eternity, from whom he hideth the means of grace ; to whom he will not give re¬ pentance, and yet knoweth that it is utterly impoflible they fhould have it without his beilowing.) The text is dear, that it is all, and only the cleft, whom he would not have so perifh. A place iuppofed parallel to this, we have in Ezekiel xviii. 23. 32. which fhall be afterwards coafiderccl The next is :
III. Heb. ii« 9. That he by the grace of Godt Jhould tafie death for every man .
Objer. That hyper pantos , for every one , is here iifed for hyper pan ton, for ail , by an enallage of the number, is by all acknowledged. The whole quellion is, who thefe all are ; whether ail men univerfaliy, or only all thofe o: whom theapohle there treateth. That this expreffion every man% is commonly in the Scripture ufed to lignify men under fome reflriftion, cannot be denied. So in that oi ihe apoftle, warning every man and teaching every man , Col* i. 28. that is, ail thofe to whom he preached the gofpel, ot whom he is there (peaking; aifo The mamfefialion of the jpi- rit is given to every man to profit withal , 1 Cor. xii. 7. viz . to all and every one of thofe, who were endued with the gifts there mentioned ; whether in the church at Corinth , or elfe- where. The prefent place I have frequently met withal, produced in the behalf of univerfal redemption ; but never once had the happinefs to find any endeavour to prove from the text, or any other way, that all here, is to be taken for ail and every one; although they cannot but know that the u- iuai acceptation of the word is againfl their purpofe. Mr. M. ipenris a whole chapter about this place ; which I feriouily confidered, to fee if I couid pick out any thing which might teem in the icah meafuve to tend that way, viz, to the proving that all and every one, aie infthai place by the apof. tie intended; but concerning any iuth Tirdeavt ur, you have deep [hence ; fo that with abundance of fmooth words, he doth nothing in that chapter but humbly and heartily beg the thitqr in quell ion ; unto which his petition, though he be exceeding earns 11, we cannot conical ; and that becaufe of thefe fol¬ lowing' reafons, viz.
iji. To tajk death, being to drink out the cup due to flu.
nets ;
2;4^ Objections particularly an fevered
ners ; certainly for whomfoevcr our Saviour did tafte of {t2 he left not one drop for them to drink alter him ; he tailed, or underwent death in their Head ; that the cup might pafs from them, which pafled not from him. Now the cup of death paffeth only from the ele£l, from believers ; for whom- foever cur Saviour tailed death, he fvvaliowed it up unto vi£lory.
idly. We fee an evident appearing caufe that Qiould move the apoille here, to call thofe for whom Chtiit died alf viz becaufe he wrote to the Hebrews ; who were deeply tainted with an erroneous perfuafion, that all the benefits pur- chafed by the Mclfiah, belonged alone to men of their nation 9 excluding all others ; to root out which pernicious opinion, it behoved the apoille to mention the extent of free grace under the gofpel ; and to hold out an univetfality of God's e!e£l throughout the world.
3 dly> The prefent defeription of the <2//, for whom Chrift tailed death by the grace of God, will not fuit to all and eve¬ ry one ; or any but only the e!e£l of God; for verfe 10. they are called many fans to be brought unto glory ; verfe 1 1. thofe that are fanBifed his brethren ; verle 13. the children which God hath given him ; verle 15. thofe that are delivered from the bondage of death ; none of which can be affirmed of them, who are born, live and die the children of the wicked one, Chrift is not a Captain oj falvation , as he is here itiled, to any but them that obey him , Heb. v. 9. righteotifnefs com- jng by him, unto all and upon all that believe , Romans in. £2. For thefe and the like reafons, we cannot be induc¬ ed to hearken to our advei lary ’s petition ; being fully pet fuad- ed that by every one here, is meant ail and only God’s c!s£i ; in whole (lead Chrift by the grace of God, tailed death.
IV. Another place is 2 Cor. v. 14. 15. For the lobe of Chrijt conjtraineth us, bccaufc we thus judge that if one died for all, then were all dead ; and that he died for ail, that they which live fkould not henceforth live unto themfelves, but unto him which died for them. Here fay they, ver. 14. you have two alls, which mull be both of an equal extent ; if ail were dead then Chrift died for all ; that is, for as many as were dead. Again he died for all that muft live unto him ; but that is the duty of every one in the world ; and therefore he died for them all. Further, that all are all individuals, is clear from ver. 10. where they are affirmed to be ad that muft appear before the judgment (eat of Chuff ; from widen appearance not any (hall be exempted. ^
and Places of Scripture opened .
241
Anyvj, \ft. Taking the words, as to this particular, in the fenfe of lome of our adverfaries ; vet, it doth not appear from the texture of the apoftle’s arguing, that the two alls of verfe 1 4. are of equal extent. He doth nut fay, that thrift died for all that were dead; but only, that all were dead whom Chrift died for ; which proves no more but this, that al! tl^ey whom Chini died for, were dead 5 with that kind of death, or wk.cii ne /peaks.
The extent of the words is to be taken from the fir If all, and not the latter. The apoftle affirms fo many to be dead as Chrift died for ; not that Chrift died for fo many as were dead. . This the words plainly teach us ,* if he died for all , then were all dead, that is, all he died for ; fo that the all that were dead, can give no light to the extent of the all that Chrift died for ; being merely regulated by this. ~
2 dlv . T b at a ft an d e v e r v one , a re m 0 ra l ly bound to live unto Chrift, virtate prcccepti, we deny. Only they are bound to jive to him, to whom he is revealed ; indeed only they who live by him, that have a fpiritual life in and with him ; all others are under previous obligations.
3 dly. It isttue, ail and every one mud appear before the judgment feat of Chrift,* he is ordained to be judge of the world; but that they are intended, verfe 1 o, of this chapter, is not true ; . for the apoftle fpsaks of us all , all believer s% efpecially all preach¬ ers of the gofpel : neither of which all men are. Notwithftnnd- ing then any thing that hath been laid, it no way appears, that by dll here is meant any but the elect of God, all believers ; and that they only are intended, I prove by thele following reafons drawn from the text :
1. The refurre&ion of Chrift, is here conjoined with his death ; he died for them, and rofe again. Now for whomsoever Chrift rifeth, he rifeth for their j ufiifi cation , Rom. iv. 25. and they mu ft be juftifted, Rom. viii. 34. Yea'our adversaries' themfelves have always confeffed, that the fruits of the re fur recti on of Chrift, are peculiar to believers,
2. He i peaks only of thole who, by virtue of the death of Chrift, live unto him , verfe 15. Who are new ere mures, verfe 17. to whom the Lord imputeth not their trefpajfes , verfe iq. Who become the righteoufnefs of God in Chrift, verfe 21. which are only believers. AH do not attain hereunto.
3. The article hoi joined with p antes, evidently reftraineth that all, to all of fome (ort ; then were they all (or rather a li¬ the fe) dead; thefe all ; what all? even a j 1 thefe behevers of whom he treats, as above.
II h
4. A . :
4f
■wat TZ*
242 Objt&ions particularly anficered
4* All thofi of whom the apoflle treats, are proved to be dead becaufe Chrift died tor them ; if one died for all , then were all dead. What death is it, which here is fpoken of? not a death natural, but fpiritual; and of death which comes under that name, not that which is in fin , but that which is unto fin ; for, (1 ) The greateft champions of the Arminian caufe, as Vorftiut , and Grotius (on the place) convinced by the evidence of truth, ac¬ knowledge, that it is a death unto fin, by virtue of the death of Chrift, that is here fpoken of; and accordingly hold out that for the lenfe of the place. (2. ) It is apparent from thetext; the in¬ tention of the apoflle being to prove, that thofe for whom Chrift died, are fd dead to fin, that henceforth they fliould live no more thereunto, but tef him that died for them. The fubjed he hath in hand, is the fame with that which he handleth more at large, hom. vi. 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, where we are faid to be dead unto fin ? by being planted together in the likenefs of the death of Chrift; from whence, there as here , he prefteththem to newnefs of life. Thefe words then, if Chrijl died for all , then were all dead 2 are concerning the death of them unto fin, for whom Chrift died ; at leaft of thofe concerning whom he there fpeaketh ; and what is this to the general ranfom ?
5* 1 he apoflle fpeaks of the death of Chrift, in refped of ap¬ plication : the effectualnefs thereof, towards fhofe for whom he died, to caufe them to live unto him, is infilled on. That Chrift died for all in refped of application, hath not yet by any been af* firmed. Then muft all live unto him, yea live with him for ever¬ more ; if there be any virtue or efficacy in his applied oblation for that end. In fum, here is no mention of Chrift’s dying for any, but thofe that are dead to fin, and live to him.
V. A fifth place urged, to prove univerfal redemption from the word all, is 1 Cor. xv. 22. For as in Adorn all die , even fo in Chrift Jhall all be made alive.
Anfiu. There being another place, hereafter to be eonfidcred, Wherein the whole ftrength of the argument ufualiy drawn from thefe words, is contained ; 1 fliall not need to (peak much to this : neither will I at ail turn from the common expofition of tha place. Thole concerning whom Paul fpeaketh in this chapter, are in this verfe called all : thofe are they who are implanted into Chrift, joined to him as the members to the head, receiving a glorious re- furre&ion by virtue of his; thus are they by the apoftie deicribed. That Paul in this whole chapter difeourfeth of the refurrection of believers, is manifeft from the arguments which he bringeth to con¬ firm it; being fuch as are of force only With believers. Taken they are from the refurredion of Chrift, the hope, faith, cuftoms, and expected rewards of chriftians : all which, as they are of un¬ conquerable power to confirm and eftabllih believers in the faith of the reiurrection ; fo they would have been, all and every one of
them,
*43
and Places of Scripture opened.
jr ! 'A'n nlrtiis had they been held out to the men
of the
Further, the very word elurredion,
living again, a. » to a good I an , 8 re^ifed to a fecnnd death.
arid not the quickening ofthem who a ^ ^ ^
The Sen is faid zoopoisin, Joh" * ' h uf/th the word
make alive (not all, but ) whom he will. So til.
again, chaptervi. 63. ^M^r/troro.to.o^W
maketh alive ; in like manner, Roman, tv. '/• which all
where it is ufed, to ihew forth that common wfurreflion which
{hall have at the laft dav. f . « fliall be
All th**n who by virtue of the refurreftion of Chrift jluil be
made alive’ are all thole who are partakers of the nature of Cnr.U ^
Uo «rfi» 3. are exprefsly called, they that are Chr, It s : ando* whom ®er. 20 Chrift is faid to be th t firft-friuts ; and certainly, Chrift' is not the fir J't fruits of the damned. Yea though it ns u tie, that all and every one died in Adam, yet tnat
(the apoftle fpeaking of none but believers, ) is not une • and > ,
If it were foto be taken here, it couldnot prove the thing intended, becaufe of the exprefs limitation of the fenfe, m the cUule io.low - ins. Laftly, granting all that can be delired, viz the unit e 1 1 1 - tySofthe word all in both places, yet I am no way ab.e to d.lcein l medium, that may ferve for an argument to prove the general
ranfom. ^ jgi -1S tbe lad place urged in this kind, and by
fome mod infilled on : As by the offence of one, judgment come up¬ on all men to condemnation ; even Jo by the ngkteoufttejs of one,, u free gift came upon all men unto j unification ofi life. It mig i fuffice briefly to declare, that by alt men in the latter place, can none be underdood, but thofe upon whom the free-gift ad al ly comes unto juftification of life: who are faid, ver. n, to teutve abundance of grace, and the free-gift of nghteoufnej s , and lo to reisrn in life, by one Jefus Chrift ; arid by lus obedience to be maue righteous, ver. i9. which certainly, if any thing be true and certain in the truth of God, all are not: for lome beneve not, all men hive not faith ; on iometlie wrath of God abide* 1, J° 111 ’ 5 *
O 6 upon whom fnrely grace doth not reign through righteoufneis 10 eternal life, by Jefus Chrift ; as it doth upon all ihole, oil whom the free-gift comes to judification, ver. 17 W e mignt, fay, thus anfwer only : but feeing fome, contrary to the -clear manifeft intention of the apoftle, (comparing Alan and Cnnjl, in the efficacy of the tin of the one unto condemnation, and of the. rightehufnefs of the other unto judification and life, m relpeO ot thofe who are the natural feed of the one by propagation, and Hie K, ritual feed of the other by regeneration,) have laboured to wrei, this place, to the maintenance of the error we oppofe, witu nmie
than ordinary endeavours and confidence of futceis ; it may not be
umie ceil ary
r
2u
Ohjt [lions particularly anjwsred.
pur^oi'e1!'3'7 t0 C°nfiJer’ what is brought by them to this end and Ihltwasn co^Z fiSt,Ca'Led TYP0S’ *be type ahd fi&>* of him
that only end L ° ' r 7 '»*> ordained for
^hathedid fd VTP cn Ul onJy ,hat in W.fiat he was, and
ih.ee between him and JefueChrii Hence t, “ 77
au alike, though not an equal rfficacv tf,.,, • ; ■’ tllac
efficacy remn-tt , r 4 ,cacy’ (ro1 ‘here is more merit and
fin, of the demerit,
bring the guilt of condemnation upon all themin’ w° '®ndema» or
was public perfon, (being the head and neural fountain of them
diving* U? * the {*"* condition with him by ofrhv oth°r _ fijr rbl o t ie ngateouinefs, obedience, and death
them whom " ' ^ 0i.Ut,0?> J unification, and falvation of all
, ‘ . . m as was 2 ^ nttial head by divine inftitution and in
whofe room he was a public perfon • is by hi-n in r ’ . 7
' , rvti Tivitti , a F ? oy Him in divers particulars
. . • * ' " heielafl, were all and every one of the *r ‘l
e 7 .1)" tae menr,on* Tiie comparison is foleJy tob^ con ^dered tnte^ely, in reipe* of efficacy ; not in ^
of objeft: though the all of Adam be called his„ ; and tie
*7 °< Chnftba cal!ed b- «/4~as indeed they are, even al £ iced which is given unto him.
, 2‘ if: inllls mi'nrfality of free grace , chap. S. p, 4,. farg coantai- eompariion inftituted by the apoftie between Adam and
i f . , Te °/ the *llain foundations of his univerfal redemption : ad tins (after fome ft range mixtures of truth and errors pritnifed •
W !hings!V0‘d ,ed,°Ufnefs> W£ ,et «» affinneth to conftf in
“ nifon Adam "" fi" aMd was a public
“ covenant [£ mom and p’ace of aJi mankiud, by virtue of the
<t 7“ r n G°dandh,m> f° rhit whatever lie did therein,
.. i f f 7" him: fo a!f» was Chrift a public « ’ ,'n 1,0 "bedif"ce and death, in the room and place of all
<< reprefented by him ; even every one' of the pofterity of
r .nuf J10., .r 1 ° tha! concerneth A dam y— we grant he was a
hii-Vlv/^r” I” r.e(p€d °f a11 h5s iecd> that were to proceed from !, ^na Jia. P10pagation : that Chrilt alfo ivas, a public perfon
tha'Cw’inl 113 !eer ’’ a’Ul hereIn Prefigllr8d b/ Adam. But per Ion f 1 °be?!ence> deatb and facrifice,_was a public
peiipnfoi, and flood m the room and fteadofall and every one in
‘ the
and Places oj Scripture opened. 245
ill e world, of all ages and times ; (that is not only of his elecl or thole who were given unto him of God, — but alio ol reprobate per¬ form hated of God from eternity, of thoie whom he never Knew, concerning wham, in the days of hisflefli, he thanked his I ather that he had hid from them the myderies of falvation, whom lie refilled to pray for ; who were. the great efl part of them already damned in hell, and irrevocably gone beyond the limits ol redemption, be¬ fore lie actually yielded any obedience ) is to us Inch a wondrous afifertkm, as cannot once be apprehended or thought on without horror and detection. That any Ihould perifh, in whofe room or dead the Son of God appeared before his father with his perfect obedience ; that any of thofe for whom he is a Mediator and Ad¬ vocate y to whom he is a king and priefl and prophet (lor 'all this he is, as he was a public p’erlon, a lp on for, a lurety and undertaker for them ) ihould be taken from him or plucked out ol his arms, his futisfadion and advocation in their behall being refufed; I lup- poie is a doctrine that will fcarce be owned among thole, who itnve to prelerve the witnefs and teftimony of the Lord Jelus.
Bat let us a little confider the reafons, whereby Mr. More un¬ dertakes to maintain this drange adertion; which, as far a^I can gather, arethgfe, p. 44. viz. “1. He flood not in the room only 44 of the ekd j becaufe Adam lod not e led' on, being not entrud- 44 ed with it. a* If hedood not in the room of all, then he had 44 come fhort of his figure. 3. It is faid he was to redore all men 44 lodb y Adam, Heb. ii. 9. — 4. He took flefh, was fubjededto *< mortality, became under the law, and bare the fins of mankind* 44 5/ He did it in the room of all mankind, once given unto him,
44 Rom. xiv. 9. Phil. ii. 0, 11 - 6. Becaufe he is called the
44 la (h Adam. Andy. He is fa Id to be a public perfon in the 44 room of all, ever fince the fird Adam , 1 Cor. xv. 45. 47. 44 1 Tim. ii. 5.”
Anjvj, Never furely was a rotten conclusion, bottomed upon more loofe and tottering principles; nor the word of God more boldly corrupted for the maintenance of any err* r, fince the name cf chridian was known. A man would think it quite lod, but that it is fo very eafy a labour, to remove inch hay and dabble, I an- Aver then, (1) That though Adam lod not election, and the etern * fid decrees of the Almighty are not committed to the keeping of the fons of men; yet in him all the ele(i were lod, whom Chrid came to feek, whom he found, in whofe room he was a public perfon. (2.) Chrid is no where compared to Adam, in refpect of the extent cf the object of his death ; but only of the efficacy of hi; obedience. ( 3 ) The third is a falfe adertion ; lee our foregoing confideratlon. of Heb. ii. 9. (4.) Tor his taking offlejli, zee. it was necedary
he diould do all this, for the laving of his elect ; he took He Hi and blood, becaule the children were partakers of the fame. (5.) No fuch thing is once affirmed in the whole book of God, that ail the
246 ObjeSlions particularly anfwertd,
foils of men were given unto Chrifl to redeem, fo that he fhouldbe a public perfon in their room ; nay himfelf plainly affirms the con- trary, John xvii. 6. 9. Some only are given him out of the world; and thole he faved, not one of them periffieth, The pla- ees urged hold out no fuch thing, nor anything like it ; they will alfo afterwards come under farther conlideration. (6. ) He is cal¬ led the lad; Adam, m refpedl of the efficacy of his death, unto the j unification of the feed promifed and given unto him, as the fin of the fir ft Adam was effedtual to bring the guilt of condemnation on the feed propagated from him : which proves not at all, that he ftood in the room ct all thofe to whom his death was never known, nor any ways profitable. (7.) That he was a public perfon, is confeft: that he wasfo in the «*oom of all, is not proved ; neither by what hath been already faid, nor by the texts that there are al* ledged, all which have been confidered.
This being all that isproduced by Mr. More, tojufUfy his afifer- tion ; it may be an inftance of what weighty inferences he ul'ually aflerts, from fuch weak and invalid premifes. We cannot alfo but take notice, by the way, of one or two ftrange paftages, which he inferts into this dilcourfe : whereof the fir ft is, that Chrift, by his death, brought all men out of that death whereinto they were fallen by Adam . Now the death whereunto all fell in Adam , being a death in fin, Ephef. ii. r, 2, 3, and the guilt of condemnation thereupon; if Chrift freed all from this death, then muft 'all and every one be made alive with life fpiritual, which only is to be had and obtained by Jeftis Chrift; which whether that be fo or not, whether to live by Chrift be not the peculiar priviledge of believers, the gofpel hath already declared, and God will one day determine. Another ftrange aftertion is, his affirming th-e end of the death of Chrift, to be his prefenting himfelf alive and juft before his Father; as though this were the ultimate thing by him intended ; the Holy Ghoft exprefsly affirming, that he loved the church , and gave him¬ felf for it ; that he might prefent it a glorious church unto himfelf, Ephef. v. 25 27.
2 dly, The folio ** ug parallels which he inftituteth between A - iam and Chrift, have nothing of proof in them to the bufinefs in hand, viz, that Chrift was a public perfon, ftanding in his obedi¬ ence in the room of all and every one that were concerned in the difobedience of Adam . There is I fay, nothing at all of proof in them; being a confufed medley of fome truths, and divers un* favory herefies. I fliall only give the reader a tafte of fome of them, whereby he may judge of the reft ; not troubling myfelf or others, with the tranferibing and reading of fuch empty vanities, as no way relate to the bufinefs in hand* And,
1. In the fecond part of his parallel, he affirms, that when Chrift finifhed his obedience in dying and rifing, and offering him¬ felf a facrifice and making iatisfa&ion ; it was, by virtue of the
account
H7
and Places of Scripture opened.
account of God in Chrift and for Chrift, with God (that is accept¬ ed with God for Chrift’s fake) the death and refuvrea.on, the ia- crifice and fatisfactioo, and the redemption i of ail, that .s, «h and every one ; and therein he compares Chnft to Adam, m the pc r- formance of the bufinefsby him undertaken. Now, were u not th^
I cannot but with trembling conf.der what the apoftle affirms, Thef- ii.it. .2. I lliould be exceedingly amazed that any man in the world Ihould be fo far forfaken ot lenle, reafon, fault,
all reverence of God and man; as to publtfli, '
to propagate, fuch abominable, blalphemous, fenfelefs, contra- dictions errors. That the death of Chriftihould be accepted of, and accounted before God, as the death of all ; and yet the great- eft part of thefe all, be adjudged to eternal death in their own p - fons by the fame righteous God ; that all and every one fhould ante in and with Jefus Chrift ; and yet ntoft of them continue dead in their fins, and die for fin, eternally; that fatisfaftton Amu d be made and accepted for them who are never fpared, nor hall be, one farthing of their debt : that atonement fhould be made by fa- crifice, for luch as ever lie undelivered under wrath; that all the reprobates, Cain, Pharaoh , Akab, and the reft; who were actu¬ ally damned in hell, and under death and torment, then, when Chrift died, fuffered, made fatisfadion, and rofe again; fcou\a be efteemed with God, to have died, fullered, made fatisfacaoi* and ri fen again with Chrift: that (I fay) fuch fenfelels contradic- tions, horrid errors, and abominable aftertions, fiiould be thus nakedly t’nruftupon chriftians ; without the leaft colour, pretence, or ihew of proof, but the naked authority of him who hath already embraced fuch things as thefe ; were enough to make any man ad¬ mire, and be amazed; but that we know the judgments of God are ofc-times hid, and far above out of our fight-
2. In the third of his parallels, he goeth one ftep higher ; com¬ paring Chrift with Adam, in refpeft of the efficacy, effect, and fruit of his obedience. He affirms, that as by the fin of Adam, all his pofterity were deprived of life, andfell under fin and death, whence judgment and condemnation palled upon all ; though this be done fecretly and invifibly, and in fome fort unexpreflibly : (what he means by fecretly and invfjibly, well I know not, lurely he doth not fuppofe, that thefe things might poffibly be made the objects of our fenfes; and for unexpreflibly , how that is, let Rom. v. 12. with other places, where all this and more is clearly, plainly, and fully exprefted, be judge whether it be fo or no :) f0 faith he, by the efficacy of the obedience of Chrift, all men
without exception are redeemed, reftored, made righteous ; jufti- fied freely by the grace of Chrift, through the i coemption that is in Jefus Chrift, the righteoufnefs that is by the faith of Jefus Chrift, being ufcto ail, Rom. lit. 22. (where the impoftor wickedly com rupteth the word of God, like the devil, Matt* iv .—bv cutting ; u
ii h ft.
' • '. '; -;, ' '• . V , f- •'
.-. ■ ' ■■ r ~
- - S'
— ■■—
OhjtFaons particularly anfwered ,
tae blowing words, rz,??a allthem that believe ; both alls 'm> fwenng to believers. ) What remains now, but that all aifo jfhoufd be laved r the Holy Ghoft expredly affirming, that thofe (’odjujVfieth, he alf i gl orifieth, Rom. viii. 30. Solvile mor tales nni mas, curifque legate* Such adcrtions as thefe, without ail colour of proof, doth this author labour to obtrude upon us. Now that men fliould be reftored, and yet continue loft ; that they ill ou Id be made righteous, and yet remain detefrably wicked and wholly abominable ; that they fbould be juftihed freely by the grace of God, and always he under the condemning fentence of the law of God ; that the righteoufnefs of God by the faith of Jefus Chnft, fbould be upon all believers; thofe are not only things exceedingly oppofite to the gofpel of Jefus Chrift ; but ff abfolately at variance and diftance one with another, that the poor falve of ?vlr. More's following cautions, will not ferve to heal their mutual wou.ids, 1 cannot but feat that it would be tedious and offenfive, to 1 ake any longei in fuch a dunghill 1 let them that have a mind to be captivated to error and falfehood ; by corruption of Scripture and denial of common lenfe and reafon, becaufe they cannot re¬ ceive the truth in the love thereof; delight them feives with fuch hulks as thefe.
What weak arguments we have had, to maintain that Ohrid in his obedience to t lie death— was a public perfon in the room of all and every one ; hath been already demondrated. I fhall now, by the reader’s leave, a little tranfgrefs the rule of deputation : and taking up the oppofite part of the argument, produce feme few reafons and teftimonies to demondrate,— that our Saviour Chrid, in his obedience unto death, in the redemption which he wrought,
md fat is f action which lie made, and facrifi.ee which he offered, _
was not a public perfon in the room of all and every 7nan in the world, eledt and reprobate, believers and infidels or unbelievers; which are briefly thefe,
( t. ) The feed of the woman was not to be a public perfon in the place, dead, and room of the feed of the ferpent. Jefus Chrift -is the feed of the woman, kat? exochen, all the repro¬ bates ( as was before proved) are the feed cf the ferpent : there¬ fore Jefus Chrift was not, in his oblation and buffering, when lie brake the head of the father of that feed, — -a public perfon in their room.
(2.) Chrifl, as a public perfon, reprefenteth only them for whofe fake he fer him fed apart, to that office and employment wherein he was fuch a reprej entaiive ; but upon his own teftimony which we have John xvh. r 9, — he fet himfeif apart to the fervlce and em¬ ployment wherein he was a public perfon for the fakes only of fome that were given him out of the world ; and not of all and every one : therefore he was not a public perfon in the room of all.
( 3 * ) C brift w as a finely, as he was- a public perfon, Heb, vii 22,
and Places 0} Scripture opened. £49
Blit he was not furety forall : for, [1.] All are not taken into that . covenant, whereof he was a furety ; whole conditions are effected in all the covenantees, as before. [d ] None can peiifli mi \ v h o m C drift is a furety, unlels he be not able to pay the deot ; tuereloie
he was not a public perlon in the room of ail.
, (4, ) For whom he was a public periou, in t.iea 100ms he futfc-i - ed, ,gnd for them he made latistaction, Ha. liii: 5i b. Hut he suf¬ fered not in the (lead of all, nor made fat is fact ion for all: tor, [ 1 .] Some muft, fufter tliemfelves ; which makes it evident that did not fuffer for them, Rom. viii. 33> 34* und, 1 lie jol¬
lies of Go J requireth fatisfafiioii from tliemfelves, to the payment of the utmoft farthing.
(5.) Jefus Chrift, as a public perfon, did nothing in vain,— in refpeft of any for whom he was a public perfon : but many things which Chrift as a public perfon did perform, were altoge¬ ther in vain and fruitless,-?— — —in relpect of the greatelt part of the ions of men, being under an incapability of receiving any good by any thing he did, vi%> , ail that th ^n were aftuaiiy damned ; in re- fpe6t of whom,— redemption,, reconciliation, fatjsfa&ion and the like, — could poflijfty be no other than empty names,
(6. ) If God were well pleafed with lus fori, in what he did as a public perfon in hisreprefentation of others, (as he was Eph. v. 2.) then muft he alfo be well pleafed with them whom he did reprefent, either abfolutely or conditionally: but with many of the ions of men, God in the reprefentatioi) of his ion was not well pleafed, neither abfolutely nor conditionally, v/z.-with Cain, Pharaoh , Saul , Ahab , and others dead and damned before : therefore Chrift did not, as a public perlon, reprefent all.
(7.) For teftiinonies, fee John xvii. 9. Matt. Xx. 28 and xxvi. 26, 28. Mark x. 45. Heb, vi. 20. Ifa. liii. 12. John x. 15- Heb. xiii. 20. Matt. i. 21. Heb. ii. 17. John xi. 51, 52* Acts xx. 28. Eph. v. 2, 23, 247 25. Rom. viii. 33, 34. •
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF C H A P. V.
r
The laji objection , or argument from Scripture , anfwered .
I Gome in the next place, to the third and laft argument drawn from the Scripture; wherewith the Arrninians and their (as to this point) fucceffors, do ftrive to maintain their figment of univer- fal redemption ; and it is taken from fuch texts of Scripture, as feem to hold out the per idling of fome of them for whom Chrift di¬ ed, and the fruitlefnefs of his blood, in refped of divers for whom it was (lied. On this theme, their wits are wonderfully luxuriant, &ud they are full of rhetorical ftrains, to fet out the unfuccefsfulnefs
i 1 and
W'.
*5°
Objections pariiculaily anfxurcd
and fruitlefs'nefs cf the blood of Chrift:, in refpect of the moftf^r whom it was fixed ; with the periflimg of bought, purged, recon. oiled Tinners. Who can but believe, that this perfupfion tends to the. Gonfolation of poor fouls ; vuhofe Jlrongeft defence lieth, in making •vile the precious blood of the lamb ; yea trampling upon it, and e- /teeming it as a common thing ? But friends, let me tell you, I am perfuaded it was not fo unvaluable in the eyes of his Father, as to caufe it to be poured out in vain, in refpect of any one foul. Yet, feeing we mull be put to this defence, wherein we cannot but re- j rice, it tending fo evidently to the honour of our blefled Saviour ; let us confider what can be faid by thrift] an s (at lead in name) to ©nervate the efficacy of the blood-fhedding, of the death of him, after whofe name they defire to be called.
Th us then they argue, viz. “ If Chrift died for reprobates and 44 thofe that perifli, then he died for all and every one; for con- 44 fefledly he died for the elect, and thofe that are faved ; but he 44 died for reprobates, and them that perifli / therefore,
Anfw . For the affuinptioti, or fecond propofition of this argu¬ ment, we fhall do what we conceive was fit for all the eledt of God to do, pofitively deny it; (taking the death of Chrift, here faid to be for them that perifli, to be confidered not In relpedt of its own in* ternal worth and fufficiency, but as it was intended by the Father and Son in refped of them for whom he died ; ) we deny then (I fay) that Chrift, by the command of his Father, and with intenti¬ on to make fatisfadtion for fins, did lay down his life for repro¬ bates, and them that perifli.
But this they pretend to prove from Rom. xiv. 15. 1 Cor. viij. 11. 2 Pet. li. i. Heb. x. 29. Now that no fuch thing as is pre¬ tended, is proved from any of the places alledged, we fhall fiiew, by the confideration of them, in the order they are laid down in.
\ft. The firfi: is Rom. xiv. 15. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, then walked thou not charitably ; de/lroy not him with thy meat, for whom Chrifi died.
Aujiu. Had we not experience of the nimblenefs of otir adverfa- ries, in framing arguments for their caule ; I fhould deipair to find their conclufion prelled out of this place. For what coherence or dependence, I befeech you, is here to be difeerned ; the apoftle exhorteth ftrong and found believers, to luch a moderate ufe of chriftian liberty, that they do not grieve the fpirit of the weak ones ih at were believers alfo, (profeftors, all called faints, eledt, belie- \ers, redeemed, and fo in charity efteemed;) and fo give them ne¬ ed fi on of Humbling, and falling off from the gofpel ; therefore Je- fus Chrift died for^all reprobates ; even all thofe that never heard a word or fy liable of him , or the doctrine of the gofpel? Mull he not be very quick lighted, that can fee the dependence of this infe¬ rence, on that exhortation of the apoftle ?
But ve will fav. is it not affirmed, that he may per ifh for whom ‘ Chrifi
and Places of Si ripture opened. 2 <5 1
' - /
ChrlB die A ? Anfw. In this place there is no fuel, thing at all one*
mentioned or intimated; only others are commanded not to do that which goeth iti a tiiieft way to Oeftroy Iran, >y grieving iitn with their uncharitable walking. But (ye will lay further) why fhould the apojlle exhort him not to do that -which he could no -way d», if he that Chrift died for could not perijh l Anfw. Though the one «ould not perilh in refpeft of the event, the other might finfullr give occasion of periling, in refpeft of a procuring caufe. May not a man be exhorted from attempting of that, which yet it he flwuld attempt, he could not effeft ? no thanks to the foldier, who ran a fpear into the fide of our dead Redeemer ; that therewith he brake none of his bones. BefideS, is every one damned, that one attempts to deftroy, by grieving him with uncharitable walking : fuch arguments as thefe, are poor men of ftraw.
And yet notwithflanding, we do not deny but that many may perilh and that utterly, whom we, in our waikingtowards them and sonverfe with them, are bound to conceive redeemed by Chrift ; even all being to be thought fo, who are to be efteemed iaints and brethren, as the language of the feripture is, concerning the pro- feffors of the gofpe! ; and this is moft certain, that no one place makes mention of fuch to be brought or redeemed by our Saviour, . but thofe which had the qualifications of being members of his vi¬ able church ; which come infinitely lhort of all and every one.
2dly, But let us fee a fecond place, which is i Cor. viii. to, i i. And through thy knowledge pall the weak brother perijh , for whom
Chrift died,
Anfojo This feemeth to have more colour, but really yieldeth no more ftrength to the perfuafion for whole confhmation it is produced, than the former. A hr other is faid to perijh for whom Chrift died: but,
i. That by per ijhing here, is underftood eternal deftru&ion and damnation, X cannot apprehend. 1 nat wliicn theapoftle intimates whereby it is done, — is eating of things offered to an idol, with confcience or regard of an idol; by the example of others, who pretended to know that an idol was nothing, and lo to eat freely of the things offered to them. That fo doing was a fin in its own nature damnable, none can doubt ; all fin is fo ; every time we fin, for any thing that lieth in us, we perilh, we are deftroyed ; fo did the eater of things offered to idols : but that God always re*
vengeth fin with damnation, on all on whom it is, we deny ; he hath otherways revealed himfelf, in the blood of Jelus. That every fuch a one did actually perilh eternally, as well as meritori* o ufiy, cannot be proved. Befides,
2 . He that is faid to perilh is called a brother , that is a believer, we are brethren only by faith, whereby we come to have one fa¬ ther : and as he is faid to be a brother, lo Chrift is faid to die for him. But that a true believer cannot finally perilh, inay eafijy be
proved ;
Ohje&ions particularly anjwcrcd%
proved ; therefore he who doth perifh, is manifeftjy declared never to have been any : they went out from my becnufe they were not of m > if any perifii, then lie was never a true believer. How then is he called a brother ; becaufe he is fo in profeffion, foin our jud* ment and perffiafion ; it being meet for us to think fo of them all.
3- As he is find to be a brother , fo Chrift is faid to die for him ; even in that judgment, which the Scripture allows to us of men*. We cannot count a man brother, and not efteem that Chrift died for him ; we have no brother hood with reprobates. But Chrift died for all believers; io we efteem all men walking in theduepro- fellion of the gofpei, not manifefting the contrary; yet of thefe that many may perifh, none ever denied— Further, this fo Jhall he peri fix, referreth to the fin of him that layeth the offence ; for ought that lieth in him, he ruins him irrecoverably.
Hence lee their argument, viz. The apoftle telleth perfons walking offenfively, t.^at by this abufing their liberty, others will follow them, to the wounding of their cotifcience and ruin ; who are brethren, acknowledged fo by you, and fuch as for whom Chrift died : therefore Chrift died for all the reprobates in the world. Is it juft and equal, faith the apoftle, that ye fftould do fuch things as - will be Humbling- blocks in the way of the weak brother, at which he might Humble and fall ? therefore Chrift died for all.— We do not deny, but that fome may perifh and that eter¬ nally, concerning whom we ought to judge that Chrift died for them : whilft they live and converfe with us according to the rule of the gofpel.
idly. The next place is much infilled on, viz. 2 Pet. ii. r. There Jhall befalfe teachers among you, who privily jhall bring in damnable herefies , even denying the Lord that bought themy and fringing upon themfielves fwi fit deftruClion.
Anjw . All things here, as to any proof of the bufinefs in hand, are exceedingly dark, uncertain and doubtful : — uncertain , that by the Lord is meant the Lord Chrif } the Word in the original be« ing Despotks, feldom or never aferibed to hijn : uncertain , whether the purchafe or buying of thefe falfe teachers, refer to the eternal redemption by the blood of Chrift; or a deliverance by God’s goodnefs from the defilement of the world in idolatry or the like, through the knowledge of the truth ; which laft the text ex- prefsly affirms: and uncertain , whether the 2poftle fpeaketh of this purchafe, according to the reality of the thing; or according to their apprehenfion and their profefiion.
On the other fide, it is molt certain , that there are no fpiritual diftinguifhing fruits of redemption aferibed to thofe falfe teachers ; but onlv common gifts of light and knowledge ; 'which Chrift hath purchafed for ma ly, for whom he did not make his foul a ranfom:*
and
* This cannot be meant , of pur chafing thefe common gifts for fuch perfons , as the objects of intended benefits thereby / but only for
and Places oj Scripture opened.
and mod certain, that, even according to our adverfaries, the re¬ demption of any by the blood of Cliritt— cannot be a peculiar ag¬ gravation of the fins of any, becaufe they fay he died ter all: and yet this buying of the falle teachers is held out, as an aggravation
of their fin in particular. .
Of the former uncertainties , whereon our adverfaries bui oti.c ir
inference of univerfal redemption, (which yet can by no means be wire-drawn thence, were they moft certain in their ienle) I ia give a brief account ; and fo fpeak fomething, as to the proper
intendment of the place. And, .
-■ i. It is moft uncertain, whether Chrifl as a Mediator be here in¬ tended by Lord, or not, there is riot any thing in the text, to in- force us fo to conceive s nay, the contrary feems apparent ; ( i . ) Becaufe iri the following verfes, God only as God, with his deal¬ ings towards fucti as thefe, is mentioned : »f Chrifl not a word. (2.) The name despotes, properly hems, attended by dominion and fovereigmy 5 is not ufually, if at all, given to our Saviour in the New Teftament : he is every where called kyrios; no where clearly despotes, as is the f atlier, Luke ii. 29. A dff iv. 2 5 . and in divers other places.* Befides, (3 ) If it ihould appear, that this name were given our Saviour in any one place, doth it theie* fore follow, that it mult be lo here? Nay, (4^) Is this the name proper for our Saviour, in the work of redemption? des p otes is fuch a lord or mailer, as refers to fervants and fubje&ion; the end of Chrift’spurchafing any by his blood, being in the leripture always and conftantly exprefled, in other terms of more endearment. 1 1 is then moil uncertain, that Ghrift fhould be here underftood by the word Lord . Butfuppole he iliould,
2. It is moil uncertain, that by buying of thefe falfe teachers, is meant his purchafing of them with the raniom of his blood ; for (1.) The apoftle infifteth on a comparifon with the times of the Old Teftament, and the falfe prophets that were then amongit the people; backing his aftertion with divers examples out of the Old Teftament, in the whole chapter following: now the word a got* a- zo here ufed, fignifieth primarily the buying of things ; tranftatioufty the redemption of per f on s: andthe word PH AD AH in the Old 1 el- tament anfwering thereunto, iiguifieth any deliverance, as Out. vii 8. and xv. 15. Jer. xv. 21. with innumerable other places; and therefore forne fuch deliverance is here only intimated. (2.) Becaufe here is no mention of blood, death, price, or offering of Jefus Ghrift: ; as in other places, where pfroper redemption is ti ear¬ ed on : efpecially fome fuch expreffori is added where the word ago razo is ufed to exprefs it; as 1 Cor, vi. 20. Kev. v. 9.
which
them , as the fubjefts of thefe gifts , fir the intended benefit of the church ; fo that fill all the intended benefit , and the formal objec¬ tive refpett of the, pur chafe, is only towards thefe for whom Chrifl did snake- his foul a ranfom.
£^4 Objections particularly anjwcred,
which- otherwife holds out of itfelf, deliverance in common from any trouble. (3 ) The apoftie letting forth at large the deliver* ance they had, and the means thereof, verfe 20 — affirms it to con- fid in the efcaping of the polliuions of the world, (as idolatry, falfe worfhip and the like) by the knowledge of our Lord and Savi¬ our Jefus Chrift; plainly declaring, that their buying was only in velpedt of their reparation from the world, in refpeft of the enjoy¬ ment of the knowledge of the truth ; but of willing in the blood of the Lamb, he is there wholly blent.
Plainly, there is no purchafe mentioned of thefe falfe teachers ; but a deliverance by God’s difpenfations towards them, from the blindnefs of Judaifni or Paganifm, by the knowledge of the gofpel; whereby the Lord bought them to be fervantsto him, as their fu- preme head. So that our adverfaries argument from the place is this : God the Lord, by imparting the knowledge of the gofpel,
and working them to a profelTed acknowledgment of it, and fub- <c jeclion unto it, feparated and delivered from the world, divers that were faints infhew; really wolvesand hypocrites, of oldordained tc to condemnation, therefore Jefus Chrift: died his blood for the re- 64 demotion and falvationof all reprobates and damned perfonsinthe ci whole world/’ Who would not admire our adverfaries chimiftry l 3* Neither is it more certain, that the apoftle fpeaketh of the purchafe of the wolves and hypocrites, in rel'pect of the reality of the purchafe ; and not rather in refpetft of that eftimation which o- thers had of them, and (by reafon of their outward feeming profeffi- on) ought to have had; apd of the profeffion that themfelves made, to be purchafed by him whom they pretended to preach to others ; as the Scripture faith of Ahaz , that the gods cf Damafcus fmote him, 2 Chron. xxviii. 2 3, becaufe he himfelf fo imagined and pro- fefled. The latter hath this alfo to render it probable viz* That it is the perpetual c.ourfe of the Scripture, t6 aferibe all thofe things to every one that is in the fellowftiip of the church, which are pro¬ per to them only who are true fpiritual members of the fame ; as to b e faints, elstt, redeemed , <&rA Now the truth is, from this their profeffion that they were bought by Chrift, might the apoftle juftly f and that according to the opinion of our adverfaries) prefs thef« falfe teachers, by the way of aggravating their fin ; for as to the thing it f elf their being bought, it could be no more urged to them than to heathens and infidels that never heard the name of tbs
t
Lord Jefus.
Now, after all tills, if our adverfaries can prove univerfal re¬ demption from this text, let them never defpair of fuccefs in any thing they, undertake; be it never fo abfurd, fond or foobfh. Bqt when they have wrought out the work already cut out for them, and proved, (j.) that the Lord is meant of Chrift as Mediator 5 (2.) t hat by buying, is meant fpiritual redemption by the blood of the Lamb ; ( 3.) that thefe falfe teachers were really and effectually fo
' redeemed
ar.d Places of Scripture opened.
155
redeemed, and not only fo accounted, bccaufe they were of the ehurcli ; (4.) that thole who are it) redeemed may pertih. contrary
to the exprefs Scripture, Rev. xw- 4 <1]lj ' . 3 , r .lvi>
the ftrength of this inference, *<z. Some m t„v .emeu who ,.nc acknowledged Chrift to be their pure ah-r, rn; away to blal- pheme him, and periflj forever, therelorc CU th. a-.tig'-i deemed all that ever did or ilia!* periili ; to.) ! ldt 1 lt v' 1,t 1 common to all, is a peculiar aggravation to the i'.o • f any one mote than others : I will allure them they ihali have more work provn cu for them ; which theml'elves know, for. a good part already, where
to find*. „ . r ,
■\thly. The lad place produced for the confirmation of tn.e argu¬ ment in hand, is Heb. x. 29. Of how much Jorer pwiifmient fuppofe ye, (hall he be thought worthy i who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blooa cf the covenant wherewith he was janCii fed, an unholy thing, and hath done defpite unto me Spirit of grace ? Nothing (fay our adverfaries) could be afhrmed of
all this concerning apoftaies, viz. That they have n'od'3n UUuer foot , unlefsthe blood of Chrift was in fome fenfe fhed for mem.
Anfw . Tne intention of the apoltle in this place, is the lame With the general aim and fcope of the whole epiftle, to periuade and urge the Jews who had embraced the dodtrine of the golf el, to perfeveraivce and continuance therein. This as he doth perform In other places, ( with divers aiid various arguments ; the mod cf them taken from a comparifoh at large instituted, between the go!
pel
* Itfeems not improper to fubjoin here , an extract from what Dr. trill fays (The cattle of God and Truth , part 1. numb. 54-) upon
this fame text, 2 Pet. ii. 1. — viz.
rl "he word buying, regards temporal deliverance ; and particu¬ larly the redemption of the people cf 1 frae i out of Lgypt ; who are therefore called the people the Lord 1 J ct cl pur chafed* The phrafe is borrowed from Detit. xxxii. 6. Do ye thus requite the Lord ? O foolilli people and unwife ? Is not he thy h ather that bought thee ?. Hath he not made thee and edablifhed thee l Nor is this the only place the apojlle Peter refers to in this chapter ; fee verfe 1 2, 13. compared with Dent. 32. ij. Now the .petfotis the tipoftle writes to9 were Jews the ftrangtrs fcattered thro’out Pontus, Galatia, Gap- padocia, Ada and Bithynia; a people who in all ages, valued them- j elves Upon, and boafted mightily of their being the bought, pur chaf¬ ed people of the Lord. Wherefore Peter makes afe of this phrafe , much in the fame manner as Mojes had done before him, to aggra¬ vate the ingratitude and impiety of thefe faife te ache t s among the Jew si that they fhould deny , if not in words, at leaf in works , that mighty Jehovah, who had of old redeemed their fathers out of Egypt With a fir etched out arm, and in JuccejJive ages had diflinguijhecl them with peculiar favours: being ungodly men ; turning the grJtC-i the do Urine of the grace cf God into Itvfciviouinefs*
Ghjtdions particularly anfivtred,
pel in its adminiftration, andthofe legal lliadows, which before their pro felli on of the gofpel they lived under, and were in bondage unto : ) Co here he urgeth a flrong argument to the fame purpofe ab incommodo feu ejfectu perniciofo > from the miferable dangerous effects and confequsnc.es of the fin of backhiding, and wilful renun¬ ciation of the truth known and profeffed, upon any motives and inducements whatfoever ; which he .aiTure th to be no lefs, than a total calling off and depriving themfelves, of all hopes and means of recovery, with dreadful horror of confeience in expectation of judgment to come, verfe 26,' 27*
Now this he confirms, as his manner is, in this epiflle, from fome f ngy way and practife , which was known to them, and wherewith they were all acquainted, by that adininidration of the covenant under which they had before lived in their Judaifm ; and fo makes up his inference from a comparifon of the lefs j taking his example from the punilb merit due by God’s own appointment, to all them who tranlgrelfed Mofes his law, in fuch a manner as apohates fin a- gainft the gofpel, that is, with an high hand and contemptuoufly ; for fuch a one was to d e without, mercy, Numb. xv. 30. 31, Whereupon, having abundantly proved that the gofpel and the ma- nifeflation of grace therein, is exceedingly preferred to and exalted above the old ceremonies of the law ? he concludes^ that certainly a much forer punilliment, (which he leaves tp .their judgment to fuppofe) awaits for them who wilfully violate the holy gofpel, def- pifing the declaration of grace therein contained and by it revealed. Which further alfo to manifeft, he fets forth the nature and quality of this fin in all fuch as, profefilng redemption and deliverance by the blood of -GhHft, fiiall wifully caff themfelves thereinto : it is, faith he, no lets than to tread under foot, or contemn the Son of God ; to e(leem the blood of the covenant, by which he was fet a- part and fan&ified in the profeffion of the gofpel, to be as the blood of a vile man ; and thereby to do defpite to the fpirit of grace.
This being (as is confefled) the plain meaning and aim of the a- pofile ; we may obferve fun dry things, for the vindication of this place from the abufe of our adverfaries : as,
1. He fpeaketh here only of thofe that were profeffors of the faith of the gofpel; feparated fromthe world, brought into a church-date and fellow-fhip, profefiing themfelves to be fanctified by the blood of Chrift, receiving and owning Jefus Chrifl as the Son of God, and endued with the gifts of the holy Spirit, (as chap. vi. 4, 5. ) Nowit is mod certain, that thefe things are peculiar only to fome, yea to a very few, in comparifon of the univerfality of the fons of men : fo that what is affirmed of fuch only, can by no means be fo nded as to be applied unto all. But if any one may be exempt¬ ed, univ> Tai redemption falleth to the ground; fromthe condition of aver ny, with fuch qualifications as the multitude have not, nothing caa conduced concerning all*
2. The
3;cTilr
and Places of Scripture opened.
*$7
-> The anodic doth neither declare what hath been, nor alien what may be; but only adds a comminution, upon a fuppol.uou of a thins'! his main aim being to deter Iron, the thing rather than to figuify" that it may be; by ibewing the miiery that w t “fed. follow, If it Humid fo come .0 pafi. When Paul told the lold.er., Adsvxvii. 31. that if the mariners fled away in t ie boat, the., could nor be fared; he did not intend to hgn.fy to tacm, that m refpedt of the event they fhould be drowned; tor God had dec.a- red the contrary unto him in the night before, and he to mem , but only to exhort them to prevent that, which of died was a likely way for their ruin and perillmig. Neither ftiall ill t^etr.on- ftrantt, with all their rhetoric, ever perfuade us, that it is in yam and altogether fruitlefs, to forewarn men of an evil, and to ex, 101 1 them to take heed of thofe ways, whereby it is natural, y, an-. according to the order among the things tbemfelyes, to be inctirreu. although in refpefl of the purpofe of God, the thing .tle.f have no futurition, nor flialt ever come to pais. A comm, nation of the judgment due to apoftacy, being an appointed means .or tne pre- fervingtbe faints from that fin, may be held out to tuem ; luo it be impoftible the elect ftiould be leduced. . . .
Now that Paul here deals only upon a fuppofition, vnot g-vmg hiin? to the thing, but only (hewing the connexion between apofta¬ cy and condemnation ; thereby to ftir up all tr.e faints to • ahe heed, left there ftiould be in any of them an evil heart of unbelief, de¬ parting from the living God ; ) is apparent from verfe 26,^ where he jTiakes^an entrance upon this argument and motive to peneverance: for if wd fin wilfully , &c. That believers may do fo, he (peaks not one word ; but if they ftiould do fo, he (hews what would be the event ; as that the foldiers in the flilp ftiould perifli, Paul told them not; but yet fliewed what mult needs come to pais, if |b® means of prevention were not uied. Now if this be the intention of the apo.ft.le (as it is moil likely, by his (peaking in the fir ft perlon, ffw; fin wilfully;) then not any thing in the world can be hence concluded, either for the univerfuiny of redemption or the apofta¬ cy of faints, to both which ends this place is ufualiy ui gen ; ior,
fuppofiiio nil ponit in ejfie. , fi . '
3. It is moll certain, that thefe of whom he fpeak'% dm mane profeftion or all thefe things whereof here is mention, viz that Je¬ hus Chrift was the Son of God, that they were fun Titled by the blood of the covenant, and enlightened by the fpirit of grace ; yea, as is apparent from the parallel place, Heb. vi. 4, 5. had many gifts of humiliation ; befides their initiation by baptifm, wherein open profeftion and demonstration was made of thefe things : to that a renunciation of all thefe, with open deteflation of them, as was the manner of apoftates, accurftrg tr.e name of Gorin ; a fin of fib deep an abomination, attended with lo many aggravations as might well have annexed to it this remarkable ccmmination ;
K k
though
bx-ii / :]3 .
fiK'i ti ■; v\
■
■■•:■ :,;b
iffl :,i; ' m
Objections particularly anjwtred,
thong!' the apoftates never had themfeives any true effectual intereft in the blood of fefus*
4. That it was the manner of the faints and the apoftles tliem- feives, to efteem of all baptized initialed, per Tons, ingrafted into the church, as fan a Tied perrons; fo that fpeakingof backfliders, lie could not make mention of them any othervvife than as they were commonly efleemed to be, and at that time in the judgment oi charity were to be confidered. Whether they were true believ¬ ers or not (but only temporary) to whom this argument again!! a- poftacy is proposed ; according to the ulual manner of fpeech nfed by the holy Gholt, they could not be otherwife deferibed.
5* II the text be interpreted positively, and according to the truth of the thing itielf, in both parts thereof; viz that thefe of whom the apcflle fpeaketh were truly fan aided, and that fuch may totally perifh ; then thefe two things will inevitably follow; ( r .) that faith and fanctification is not the fruit of eledion; (a,) that believers may fall filially from Ghrift; neither of which 1 as yet find to be owned by our new univerfaliils, though both con¬ tended for by our old Arminians ,
6. There is nothing in the text, of force to perfuade, that th» perfons here fpoken of, muf! needs be truly juftified and regenerat¬ ed believers; much lefs that Ghrif! died fer them, which comes in only by drained confequences. One exprefTion only, feems to give any colour hereunto, that they were laid to be find if led by the blood of the covenant. Now concerning this, if we do but confider, (r.) the manner and cu/lom of the a po files in writing to the churches, calling them all faints that were called, aferibing that to every one that belonged only to feme; (3.) that thefe perfons were baptized; which ordinance among the ancients was fome- times called Photis mo s, illumination , fometimes kagusmos jandif cation s wherein by a iolemn afperfion of the fymbol of th? blood of Chrlil, they were externally fandlfied, feparated, -nd fet apart, and were by all efleemed as faints and believers ; (3-) the various fignification of the word hagiazo (here nfed) in the feripture, whereof one moil frequent is to conlecrate and fet apart to any holy ufe, as 2 Chron. xxi% 33. Levit. xvi. 4. (4.) that Paul ufeth in this epiitle many words and phrazes in a tern- ple-fenfe, alluding in the things and ways of the chriflian church, unto the old legal observances ; (5.) that fuppefed and pro-
fefTed fandtity, is often called -fo, and eileemed to be fo indeed: If 1 fay, we /hall confider thefe things, it will be qsofl apparent, that here is indeed no true, real, internal, effectual fanctification, proper to God’s elect, at all intimated ; but only a common exter¬ nal fet'ing apart, with repute and eifeem of real holinefs, from the ways of the world and cufloms of the old fynagogue, to an tn- joyment of the ordinance of Chriil, reprefenting the blood of the toycnant. So that this commutation beii>£ made to all? fo exter¬ nally
and Pi acts of Scripture opened.
*5 9
*al!y and apparently fanftified ; to them that were truly to, it de* slareJ the certain connexion between apoftacy and condemnation, thereby warning them to avoid it: -as Jofeph was warned to fly irto Egypt, left Herod flmutd flay the child; which yet, m re- fpea of God’S purpofe, could not be eflVaed : but as to them that were only apparently fo, it held out the od.ou nefs of the fin, with their oven certain inevitable d c ft ruction ll they fe. tiuo i ;
which it was peflible they might do.
And thus by the Lord’s alGftance, have I given you, as I tope,
* dear Minion of all the arguments— which heretofore the Armi* nia't1 p etended to draw from the Scripture, int,.e defence of then «aufe : feme other fophifmt fhall hereafter be removed. Em be- cauie of late we have had a multiplication oi arguments on this fubieft • foine whereof, at leaft in form, appear to be new, arm mat c attic fome -rouble to the unskilful : I ill ill in the next place remove all rhofe objsttioni which T. M. in his book of t.ie un-.ver . fatity of free g'-ttce, hath gathered together again;! cur main t /rju 0 G-Jjrift’s dying only for the eledt; which hifrJelf puts together in one bundle, chap. 26, and calleth them reafens.
******** T* 4 * * ** * * *
CHAT. VI.
An anfvjer to the twentieth chapter of the hook entitled, The Uni- * verfality of Gods free Grace, &c. being a colie fo on of all the arguments ufed by the author , throughout the whole bock, 1 0 prove the universality of redemption .
rip H E title pretends fatisfa&ion to them who defire to have X reafon fatisfied; which that it is a great undertaking, I ca¬ ll iy gram : but for the performance of it, hie labor, hoc^opus. — That ever chriftian reafon, rightly informed by the word of God, iliouid be fatisfied with any doctrine fo diferepant from the wo d, fo full of contradiaion in itfelf and to its own principles, as tne doctrine of univerfal redemption is ; I fhtfuid much marvel : there* fore I am perfuaded that the author of the arguments following, (which left you Ihould mi (take them for others, he calleth reafons) will fail of his intention,, with all that have fo much reafon as to know how to make ufe of reafon, and fo much grace as not to love darknefs more than light* The only reafon as far as I can con¬ ceive, -why he calls this collection, of all the arguments and texts of Scripture which he had before cited and produced at large, lo many reafons; being a fuppefal that he hath given them a logical argumentative form in this place ; I fhall briefly conHder tnein . and by the way take notice of his Ikill in a regular framing of ar¬ guments, to which he evidently pretends. His fir ft reafon then is asfolloweth, viz.
■ f • * ■ * .
.
gfl fp
f#s;M
■'
tli V ■■ >
r#$ i-i
1 | V
* ,, ■ :b
ito ;
Objections particularly anjmtrtd ,
Arg. I, £i I hat which the fcripture oft and plain! y affirmeth In c plain words, is certainly true and to be believed, Prov. xxii. 20, u 2 [* Ifa. viii. 2©, 2 Pet. i. 19,20. But that Jefus Chrifl gave 64 himfelf a ranlom, and by the grace of God talked death for eve¬ ry man, is oft and plainly affirmed in Scripture ; as is before <c fliewn, chap. vii. to the xiii. Therefore the lame is certainly a truth to be believed; John xx. 31. Adis xxvi. 2 7.”
Anfw . \ lt. The major proportion of this argument is clear, evi¬ dent, and acknowledged by all profeffing the name of Chrifl, but yet iinivcrially with this caution and provilo ; that by the Scripture 'forming any thing m plain voords , that is to be believed , you un« derltand the plain lenle of thole words which is clear by rules of in¬ terpretation io to be. It is the thing lignified, that is to be believed, and not the words only, which arc the lign thereof: and there, lore the plain Jtnfe and meaning ts that which we mull inquire af¬ ter; and is intended when we fpeak oi believing plain words of the Scripture. But now il by plain words you underfland the lite¬ ral importance of words, which may perhaps be figurative or at lead 01 various fignificati on — -and capable of extent or reflriclion ‘in the interpretation : then there is nothing more falfe than this alfe rtion : for how can you then avoid the bJafphemous folly of the Anthropemorphites , affigning a body and human lhape unto God ; the plain words of the Scripture often mentioning his eyes, hands, ears, &c. it being apparent fo every child that the true im¬ portance of thofe expreffions anfwers not at all their grofs carnal conception ? Will not alfo tranj ubflantiation or its younger brother confubflantiatioti , be an article of our creed ? With this limitation then we pafs the proportion, and the places of Scripture brought to confirm it; only with this observation, that there is not one of them to the purpofe in hand : which becaufe they do not relate to the argument in confideration, we only leave to men’s blent judg¬ ments.
idly. The alTumption or minor proportion we abfolut ely deny as to Ionic part of it, — that G brill Ihould be faid to give himfelf a ranfom for every man; it being neither often nor once, nor plainly, nor obfeurely affirmed in the Scripture, nor at all proved in the place referred unto : fo that this is but an empty flourilhing. For the other expreffion, of tafting death for every man , we grant that the words are found Heb» ii. 9. but we deny that every man doth always necelninly fignify all and every man in the world:
NO U TH ETO 0 NTES P A NT A AKTHBOpON, XAl DIB ASKANTES ?AN*
t a a nth ro pon, Col. i. 28. Warning every man, and teaching every man ; every man is not there every man in the world : nei¬ ther are we to believe that Paul warned and taught every particu¬ lar man, for it is falfe and isnpoffikle So that (every man J in the Scripture, is not univerfally collective of all forts; but either diftributive, for fome of all forts, or coliedive with a reflri&ion
and Places of Scripture opened.
u6 1
all of fonis forts : as In that of Paul f every man ) was only of thofetowhom he had preached the gofpeL Moreover, in .he on- «inal there is only »m« pantos, for every,— without tae
fubftantive man { whicli mignt oe lu^pm-u
as man, as elett, or believer. . „ , .
vdlt That every one is there is cleany retrained .oa! - - tli re n of Chrift, and the ions by him brought to glory, ~we before declared ; fo that this place is no way ufefui for the tonh - mation of the afifumption : which we deny in the ienfe mtenaed , and are fure we filial! never fee a clear, or lo much as a probaoU
teftimony, for the confirming of it. , .
To the conciufion of the fyllogifm, the author (to mantfeft .us
feilliti difputlng fuch an argumentative way as he undertaketh ) addeth fome further proofs, Conicious it ieems he was to himfelf, that it had little ftrength from the proportions from which it is en¬ forced ; and therefore thought to give fome new fupportments to it, although with very ill fuccefs , as will eafily appear to any one that fit ill but con fult the places quoted, and confider the bub- nefs in hand. In the mean time this new logic, (of filling up proots to the conciufion which are fuitable to neither propofition, and driving to give ftrength to that by new teflimenies— which it hath not from the premifes) delerves our notice, in this age of learned writers : heu quantum eft Jape re / fuch logic is fit to maintain fuch divinity. And fo much for the firft argument.
Aug. II. u Thole whom Jefus Chrift and his apoftles in plain terms without any exception or reftraint, alarm tnat Chrift “ came to fave, and to that end died, and gave himfelfa raniom “for, and is a propitiation for their fin; he certainly did come to a fave, and gave himfelf a ranfom for them, and is the propitia- “ tion for their (ins, JMatth. xxvi. 24* John vi. 3b. 1 Coi.xv. 3> “ 4. Heb. x. 7. John viii. 38, 45. 2 Pet.i. 16. Heb. ii- 3, 4* But Jefus Chrift and his apoftles have in plain terms affirmed, “ that Chrift came to fave firmer s, 1 Tim. i. 1 5* the world , John “Hi. 17. that he died for the unjuft, 1 Pet. iii 18. the ungodly, u Rom. v. 6. for every man, Heb. ii. 9. gave himfelf a. ranfom for all inert, 1 Tim. ii. 6. and is the propitiation for the Jins of “ the whole ivor Id, 1 John ii 2. And every of theie affirmations, “without any exception or reftraint; all being unjujl, ungodly , eiftnners, and men, and of the world , Rom. iii- ro, 19,20, 23. “ Eph. ii. 1, 2, 3* Tit. iii 3. John iii. 4,6. Therefore Jefus “Chrift came to fave, died, and gave himfelf a ranfom for all “ men, and is the propitiation for their fins, John, ft 29.”
Anfw- ift . To the major propofition of this argument, I defire enlyto obferve; that we do not affirm that the Scripture doth in any place lay an exception or reftraint upon thofe perlbnsfor whom Chrift is faid to die : as though in one place it fliould be affirmed
Mi
Objections particularly anjzvered,
he died for all men, and in another feme exception agalnfl it ; tho' fome of thole all men were excluded, which were to feign a repugnancy and contradiction in the word of God. Only we lay, one place of .Scripture interprets another; and declares that fenfe which before in one place was ambiguous and doubtful. For in- ftance, — when the Scripture fheweth that Chrift died or gave him- felf a ranforn for all , we believe it: and when in another place it declares that all to be his churchy his elett, his /keep, all believers, fome of all forts, out cf all kindreds anil nations, and tongues un¬ der heaven ; this is not to lay an exception or reflraint upon what was lain ol ah before -—but only to declare that the all for which he gave himfelf a random, were all his church, ail his eled, all his ilieep, fome of all forts; and fo we believe, that he died for ail.
With this obfervaticn we let pafs the proportion; taking out its meaning, as well as the phrafe whereby it is exprelTed will af¬ ford it ; together with the vain ffourifh and pompous fhew of many texts of Scripture brought to confirm it, whereof not one is any thing to the purpofe; fo that I am perfuaded he put down names and figures at a venture, without once confuting the texts ; having no fmail caufe to be confident, that none would trace him in his flourilh ; and yet that fome eyes might da zzlc at his fupernume- r ary quotations Let me cl ell re the reader to turn to thefe places; and if any one of them be any thing to the purpofe or bufinefs in hand, let the author’s credit be of weight with him another time. O let us not be, as many who corrupt the word of God. But per¬ haps ir is a miftake in the impreffion : and that for Matt xxvi. 24. he intends verfe 2 3, where Chrifl is faid to filed his bicod for ma¬ ny; as alfo that in John vi. he miftook verfe 38 for 39, where our Saviour affirms that he came to lave that which his Father gave him, that none fliouid be loft, which certainly are the eleft.-— In 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4. he was not much amifs; the apofllc conjoining in thofe verfes; the death and re furred ion of Chrift, which he faith was for us: and how far this advantageth his caufe in hard, we have before declared. By Heb. x. 7, 1 fuppefe he meant verfe 10, of the chapter, affirming that by the will of God, which Chrift came to do, we are fandified ; even through the offering of the body of Jefus ; aferibing our fanctlftcation to his death, which is not erreded in all and every one : though perhaps he may fup- pofethelaft claufe of the verfe, once for all, to make for him; but fome charitable man, I hope will undeceive him, by letting him know the meaning of the word ephatax}. The like may be obferved of the other places, that in them is nothing at all to the proportion in hand; and nigh them at leaft, is enough to evert
it :
§ An Adverb fignifyihg once only, With an ernphafis > for a I/, n%t being in the Creek.
and Places of Scripture cptnti
it : and To his prcpofnion in fum is ; all thole fui wnom tne Scrip¬ ture affirms that Chrifl did die, tor them lie d»cd ; wiiica js g, ^ru¬ ed to be true and doubtlefs* # .
2 dly. The affutnption affirms, that Chrifl and his apolllcs, in
the Scriptures, fay that he died to fave Turners; tit-juft, ungomy, the world, all: whereupon the conciufion ought barely to be ; therefore Chrifl died for Turners, unjuit, ungodly, the world, and
the like. To which we fay, _
i . That this is the very fame argument for Tub fiance with that 'which went before; as alfo are Tome of thole that follow: only feme words are varied, to change the outward appearance ; and fo to make fliew of a number.
a. That the whole flrength of this argument lies, in turning in¬ definite propofitions into univerlals : concluding, that became Chrifl died for Tinners, therefore lie died for all Tinner ; became he died for the unjuft, ungodly, and the world; that therefore he died for every one that is unjufl or ungodly, and lor every one in the world: became he died for all, therefore for all and every one of all forts of men Now if this be good arguing, 1 will fur- nifli you with fomc more fuch arguments againft you have occafion to ufe them. As (i.) God jujlifieth the ungodly , Rom. iv. 5. theiefore he juftifieth every one that is ungodly ; now whom he juftifieth he glorifieth; and therefore every ungodly perfon fhall b« glorified. (2.) When Chrifl came, men loved datknejt rather than light , John iii. 19. therefore all men did fo, and fo none be¬ lieved. (3.) The world knew not Chrifl, John i. 10 therefore no man in the world knew him. (4-) The whole world lieth in wickednefs , 1 John v. 19. therefore everyone in the world doth fo. Such arguments as thefeby turning indefinite propofitions into univerfals ; I could eafuy furihfli you withal!, for any purpofc that you will ufe them to.
3. If you extend the words in the con Mu (ion, no further than the intention of them in the places of Scripture recited in the af- fumption, we may fafely grant the whole, viz,. that Chrifl died l or Turners and the world, for fmful men in their feveral generations jiving therein, but if you intend an univerfaiity collective of all, in the conciufion, then the tyllogifm is fophiilical and faffe ; no place of Scripture that is produced, affirming fo .much. The aliignation of the objefl of the death of Chrifl in them, being in terms indefi¬ nite; receiveth light and clcarnefs, for a more rellrained lenfe, in thofe places where they are expounded to be meant of all his own people, and the children of God {caltered throughout the world,
4. The particular places cf Scripture urged, viz. 1 'Tim. i. 15. 1 Peter iii. i3. Rom. v. 6. in the beginning of the aflumption, are riot at all to the purpofe in hand : and John iii. 17, Beb. ii, 9, 1 Tim. ii. 6. 1 John ii. 2. (with John i. 29) have been already •pnfldered. Rom. iii, to, 19, 20, ?3* Tph. ii. i5 a, 3. Tit. iii. 3.
John
QbjtBions particularly anftvered
John ili. 4, 6, added in the clofe of the fame proportion, Prove that all are finners and children of wrath; but of Chrid’s dying for all tinners, or for al" thofe children of wrath, there is not the lead intimation. And this may fuliice, in anfwerto the two fad arguments; which might eafily be retorted upon the author of them : the Scripture being full and plain, to the confirmation of the position which he intends to oppofe.
Arg. Ill, 4 ‘That which the Scripture layeth forth, as one <l end of the death of Chrid, and one ground and cauie of God’s “exalting Chrift to be the Lord and judge of all, and of the “ equity of his judging ; that is certainly to be believed, Pfal. xii. “6 and xviii. go. and cxix 4* But the Scripture layeth forth “ this for one end of the death and refurrebtion of Chrid, that 4 4 he might be the Lord of all, Romans xiv. 9. 2 Cor, v. 14, 15,
44 and for that caufe (even his death and refurredion) hath God 44 exalted him to be the Lord, and judge of all men, and his 44 judgments /ball be juft, Rem. xiv 9, 11, 12. 2 Cor. v. i©» 44 Philip, ii. 7, 11. Aclsxvii. 3r. Rom, ii. 16, — Therefore that 44 Chrid fo died and ro fa again for all, — -is a truth to be believed.
44 1 Tim. ii. 1
Anfw . 1/?. The unlearned framing of this argument, the un¬ couth exprefiions of the thing intended, and failing in particulars by the by, being to be aferibed to the perfon and not the cauie ; I dial! not much trouble myfelf withal, as 1 . His artificial regularity in bringing his minor prepoftion, (9/2- Chrid’s being made Lord and judge of all) into the major ; fo continuing one term in all the three propofitions, and making the whole almod unintelligible. 2. His interpreting, that caufe for which God exalted Ghrifi, to be Ills death and refurredfion, when his refurredfion wherein he was declared, to be the Son of God with power, Rom. i. 4. was a glorious part of his exaltation. To examine and lay open the weaknefs and folly of innumerable fuch things as thefe, which every where oc¬ cur, were to be lavifh of precious moments : thofe that have the lead tade of learning, or the way of reafoning, do eafily fee their vanity. And for the red, efpecially the poor admirers of thefe foggy fophifms, I fhall not fay, quoniam hie populus -cult decipi , decipiantur ; hut God give them underdanding and repentance, to the acknowledgment of the truth.
2 dly. To this whole argument as it lies before us, I have nothing to fay; but only to intreat Mr. More, that if the mifery of our limes fhould be calling upon him to be writing again, that he would ceafe exprefiing his niind by fyllogifms, (and to Ipeak in his ©wti manner) which by its confufion, in innumerable tautologies, may a little puzzle his reader* For truly this kind of arguing here tiled, (for want of logic, whereby he is himfelf deceived, and by delight in fophiftry, whereby be deceiveth others:) is ex¬ ceedingly ridiculous ; for none can be fo blind; but that at Iff ** reading
and Places oj Scripture opened .
*6 5
tcading of the argument he will fee, that he aflerts and infers that in the eonchifion (ftrengthenihg it with a new teftimony) which was not once dreamed of in either of the preroifcs ; they fpeakirg of the exaltation cf Ghrift to be judge of all, which refers to hie own glory ; the conclufion of his dying lor all, which necd'kiiily aims at and intends their good. Were it not a nobie defign, to b'jriuh ail human learning and to eftabliih i uch a way of arguing in the room thereof ? Hoc Ithacus velit , hoc magno mtreentur Atrida.
yily. The force and luin of the argument is this : Chrifl died and rofe again, that he might be the Lord and judge of all 5 there¬ fore Ghrift died for all Now a Ik what he means, by dying for all, and the whole treatife anfwers, that it is a paying a ranfem for them all, that they might be laved. But how this can be extorted <nit of Ghrift’s dominion over all, with his power of judging all com¬ mitted to him, ( which alio is extended to the angels for whom ns died not) ; let them that can underhand it rejoice in their quick apprehenfiofl ; I confets it Hies my thoughts,
4 tkly\ The manner of arguing being to vain, let 11 s fee a lb tie, whether there be any more weight in the matter of the argument* Many texts of Scripture are heaped up, and distributed to the feve . ral proportions : in thofe out of Pfal xii, 6. xviii. 30. (as I fup- pofe it fhauid be, not 130. as it is printed) cxix 4- there is fome mention of the precepts of God, with the purity and perfection of his word ; which that they are any thing to the bufmeis in hand, I cannot uerceive. That of 1 Tim, ii 6. added to the conclufion,
b
is one of thofe places which are brought forth upon e very occahcir* as being the fuppofied foundation of the whole after iron ; but caul e- lefsly, as hath been (hewed eft. Of thofe which are annexed to the Minor proportion, is a Cor. v. 14- 15* but as I have alrea¬ dy cleared the mind of the Hojy Ghoft In it, and made it manifefh that no fuch thing as universal redemption can be wrefted from it ; fo unto this prefent argument it hath no reference at all : not con¬ taining cue fy liable, concerning the judging ol Ghrift, and his power over all ; which was the medium infilled on. Phil, in 7 - it. Actsxvii, 3i. Rom. II. 16. 2 Cor. v. to. make mention in¬ deed of G hr ill’s exaltation, and his judging all at the lair day ; but becaufe he fhall judge all at the laft day, therefore he died lor all; will a lie more pains to prove, than our adverfary intends to take in this caufe.
The weight of the whole muft depend on Rom. xiv. 9, 1 1 , 12. which being the only place that gives any colour to this kind of ar¬ guing, flia.ll a little be confidered. It is the lordlhip and dominion of Chrifl over all, which the apoflle in that place at large infifts 011 and evidenceth to believers, that they might thereby be provoked to walk blamelefs, and without offence one towards another : know¬ ing the terror of the Lord ; and how that all men, even themfe’ves 2nd other?, muft come to appear before his judgment- feat, when vt
L 1 will
CbjcSions particularly anjwrcd,
v -j ,j v ■ ' #
W‘U be but a lad thing, to have an account to make of fcandals a*$ offence*. Further, to ingraft and .fatten this upon them, he de¬ clares unto them the way whereby the Lord Chrift attained and came to this dominion and power .of judging ; all things being put under his feet: together with what dehgn he had as to this parT ticular, in undertaking the office of mediation, there exprefted by dying, riling, and reviving 5 to wit, that he might have the execu¬ tion of judging over ail, committed ;o him ; that being part of the glory let before him, which caufed him to endure the crofs and defpHsthe fliame, bleb. xii . 2.
bo that all which «s here intimated concerning the death of Chrift, i about tlu- end, en eels, and illue that it hath towards himfelf ; not any tiling of what was his in ten] ion towards them for whom he died. To die for others, does at kail denote to die for their cood : find in the Scripture always, to die in their llead ; now that any fuch thing can be hence deducted , that Chri.fi died for all, becauie by his death, hiimeh made way for the eny -y merit cf that power whereby he is Lord over all, and will judge them all, c Thing the greateft part of tnen into hell, by the fenier.ee of \.b righteoui- judgment ; I profefs ftneerely, that I am no way a bte.ro perceive. If men will contend and have it fo, that Chrift mull be laid to die for all, becaufe by his death and refurreetion lie attained the pow¬ er of judging all ; then I iliall only leave with them tliefe three things, viz. 1. That innumerable fouls hiall be judged by him, for not walking according to the light of nature left unto them, di¬ recting them to leek after the eternal power and Godhead of their Creator ; without the lead rumour cf the gofpel, to dire ft them to a Redeemer, once arriving at their ears, Rom. ii. 12. and of what good will it be, for fuel], that Chrift fo died for them? 2. That then he alfo died for the devils 5 becaufe he hath, by his death and refurre&ioii, attained a power of judging them alfo. 3. That the whole aftertion is nothing to the b mine is in hand ; cur in¬ quiry being about them whom our faGour intended to redeem and fave by his. blood, but this return being about thole he will one day judge : auczJliQ eft de alliis , refponfio de co-pis.
A rg. IV. ‘ 4 That which the Scripture fo lets forth in general 41 for the wot Id of mankind, as a truth for them all, that whefee- 44 verofthe particulars lo believe as to come into Chrift and receive 44 the fame, Ilia 11. not peri in but have everlafting life ; is certainly 44 a truth to be believed, Afts v. 20. But that God lent forth his 44 Son to be the Saviour of the world, is in Sciipture fo iet forth in 44 general for all men., that whofoever of the particulars to believe 44 as they come into Chrift and receive the fame, they iliall not pe - 44 rifli, but haye everlafting life, John Hi, 16, 17, 18, 36. &
44 1.4, i t , 1 2 . Ida ere fore that Cod font his Son to be the Saviour 44 of the world, is a certain truth, ijohniv. 14.
I fiOpe ingenious man, that knows any thing of the
c&ntroverlV
and Places 4f Serif hire eftnei
2 6/
r . , , , 1 #w head *t is driven between 11 s and
trover fv in band, ami tp u«=av ....
.' r * • v ripaliire acquainted with tae way 01
our adverury, cr u in any i k- . r ,.uoni-
will efc'-icft that we tlioukV ipend many words ab,u; au*
Va:n repetitions confufed eitpreflions, and >*Kpca!
&(>a;a«A a rg arne tit at i p ns. as m rl;,s pretended new at^mert
( indeed the fame wua tne tv o m -t, a..t! . . .
, . x or that I ihould caft away much time or-paii'S about i. . ■
T r tpv ownnart I were no way able to undergo the tsM-iu.nei. of the review of fuch things as thefts ; but that mudum eft quo tre
to trouble the reader with n declaration of
** in particulars, whicl^e cannorbul' ^n.ctently —a of
*-«
toeVefshisown conceptions, nor to infor one thing .rom - £•
1 _r , t «r»r,trn^ t ' ji !-,at what foe m tiiu bcfjp-
tore bold's forth as a truth to be believed, is certainly fo ; *»<} «> be embraced. 2. That the Scripture lets xort.i the ofChnf
to all whom the gofpel is preached unto, as an ad fuhicteut n - A
r ,;!f bri mitm of tinners unto God ; fo as that whoior ver bent . e
gSSS£5'*,H*lw.«»trtr». ft*. ft* «»
be concluded hence, but that the death of Gen;. B to *
T as that it is able to fave to the ntmolt every one .0 v. « _ * is trade known ; if by true faith they obtain an. inters !i taere.n, aPd a right thereunto, we cannot percetve. i r..s_ tuitn we have formerly confirmed by many tefttmontes of Scripture t and do conceive that this innate fuffcicncy of the death of Glut.., is the foundation of ;ts promifeuous propoUl to chti anu 1 ep> oo.-ite. a * That" the conrU.fi.>!), (it he would have the reafonto have any co¬ lour or Blow of an 'argument) Ihculd at leaft include amt cxfoe.s the whole and entire aflertion rontaine.d in the prcpofRion, t/-> «t that Ghrift is for forth to be the Saviour oi the wor.u, tnat v So- ,1 fjever of the particulars believe, 4>c» And then it is oy os.u.ty framed, a* making nothing at all for the univerfoltty of rcdemp.i- oa ; but only for the fttlnefs and iufficieucy 01 his latisiecuw.. Of the wordiVorLl, enough hath been Ian! before.
"A,to. v. <* That whfoh God will one day f.rafo every man .1 confofs to the glory of God, is c-xtainly a truth ; for God v. 1!
. . 1 t _ r _ . ‘ • t - Ji, D , ,vi 1 > 1 IC . A — U.
u own no lie for his glory, John i:iii g. e/ * R >m tu t,, 4 “ Bit God will one d«v tauie every man to conic, t Jelus t try ;> virtue of his death and ranfom given) to he the Lord, « yen to
„ , VO , • . . . . * - O ,c , rs 1 1 I fol. X i V. 2 2 .
41 the glory of Gcdg Htif p. 5 ■
Tt r. t
/ 1
6 <
At V. 2 -i j
2g. Rom xiv. 9> 1 3 • PM. l4?«vi. 9, -.Therefore it is cer-
U Vainly a truth that Jefus Chrifokath given hmileli a ranlom for
it all men, and hath thereby the right of Lorditup over them ; and
tt if any -will not believe aud come into this government, yet he ; 44 abiuei-h
# It would ft an } that this ought is he j-ohn Hi* $3*
a68
CijeBions particularly anfwcred.
C (
amdeth faithful and cannot deny bimfelf; but will one day nng t.iem before him, and ca.ufe them to confefs him Lord t» ,, th« glory of (Jod ; when they (hall be denied by him, for de., .. b>ra in tbe days of his patience, 2 Tint. ii. 12, ,3 ,4.
A .f. 1 ne cotic'uGon of this argument ought to be thus, and no otaerwiie, if you intend it Ihould receive any ftrength from the premiles, viz. therefore, that jefus Chrift is the Lord, and to . e c”n e!,ec- to 'ae glory of God, is certainly truth. This, I fav, is ail tneconclufion that this argument ought to have had; unlefs ,n ‘ id °‘ a l>*'Og»<m, you intend three independent propofitions, e /.ry one Landing upon his own ftrength. That which is infert- ea concerning Ins giving himfelf a ranfom for ail ; and that which to. lows, o. the convuftion and condemnation of them who brieve not nor coey the gofpel, confirmed from 2 Tim. ii. 12, ,3 ,4.
is altogether heterogeneus to the buf nefs in hand.
Now this being the conclufion intended ; if our author fuppnfe t.ia, ine deniersof umverfal redemption do queftion the truth of it, —I wonaer r.ct at a!!, why he left all other employment to fall a wntmg controyerfies; having fuch apparent advantages a pa raft his aaverfaries, as iurhfmall miftakes as this are abie to furnfth hjj conceit withal. But it may be ar, aft of ch.arity, to part him and , °"T lil’dow r° terribly at variance, as here and in other places: wherefore I beSeech him to hear a word in his heat, and to take notice. 1. That though we do not aferibe a frnitlefs ineffeftual re. demption to Jefus Chrjft ; nor fay, that he loved any. with that entire love winch moved him to lay down his life, hut his own c, lurch, — f.i that all his e left are eftVftuaify redeemed by him : yet we deny not but that he Hull alfo judge the reprobates, viz. even ah t iem t.iat know not, that deny, that difobey and corrupt the trmn of his gofpel ; and that ail fhail be convinced, that he is Lord of ah, at the Jaft day : fo that he may fpare his pains, of proving iucli unqueftionable things. Something elfe is extremely defirous to follow ; burindignation muft be bridled. 2. For that olaufe in t ne fecund proportion, ( by virtue of his death and ranfom given ; ) we deny, that it ,s any where in the Scripture once intimated,— tnat the ranfom paid by Chrift in his death for us, was the caule of his exaltation to be Lord ofall : it was his obedience to his Father 111 Ins death, and not his fatisfaflion for us, that is propefed as the antecedent of this exaltation ; as is apparent, Phil. ii. 7, 8, o, IO
II. 9
l Arc VJ. “ That which may' be proved in and by the Scrip- tine, both by plain fentences therein, and recelFary confcquen* ■ “ ces imported thereby $ without wreftling, wrangling, adding to, taking from, or altering the fentences and words of Scr:p- “ tuve> is a trmh to be believed, Matt, xxii. 29, 32. Rom. xi.
‘ 4i 5> 6-— But that Jefus ChriR gave Iiimfelf a ranfom for all
44 men
<7t
end Flares of Scripture opened .
569
« men, and by toe grace of God tailed death for every man, may *t be proved in and by the Scripture— both by plain fen tenets
therein, and neceffary confeouences imported thereby ; without tc w red Sing, wrangling, adding, or taking away, or altering the a words and fentences ; as is already (hewed, chap. vii. xiu.
<« which will be now ordered into feveral p; aofs.— -T herefore that a jefus Ghrift gave himfelf for all men, and by the grace of “ bod tailed death for every man, is a truth to be believed, Mark. *4 i. 15. and xvi. i4i *8* 1 John* iv. 14*”
An fas, 1 ft, The meaning of this argument is, that univerfal redemption may be proved by the Scripture : which being the very thing in queftioh, and tlie thefis undertaken to be proved ; tliere is no reafon why itfelf fhould make an argument, but only to make up a number. And for my part they ihould pafs, without any further artfwer than that they are a number 5 but that th vi'ewho me the number , are to be confidered.
Z dly, 'Concerning the argument itfeif, (feeing it mud go for one) we fay,
1 . To the fird proportion, — that laying afide the unnec'fflary exprelTions, the meaning of it I take to he this, ti/z. T hat which is a+Srmed in the Scripture, or may be deduced from thence by juft cordequence *, following fuch ways of interpretation, of affirmati¬ on, and confequences, as l>y which the fpirit of God leadeth us. into the knowledge of the truth ; is certainty to be believed : which is granted of all, tho’ not proved by the places he quoteth (Matt. xxii. 32. Rom. xi. 2, 5,6.} and is the only foundation of that article of faith, which you feel: to oppofe*
2. Tothefecond; that Ghrift gave himfelf a ranfom hvpf.ii ? anton, for alL and tailed deatli hyper p anto sforaU\s, the very word, of Scripture, and was never denied by any: the making of «//, to be all men and every man, in both the places aimed at \ is your addition, and not the Scripture’s aiT'ertion. If you intend then to prove that Chrifl gave himfelf a ranfom for all, and tafled death for all, you may fave your labours ; it is confeffed on ail hands, none ever denied it. But if you intend to prove thole all to be all and every man of all ages and kinds, elecl and reprobate ; and not all his children, all his e left, all his fieep, all his people, all the children given him of God, feme cf all forts, nations, tongues, and languages only : I will, by the Lord’s a Alliance, willingly join iiUte with you, or any man breathing, to fearch out the meaning of the word and mind of God in it ; holding ourfelves to the pro¬ portion of faith, eftentiality of the oo&rine of redemption, fcope of the places where fuch affertions are, comparing them with other places, and the likeways ; labouring in all humility, to find t lie mind of the Lord, according to his own appointment. And of the fuccefs of fucha trial, laying afide fuch failings as will adhere to my perfonal weaknefsj I gin by the gr$pe of God exceedingly con ¬ fident ;■
if
«• 'ii
: 1
If?
m
tjO
Objections particularly anjwcred,
fident; having 07 his goodnefs received feme ftrength and oppor¬ tunity to fearch into, and ferioufly to weigh, — whatever the moil famous aftertors of unmerfal redemption* whether Lutherans or Arminians, have been able to fay in this caufe.
For the prefbnt, I addrefs myfelf to what is before met only defiring the reader to observe, that the aftertion to be proved is this, viz. — That Jefus' Chrift, according to the counfel and will of his Father, fuitable to his purpofe of falvation in his own mind and intention, — did by Ills death and oblation, pay a ran* fom for all and every man, cleft and reprobate, both thefe that are faved, and thoie that peridi ; to redeem them from fin, death, and hell,— to recover falvation, life and immortality, for them; and not only for his elect or church, chofen to an inheritance be¬ fore the foundation of the world. To confirm this, we have di¬ vers proofs produced; which, by the Lord’s afllftance, we fhall ^onfider in order.
Proof i f}. “ God fo loved the world, that he gave his Son to be 44 the Saviour of the world, j John iv. 14. and fends his {errant 44 to bear witnefs cf his bon, that all men through him might be- 44 Vi eve, John i. 4, 7. That whofoever believes on him, might 41 Have ever Jailing life, John iii. 16, 17. And he is willing, that tl all fliotila come to the knowledge of the triuh, 1 Tim is. 4, and *<• be faved, 1 Tim- i. 1 5. Ncr will he be wanting in the fuffici- “ eticy of helpfulnefs to them, if as light conics, they will fuffer 44 themfclves to be wrought on and to receive if, Prow i, 23. and 44 via. 4, 5> And is not this plain in Scripture V’
Auf. 1 . The main, jrea indeed only thing to be proved (as we before obfervtfd) is, — that thofe indefinite propofitions, which we find in the Scripture concerning the death of Chrift, are to be un* derftood univerfally ; that the terms all. and world , do fignify in This bufinefs (when they denote the object of the death of Chrift,) all and every man if? the world : unleis this be done, all other ] 1 hour is altogether nfelefs and fruidefs. Jntow to this there is no¬ thing at all. urged, in this pretended proof; but only a few am- Mguous places barely recited, — withafalfe colleftion from them, or obfervati.ons upon them which they give no colour to. For ( 1 .) as to 1 John iv. 14. God’s fending his Son to be the Saviour of the world, and his fervant to teftify it, is nothing but to be the Saviour of men living in the world, which his elect are: an hun¬ dred fucb places as thefe, fo clearly interpreted as they are in other places, would make nought at all to the purpofe.
(2 ) The next place is, John i. 4, 7* Vcrfe 4 imports that Chrifl was the life of men, which is moft true ; no life being to be had for any man, but only in and through him ; but this is not at all to the queftion. The next words of verfe 7, are, that alt men through him might believe ; which words, being’ thru ft in to peace tip a le nfe with another fra&ion of Scripture, Idem to have lon e
weinht :
and Places of Scripture opened.
sji
Y/einlit; as tbo’Cli rift were fent, tint all men <>''>’ lnm might believe : a goodly Area-; fceming no left to make ior .uuverfal re¬ demption, than the. Scripture, cited by the dev.l (atter he l.ac «ut off part of it ) did— for our Saviour 's ca t:ng Implelf frm^.ue
pinnacle of the temple. But it you caft ahue tne ' | P 1 7 f > ' "f
old ferpent, — 'the expreflion of this place is net a laue wV«u.« t., t.
invalidate the thefts fought to be maim aincd by it.
words are \ —There was a man font from God, w'sefcxame
‘John, the witncls of the light; certain'y john, at )aiors do agree; except feme among the Popifh, and
■the light ; or
.almoh; ail expositors _ _
G re tins that Iibmael : fo the Syriac interpreter; reading, byh.it hand, or mini dry. So the woid infers : for we are not And U believe di a christon by Ckrifi\ or as it lliould be heie— u i r, too photos by the light; but eis to phos, John xib 36. in the light, not by it ; and epi tow kyrion Acts ix. 4*» benevedin tne Lor a lo alto Rom. ix. 33.. jla-i pas ho tisevom e?’ auto every . one that believes h on him. So en Christo in divers places, is in him: but 110 mention of believing by him S which rather denotes the inflrutnent of believing, as is the mini Ary of the vvciu, than, the object of faith, as Limit is.
This being apparent; let us fee what is affirmed of John^ why he was lent, that all through him might believe. Now this word sll here, hath all the qualifications which our author requireth for it, to be’ always efteemed a certain exprellion of a collective uni-, verfality; that it is fpoken of God, drc. And who I pray you were thtrfe all , that were intended to be brought to the faith by the miniftry of Jskn ? were they not only all tbofethat lived through, the world in his days, who preached (a few years) in Judea on¬ ly: but aifo all thole that were dead before his nativity, and that were born after his death ? and fh'all be to the end of the world, in any place under Heaven? Let them that can believe it, enjoy their perfuafion; with this alfurance, that I will never be their rival, being fully perfuaded that by all men here, is meant only feme of all forts to whom his word did come; fo that the neceffary feiife of the word all, here, is wholly deltruclive to the proportion. For what is urged from John iii. 16, 17, that God fo lent his Son, that whofoever kditveih in him Jhould have everlcjimg life; as far as I know, it is not under debate, as to the fenfe of it among chriftians.
{3.) For God’s willingnef that all fhould be famed* 1 Tim. i?. 4. (to which 1 Tim. L » 5. is needle b:ly added to make a fhew ; that text being quit-: to another purpofe; ) taking till men t he* e, for the univerfaliry of individuals ; then I a Ik, [i.J What aft is it of God, wherein this his willli-gnef: doth coalift l is it in the eternal
purpofe
/ L
(Ml
V,'
wfiiii
wM 'IH
!! ,
mu r?
‘Hr ® ' *
feu ft : M
;.j : ■ L .
? vr
Objections particularly anfwered
pui-pofe °y ms-will, that all fliould be faved ? why then is it not com pi i fried. who hath refilled his will ? Is It in an antecedent da* fire that it fliould be To, though he fails in the end? then is the bieffed God molt miferable ; it being not in him, to accompli fh hi* juft and holy defrres.^- Is it fame temporary act of his, whereby be hat n decla, ^d himfelf unto tnem? then X fay, grant that fel- vation is only to be had in a Redeemer, rn jefiis Chrift, and give me an mftance how God, in any acl whatsoever, hath declared his mind and revealed himfelf to alt men of ail times and places, con¬ cerning his willingnefs of their falvation by Jefus Chrift a Re¬ deemer; and i v/iii never more trouble you, in this canfe* [2 f L> sth this null) equally relped the all intended, or dot Ii it not ? If it doth, why hath it not equal effeds towards all? what reafon can be afligued ? If it doth not, whence ihall that appear? there is nothing in the text to intimate any fucli diverhty.
tor our parts, oy alt men-^-wQ underftand JvTne of all forts throughout the world? not doubting but that, to the equal reader, we have made it fo appear from the context and circumftances of the place; the will of God there, being that mentioned by our Saviour, John vi. 40. 1 hat which follows in the clofe of this
proof, of God’s not being wanting in the fuff ciency of helpful)) efs to them who ^ a< light comes, fuffer tliemfelves to be wrought ut>on and receive it; is a poifonous fling in the tail of the ferpent; wherein is couched the whole Pelagian pofon of fret-will , and Popijh merit of congruity; with Arminiau fnfficient grace, lints whole extent and uriiverfility ; to neither of which, there is the lead; witnefs given in the place produced. Thus.
2. The lum and meaning of the whole a fieri ion, i? that there
is an univerfality of fafficient grace granted to all, even of grace fubjeclive, enabling them fo obedience ; which receives addition, increafe, degrees, and augmentation, according as they who have it, do make ufe of what they presently enjoy ; which is a po- fition fo contradictory to innumerable places of Scripture, fo dero ¬ gatory to the free grace of God, fo deftrueilve to the efficacy of it, fuch a clear exaltation of the old idol free-will into the throne of God, as any thing that the decaying eflate of chriflianity hath in¬ vented arid broached. So far is it from being plain and clear hi Scripture, that it is univerfally repugnant to the whole difpeji ra¬ tion of the new covenant, revealed to us therein; which if ever the Lord call me to, I hope very clearly to demonftrate. For the prefenr, it belongs not immediately to the bufmefs in hand ; and therefore I leave it ; coming to
Proof 2. “ Jefus Chrift the Son of God came into the world, i’ to {ave the world, John xii, 47. to fave linners, 1 Tim. i. 15. <l to take away our fins, and deilroy the works cf ibe devil, 1 u John iii. 5. S. to take away the fins of the world, John i. 29. i4 and therefore died for all, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15. and gave himfelf sl
“ranfom
and Places of Scripture opened. 27 3
“ rinfom for all, 1 Tim. 51. 6- to fave that which was loft, i. Malt. Xviii. ,J. and fo hispropmauon was made for the world,
“ 2 Cor. v. 19. the whole world, 1 John 11. a. And all tm*
44 is full and plain in Scripture.’ _
Jl, Thofe places of this proof, where there ts mednon of
*// or world, asjohnxii. 47- John 1. 29. 2 Cor. v. ‘4, .5- im ii. 6, 2 Cor. v. 19. 1 John ii. 2. have been all at, eat./
conftdered ; and I am unwilling to trouble the reader with re^ f.rions • fee the places; and I doubt not but you will find that they are fo far from giving any ftrength to the thing >“te“J*d “ proved by him, that they much rather avert it. hot the .efl, 1 Tim i. 15. Matt xviii. it. 1 John ill. 5. 8. how any thing
tan be extrafted from them, to give colour to the univei .al.ty <n redemption, I cannot fee ; what thejr make agaitift it, hath bee*i
declared. Pafs we then to , . c
Proofs 44 God in Chrift doth, in fome means or other of
44 hi. appointment, give fome witnefs to all men of his mercy and 44 goodnefs procured by Chrift, Pfalm xix. G. Rom. x . 8 . a 4c is 44 xiv. 17. and therethrough, at one time or other, fendeth forth 44 fome ftirrings of his Spirit, to move in and knock at the hearts 44 of men, to invite them to repentance and feek ng God, and 44 fo to lay hold on the grace and falvation offered ; and this net 44 in a fhew or pretence, but in truth and good will, ready to be- 44 flow it on them; and this is all fully teftified in Scripture, Gen.
44 vie 3. Ifa. xlv. 22. Aasxvii. 30, 31. John 1. 19. . _
Anfw. Parvas habetfpes Troja, fi tales habets if tne univer- fality of redemption have need of tuch proofs as thefe, it hath indeed great need ; and little hope of fupportment. Univerjal vo- cation is here afferted, to maintain univeffal redemption j {Ma¬ nus manum fricat ; or rather MuU fe mutuo Jcabiunt ;) this being called in oftentimes to fupport the other; and they are both the two legs of that idol— free will, which is fet up for men to worftiip; and when one (tumbles, the other fteps forward to up. hold the Babel. Of univerfal vocation (a grols fighient) I fl\all not now entreat ; but only fay for the pieient,
1. That it is true that God at all times, ever lince the creation, ftath called men to the knowledge of himielf as the great Creator, in thofe things which of him, by the means of the vifible ci cation, might be known ; even his eternal power and God-head, Rom. i. 19,20 Pfal.xix. 1,2. Afts xiv. 17.
2. That after the death of Chrift, he did, by the preaching ofthe gofpel extended far and wide, call home to himielf the children of God, fcattered abroad in the world, whereas his deft were before confined almoft to one nation ; giving a right for the, gofpel to be preached to every creature, Ma k xvi» i$. Koni. x.
Ifa. iv. 5,22. A&sxvii. 30, 31. Rut,
M m 3'
274
Objections particularly anjzcered
3. That God fhould at all times, in all places, in all a2es grant means of grace, or call to Chrift as a Redeemer, or ,/> a pautctpatton of his mercy and goodnefs in him mantfefled, with drivings and motions oS bis Spirit for men to clofe with tnole invitations, is fo grofs and groundlefs an imagination 10 oppohte to God’s dtflinguifiiing mercy, fo contrad florv to exprefs places of Scripture and the experience of all as I wonder how any man hath the boldnefs to affcrt it, much more to produce it as a proof of an untruth more grofs than
; ' f WAu u1 ‘ ref^Ved ‘° 'ie mvfelt t0 ,he Prefent con-
lovetfy, I (hould not hold from producing fome reafons to
< vert their fancy ; fomething may be done hereafter, il the
pf , P'fvent not ! the "‘fan time let the reader confult j cxlvii. 19, 20. Mat. xt. 25 and xxti. ta. Aas xiv. 16. and xvi. 7, Rom. x 14, t5. We pafs to ‘
„ £ro.°f yh- “ The Holy Ghoft that cometh from the Tather and the Son, fhall reprove the world of fin, (even
„ ',lat Part °/ lh.e woldd that refufeth now to be/ieve, that „ lhe,y fre ut!de|r fin) becaufe they believe not on Chrift ■ and that tt is their fin that they have not believed on him -
a"d “ow ,cou!d 11 be their fin not to believe in Cbrilf, and they tor that caufe under fin ; if there were neither enough in ue atonement made by Chrift for them, nor truth in God s offer of mercy to them, nor will nor power in the Spirit s moving, in any fort fufficient to have brought them to believe, at one time or other; and yet is this evident in Scripture, and fhal! be by the holy Spirit, to be their great fin, that fallens all other fins on them,” John iii. 18, 10. and vin. 24. and xn. 48. and xv. 22, 24. and xvi. 8. o, 10, 11.
Anjrv. 1. The intention of this proof is to fhew that men lhall be condemned for their unbelief, for not believing in Chidr; wrsich (faith the author) cannot be, uniefs three things be grand d ; Firft, that there be enough in the atone* mtnt made by Chrift lor them : Secondly, that there be truth tn Goa 5 offer of mercy to them : Thirdly, that there be fuf. hcieni will and power given them by the Spirit, at fome tim* or other, to believe. Now, though I believe no man can perceive what may be concluded hence for the university of redemption, yet I fliali obferve fome few things; and (1) To the firft thing required, I fay ; that ft by inouok tn the atonement jor (hem, you underhand that the atonement which was made lor them, hath enough in it; we deny it; net ecauje the atonement hath not enough in it, for them; but became the atonement was not for them. II you mean that
there
tc
<1
*75
and Places of Scripture opened.
there is a fufficiency in the merit of Chrift to fave them >f thev fhculd believe ; we grant it, and alhrrn that h>s fuffi¬ ciency is the chief ground of the proposing tt umo them, (under handing -hole to whom U is propped ; that is, thofe to
whotii the polpel is preached.) . 4l .
(2 ) To the fecond ; that there is trimi, as in ail the ways
and words oi God. bin his offer of mercy to whombeyer it is offered. If we take the command to believe, with thy prom.fe of life upon b doing, bran offer of mercy, he is an eternal truih in it ; whit.', if, that ,• wi J
bellow life and falvation upon all believers ; the proffers b - inn immediately declarative of our duty, and of tne conca- tenatum of faith and life ; and not a, all of God’s intention towards the particular loul to whom the proffer is made, for who ham known the mind oj God, and who hath been his coun .
(l \ To the third; the Spirits giving will or power ; I fav ; JT.1 that you fe. the cart belo.e the b-rle placing nth’ before power. [».] I deny that any internal affiftance is re¬ quired, to render a man inexcufable for not oeheving, if he have the objefl of faith propounded to him ; though ol 1m- leif he pave neither power nor will fo to do, having bit both in Adam. Ta 1 How a man may have given him a will to believe, and yet not believe, 1 pray declare, the next con-
trovetfy you undertake. , . ,
2. This being obferved, 1 fliall take leave to put thu proof
into fuch form as alone it is capable of, that the iliengtu thereof may appear. And it is this; if the Spirit (hah con- vince all thofe of fin to whom the gofpel is preached, that they do not believe, then Chrift died tor all men both thofe that have the gofpel preached unto them, and thofe that have not ; but the firft is true, for their unbelief is their great tin; ergo , jetus Chrift died tor ail ; which if any, is an argu¬ ment a baculo ad angulum from the beam to thtjhuttle . 1 he
peaces of Scripture, John iii. 18, 19. and viii. 23. and xis. 48 and xv. 22, 24. piove that unbelief is a foul-condemn¬ ing fin ; and ihat tor which they fliall be condemned m whom it is privative , by their having the gofpel preached to mem ;
but quid ad nos ?
a. One place is more urged, and confequemly more
abufed than the red, and therefore mull be a little cleared; u
is John x v i. 7, 8, 9, to, 1 1. The words are, I will /end the
Comforter unto you ; and xohen he is come, he void reprove t ie
world oj fin, and of righUoufnefs , and oj judgment ; of Jin* JJ becauje
Objections particularly anfmtrc dt
btcaufe they believe not on me ; oj rigkteoufnefs, lecaufe I o my Father and ye fee me no more ; of judgment, becauk ie prince of this world is judged. Now it is uncertain, whe- ther our author underftands the words of the Spirit in and with Chrift; at the lalt day, or in and with the miniftry of the word now in the days of the gofpel ; if the firft, he is toully miftaken ; if the latter, then the conviaion here meant extends only thofe to whom the gofpel is preached • and what that will advantage univerfal redemption, which c^mprifeth all as well before as after the death of Chrift I know not. But it is likewife uncertain, whether he fup- poleth this conviaion of the Spirit to attend the preaching of the gofpel only ; or elfe to confift in ftrivings and motions even in them who never hear the word of the gofpel ; if he mean the latter, we wait for a proof. Moreover, it is un¬ certain, whether he fuppofeth thofe thus convinced to be convened and brought to the faith, by that conviaion and that attending effeftualnefs of grace, or not.
But omitting thofe things; that text being brought forth anu in lilted on, further to maniteft how little reafon there was for its producing, 1 (hall briefly open the meaning of the words— Our Saviour Chrift intending, in this his laft fermon, to comfort his apoftles in their prefent fad condition whereto they were brought by his telling them that he mull leave them and go to his Father ; which forrow and fadnels he knew full well would be much increafed, when they fhould hehoid the vile ignominious way whereby their Lord and Malter Ihould be taken from them, with all thole re. proaches and perfections which would attend them b de¬ prived of him ; he bids them not be troubled, nor filled with iorrow and lear, for all this; alluring them, that all this lofs, fhame and reproach, Ihould be abundantly made up, by what he would do for them and beftow upon (hem, when his bo¬ dily prefence fhould be removed from them.
And as to that particular, which was the head pf all, that he fhould be fo vilely rejefted aqd taken out of the world, as a lalfe teacher and feducer ; he telleth them that he will fend allon paracleton, John xiv. 1 6, another Com - jotter ; one that fhall vicariam navare operam , fas Tcrtul J be unto them <n his Head, to fill them with all that confo- lation, whereof by his ablence they might be deprived ; and not only fo, but alfo to be prefent with them in other greater things, than any he had as yet employed them about. This again he puts them in mind of, chap. xvi. 7. Now ho
P ARACiETOS
and Places of Scripture opened . *77’
fARACLETOS, who is there promifed, is properly an Advocate ; that is, one that pleadeth the caufe of a per Ion who is guilty or accuied before any tribunal ; and is oppofcd TO Kategoro, Revelations xii. 10. and fo is this word by us tranflated, l Johnii. 1. Chriit then here telleth them, that as he will be their Advocate with the Father lo he will fend them an Advocate to plead his caufe which they profefled, with the world, that is, thole men in the world which had fo vilely traduced and condemned him as a ie- ducer, laying it as a reproach upon all his followers. This doubtlefs, tho* (in fome refpea) it be continued to all ages in the miniflry of the woid, yet principally intended the plen¬ tiful effufion of the Spirit upon the apoftles at Pentecoli, af¬ ter the afcenfion of our Saviour; which alfo is made more apparent, by the confideraiion of what he affiimeth that the
Advocate fo fent (hall do, viz .
[l.] He will reprove , or rather evidently convince the world 0/ Jin ; becaule they believed not on him; which lure- Jy he abundantly did, in that lermon of Peter, A£fs ii. when the enemies themfelves and haters of Chrift, were fo re¬ proved and convinced of their fin, that upon the prefling urgency of that conviftion, they cried ouf, (vcrfe 3?*) Men and brethren , what Jhall we do ? Then was the world brought to a voluntary conteflion — of the fin ot murdering Jefus Chrift.
* [a.] He fhall do the fame of righteoufnefs , becaufe Chrift
went to his Father; not of the world’s own righteoufnefs, to reprove it for that, becaufe it is not ; but he fhall convince the men of the world, who condemned Chrift as a feducer, of his righteoufnefs ; that he was not a blafphemer as they pretended, but the §on of God — as himfelt witnefled ; which they fhall be forced to acknowledge ; when by the ef¬ fufion and pouring out of the Spirit upon his apoftles, it fhall be made evident that he is gone to and received of his Fa¬ ther, and owned by him ; as the centurion did, prefently up¬ on his death.
[3] He Jhall convince the world of judgment , becaufe the prince of this world is judged ; mamfefting to all thofe of whom he fpeaketb, that he whom they defpifed as the car¬ penter’s fon, and bade come down from the crofs if he could, is exalted to the right-hand of God, having all judgment committed to him; having before-hand, in his death, judged, fentenced, and overcame Satan the prince of this world, the chief inftigator of biscrupifter?, who had the power of death.
And
Objections particularly anjwzrtd ,
i i
And tills I take be the dear, genuine meaning of this place < Slot excluding the continued efficacy of the Spirit $ working in the lame manner (tho’ not to the fame degree) for the fame end, in the mimflry of the word, to the end of the world. But what this is, to univerfal redemption, let them that can underhand it, keep i to tnemfelves j tor I am confident, they will never be able to make it out-to others.
Proof 5//z. “ God hath t edified, both by his word and his oath, tiiai lie w o iiid tnat his Son fhould lo far fave, as to work a re» 4i demotion for all men ; and like wife that he fhould bring all to tne knowledge of the truth, that therethrough redemption 4 might be wrought in and upon'them, i rim, ii, 4, with John .17. So he wiileth not, nor hath any pleafure in the death 44 of him (even the wicked) that dieth ; but rather that he turn “and live, Ezek. xviii. 23, 32. and xxxiii. n. And dare any
44 of us fay, - the God of truth faith and lVeareth that, of
44 which he hath no inward and ferious meaning ? Oh far be fuch “ blafpfacmy from us.”
Ah] w i. This aifertion, that God teftijieth by his word and oath, that he would that Ch-’ifl JhoiJd Jo far fave nsp&c* is a bold calling of God to witnefs that which he never affirmed, nor did it ever enter into his heart ; for he hath revealed his will, that Chrift fhould fave to the utmofl them that come to him ; and not fave fo far or fo far, as is boldly, ignorantly, 'and falfely inti¬ mated. Let men beware of provoking God to their own confu- fion ; he will not be a witnefs to the lie of falfe hearts.
2. That Chrift fhould Jo bring al( t» the knowledge of the truth , that therethrough redemption might be wrought in and upon them, is another bold corruption of the word, and falfe witnefs bearing in the name of God ; it is a fmall thing for you, to weary and fe- duce men ; will you wearv our God alfo ?
•3.' For places of Scripture corrupted, tothefenfe impofed ; in John iii, 17. God is faid to fend his Son, that the world through him might be f abed J not be faved fo far or fo far, but faved front their jins, Matt i. 21. and to the utter moj t, Heb. vii. 25. fo that the world of God’s eleft, who only are fo faved, is only there to be underflood ; as hath been proved. Ini Tim. ii. 4. there is fomeihing of the will of God, for the faving of all J'orts of men, as hath been declared ; nothing conducing to the bold affer- tion ufed in. this place.
4. To thofe are added, (hat of Ezek. xviii. 23 that God hath not any pleafure at nil that the wicked Jhauld die ; and verfe 32 . no pleafure in the death of him that dieth ; ( which chap, xxxiii. 1 1.) Now, though thefe texts are exceeding ufele/s to the bufinefs in hand, .and might poflibly have fume colour of univerfal vocation, but none df univerfal redemption, there being no mention or Chrift or hi 3 death, in the place from whence they are cited, yet
becaufc
and Places of Scripture opened. 279
bee a life our adverfaries are frequently ''knitting knots from this
place, to inveigle and hamper the finplej i lh“J] add lon,e iev/
oblervations upon it, to clear the meaning of the text and demon, ft rate, how it belongs nothing at all to the bufineis in hand. < ; no,
fi.] Let its c'on fide r to whom and cf whom thefe weros are fnoken. Is it to and of all men; or on'y the he vile o( :
doubt lefs thefe laft ; they are only intended, they only are of; hear new, 0 hoife of ifrael, verfe 25. wli' !t
that becaufe Cod faith he delights not in the daub cd the home cf Ifrael, to whom he revealed his mind at d required their repentance and converfion ; that therefore he faith lo ot all, even thole to whom he never revealed his will by Inch ways as to them, ncr called to repentance, Ffal. exhii to, 20. So that the vciy ground- work of the whole corclufion is removed by this hilt ob-
fervation.
[2-] That God willeth not the death of a finner, 1?, either God purpofeth and determineth he ill a 1 1 not die ; or, God com- mandeth that he iliall do thefe things wherein he may live. 1! me fuff, why are they not all laved ? why do the linnets die ? or the. e is an immutability in tlip couniel of God, heh. vi. 1 7 . his conn- [el Jhall fland, and he will do bis plea jure, Ifa. xivi. 10. It the latter way, by commanding, then the fenfe is, that the lord commandeth, that thole whom lie calleth fhould do then ou.y, that they may not die, (although he knows, that thus they cannot do without his afliftance;) now what this makes to general re¬ demption, I know not.
[3.] To add no more, — this whole place, (with the fcope, aim, and intention of the prophet in it) is miferably millaken by our adverfaries ; and wreded to that, whereof there is not the lea ft thought in the text. The words area part of the anfwer which the Lord gives to repining Jews, concerning their proverb — The fathers have eaten four grapes, and tbs children's teeth are fet on edge. Now, about what did they ule this proverb? Why ? concerning the land of Ifrael, verfe 2, the land of their habita¬ tion ; which was laid wafte by tie iworu (as they alarmed) for the fins of their fathers, thcmfelves being innocent. So that it is about God’s temporal judgments, in overturning their land and nation, that this difpute is ; where the Lord juftifieth himleif, in declaring the equity of thefe judgments, by reafo.ii of their fins ; even thofe fins, for wl ich the land devoured them and Ipewed them out ; felling them that his judgment is, that for fuel) things they Ihould fure'y die, their blood /bo 11 Id be upon them, verfe 1 3. they llvould be ilain with the I word, and cut oil by thole judg¬ ments which they had deferved. Not that the fhedding of their
blood, and catting out of i heir c ar cafes, was a thing in itfelf 1 > pleafurable or definable to him, as that be did it only for Ids own will ; for let them leave their abcrnina:i:i:s and try whether tin h‘ 1 1 v e .1 vv ere « 0 1 p r id c n g s d i n p e a c <? , 1 h i s
OijeSions particularly anfwend ,
This being the plain genuine fcope and meaning of this place" at the firft view prelehting itfelf to every unprejudiced man, { have often admired, how fo many Grange conclufions for a general pm pofe of (hewing mercy to all, univerfal Vocation and redemp. lion, have been wrefted from it ; as alfo, how it came to be pro- duced, to give colour to that heap of blafphemy, which our au¬ thor calleth his fifth proof*
Proof 6th, u The very words and phrafes ufed by the Holy “ Ghoft in Scripture, fpeaking of the death of Chrift and the “ ranfom and propitiation, to whom it belongs, and who may “ heek it, and in believing find life; implies no Ids than ail men. 4 As to inftance; All nations, Matt, xxviii, 19, 20. The ends “ of the earth, Ifa, xlv. 22* and xlix. 6. Every creature, u Mark xvi. 15. All, 2 Cor. v. 14,15, 1 Tim. ii, 6. Every “man, Heb. ii. 9. The world, John iii. 16, 17. 2 Cor, v. 19; “ The whole world, 1 John ii 2. That which was loft, Luke “ xix. 10. Sinners, Matt. ix. 15* Unjuft, 1 Pet. iii. 18. Un- “ godly, Rom. v. 6. And that whofoever of thefe repent and “believe in Chrift, (ball receive his grace, John iii. 16, 18.
u Ads x. 43 Now, all thefe being fo often and indifferently “ufed, were it not pride and error, to devife gloftes to reftraift “ the fenfe the Scripture hoideth forth, fo full and large for all u men
Anfw * 1. This argument, taken from the words and phrafes whereby the object of th£ death of Chrift is in the Scripture ex- preffed, is that which filleth up both pages of this book ; being re¬ peated, and moft of the places here cited, urged an hundred times over; and yet it is fo far from being any prefling argument, as that indeed it is nothing but a bare naked repetition of the thing in de¬ bate, concluding according to his own perfuafion. For the main query between us, is, whether the words all and the world, be to be taken univerfally ; he faith fo, and he faith fo, which is all the proof we have; repeating over the thing; to be proved, inftead of a proof. — For thofe places where the words dll, every man , the woi Id, the whole world , are ufed, we have had them over and over, and they have been confldered ; and for thofe places which affirm Chrift to die for finners, ungodly, that which is ioft, drc. as Luke xix. 10. Matt, ix 13. 1 Pet. iii. 18. Rom. v. 6. I have before declared, how exceedingly unferviceably they are to uni- verfal redemption.
For thofe expreflions, of all nations , Matt, xxviii. 19. every creature, Mark xvi. 1 5. ufed concerning them to whom do gofpel is commanded robe preached, l fay, (1.) That they do jiot comprife ail individuals, nay not all nations at all times, much }efs all Angular perfons of all nations ; if we look upon the ac- complifiiment, or the fulfilling of that command ; for de fade the ge>fpel was never fo preached to all : although there he a fitnefs and
fuitablenefs
281
and Places of Scripture opened .
ftiitablenefs in tne difpenfation thereof, to be fo preached to all, 4s vras declared. (2.) The command of preaching the gofpel to ail doth not in the lead: manner prove— that Chrilt died with an intention to redeem all * but it hath other grounds, and other ends as hath been manifefted. ( 3< ) That the ranfoxn belongs to all, to whom it is propofed, we deny ; there be other ends of that propo¬ sal; and Chriil will fay to fome of them, that he never knew them ; therefore certainly he did not lay down his iiie for them 1 Moreover, the ends of the earth, I la. xlv. 22. are thole that lo^k up to God, from all parts, and are faved ; which furely are not all and every one. And ChrilVs being given to be a fahation wit 0 the end of the eft* th, chap. xlix. 6. is to do no moie among the Gentiles, than God promifeth in the fame place that he fliall do for liis own people ; even to gather the preferred of Iftael ; fo lliall he bear forth the lalvation of God, and gather the preferved remnant of his eled, to the ends of the earth.
3. And now, I hope, I need not mind the intelligent reader, that the author of thefe collections could not have invented a more ready way for the ruin of the thefs which he feezes to maintain, than by producing thefe places of Scripture laid recounted, ioi the confirmation of it ; granting that all, and the world, aie no more than all the ends of the earth, mentioned in Ifa. xlv. 22. and xlix. 6. It being evident beyond denial, that by thefe expiel- fions in both thefe places, only the eled of God and believers are clearly intimated ; fo that Interpreting the one by the other, in thofe places where all and the world are fpoken of, thofe only are intended. If pride and error had not taken full poliellion of the minds of men, they could not fo far deny their own fenfe and reafon, as to contradid themfelves, and the plain texts of Scrip¬ ture, for the maintenance of the falit and corrupt opinions.
Proof 7th. u That whereas there are certain high and peculiar 44 privileges of the Spirit, contained in the New Teftament fealed 44 by the blood of Chriil, which belong not to all men, but only 44 tothe faints, the called and chofen of the Lord; and when 44 they are alone diftindly mentioned, are even fo fpoken of, as 44 belonging to them only, Matt. xiii. 11. John xiv. 17, 21,22. 44 23. and xvi. 13,14* *5- andxvii. 19,20. Ads ii. 38, 39,
44 1 Gor. ii 9, 14* Heb. ix. 15. and viii tot* 1 Pet. ii. 3, 9. 44 Yet many of thefe peculiar privileges are fo fpoken of, as 44 joined together with the ranfom and propitiation which belongs 44 to all ; then are they not fpoken of in fuch a retraining and 44 exciufive manner, or with fuch appropriating words; but fo, 44 and with fuch words, as room is left to apply the ranfom to all u men, in fpeeeh. And withal, lb hold out the privileges to 44 them that believe, that are proper to them ; that they may both 44 have their comfort and efpecial hope ; and alfo hold forth the 44 ranfom, and keep open the door for others, in belief and re-
N n 44 ceipt
202
OljcBions particularly anfwnea \
tt
it
t«
«(
cupt of the propitiation, to come in, and partake wiiH them. And fo it is laid, foi his Jkeep , and tor many ; but no where only but for his iheep, or but only for many. Which is a ft rang proof cl the ranfom for all men ; as is fhewn chap, iii, x.”
Anfw. The flrehgth of this proof, as to the bufinels in band, is wholly hid from me ; neither do I fee bow it may receive any fiich tolerable application, as to defer ve the name of a proof, as toihe nuin thefts intended to be main¬ tained. The force which it hath, is m an obfervation, which, if it hath any fenle, is neither true, nor once attempted to be made good ; for,
1. That there aie peculiar high privileges belonging to the
faints and called of God, is a thing which needs no proof : Amongfi thefel is the death of Chrilt for them, — not as faints but as e»e£l ; which, bv the benefit of that death and blood fhedditig, are to be made hints, and accounted to be the holy ones of God ; for he redeemed his church with his own blood , A6fs xx. ab. loved and gave him/ilf for it , Ep-ftef. v. 2^. even ns% Tit. ii. 14. .And divers of thofe privileges here intimated, areexprelsly affigned unto them as elecf ; fuch as thofe, John xvii. 19 20. Amongfl which alfb, as
in the fame rank with them, is reckoned Chrift’s fanBifying himftlf for their fakes ; that is to be an oblation, verle 19. In a word, all peculiar laving privileges — belong only to God’s ele£I ; purchafed for them, and them alone, by the blood of Jefus Cbrift, Ephef. i. 3. 4.
2. For the other part of the obfervation, — that where mention is made of thefe together with the ranfom, there is room left to extend the ranfom to all ; I anfwer, (1.) This is laid indeed, but not once attempted to be proved ; we have but (mail cauls to believe the author, in a thing of this im¬ portance, upon his bare word. (2 j For ike leaving of room for the application ; 1 perceived that il it be not left, ye will make it, — though \e jolile the true fenfe of the Scripture quite out of its place. (3.) I have already (hewed, — that where many an1 mentioned, the ranfom only (as ye ufe to fpeak) is expreffed; as alfo wherejheep are Ipoken of; and the like is laid, where the word all is uied ; fo that there is not the leak difference. (4 ) In divers places the ranfom of Chnii, and thofe oilier peculiar privileges, (which indeed are fruits of it) are fo united together, — as it is impollible to apply the latter to fame, and the other to all; being all of them refhained to his laved ones, only. As in Rev. v. 9. 10.
and Places of Scripture opened.
the redemption of bis people by the ranfoffl of his blood.
roeva Mt tor the extending o! (he rantem to all , » win* mu ftua'ly affirmed to thole laved crowned ones diftingutfo-
KS5 L ,& »t *. «■"»• *- jxs STJTS
*7 » .11 '.he fcofe
■^7»,r» ’ Trf ‘S4 w..»gh. by CWi h H.
.. cZiX <0' r.M-i fa fonh I, *«*«*» * “
•« large and full for all men, and ot as ntuc. o rce .s .
« fan of the firtt by and in htmfe. ,or 8,1 | J
« which refpeff the firft Adam M *a.d_.o have bee. a in n..
•• of Chrift the fecund Adam, Rom. m. 22 23, 24. “• , ‘
« 12)14, ,8. , Cor. xv. 21,2a, 45, 40, 47- As‘sbel°re
*• ew»
pared together, (inrefpeft ot the nghteoiifne.ls ot the on- communicated' to them that are his ; and the a tnc
and tranfere flion of the other, in like manner cotT.mun.-a.e. to all them that are of him) in feme of the places here men¬ tioned ; as Rom. v. 12, 18. But evidently the com pa • Cn is not initialled (between the rtghteoulnefs ot Child «r.rl difobcdience of Adam) extenfively in relpeft ot tne u.;u . but intevfmdy in relpftl ot the efficacy o. the one and tU. other ; the apoftie afferting the cftefclualnefs ot the ugh«coi.l- r.efs of Chrift unto juftification, to anfwer the ptevalency ot the ?ia of Adam unto condemnation that even as the s.m - ereffion of Adam brought a guilt of condemnation, upon ad fhem that are his natural feed ; fo the righ.eonfncfs o. Lhnft procured the free gift of grace utlto juftification, towauls an them that are bis, his fi>'ni;ual feed, —that were the ela...itn given unto him of bis Father.
2. This text » Cor. xv. at, 22. fpcaketb of the leurtrec- lion from the dead, and that only ot believers; lot tmugo he mentions them as all, veife 22. in Chrijljnail all be ma„e alive; yet veife 23. he plainly interprets thole ■all— to be ad that are Chrift’ s. Not but that the other dead triad rite ado ) but that it is a refurreflion to gloty, by virtue ot tue te.utec- tion of Chrift, which the apoftie hete treats ot ; wh.cn cer¬ tainly alUhsl! not have.
3. The comparifon between Chnft and Adam, vctle 45.
. to ioeak nothing ot the various reacting of wit pN'-t) i» \ i j » on v
^4 ObjeSions particularly an/zvtred ,
only in refpe£l oi the principles which they had and were intruded withal, to communicate to others: Adam a living Joul, or a living creature ; there was in him a principle oi
iife natural, to be communicated to his pofterity • _ Chrift a
quickening Spirit ; giving life, grace and fpirit, to his feed. And here I would defire that it may be obferved,— that all the companion that is any where infiituted between Chtift and Adam , fill! comes to one head, and aims at one thing, viz. that they were as to common flocks or roots; communica* ting to them that are ingrafted into them, (that is, — into Adam naturally, by generation ; into Chrift fpiritually, by re*
generation, that wherewith they were repienifhed : Adam , _
fin, guilt, and difobedience ; Chrift, — righteoufoefs, peace and juftification. For the number of thofe that do thus re¬ ceive thefc things, from one and the other ; the confideration of it is exceedingly alien from the fcope, aim, and end of the apoflle, — in the places where the companion is inftitmed.
4. It is true in Rom iii. 23. it is fai &,—All have finned, and comejhort of the glory of God; which the apoftie had at large proved before, thereby to inanifeft that there was no ialvation to be attained but only by Jefus Chrift, but if you will sfk, to whom this righteoufnefs of Chrift is extended, and that redemption which is in his blood ; he telleth you plainly, it is unto all and upon all them that believe . verfe 22. whether they be Jew or Gentile ; for there is no difference .
Proof 9th. “ The Lord Jefus Chrift hath fem and com- ct manded his fervants to preach the gofpei to ail nations, to " every creature ; and to tel) them withal, that whoever be* heveth and is baptized fhaJi be faved, Matt, xxviii, igt 20. €t Mark xvi. jgt 1 6. and his fervants have fo preached to “ all, 2 Cor. v. 19. Rom. x. 13, 18. And our Lord Jefus “ Chrift will make it to appear one day, that he hath not lent his fervants upon a falfe errand, nor put a lie in their mouths : nor wifhed them to diffemble, in offering that to ** all which they knew belonged but to fome, even to few.
“ elt of all ; but to fpeak truth, Ifa xliv. 26. and Jxi. 8. s* 1 Tim i. 12.”
Anjzv 1. Theflrength of this proof is not eafily appa* rent, nor manifeft wherein it Jieth ; in what part or words of it. For, f i.j It is true,—— Chrift commanded! his apoffles to preach the gofpei to all nations , and every creature ; to tell them, that whofoever behevetk , fhall be faved , Matt, xxviii. 29, 20. Mark xvi. 13, 16. That is, ■*— without diftin&ion of perfons or nations, to call all men, (to whom the provi¬ dence
and Places of Scripture opened. 28$
fence of God Ihould direfi them, — and from whom the Spi¬ rit ol God fliould not whh-hold them, as from thefe, A6U xvi. 6, 7.) warning them to repent and believe the golptl. (25.) It is alfo true, that in obedience unto this command, his fervants did hefeech men fo to do, and to be reconciled unto God ; even all over the nations, without diftinftion of any, — -bjn where they were forbidden, as above ; labouring to fpread the golpel to the ends of the earth, and not to lie it up to the confines of Jewry, t Cor. v. 20. Rom. x. 18. (3.) Moll certain alfo it is, that the Lord Jefu? Chrilt lent not his fei vants with a lie, — to offer that to all, which be¬ longed only to fome ; but to fpeak the truth ; of which there needs no proof. — But now, what can he concluded Irom hence for univerfal redemption, is not cafily difcernible.
2. Perhaps fome will fay, it is in this ; that if Chrilt did not die for all whom the word is preached, then how can they that preach it, — offer Chrilt to all ? A poor proof in¬ deed 1 for, (1.) Thegofpelwas never preached to all and every one ; nor is there any fuch thing affirmed in the places cited ; and yet ye are to prove, that Chrilt died far all; as well thofe that never hear of the gofpel, as thole that do. (2.) What do the preachers of the gofpel offer to them, to whom the word is preached ? is it not life and faL vation through Chrift, upon the condition of faith and re¬ pentance ? And doth not the truth of this offer confill in this, that every one that believeth lhall be fayed ? And doth not that truth hand firm and inviolable, — fo long as there is an alJ.fufficiency in Chrilt, to fave all that come unto him ? Hath God intruded the minrfiers of the gofpel, with his in¬ tentions, purpefe and counfels ; or with his commands and promifes ? Is it a lie to tell men, that he that believeth lhall be javed ; though Chrilt did not die for fome of them ? Such prools as thefe, had need be well proved themlelves ; or they will conclude the thing intended, very weakly.
Proof 10th , “ The Lord wilieth believers, to pray even ,s for the unjuft and their persecutors, Matt. v. 44,48. Luke “ vi. tS )'ea even for all men; yea even for kings and all " in authority, when few in authority loved chriftianity ; yet M belaid, not fome of that fort, but lor all in authority ; “ and that on this ground, It is good in the fight cj Qod% %i who will have all men faved, and come to the knowledge of
the truths Lnke x. 1 Tim ii. 1,4, Surely there is a “ door of life opened lor all men, 2 Tim. i. 10. for God f5 hath not faid to the feed of Ifrael, leek ye me in vain, I fa.
“ xlv. )g>
ft
[M
286 ObjeElions particularly anjwtrtd%
“ xlv. 19. He will not have his children pray for vain 41 things.”
Anfw . The ftrength of this proof iieth in fuppofing, 1, That indefinite affertions — are to be interpreted as equiva¬ lent to universal, which is faife ; (fee Rom. iv. 5.) 2. That
by all, iTim. ii. 1. is not meant all forts of men, — and the word all not to be taken diftribuiiveiy ; when the apaltle, by an enumeration ol divers fons, gives an evident demonftrati™ on of the diftribution intended. 3 That we are bound to pray for every lingular rnan, that he may be faved ; which ( 1.) we have no warrant, rule, precept, or example for. (2.) It is contrary to the apoftolical precept, 1 John v. 16. (3.)
to our Saviour’s example, John xvii. g. (4.) to the coun- fel and purpofe ol God, in the general made known to us, Rom. ix. ii, 12, 15. and xi. 7. — So that evidently our pray, ing for ail, is but for all forts of men, excluding none ; and that thofe may believe, who are ordained to eternal life. (4.) It fuppofeth — that there is nothing elfe that we are to pray for to men, but that thev may be laved by Chrifi ; which is apparently faife, Jer. xxix. 7. And 5, that our ground of praying for any, is an afTurance that Chrifl died for them in particular; which is not true, ARs via. 22, 24. Yea 6. it moll Iplendidly takes for granted,— -that our duty is to be conformed to God’s fecret mind, his purpofe and counfel.
Until every one of thefe fuppofals be made good, which never-a one of them will be very Suddenly ; there is no help in this Proof, nor firength in this argument,' viz. we muff pray for all, therefore God intends by the death of Chrifi to lave all and every one ; its fophifiry and weaknefs being ap¬ parent. From our duty to God’s purpofes, is no good con- clufion : though from his command to our duty, be moil certain.
Proof 1 1 th% “ The Lord hath given forth his word and pro- “ mlfe, to be with his fervants fo preaching the gofpel to ail, 4i and with his people fo praying tor all, where they come ; that they may go on with confidence in both. Match, xxviiu 20, 1 Tim. ii. 3. 0. Luke x. 6. ifa. liv. 17.”
Anfw. That God will be with his people, whether preach» ing or praying, according to his will and their own duty ; is as apparent, as it is, that this makes nothing for univerfal re¬ demption, : than which, what can be more evident ? ^
Proof 12 th9 “ The Lord hath already performed and made <* good his word to his fervants and people, upon ioine of ad
** ions of men. and all forts of linnets : (hewing their SP^rcy,
“ to
I
and Places oj Scripture opened.
£87
(I
<(
<1
it
** to the very end that none might exclude themfelves , but all be encouraged to repent, believe, and hope thereby, A£b ii. and iii. and viii, and ix, and x, and xi, and xvi, and xix, and xxviii. 1 Cor. vi. 10, ii* 1 Tim. 1. 13,
r ^ »>
Anfw . If you had told uf, that God had already maue good his word to his fervams, in faving all and every man ; and proved it clearly ; you had evidently and undeniably confirm¬ ed the main opinion. But now affirming only, that he had (hewed mercy to forne of all forts, and all forts of (inner s :
that others of the like fort (as are the remainder of his elefd
yet uncalled) might be induced to believe ; ^ you have evi« dently betrayed your own caufe, and eflabiifhed that of your adverfaries : {hewing how the Lord in the event declared! on their fide, faving in the blood of Jefus only fomeo* all forts, as they affirm ; not all and every one, which your tenet leads
you to.
Proof 13th, “ The bieffing of life hath ftreamed in this ** do&rine of the love of God to mankind j yea in the tender «* and fpiritual difeovery of the grace of God to mankind, \i n “ the ranfom given and atonement made by Chrili lor all «« men with the fruits thereof,; hath God in the fir ft place “ overcome his chofen ones to believe and turn to God, A£ls “ xiii. 48. Titus ii. 11, 13. and iii. 4, 5.”
Anfw . 1. That the freedom of God’s grace, and the tran- fcendency of his eternal love towards men, with the fending of his Son to die for them, to recover them to himfelf from fin and Satan, is a molt effeftual motive, and (when fet on by the Spirit of grace) a mo ft certain operative principle of the converfion of God’s ele£l ; we molt willingly acknow¬ ledge; it is that wherein our hearts rejoice, whereby they were endeared, and for which we defire to return thankful obedience every moment. But that ever it was effe&ual, in extending this love to all, or at lealt that any effieftuaSnels is in that aggravation of it ; we utterly deny: and that, (1.) becaufe it is falfe, and a corrupting of the word of God, as hath been fliewed ; and of a lie, there can be no good confe- quence. (2.) It quite enervates and plucks out the efficacy of this heavenly motive ; by turning the moft intenfe and in¬ comparable love of God towards his eleci, into a common defire, wifhiog, and afleflion ofhis nature, (which indeed is oppofrte to his nature,) failing of its end and purpofe ; which might con fill with the eternal delhuflion of all mankind : as I ffiould abundantly demonilrate, if providence call me to the
other
rs
OhjtEllons particularly anfwcred ,
other part of this controverfy, concerning the cauf? fending Jefus Chiift,
2. There Is nothing of this common love to all, in the o’a- ces urged.; for ( l.) The grace mentioned, Tit.it. 11/13* is the grace that certainly brings falvation, which that com- mon love doth not ; and was the caufe of fending Chrifl, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify tohimfelf a peculiar people zealous of good works : where our redemp¬ tion and falsification, is afferted to be the immediate end of the oblation ot Jelus Chr iff ; which how definitive it is to univerfal redemption, hath been formerly declared* ) Soalfo is that love and kindness mentioned, chap. iii. q, 5. iuch as whereby we receive the walhing of regeneration, and lenewing of the Holy Ghoff, verfe g. juflificaiion, and adoption toheirfhip of eternal life, verfe 7.— which, whether it be a common or a peculiar love, let all men judge, (3,] A&s xiii 47. (for verfe 48. there cited, contains as clear a reflri&ion of this love of God to his ele6l as can be defiredj fets out the extent of the mercy of God in Chrifl through the preaching of the gofpel to the Gentiles alfo, and not only to the Jews ; as was foretold by Ifatah xlix. 6. — which is far enough from giving any colour to the univerfaiity of grace ; it being nothing but the fame affirmation which ye have, John xi. 5 2 of gathering together in one. the children of God that werefcaitcred abroad .
Proof 14 tk.“ Thofe that when the gofpel comes and any u fpiritual light therein to them, when they refufe to believe, *' and fuffer themfelves to be withdrawn by other things, 48 they are affirmed to love or choofe darknefs rather than s< light, John iii. 19. (which how could it be, if no light in 4‘ truth were for them ?j in following lying vanities, to for-
fake their own mercies, Jonah ii. 8. to harden their own “ hearts, Rom. ii. 5. to lofe their fouls, Matt. xvi. 26.
“ and to deflroy themfelves, Hofea xiii. 9, And they being “ from Adam fallen into darknefs, hardnefs, and lofs of their u fouls, and death paffed on them ; how could thefe things “ be ; if by Jefus Chrift no life had been attained, no atone-
nient made, no reiloration of their fouls, nor means pro*
“ cured and ufed that they might be faved P God is no hard “ mafler, to gather where be hath not ftrown.”
Anfw . The fum of this argument is, — that thofe who do not believe upon the preaching of the gofpel, are the caufes of their own ruin and deffru&ion ; therefore Jefus Chrift died for all and every man in the world. Now though it
cannot
■
' \ .
i’*1'
and Places cj Scripture opened.
289
cannot but be apprehended, that it is time caff away and la¬ bour loft, to anfwer fuch confluences as ibefe’j yet l muff add a lew obfervatioiis, ieit any fciuple flioula remain with the weakeft reader ; as,
1 Ait have not thegoTpel preached to them ; nay, hom the beginning of the world, the greatefi part ok men huvo been pafTed by, in the difpeniation ok the means of g?ac;>, Rom. ii. 14. AOs xiv. 16. and xvii. 30. All thefe, the », muii be leh out in this conclufion ; which renders it altoge¬ ther uielefs, to the bufihefs in hand ; for the univerfaliiy of redemption falls to the ground, it any one foul be not inten¬ ded in the payment of the ranfom.
2. It is not a ddbelieving the death of Chrifl for every in¬ dividual foul that ever was or lhall be, (which to believe is no where in Scripture required j — that is the caufe of manLs de¬ finition; but a nonbelieving in the all-1 ulficiency of the paffion and oblation of Jefus Chrifl lor linnets, — lo as to ac¬ cept of ffie mercy procured thereby, on thole terms and con¬ ditions upon which it is heid forth in the goipei ; which doth not attend the purjpofe and intention of God — lor whom Chrifl ihou.d die, but the (efficiency and efficacy of his death— for all that receive him in a due manner ; he being the only true way, life, and light — No ether name under Heaven being given, whereby men may be faved. It is a loving dark - nejs rather than light, as in John hi. 19. the place urged ia the proof ; whete the word mallon, rather , doth not in- flimte a ccmparifon between their love ui daiknefs and light, as though they loved both — but darknefs ch'u fly ; bur. plain¬ ly intimates an oppofmon unto the love of light , by a lull love of darknefs. And this men ate Add to do ; which being fpeken indefinitely * — according to the rules of inter* preting Scripture followed by this author, fhould be taken univ'erfally lor all men ; but vve ate comerited, that it be the moji of thole men 10 whom Chrifl preached ; tor fame alio of them received him, — to whom he gave this privilege, that they fhould become the Sons cj God, John i. 12.
Why you fhould interpret iove here, by eftoofe .t — a& though either the words were equivalent, or the word hi the original
a ¥ *0
would fignify either, I can fee no reafon ; for both theie ate exceeding falfe. There is a difference between loving and
1 9 O
choc fin g ; and as lor egapesan, he would be as bad a tranfla or as you ate an interpreter, that fin mid render it they choojed ; Now what is this loving oj daihntjs rather than light, but u following and cleaving ia *6c&ioa and pr.;£lice to
O 0
th£
*9°
Objections particularly anjwzrcd ,
Uie WHy* wherein they were ; being alienated from the life of God labouring in the unfruitful work* of darknefs, and refufing to em' bi-aee the heavenly dodtrine of the gofpel, holding forth peace and reconciliation with God through ChriR, with life and immortality thereby. To conclude from hence, that therefore ChriR died for all and every man in the world, becaufe the greateA part of them to whom he preached the gofpel did not believe, is a wild kind of reafoningj much better may we infer, that therefore he died not
i or all men ; becaufe it is not given unto them for his fake to believe on him, Phil. i. 29.
Neither will that parenthefis (which how could it be, if no light in t> nth •were for them r J give any light to the former inherence ; becaufe if the word ( for } Ihould denote the intention and purpofe of God, the truth is, we dare not fay that God intends and pur- pofeth that they Ihould receive light who do not ; left by fo faying we Ihould make the ftrength of Ifrael to be like to ourfelves,-— and contradict him who hath faid, My c surf el Jhall ft and, and / will do all my p leaf tire, I fa. xi\i. 10. The counfe l of the Lord ftandeth for ever, PfaU xxxiii. 11, Ke being the Lord and changing not, Mai iii. 6, James i# 17. 2 Tim. ii. 19. Rom. ix. 11. But if by (for them) — you mean fuch a flock and fulnef* of light and grace, as there is of light in the fun for all the men in the world, though fome be blind and cannot fee it ; then we fay that lucha light there is for all in the gofpel — to whom it is preached, and their own biindnefs is the folecaufe of their not receiving it ; fo that this hath not got the Rone a Rep forward, which Rill rolls back upon him.
3. The other Scriptures tirg-d, have not fo much as any colour that ihould give advantage to confider them, as with any reference to the bu duels in hand. That of Jonah ii. 8. is concerning fuch as forfake the true God to follow idols ; fo forfeiting the mercies, temporal and fpiritual, which from the true God they had before received. Rom. ii. 5. fpeaks of the Gentiles who had the works ol God to teach them, and the patience of God to wait upon them; yet made no other ufe of them both, than by vile rebel* lions to add new degrees of further hardnefs upon their own heart That of men’s lofing their fouls. Matt. xvi. 26. and defraying them f elves, (Hof. xiii. 9.) by fin, is of equal force with what went before.
But, 4. The clofe of this reafon fee ms to intimate a further v'ew of the author, which at the fir A doth not appear, viz. that a'l men are in a re famed condition by ChriR ; not only a door of mercy opened for them all, but that they are all actually reAored into grace and favour, — from which if they do not fall, they fhall Airely be laved ; and the argument whereby he proves this, is, be¬ cause being loA in Adam, they could not be faid to lofc themJelves, urdus they were reAored by ChriR ; being darknefi and hardnefs
in
291
and Place s cf Scripture opened
;n Adam, unlefs all were enlightened and mollified by^hnft, they could not be (aid to love darknefs nor to harden theniklves. isow if this be his intention, ( as it is too apparent that A> it >») I wiul fay fi/inetlfmg, — iirft to the argument, itcond y to the thing itleif.
A( i ’ \ For the argument, it is this ; becaufe by original lin men are guilty of death and damnation, iherefore they cannot by ac¬ tual fins make lure of and aggravate that condemnation, and io bring upon themfelves a death unto death ; or, becaule there is a native inbred hardnefs of hear: in man, therefore none can add further degrees of contratSed hardnefs and induration by actual rebellions , becaufe men are blind, therefore they cannot under- valueli2l.1t, (when indeed the real on why they do io, is became
they are blind) and that men who have time and opportunity and
means to fave their fouls, cannot be faid to lofe them, tuat is to ue condemned, — unlefs their foul* were in a faved condition before. Now this is one of the proofs, which in the clofe is called pmin and according to Scripture, ; when indeed nothing can be more contrary to reafon and Scripture, even the principles of tue oracles or God,— than this and iome other of them are. I^ihau add no more on this ; knowing that no reader can be fo weak, as to con- «eive,— that the refufing ofapropofed remedy, accompanied with, infinite other defpights done to the Lord, is not fu foment to make men guilty oftheir own condemnation ; I fpeak of thorn, tnat en¬ joy the preaching of the gofpel. %
'(2.) For the thing itfelf, or an aftuai refcoration of all men oy Chrifl into fuch a fate (asis intimated) as they had at the firft m Adam; (I mean in refped of covenant, not innocency, —which l taka to be the meaning of the author ; and that becauie m another place he pofitively affirms that it is fo, and that all are juihfied by
Chrifl:, _ though how it fliould be fo, he is not able to declare ; ) to
this then I fay, — that there is nothing in the Scripture that hiould give the lead colour to this grofs error ; nor can ary thing he pro¬ duced, fomuch as probably founding that way. i^ut further,
(1.) It is contrary to very many places, affirming that we aie
dead in mrpajfes and fern , Ephef. ~i\- i- that except a man U bmn (train, he cannot fee the kingdom of God , John iii. 3* duat until a man come by faith to Ghrill, the wrath cf God atidsth on him, John it*. 36. with thofe innumerable places which ddcover the uri • verbal alienation of all men from God, until actual peace and re¬ conciliation be made through Chrifl •
(2. ) It is contrary to the very nature and offence of the new covenant of grace, — proceeding from the Lee meuy of C»od to his elea, carried along with diftinguifhlng promifes from’ the hr ft
(putting a difference between the feed of the woman and the feed
©f the ferpent, — as well in the members as in the head) to the lad •f them j being effective of and really working every good thing
0:jj eft ions particularly anfwered ,
b rromileth, in and towards all to whom it doth beW UMri
with the p-oD'e nf r 0 Pr "g ^ Where faid t0 be made ,!ie wr-lh' r 'f o'l (T\°r ' °;e whom he wi" own, in oppofltion t»
fiAed £l :.S c h.'C 1 a,'d dlVers cther ‘hinga, fo plentifully af-
—nsaire, not one can be true; if all men re ce7e 3 «ftoration by thrift, into covenant.
t“r a -d
t"7; lf“/"-C'>ncl't!|,n,’ w.itho,« any reparation by Chrift. ‘ ^ W'
Ml wirequS"' aiwrtJ!-' tI T'’n ftrnge’ abfurd and
eorne to theuf" of r-ati ^ h **' ln,ams> dymg before they b/fa-Id' \T T com.mittinS of actual fin, mult , ']/{ td’ (though our (aviour hath faid, that ewreer
HjV , r >r7 ffa/W’ hs cann°*fec the. kingdom of God. John iii t
Cor 1 V1-’ fr°m thatthe of infidels are unclean, t
; / : • D!it no unclean thing (hall enterthe new jerufale'm*
*the ;nfaws of
J. ' J aced ,n a far more happy condition, if they de-
f;*r,;n th',!; ,nfanc^ than ** **a o^uLt* ; wh0
f0 tnre a“t!‘°rsof this doftrine) out of danger of eternal
faved'P’ ^ ’■* .Thatthere!s "o “ore required "of any to be '• « ' an a continuance in the eftate wherein he was born, (that
i,:,'" J ,!eC”rinltTaS being1 aaual!y reftored by Chrift there- VvPn u the whole word of God crieth oul, that all fuch as fo ■ w.- i.ia.l certainly perifii everlaftingly. 1 That every nn»
i'-v-rhl\nv4t the prom, lies thereof are, that there ft all r: pP. total tailing away of them that are in the covenant.
L-. J J nat none can come unto Chrift, but fuch as have in their
"w-Vm. “ ej1'r°mhim; for all othei s abide in him — Innu- c.ir.T . fuch confequences asthefe, do necelfarily attend this rreticat alfertion ; that is fo abfolutely deftruftive to the free
7, !;.G<>d* 1 doabt not *>ut fuch proofs as thefe, will make
\ ’ ',,Pn fllrt^er **earch into the matter intended to be
] '< , e 1 ; and yield them good advantages, to difeover the wretch. cc<- ne of (he whole.
.1- PP words of the proof. I anfwer ; that God fewed
k, 11 /uav:i mid wareied it with innumerable temporal
. ' gs tc',rards all, and fpiritual in fome, — wbofe fruit he will
.ome to require from the world of unbelievers, and not in the
_ * 4 ^I!/^ » any further, than as it hath been certainly
p- po.ed to fomeof them— and defpifed. y
“God’s esrneft expod ulations, contendings, char.
. ,f ' ' n''_ f1 oteftations ; even toiuch as Wjhereof marv perifted •
K. orn. yi I fa. v A-‘- >~n-L - ■ >
JT VA. y
f , f , * . . . .22. As to indance, O! that there wer^
i!,S1 :!n lleai l ,,,era’ they would fear me, &c. that it
• ■•■■■£■> t he well wilh them, Pent. v. ap. What could have been
u done
and Places of Scripture opened 293
done more to my vineyard, that T have not done In it ? 6r. I fa, u v. 4, 5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they “ are gone far from me? Jer. ii 5, Have I been a wildernefs “ unto Ifraei, a land of darknefs ? Wherefore fay my people we “ are Lords, we will tome no more unto thee ? verfe 31. O my “ people ! what have I done unto thee ? wherein have I wearied “thee? tefeify again!! me, Micah yi. 3. How often would I “ have gathered, drc. and you would not, Matt, xxiii. 37. O “ that my people had hearkened unto me, <6r. 1 lliould foon have “ fubdued their enemies, <&c. Pfal Ixxxi. 13, 14. Becaufe I “ have called and ft refufed, and no man regarded, 6*c. Prov. “i. 24, 25 32, Becaufe that when they knew God, they glorih- “ ed him not as God, Rom.i. 2f,?8. Therefore thou a;*Mnex- “ cufable, Oman, &c.TJiou after thy hardnefs and impenitent “ heart, treahieeft up unto thyfel'f wrath, 6x. Rom. ii, I# “ 5. Nochriflian, I hope will reply again!! God and fay; thou “ never meantefl us good, there was no ran fom given for us, no “ atonement made for us, no good done us, no mercy fliev/n 11 us, nothing in truth whereby we might have been faved “ nothing but an empty Ihew, a hare pretence. But if any f]]0U!d “ rcaibnfo evilly, yet fljall not fuch anfwers Rand.’7
Avjw. To this collection of exportations., I ihal] very briefly anfwer with fome fewobfervations ; manifefling of how Ihtlr it is, to the bufmefs in hand. As,
1 . That in all thefe expostulations, there is no mention of any ranfom given, or atonement made for them that peri/h, wh'ch is the thing pretended in the clofe ; (but they are all about temporal mercies, with the outward means of grace : ) concerning which we may obferve, that as God doth not expoftuktc with them about if no more fliali they with God about it at the lafl day. Not that I deny, that there is fufficient matter of expoflulation with fmners about ttiebiood of Chrift and the ranfom paid thereby: that fo
h, s elecl may be drawn and wrought upon to faith and repentance - and believers more and more endeared to forfeit® all unoodlinefe and worldly lufts, to live unto him who died for them - and t'mt others may be left more unexcufable : only, for the prefent \ W are no fuch exportations here exprefled ; nor can any be found'
holding put the purpofe and intention of God in Chrift towards them that periliT 3
. a; That ?lUhefe p,ac«s “'•ged, (excepting onlv thefe of Rom
i. 28. and 11. 5. which apparently and evidently lay the inevci
fablenefs of fin, upon that knowledge which thev might have l,n V by the work of creation and providence, of God a, eternal Vi mighty, and powerful; without the leaft intimation of Vnv V n fom, atonement and redemption ;) that all the refl ffl Zl fpoken to and of thofe that enjoyed the means of m-ar’e ■ wlm ' the days wherein thofe expoftulations were ufed towards th’em,
v/ere
*94
iPljeSions particularly anfwtred ,
were a very fmali. portion of all men ; fo that from what is fa id to them, nothing can be concluded of the mind and purpofe of God towards all others, (FfaL cxlvii, 19, 20. j) which is deflruftiye to the general ranfom.
3. 1 hat there are no men, efpecially none of thofe that enjoy the mean? of grace, but do receive fo many mercies from God ; as that he may jufbiy plead with them about their unthankfuluefs, and not returning of obedience proportionable to the mercies and light which they received.
4. It is confeffed, *1 hope, by all, that there are none of thofe
things, for the want whereof God expoflulateth with the fons of men ; but that he could, if it fo feemed good before him, effectually work them in their hearts, at lead by the exceeding greatnefs of his power: fo that thefe things cannot be declarative of his pur¬ pofe, which he might if he pleafed fulfil ; for who hath re fi fled his will ? R.om. ix. 19. x
5. That de fires and wifhings fnould properly be afcrlbed unto Cod, is exceedingly oppofite to his all fufficiency, and the perfec¬ tion of his nature ; they are no more in him, than he hath eyes, ears and hands : thefe things are to be underflood, theo*
J REPOSi
6. It is evident, that all thefe are nothing but pathetical declara¬ tions of our duty, in the enjoyment of the means of grace ; ffrong convictions of the flubboryi and difobedient ; with a full jolli¬ fication of the excellency of God’s ways, to draw us to the per¬ formance of our duty ; ergcy Chrift died for all men \ hopes
ED £ I DEIXAI.
7. Some particular places, that feem to be of more weight tnaa the reft, have been already examined.
Proof 1 (ithy “ The Scripture's manner of fetring forth the fin <4 of fuch as defpife and refufe this grace, and their eftate, and 44 the perfons perifliing ; as to fay, they turn the grace ot God into wantonnefs, Jude 4. tread under foot the Son of God, pro- n fane the blood of the covenant, with which they were fandihed ; <4 offer defpight to the fpirit of grace, Heb. x. 29. deny the «< Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. ii. 1. they perifli for whom 44 Chrifl died, 1 Cor viii. 11. trees twice dead, plucked up by 44 the roots, Jude, 12, 13. and bring upon themfelves fwift deflruc- tjon, 2 Pet. ii. t. And how could all this be, if God had giv- en his Son in no fort for them ? If Chrifl had fhed no blood to 44 procure remiflion for them f If he had not bought them nor had 44 an v grace or life by his Spirit to befcow on them t
Arif iv. 1. There are in this proof three places of Scripture, which are frequently urged in this caufe, vt z. Heb. x 29. 2 Pet. ii. 1. 1 Cor, viii. ir. and therefore they have been confidered alreadv apart, at large : where it was evidenced, that they no way incline to the a'ffertion of that whereunto they are violently w refled, and their fenfe for that end perverted. a. Fcr
and Places of Scripture opened
&95
£. yor thofe other places out of Jude 4, r?.; 13. X cannot per¬ ceive, how they can be hooked into the bufinefs in hand. Some are faid ver. 4. to turn the grace of God into lacivionfuefs ; that is, to abufe the doftrine of the gofpel* and the mercy of God revealed thereby, to encourage themielves in fin; whence to conclude* that therefore Jefus Chrifl died for all men, is an uncouth infer¬ ence : efpecially, the apoflle intimating that he died not for t Sj efts abufers of his grace, affirming that they were before of old ordain¬ ed to condemnation ; which ordination flandeth in direct oppofitiort to that love which moved the Lord to fend his Son Chrifl to procure the falvation of any. The ftrength of the proof lleth in the other places which have been already conlidered.
Proof ijth, “ Jelus Chrifl, by virtue of his death lhall be their “judge j and by the gofpel, in which they might have been 44 laved, will he judge them to a fecond death : and how can that “be, if he never died the firlt death for them, and if there were “ not truth in his gofpel preached to them ? Rom. xiv. 9,10, 1 1 , 12. Phil. ii. 7, ii, Rom. ii. 16. John xii. 47, 48, 50.’*
Arfwtr 1 . That Jefus Chrifl: fhall be judge of all,1 and that all judgment is already committed to him, is confeft : that it doth not hence follow that he died for all, hath been already declared 5 unlefs ye will affirm that he died for the devils alfo, becaufe they alfo muft be judged by him,
2. That all fliall be judged by the gofpel, even fuch as never heard word of it, is diredly contrary to the gofpel ; for as many a* have finned without law , jhall alfo joerifk without the law , and as many as have finned in the law , jhall be judged by the law , Rom. it, 12 Every man doubtlels fliall be judged, according to the light and rule which he did or might have enjoyed ; and not according to that whereof he was invincibly deprived.
3* That Chrifl fhould be laid to die only the firft death is nei¬ ther an expiellion or the word, nor can be collected from thence 1 he died the death which was in the curie of the law; but of this only by the way.
4. \ou intimate, as though there were no truth in the gofoel preached, unlefs Chrifl died for all ; when indeed ihei e is no afler- lion more oppofiteto the truth of the gofpel. ri lie places urged men¬ tion Chrifl being Lord oi all, exalted above all, being jud^e of all; judging men according to the gofpel, that is, thofe men who enjoy U; but how they may be wrefled to the end piopofed, I know not.
Proof 18th, “Believers are exhorted to contend for the faith “ of this common faction, w Inch was once dt hvt red to the faints, “ which feme having heard— oppofe, and others turn the offers of *‘it mo v, an tonne fs ; and through not heeding, and not walking 44 m the faith ot this ialvaticu, already wrought by Chrifl kr 4t men, they deprive themleives of, and wind out themlcivcs i'rom “tgat Xa.vauon which Chrifl by fpirlt in application of the
'6'* former
£96
ChnBiotis particularly aijkcred
4 l
it it * •
u fanner hath wrought in them, — and fo deprive themfelves of the iaivation to come, Jude 3. 4, 5.’’
44 And every of thefe proofs be plain, and according to Scrip¬ ture, and each of force ; how much more altogether ; ftill juf* tiiy'ing the fenie, that t Tim. ii. 6. and Heb. ii. 9. importeth, and the truth of the proportion in the beginning r”
Aufw, I can fee nothing in this proof , — but only that the fal~ vation purchaied by Chrifl', is called common fall) at ion } which if you conclude from thence to be common to all,— you may as well conclude fo of faith that it belongs to all, becaufe it is called the common faith, Tit. i. 4. though termed, The faith of God's eleii, verfe 1. Doubtlefs there is a community of believers ; and that is common amongft them, which is extended to the whole church of God. There is, totus mundus ex to to mundo ; * and the common falvation, is that whereby they are all faved ; without any colour of that ftrange common falvation, whereby no one is
laved, — maintained by this difputer. - The remainder of this
proof, is a fulnefc of words, fuitable to the psrfuafion of the au¬ thor 1 bur, in no fmall part of them, exceedingly unfuitable to the word of God, and derogatory to the merits of Chrifl ; making the falvation purchafed by him, to be in itfelf of no effect ; but left to the will of finful, corrupted, accurfed men, — to make avail¬ able, or to reject.
And thefe are the proofs, which this author calls plain, and ac¬ cording to the Scripture,— being a recapitulation of almoft all that he hath faid in his whole book ; at leaft for the argumentative part thereof, there is not any thing of weight omitted and therefore this chapter I fixed on, to return a full and punctual anfwer unto. Now, whether tlie thing intended to be proved, viz* the paying of a ranfom by Chrifl for oil and every man , be plainly , clearly and evidently from the Scripture confirmed, — as he would bear us in hand ; or whether all this heap of words, called arguments, reafons and proofs, — be not, for their manner ofexpreflion, obfeure, un¬ couth, and ofttimes unintelligible 5 for their way of inference,-— cl.iididi, weak and ridiculous ; in their allegations and interpre¬ tations of Scripture, — perverfe, violent, miflaken, — through ig¬ norance, heedlefsnefs, and corruption of judgment, — in dire&op- pofidon to the mind and willof God revealed therein j — is left t© the judgment of the chriftlan reader, that lhall perufe them, with the anfvvers annexed.
G K A F.
* That is, — aw hot: world (of believers gathered j out of the whole world*
and Places of Scripture opened.
* 97
CHAP* VII*
The removal of other remaining objection; 3 from reofon .
TH E removal of lbme ufual fophifms and captions argument* of th z Armenians, oflate made common and vulgar, — (hail be the clofe of our treatife 3 and wind up the whole controverly, which hath drawn us with violence thus fai*. And in this perform¬ ance, I fhall labour to be as brief aspoHible; partly, becaufe thefe *• things have been handled at large by others 3 partly, be call fe all colour of oppo/ition to the truth by us maintained, from the Scrip¬ tures, being removed,- — all other objections will indeed naturally fink of themfelves. Yet, becaufe great boaftings and i welling words of vanity have been ufed, concerning fome that follow, it is neceffary that fome things be laid, to ihew the emptinefs of fuclt fiourilhes, that the weaked may not be inrangled by them.
OsJect. I. That which we fhall begin withal, is an argument of as great fame and as little merit , as any that in this caufe (or indeed in any other controverfy) hath been ufed of late day s 3 and. it is this, viz. “ that which every one is bound to believe, is tc true; but every one is bound to believe that Jefus Chrid died for him; therefore it is true, that Jefus Chrilt died for every *l one.”— —Now,
1 This is an argument which, to difeover their conviction of the weaknels of the reft of their arguments, the Arminians and their friends never ufe, -—but withal they add fome notable enco* miumoi it \ with iome terms of affront and threatening to their adverfaries 5 in fo much as, by confent on both (ides, it hath ob¬ tained the name of the Remonftrants Achilles. Now truly, for my part, — as I Inall not tranferibe any thing hither, out of the many full anfwers given to it by our Divines 3 by which this Achilles , or rather Goliah> hath been often cad to the ground 3 fo I heartily wifh, that the many operous prolix anfwere which the Loading of our adverlaries hath drawn forth, — had not got this poor nothing more repute a thoufand times, than its own drength, or tmy ad¬ dition of force from the managers oi it, could have procured unto • * it.
Suppofing then, r. That the term believe, be ufed in the fame fenfe in both propofitions ; (for if otherwife, the fyllogifm is falfe in the form of it.) 2. That by believing, is underhood, a favim\ application of Chrift to the foul— as held out in the promijc J for to believe that Chrid died for mein particular, as is afferted to he the^duty of every one, can be nothing elfe but fuch a laving appli¬ cation. 3* d hat a believing that Chrid died for any, according to tiie bufmefs in epuedion,-—— mud be with reference to the purpoie of the Tather, and intention of Jefus Chrid hi mfc If ; for that is
' it
!;)8
Objections particularly anfwercd
it which, with regard to any univerfalHy, js by us opp0fcd * 4. That toe term (every one) muft relate unto all men as confider- cd in an alike condition ; for feveral relpects and conditions of the lame perfons, may caule them to come under feveral obligations unto duties ;t— now there is no one condition common umo all but only the lfate of wrath and death, Eph. ii. j. and therefore
every man mull be confidered as in that condition _ The feofe
then of the minor propofttion, is in fum this, viz. “ All men fo “ the world» as confidered in a ftate of wrath and unreseneracy “ are bound to believe (as before defcribed) that it was the in-’
*' tention of God that Chriftfhould die for every one of them m particular T
. rN°W> n.0t t0 an^ thin2 t0 tIie major propafitim, (which yet is falie ; that which men are bound to believe in this fenfe, bein^ as hath been obferved by many, neither true nor fa)re. g9cd\ ) the ajfumption is absolutely falfe, and hath riot the lead co Jour of real on or Scripture to fupport it ; and (taking every man for every individual in the world) when our adverfaries prove it I engage my felt to be their .profelyte . For, 5
( i.) i hen muft fome be bound to believe that which is falfe • which cannot be ; every obligation to believe being from the God of truth; now it is falfe that Chrift died for all, and every indivi- dual of numan Kind ; as hath been before proved at large.
(a.j Then lliould men be bound immediately to believe that which is not revealed, though divine revelation be the object of all faith ; for the Scriptures do not hold out any where, that Chri/t died for this or that particular man zifuch-r but- only for firmer? indefinitely*— fpecified to fome antecedently by God’s purpofe and confequently by their own purchafed obedience, P ’
(3-) Neither indeed is the intention and purpofe of God con- cermng which we now inquire, propofed as the objeft of the faith of any, § but only his command, promifes, and threatenings; the
other
. * ^ *1LI l*ie q tie ft ion here is not, — about believing a particular intercft in the death of Chrift, upon the footing of the promife ; by a fa ving application of him to the foul, as held out therein; but about believing that intereil in his death, upon the footing of his intention — and the Father’s purpofe ; which is the thing oppofed.
, ^ That is, (in the preiciit ca(e) — ms to the i mmedtatenefs of obligations i in the dated order of duties.
That is— God’s intention that Chriftfhould die for per fons in particular, comes not under the fpecularive confideration of a true t h Jug --to be affented unto; but the pradical confiderarion of a good thing to be embraced.
§ That is, — -the faid divine intention an d purpofe, is not pro- pofeu by the golpei unto the fairh-ef any; as a matter which their lalih, immediately and at iirifc iuflancs, has any way ado with.
*99
and Places of Scripture opened.
*vher being left to be collected, and allured to the foul,— by an experience and fen fie oft'ome fweet infallible iOue and effadt thereof in the heart* dtually enjoyed.
(4,) Nor can any command in the Scripture to believe, be in* terpreted by the purpole and intention of God; as though the meaning of it fhould be,- — God intented that Chrill Ihould die lot thee in particular ; nor doth any proinife contain that lenle.
(5.) Befides, (winch of itleif is enough to break the neck oi this argument) all have not any fuch object of faith as Chrift’a death, at all propofed to them. And how can they believe, unlefs they hear ? can they be bound to believe that, of which they ne¬ ver heard the leaft rumour ? How many millions of infants, and others in barbarous nations, go to their own place ; without hear¬ ing the leaft report of J el us Chriit, or his fufferings for them or others, even in thefe days of the gofpel ? how much more then, before the coming of Chrift in the field ; when the means of grace wer® reftrained to one i’mall nation, with foine few profelytes ? Were all thefe, are they that remain, — all and every one bound to believe, that Chrifl died for them all and every one in particular ? thefe that think fo, are doubtlefs bound to go tell all of them fo ;
X mean, fuch of them as are yet in the land of the living. Is not unbelief the great damning fin, where faith is required, John iiu g6 ? and yet doth not Paul prove, that many fhall be damned for finning againlt the light of nature, R.am. ii. 12 ? an evident de- monftratjon that faith is not required of all, all are not bound to believe. But, /
2 dly. Perhaps our adverfaries will except, — as they muft ex¬ cept, if they intend to have any colour or fhew of flrength, left unto this argument ; that they mean it only inrefpedt of them who are called by the word, and fo it is of force ; to which end, let it be thus propofed, viz. That which every one called by the word, to whom the gofpel is preached , is bound to believes is tine } but that Chrifl died for him in partisular , every one fo called is bound to believe ; therefore it is true. — To which I anfwer,
1. Only the laft exception foregoing, is taken off bv this re¬ formed
* The .faith of God’s intention and purpofe, as to GhrifFs dy¬ ing for a perfan in particular - is the fame upon the matter, with
the faith of a petfon’s election ; which noway belongs to faith as j uflifying ; and when this is laid to be collected — by an experience and fenfe of fame fweet infallible iffue and effect thereof in the heart , and thus afjured to the foul ; the meaning cannot be, — that this alfu ranee (or faith) is founded upon the faid inward expe¬ rience and fenfe, as its proper ground ; — -but that faith is hereby carried forward upon its ohjedt in the word, unto a believing of everlafting love— in the divine purpofe and intention towards the perfon.
3oo
OhjiQtons particularly anjtvered.
jormed arguments; aII the reft ft and In 1 heir full force, which are ai ncient to evert it. Moreover, who feeth not, — that this very reforming of the argument, hath made it altogether ufelefs to the Ca" e ',n whofe defe»ce 't was produced ; for if any one, much more the greateft part of men, be excepted, —which are now ex¬ cluded from the verge of this argument ; then the general ranfom 3 •' t0 * •« ground, i rom the innumerable multitudes of all. we are come to the many that are called ; and doubt not, but that we ftiall mftantly defcend to the few that are chofen. Unto the ex¬ ception that that which is true in refped of them to whorn it is pro-
pfei, would alfo he true in rejpea cf all— if it fhouhl he propofei to them ; I anfvver by the way, '
(t ■ ) That the argument is to be taken from the fcriptural ohli-
gation to believe; and can be extended no furthir, than that is ac- tiiailv extended.
t,. 2‘-ThatltISn° >hat would £>e, or Hiould
e,~il things were not as God hath appointed or ordained them, eiee the will of God for the prefent ; neither are we tofuppofe,
t0 maKs our ^ppofal a bottom for any arguments, that they could have been otherways difpofed.
(3-) That if the gofpel {honid be preached to all the world, or all in the world,- this is all the mind and will of God, that would or can in general be fignihed to them by it : He that believeth and is baptized (hall be fayed, but he that believeth not fiall be damned; or that God hath concatenated and knitthefe two things together, faita and falvation ; fo that whofoever will enjoy the /after, mult pradife the former. If the gofpel fionld now be preached to the Turks and Indians , and they fhould rejed it ; certainly they lhculd be damned, — -for not believing that which they were, upon the pieacning of it, bound to believe. Now what is this ? that Chrilt oied for every one of them in particular? no, doubtlefs ! but this ; there is no name under Heaven whereby men muj} befaved but only the name of Chrift made known to them in the gofpel ; and that they mult perilli, for rejeding the counfel and wildon of God fave finners by the blood of Jelus; for not believing the neceflity
of a Redeemer, and that J-ef us of Nazareth is that Redeemer ; _
accor ding 1° 11 is own word to the Jews ; Ij ye believe not that I am t<e, ye fiall die in your Jins ; as indeed the peculiar infidelity o-f that people, was their not beleiving him to be their Meflah, whom they faw to be declared to be the Son of God with power. The not behaving thefe things , would be the foul-damning infidelity of iuclx obflinate refufers, to come in upon the call of the gofpel; and not a refilling to believe that Chrift died for every one of them in particular ; which could not, by the rule of the gofpel, be pro^ poled unto them ; and which they never come fo far as to queition, or efteem.
Still then we deny the minor proportion of the reduced fyl*
logifm;
and Places of Scripture opened. $pi
logifm; and that partly for the reafons before produced; partly for thefe fubjoined.
(i.) They to whom the gofpel is preached, are bound to believe with that faith which is required to j unification : Now this is not a full perfuafion that Chrift died for any one in particular, in the in¬ tention and purpofe of God ; which revealcth not the object ol juf- tification, nor the way whereby a firmer may bejuftified.-Jf
(2.) Becaufe there is an order, natural in itfelf, and eftablifhed by God’s appointment, in the things that are to be believed ; fo that until fome of them are believed, the red are not required.! A man is not commanded, rior can bp reafonaoly, to get to the top of a ladder, by (kipping all the lower rounds. It is liecefTary then, [1.] To repent, and believe the gofpel to be the word of God, to contain his will ; and that Jefus Chrifi therein revealed, is the wifdom and power of God unto falvation. [2.] To believe that there is an infeparable connection by God’s appointment, be¬ tween faith and falvation ; gofpel faith carrying a (inner quite out efhimfelf, and from off his own righteoufnefs, [3.] That there be a particular conviction by the Spirit, of the neceflity of a Re¬ deemer — to their fouls in particular; whereby they become weary, heavy laden, and burdened. [4.] That there be a lerious full recumbency, and rolling of the foul upon Chrift in the prornife of the golpel, as an all-fufticient Saviour, able to deliver and fave totheutmoft, them that come to God by him; ready, able, and willing, through the precioufnefs of his blood and lufiiciency of his ranfom, to fave every foul that fhall freely give up itfelf unto him for that end ; amongft whom the perfon is refolved to be. And in doing of all this, there is none called on by the gofpel once to inquire after the purpofe and intention of God, concerning the particular objects of the death of Chrift; every one being fully allured, that his death lhall be profitable to them that believe m him and obey him. Nov/,
(3.) After all this, | and not before, it lies upon a believer to
a flu re
There fqems to have been a miftake in thefirft printing of this claufe ; andlhat it fhould run, — which is not revealed to the object of juftifi cation, or in the way whereby a firmer may bejufiified.
t That is, are not immediately required, in the order of duty; as, (uppoting a man required to get up to a certain height at the top of a ladder, he is not required to be immediately at the top; Ltat to proceed thereunto, by the lower fteps.
\ The feveral fteps of faith before-mentioned, are not to be taken as fo many faiths , of different degrees ; but as all one faith ; nor is it to be underftood, that faving faith proceeds in thefe fteps by a diftincft gradation, or one after another, in the order of tune; hut that all thefe fteps are materially included, in that one ad of faith, whereby it clofes with Chrift for juftification.
3°~ ObjelUons particularly anjwered9
aiTarccI his foul, (according as he finds# the fruit of the death 0f Chrifb in him and towards him) of the good will and eternal love ot God to him, in fending his Son to die for him in particular. What a prepofterous courfe, and how oppodte to the rule of the gofpei, were it; to c all upon a man to believe, that it was the in¬ tention and purpofe of God that Chrift fnould die for him in parti¬ cular, and defire him to affure his foul thereof ; before he he con¬ vinced, either [i.J ot the truth of the gofpel in general ; or [2 1 that faith is the only way offalvation ; or [3,] that himfelf ftand- eth in need of a Saviour or [4.] that there is enough in Chrift to fuve ^nd recover him, if he give up Himfelf unto him in his own way ? Nowit is mod apparent, that it is only fuch as thefe, that are bound f to believe that whereof we difcourfe.
3^0'* * * § 1 he argument tnen in 11 ft be once again reformed ; and tnus propofed, viz. u That which every one, convinced of the “ neceittty of a Saviour, and of the right way offalvation, hun-
Spring, thirfting, and panting after Jefus Chrift, as able alone ** to give Iran refrefnment, is bound to believe ; is true ; but “ every fucli a one is bound to believe, that Chrift died for him in
“ particular; therefore it is true.” And fome grant the whole ; without any prejudice to the cauie vve have undertake^ to defend.
It is moll apparent then, 1. That all that are called by the word, are not, in what date or condition foever they continue, bound to believe that Chrift died for them by name;]: but only fuch as are fo qualified as before defcribed. 2. That the precept of believing, with fiduciary confidence, that Chrift died for any in particular, is not propofed, nor is obligatory, to all that are called ; nor is it in the not performance of it any otherwife a fin, but as it is in the root and habit of unbelief, or not turning to God in Chrift for mercy. $ 3. That no reprobate for whom Chrift
* died
* That is, finds it by faith, in its exercife before defcribed.
t That is, bound to believe fo immediately , according to the dated order of duties.
+ That*is, are not bound to believe this, with reference to God’s purpofe and intention ; as if the faith of ChrifTs having in¬ tentionally died for them, could con lift with a continuing in their natural eftate ; orasif fuch a perfuafion belonged to juftifying faith ; or as if that perfuafion were required and attainable any otherwife, than according to the order of duty before declared.
§ It is to be remembered here, as the author has before adver* ti fed, that he is only fpeaktng of Chrift’s having died, [according to the Father’s purpofe and his own intention'] for any in parti¬ cular; and the precept of believing this (he declares) is not pro- pofed , nor obligatory to all that are called ; as to which, fee the foregiong note. But the not believing of this, is acknowledged to fee their fins as it is in the root and habit of unbeliefs that is, it is
and Places of Scripture opened ,
3°S
died not, fliall be condemned for not believing that Chrifl died for him in particular, which is not true; but for not believing thofe things whereunto he was called, before related, which are ail moft true, and that in reference to him. 4. That the command ofbe- lieving in Chrifl, which is efpecially urged as given unto ail, is not, in that particular contended about, obligatory unto any ; but upon fulfilling of the conditions thereto required.* 5. To be¬ lieve on the name of jefus Chrift, which is the command, 1 John iii. 23. is not to believe, that it was the intention of God that Chrift ill oil Id die for us in particular; but to reft upon him lor lal- vation, as Ila. I. 10. Neither, 6„ is the telVimony of God, to which we ought to fet our fealthat it is true, any other but this : He that hath the Son hath life , but he that hath not the Son of Cod hath not life, 1 John v. 12. which reprobates disbelieving Sinners, wfeo do what in them lies to make God a liar > and are juflly con¬ demned Jor it — -He that defireth to lee more of this argument, let him corifult, if he pleafe, P if cat or , Parkins , Twijfe , Synod of Dort 9 JMoulin , Baronins , Rutherford , Spanhemius, Am c fins, <6x.
Object. II' 44 That dodtrine which fills the minds and fouls of ** poor miferable tinners, with doubts and fcruples whether they i( ought to believe or not, when God calls them thereunto; cannot 44 be agreeable to the gofpel ; but this doth the doctrine of t he par- 44 ticularity of redemption ; it fillsvthe minds of fmners with feru- 44 pies and fears whether they may believe or net, and that becaufe 44 they are uncertain whether it was the intention of God that 44 Cimfl fhould die in particular for them or not, feeing it is fup- *4 pofed he died not for all but only for his eledl ; whereupon the 46 fou), when it is called upon to believe, may juflly fall a quefiion- 44 ing, whethetner it will be available or not lor him lo to do, and 44 whether is will be his duty or not, feeing he knoweth not whe* 44 ther Chrift died for him or not.”
Anfw. 1 ft. That fcruples. doubts, and fears, the proper ifTue of unconquered remaining unbelief, will often arife in the hearts oi finners, iometimes againft, lo me times taking occafion from the truth^ of^the golpel, is too evident upon experience ; all the queftion is, whether the do&rlne itfelf fcrupled or fumbled at, do cf it felt in its own nature give caufe thereto, unto thofe who rightly perform their duty ; or whether ail thofe fears and fcruples
be
their fin ; yet not immediately ; but in the way of its being more immediately their fin, that they nmke not a facing application cf Chrift by faith as he is held out in the promife , according to what is before fet forth
t * lt is a^° t0 be remembered here, as the author has before de¬ clared, that he Ipc aks not of any conditions , with reipedt to Godh* purpofe and intention of things ; but only with refpect to the con- nmGii and order of tae things them feh *<?.
3°4
CbjcBions particularly anfwrcd ,
be the natural product and iftlie of corruptioin and unbelief; fetting up themfelves againft the truth as it is in Jefus. The firfl we deny concerning the do&rine of the particularity of effectual redemp. tion : the latter, God alone can remedy.
2 dly. This objection fuppofeth, that a man is bound to know and be perfuaded, (that is, to believe) that jefus Chrift died by the appointment of God for him in particular, before he believe in Jefus Chrift; nay this they make the bottom of their argument, that men, according to our perfuafion, may fcruple whether they ought to believe or not; becaufe they are not allured before, that Chrift died for them in particular, by the delignation and appoints ment of God. Now, if this be not to involve themfelves in a plain contradi&ion, I know not what is ; for what, I pray, is it according to Scripture, for a man to be allured that Chrift died for him in particular ? is it not the very higbeft improvement of faith l doth it not include a fenfe of the fpiritual love of God, died a- broad in our hearts? is it not the top of the apoftle’s confolation, Rom. viii. 34, 35? and the bottom of all his joyful alfurance, Gal. ii' 20? So that they evidently require, that a man inuftbe- lieve before he do believe; that he cannot believe, and 1 hall ex¬ ceedingly fear whether he ought to do fo or not ; unlsfs he believe, before he believe, Methinks fuch a removing of fcruples, were the ready way to intangle doubting conlciences, in further inextri¬ cable perplexities.
2 dly. We deny that a perfuafion that it was the will of God that Chrift Ihauld die for him in particular, either is or can be any way necelfary, that afmnerbe drawn to believe; for conlidering linners as fuch , whofe duty it is to believe; the call of Chrift, Matth. ix. 28. Ifa.lv. 1. the command of God, 1 John iii. 23, the promife of life upon believing, with the threatening againft unbelief, John iii. 36. the all-lufficiency of blood of Chrift to fave all believers, Adts xx. 2r. Ephef. v, 2. the allured lalvation of ail believers without exception, Mark xvi. 16. and the like, are enough to remove all doubts and fears, and are ail that the Scripture holds out for that purpofe.
4 thly. That pe.ifua(ion which, i» afferts the certainty of fal- vation by the death of Chrift, unto all believers whatfoever; 2. affirms the command of God and the call of Chrift to be infalli¬ bly declarative of that duty which is required of the perfon com ¬ manded and called, which if it be performed, will be be afturedly acceptable to God, 3, holds out purchafed free grace, to all dii- treifed and burdened confidences in general ; 4- diicovers a foun¬ tain of blood, albfufficient to purge all the fin of every one in the world, that will ufethe appointed means for coming unto it ; that doitrinfc, I fay* cannot poffibly be the caule of any doubt or icru- ple in the minds of convinced burdened finners, whether they ought to believe or not ; now all this held forth, by the doctrine
and Places of Scripture opened .
Z°o
particular cffeftual redemption, in the difpenfation of the gol- pel fuitable thereto.
Sthly. I Ihall then let go this objection, w ithout further purfuit i only attended with this query, viz. What is it that, according to the authors of univerfal redemption , men are bound to believe $ when they know beforehand, that Chrift died for them in particu¬ lar? A perfuafion of the love of God and good will of Chrift, it cannot be, that they have beforevhand, John iii. 1 6. Rom. v. 8. Nor can it be a coming to God by Chrift, for the enjoyment of the fruits of his death ; for what is that, I pray? There are no imme¬ diate fruits of the death of Chrift, according to them , but what are common to all ; which may be damnation as well as falvation ; for more are damned than ‘laved ; infidelity as well as faith, for the moft are unbelievers. As the immediate fruits, then, of the death ol Chrift, can be nothing but that which is common to them with thole that perifli, plainly, their faith in Chrift will at length appear to be Socinian obedience.
There be three things that remain, about which there is no fmall contention; all of them, things in themfelves excellent and valu¬ able; and each laid claim to, by the feveral perfuafions concern¬ ing which we treat ; but with fuch an unequal plea, that an ealy judgment might ferve to decide the controverfy. No w thele are, the exaltation of God’s free grace, the merit of Chrift, and the confiolation of our fouls; let us confider them in order, and let each perfuafion take its due.
Object. III. For the firft, or the exaltation of God’s free
grace ; I kn«w not how it comes to pafs, but lb it is, _ men hare
entertained a perluafion, that the opinion of univerfial redemption ferveth exceedingly to fet forth the love and free grace of God ; yea they make free grace, that glorious ex'prellion, to be nothing but that which is held forth in this their opinion, viz. that God loveth tf//, and gave Chrilt to die for alf and is ready to lave ally if they will come to him. Herein, lay they, is free grace and love magnified indeed ; this is the univerfality of free grace, and fuch other flourilhing exprefltons ; whereas the contrary opinion chains up the love and grace of God to a few.
But, ift. flay a little; what I pray is this your grace, free gi ace, that is univerlal? Is it the grace of election ? truly' no ; God hath not chofen all to falvation, Rom. ix. n, 12. Ephef.il 4. Rom. viii. 28. Is it the grace of effectual vocation ? no neither $ donbtlefs that it cannot be ; for whom God calls , he alfo j ufiifisth, and glorifies y Rom. viii. 30. and xi. 25, 26, 29. nay all have not been, all are not outwardly called, Plal. cxlvii. 19/20. Rom. x. 14- Is it the grace of eleanling and fanctilication ? why; ar call purged, ar e ah waOied, in the blood of |eius ; or it is the church only, Ephef. v. 25, 26, 27? Some, fur* are defiled Hill, Titu. n 1 5. faith is th« principle of the heart’s purification, and all men
(1 " bay*
t
3°& Obje&tons particularly anfwered,
have not faith. Is it the grace of j unification; the free love arti mercy ot God, in pardoning and accepting Tinners ? but, friends1, is this univerfal ? are all pardoned, are all accepted; fee Rom. i. 17. and iii. 22. and v. 1. Is it the grace of redemption in the
blood of Chrift ? fee, I pray, Rev. v. 9 - What then is this your
univerfal free grace ? is it not univerfally a figment of your own brains ; or is it not a new name for that old idol freewill ? is it not deflructive to free grace, in every branch of it? doth it not tend to the everiion of the whole covenant of diflinguilhing grace; evi¬ dently denying, that the conditions thereof are wrought in any of the foederates, by virtue of the promile of the covenant?
Are not the two great aims of their free grace, to mock God, and exalt themielves? Do not they propofe the Lord, as making a pretence of love, goodwill, free grace and pardon, unto all; yel never once acquainting incomparably the greatefl number of them, with any fuch love or good will at all; although he know that, without his effecting of it, they can never come to any fuch know¬ ledge. — As for thofe that are outwardly called to the knowledge of thele things; do they not, by their univerfal grace, feign the Lord to pretend that he loves them all, has lent his Son to die for them all, and to defire that they all may be faved; yet upon fuch a condition, as without him they can no more effect than to climb to Heaven by a ladder, which yet he will not do? Do not they openly make God to fay, fuch is this my love, my univerfal grace, that by it I will freely love them ; I dare joyfully embrace them in nil things , but only that which will do them good ? Would they not affirm him to be a grofsly counterfeiting hypocrite, that ffiould go to a poor blind ma'u and tell him, — Alas, poor man ! I pity thy cafe, I fee thy want, I love thee exceedingly; open thine eyes, and I will give thee an hundred pounds? and dare they affign iuch a deportment, to the moil holy God of truth? Is their univerfal grace, then, any thing but a mock? Did that ever do good to any, as to lalvation, which is common to all? Are they n©t the tw©
properties of the grace of God in the Scripture, that it is diferimi-
nating and effectual ? and is not their grace any thing elfe but thefe ? Let it be granted, that all is true which they fay concerning the extent of grace ; is it fuch grace, as that ever any foul was faved by it ; why I pray then are not all? They will fay, becaufe they do not believe; fo then, the bellowing of faith is no part of
this free grace _ And here is your fecond aim ; even to exalt your-
felves, and your free will, in the room of grace; or at Ieafl leaving room for it to come in, to have the bell fhare in the work
of lalvation, viz. in believing itfelf, that makes *11 the reft pro¬
fitable.
See now, what your univerfality of free grace leads and tends jo ; are not the very terms oppofite to one another ? In a word, to fcring in reprobates to be objects of free graces, you deny the free
grace
I
i
and Places of Scripture opened. 8°7
■grace of God to the ele&; and to make it univerfal, you deny it to be effectual ; that all may have a lhare of it, they deny any to fc.e faved by it ; for laving grace mull be leflrained.
2 dly. On the other fide 5 in what one title, I pi ay yon, doth the dodrine of the effectual redemption of God’s eledt only^ in the blood of Jefus, impair the free grace of God? Is it in its/) eedom . why, we fay it is lo free, that it it be not altogether lice, it is no grace at all. Is it in its efficacy ? why, we lay that by giace we are laved ; afcribing the whole work of ocur ieco\ery and oiingmg to God, in folidum , thereto. Is it in its extent ? we afHun it to be extended to every one that is, was, or ever lhall be delivered from the pit. It is true we do not call, grace that goetli into hell, free grace in a golpel notion ; for we deem the liee giace oi Goa fo powerful, that wherever it hath defigned and cholen out itieli a fubjedt, it brings God and Chrift and falvation with it to eternity.
But (fay ye) you do not extend it unto all; you tie it up to a few. Well, De tuo largitor, puer ; is the extending of the love and favour of God, in our power? hath he not mercy on whom he will have mercy, and doth he not harden whom he will ? \ et, do
not we affirm that it is extended to the univerfality oi the laved ones? fhould we throw the children’s bread to dogs ? Friends, we believe that the grace of God in Chrift, worketh faith to every one, to whom it is extended ; that the conditions of that covenant which is ratified in his blood, are all effectually wrought in the heart of every covenanted perl'on; that there is no love oi God, that is not effectual; that the blood of Chrift was not filed in vain ; that of ourfelves we are dead in trejpajfes and Jins , and can do no¬ thing but what the free grace of God worketh in us ; and there¬ fore we cannot conceive, that it can be extended to all. For you, who affirm that millions of thole that are taken into a new cove¬ nant of grace, do perifli eternally, that it is left to men to believe, that the will of God may be frullrate and his love ineffectual, that we diftinguifh crurfelves one from another ; you may extend it whi¬ ther you pleafe; for it is indifferent to you whether the objedts of it go to heaven or to hell.
But in the mean while, I befeech you, friends! give me leave to queftion, whether this you talk of, be God’s free grace, oryour fond figment ? his love, or your wills ? For truly, for the prelent, it feems to me the latter only. But yet our prayers 111 all be, that God would give you infinitely more of his love, than is contained kt that ineffectual univerfal grace wherewith you fo fiourifh ; only we fliall labour, that poor fouls be not leduced by you, with the fpecious pretences of gree grace to all ; not knowing that this your free grace, is a mere painted cloth, that will give them no aflifl- ance at all, to deliver them from that condition wherein they are, but only give them leave to be faved, if they can; whereas they age .ready*, by the name you have given to the brat of your own
brain,
3°8
ObjeSlions particularly anjwtnd ,
bram, to fuppofe you intend an effeclual almighty having grace, that will certainly bring all to God to whom it is extended, of which they have heard in the Scripture; whilft you laugh in your lleeves, to inmk how Amply thefe poor l'ouls are deluded with that empty blew; the fubftance whereof is this, viz. go your ways, be faved jt you can, in the way revealed, God will not hinder you.
AV-„ Each Part>’ c°ntefts about the exaltation of the meniot Chriftj for fo are their mutual pretences. Something hath been laid to this before ; lo that now Idhall be brief. Take the* only a fliort view of the difference that is between them, where each pretends to exalt the merit of Chrift, in that which is by the otiiei denied ; and this plea will fuddenly be at an end. And 'ft fhere 1S but one only thing, that concerns the death of . 11 7 111 which the authors of the general ranforn are upon the af¬ firmative ; and whereby they pretend to fet forth the excellency of aib death and oblation, viz. that the benefits thereof are extended unto all and every one : whereas their adverfaries flraiten it unto a lew, a very few, none but the elect; which, they fay, is deroga¬ tory to the honour of the Lord Jefus Chrift. And this is that, wherein they pietend lo exceedingly to advance his name and me¬ rit 5 above the pitch that they aim at, who alien the effectual re- clemption of the elect only. The truth is, the meafure of the honoui oi Jefus Chrift, is not tobealiigned by us poor worms of tiic duft ; that he takes it to be honour, which he gives and a- iciibea unto him 1 elf 5 and nothing elfe. He hath no need of our lie, ^ for his glory; fo that if this did, in our eyes, feem for the exaltation of the glory of Chrift; yet arifing from a lie of our own heai ts, it would be an abomination unto him. Moreover, we deny that this doth any way ferve to fet out the nature and dignity of trie deatn or Chrift; becaufe the extent of its efficacy to all, (if any fuch thing fhould be) doth not arife from its own innate faf- ficiency ; but from the free-pleafure and determination of God; which, how it is enervated by a pretended univerfality, was be- Tory acc-£re^* I be value of a thing arifeth from its own nature, iufficiency and worth, unto any purpofe whereunto it is to be em¬ ployed ; which the maintainers of effe&ual redemption, do aftert in the death of Chrift, to be much above what any of their adverfa- r’es aferibe unto it.
2clly. Should I now go about to declare, in how many things tne honour of' Chrift, and the excellency of his death and paffion, with the fruits of it, is held forth in that doftrine which we have fought to open from the Scriptures ; above all that can be affigned to it, agreeable to their own principal maxims who maintain uni- verlal redemption ; (and that according to truth itfelf) I fhould be forced to repeat much that hath already been fpoken. So
that it fhall iuffice me, to preient the reader with this following imti thefts, viz.
Univerfalifts.
and Places of Stripiure opened. 3°9
Univerfalifts.
1 . Chrift died for all and every one , eleft and reprobate.
2 . Mo ft of them for whom Chrift died are damned.
3. Chrift , by his death ,
*&*/£<* not any faring grace for them for whom he died.
4. Chrift took no care , for the greateft part of them for whom he died, that ever they jhould hear $ne word of his death.
5. Chrift , his death, did not
ratify nor confirm a cove¬ nant of grace with any fede¬ rates ; but only procured by his death, that God might, if he would , enter into anew co - tenant with whom he would, and zip on what condition he pleajed .
(3. Chrift might have died, and yet no one be faved.
7. Chrift had no intention to re¬ deem his church, any more than the wicked feed of the ferpent.
g. Chrift died not for the infi¬ delity of any .
Scriptural Redemption.
1 « Chrift died for the cleft only.
\
2. All thofe for whom Chrift died are certainly faved.
3. Chrift, by his death, pur- chafed all faving grace for them for whom he died.
4. Christ fends the means, and reveals the ways of life, to all them for whom he died .
5. The new covenant of grace was confirmed to all the eleft, in the blood of JeJ'us.
6. Chrift by his death pur chafed, upon covenant and compaft, an ajfured peculiar people ; the pleafure of the Lord prof- pering to the end in his hand .
7. Chrift loved his church , and gave him f elf for it.
8. Chrift died for the infidelity of the eleft.
Divers other inftances of the like nature, might be eafily col¬ lected; upon the firft view whereof, the prefent difference in hand would quickly be determined; thefe few, I doubt not, are fuffi- cient in the eyes of all experienced chriftians, to evince, how little th z general ranfom conduceth to the honour and glory of Jeius Chrift; or to the fetting forth of the worth and dignity of his death and paffion.
Object. V. The next and laft thing which comes under debate, in this conteft, is gofpel confolation ; which God in Chrift is abun- * dantly willing we fliould rective. A fliort difquifition, whether of the two opinions treated on, -doth give the firm eft bafis and ^jpundefi foundation hereunto ; will, ’by the Lord’s alliftance, lead
us
m
810 ObjeSions particularly anfwcred,
us to an «nd of this long debate : The God of truth and comfort grant, that all our undertakings, or rather his workings in us for
truth, may end in peace and confolation. To dear this, feme tilings are to be premifed; as,
i ft- All true evangelieal confolation belongeth only to be¬ lievers, Heb. vi. 17, 18. God's people, Ifa. *L 1, ». upon unbe¬ lievers the wrath of God abideth, John iii. 36.
. _ a dly. To make out confolation, unto them to whom it is not due, is a no ,efs crime, than to hide it from them to whom it doth belong, lia. v. 20. Jer. xxiii. 14. E,zek. xiii. 10.
3^/y. T. M. his attempt to fet forth the death of Chrift fo, that a mi2llt be comforted, (meaning all and every one in the worlds as appeareth) is a proud attempt to make that ftraight, which God hath made crooked; and moft oppofite to the gofpel.
4. That doctrine which holds out confolation from the death of
Chrift to unbelievers, cries peace , peaces when God fays there is 710 peace.
Fhefe things being premifed, I fhall briefly demonftrate the four o owing politions, viz. 1. That the extending of the death of Chrift unto an univcrlality, in refpe<£t of the object, cannot give the lcaft giound of confolation to them, whom God would have to be comforted by the golpel. 2. That the denying of the efficacy or the death of Chrift, toward them for whom he died, cuts the nerves and finews of all ftrong confolation ; even fuch as is proper to believers to receive, and peculiar to the gofpel to give. 3. That there is nothing in the doctrine of the redemption of the ele£t onlv, that is yet in the leaft meafure to debar them from confolation, to whom comfort is due. 4. That the doctrine of the effedual re¬ demption of the flieep of Chrift, by the blood of the covenant, is the true fofid foundation of all durable confolation.
1. Begin we with the firft; that the extending of the death of Chrift unto an aniveriality, in refp&Ct of the ohjett, hath nothing in tty as peculiar unto it , that can give the leaft ground of confolation unto them whom God would have to be comforted. That gofpel- confolation, properly fo called, being a fruit of actual reconcili ation with God, is proper and peculiar only to believers, I laid down before ; and fuppofe it to be a truth out of all queftion and debate; now that no conlolation can be made out to them as fuch, from any thing which is peculiar to the perfuafion of a general ran- fom, is eafily proved by thefe following reafons.
( 1 . ) No confolation can arife unto believers, from that which is no where in the Scripture propoled as a ground, caufe or matter of ©onfolation; as the general ranfom is not; for, [1.] that which # hath no being, can have no affe&ion nor operation; [2.] all the foundations and materials of confolation, are things particular and peculiar only to fome; as fhall be declared.
X2’.) No confolation can -stern® imto believers, from that which
ife
and Places of Scripture opened . Jit
Is common unto them, nrith thofe whom, [i.] God would not have comforted; [2.] that fliall allure dly perilh to eternity ; [3 ] that {land in open rebellion againft Chrift; [4.] that never hear one word of gofpel, or confolation: Now to all thefe, and fuch as thefe, doth the foundation of confolation , as propofed with and a riling from the general ranfom, appertain ; equally with the chojf- eft of believers.
(3.) Let a man try in the time (not of deputation, but) of de- fertion and temptation, what confolation or peace to his foul he can obtain from fuch a collection as this ; Chrifi died for all men , lam a man , therefore Chrifi died for me. Will not his own heart tell him, that notwithflanding all that he is allured of in that con- clufion, the wrath of God may abide on him for evermore ? Doth he not lee that, notwithflanding this, the Lord Iheweth fo little love unto very many millions of the fons of men, (of whom the former collection (according to the prefent opinion) is true, as well as of himfelf) as that he doth not once reveal himfelf, or his Son unto them ? What good will it do me, to know that Chrift died for me; if notwithflanding that, I may perilh for ever? If you in¬ tend me any confolation, from that which is common unto all, you muft tell me what it is which all enjoy, that will latisfy my de¬ fires, which are carried out after affurance of the love of God in Chrifi? If you give me no more to comfort me, than what you give or might have given to Judas, ean you expect I fhould receive fettlement and confolation? Truly miferable comforters are you all, phyficians of no value, Job's vifiters ; Ikillful only to add af¬ fliction unto the afflicted.
But be of good comfort, will Arminians fay; Chrifi is a propiti¬ ation for all finners, and now thou knovSeft thyfelf foto be. Anfw. True; but is Chrifi a propitiation for all the fins of thofe finners ? If fo' how can any of them perifh? If not, what good will this do me, whofe fins perhaps (as unbelief) are fuch, as for which Chrift was not a propitiation? But (will they fay) exclude not thy - Jelfy God excludeth none ; the love which eaufed him to fend his Son , was general toivards all ; tell me not of God’s excluding, I have fufficiently excluded myfelf; will he powerfully take me in? hath Chrift not only purchaled that I fliall be admitted, but alfo pro¬ cured me ability, to enter into his Father’s arms ? Why, (fay ye) He hath opened a door of J'alvati on to all; alas! is it not a vain endeavour to open a grave, for a dead man to come out ? Who lights a candle for a blind man to fee by ? To open a door for him to come out of prifon, who is blind and lame and bound, vea dead; is rather to deride his mifery, than to procure him liberty; neither tell me that will yield me ftrong confolation, under the en¬ joyment whereof the greatcfl portion of man perilh everlaftinglv* 2. The opinion concerning a general ranfom , is fo far from yielding firm eonf§lati$n unto believers fr§m the death of Chrifi t
that
312
Objcdions particularly anjwered,
'that it quite overthrows all the choice ingredients of ftrong confo - iation, which flow therefrom ; and that, (i.) by ftrange divifions and divulfions of one . thing from another, which ought to be con¬ joined, to make up-one certain foundation of confidence; (2* ) by denying the efficacy of his death, towards them for whom he died * both which are necedary attendants of that perfuafion.
(1.) They fo divide the impetration of redemption, and the application thereof, (the firft being, in their judgments, the only proper-immediate fruit and effed of the death of Chrid) that the one may belong to millions, who have no {hare in the other; yea that redemption may be obtained for ally and yet no one to’ have it fo applied unto them, as to be faved thereby. Now the firft of thefe, fuch as it is, (an effedual poffible redemption, notwithdand- ing which all the fons of men might periih everlaftingly) being the whole objed of the death of .Chrifi:, (as is afierted) feparated and ai/ided fiom all fuch application of redemption unto any, as might make it profitable and ufeful in the lead meafure, (for they deny this application to be a fruit of the death of Chrifi:; if it were, why is it not common to all for whom he died ?) what com- foit this can in the lead degree afford to any poor foul, will not dive into my apprehenfion. What Jhall 1 do , faith the finner; the iniquity of my heels compajfeth me about , I have no refl in my bones by reafon of my fin ; and now , whither Jhall I caufe my forrow to go ? Be of good cheer, (fay they) Chrid died for fin- ners; yea, but Jhall the fruits of his death be certainly applied tin* to all them for whom he died ? If not , I may perijh for ever . Here let them that can, anfwer him, according to the principles of univerfalifts; without fending him to his own drength in believing, or that which in the clofe will be refolved into it ; et erit mihi mag- mis Apollo . And if they fend him thither, they acknowledge the confolation concerning which they boad, properly to proceed from ourfelves ; and not from the death of Chrid.
(2.) Their feparating between the oblation and inter cejfion of jefus Chrid, makes little for the confolation of believers; yea in¬ deed quite everts it. — There are, amongd others, two eminent places of Scripture ; wherein the Holy Ghod holdeth forth confo¬ lation to believers, againd thole two general caufes of all their troubles and forrows, viz . their affiidions, and their fins. The firdis, Rom. viii. 32, 33, 34. the other, 1 John ii. 1, 2. In both which places, the apodles make the bottom of the confolation which they hold out to believers, in their affiidions and failings, to be that drait bond and in fe parable connexion which is between theie two, with the identity of their objeds, viz. the oblation and infercehlon of Jems Chrid. Let the reader confult both the texts, and he fiiall find, that on this lies the llrefs, and herein confids the drength of the lcveral propofals for the confolation of believers, which in both places is principally intended; a more dired under¬ taking
arJ Places oj Scripture opened.
3*3
taking for this end and purpofe, cannot t he ^ f r ‘^"^and^plrato
4uthorSofun1verfdrede^„,do^l^^^v,de;^ ^ ^
thele two; they allow o h thaft is effected by the will
pendence of one upon another, interceflion to a few
Of man ; his oblation they ftretch to all , h» mtereg
OTd int?r«ffl« bting no where propofed as [a ? ;r “ "^‘l^pofe*
no friends to chriftian confolat.cn. hoUriefs.
(3.) Their denial of the procurement of fa (the whole intendment of the new covenan ) • ^ ^ aU
therein, by the death and blood, tied, mg o J ^ ^
or anr of them for whom he died, ooth n IP vainlr
an aliertion, for to raife confola.ion from h.s ^a*
pretended. What folid confolat.on, I pray, - ' ^flow
fuch dry breath, as from whence none o 1 ‘ ; of d rift
That they have not immediate dependence on the death of CLnft
•e'erding perfuafion of £ f"* »,
been before declared, a»d is t*v tli ’ . , , i jl rnr
but undertaken to be proved. Now where
thefe things, but m the purchafe o -> in‘ J" _.0be had with- flow but from his fide ? or is there any confolat.on -o be hau .
tZSSu ... .h. ftrong.ft fW. m** «*£
of prace, the procurement of the *,ord Jelu. . V ' (
there of any thing without him J are not all the {
yea and amen in him? is there any atta.nmentofthefeau -
our own ftrength? is this the confolation you afford us, to .end from free grace to free will \ Whithe , 1 Pra> p
your perfuafion, fhould a poor four go, t tat m s ‘ , J. ,
of thefe things ? To God , who gives all freely : well doth God hlefs us with any fpiritual bleffings, but only m Jeius Chr .1. . ^
he blefs us with any thing in him, lint what he hath procured fo, us ? is not all grace as well procured by, as dtfpenfec «n a ■ ...Jj torJ Is this a way to comfort a foul, and that romtie .a. i ■
* Chrifts to let him know that Chrift did not procure thole to ng* for him, without which He cannot be comforted ? credai Apella,
It is then moft apparent, that the general ranfotn vwhicu , i» pt e- ended) is fo far from being the bottom of any iohd con.o.auo t. unto them whofe due it is ; that it is direftly dellrud.ve of, and diametrically oppofed unto, all thole ways w hereby the Let d ha r declared himfelf willing that we. fhould receive comfort from t.v.. death of his Son ; drying up the breads from whence, and potion, jrP- the dreams whereby it fhould be conveyed unto opr fo" '• .
°3. The next thing we have to do, is to manifeft, That the Joe.
trine of the tfedual redemption of the eteft. only by the blood of jejut , (, net liable to any Juft exception at to this particulars nor uet'tjy
fix
■ .
■' ' : *-y • ■ • '• ;
,v -• <rf"
3*4
Objections particularly anfwered ,
uyry believers, of any part or portion of that confolatUn
which God is mlling they fiould receive . That alone which by the oppefers of it, with any colour of reafon, is objected ; (forsg to the exclamation, of Hunting out innumerable fouls from any t t-tve in t lie blood of ChritF, leeirig con fefledly they are reprobate?, mi bel levers and perfons finally impenitent, we are not at all moved at.) comes to this head, viz* That there is nothing in tht Scripture whereby any man can afire himfelf that Thrift died for him in pari ti ctilars uiilefs we grant that he died for alL Bur,*
(i.) That this is notorioully falfe, the experience of all believ¬ ers, who by the grace of God allured their hearts of their fhare and intereft in Chrifi, as held out unto them in the promife, without the leaft thought of univerfal redemption, is a fuhicient teflimo- ny. * V ■■ - ■? ,
(a.) That the afiurance arifing from a practical fyllogifm. whereof one propofition is true in the word, and the fecond by the witnefs of the fpir.it in the heart, is infallible, hath hitherto been acknowledged by all; now luch affiurance may ail believers have, that Chrift died for them ; with an intention and purpofe to lave their fouls, for inflance; all believers may draw out the Tiiita of tne word, and the faith created in their hearts, into this conclufion, viz. [r.] Thrift died for all believers; that is, all who chufe him and refi upon him as’ an all- fuff: cient Saviour; not that he died for them as fuch ; but that all luch are of tbofe for whom he died. -Fie died not for believers, as believer?; though he died far all believers) but for all the elect, as elect; who by the benefit of his death do become believers, and fo obtain affur* ance that he died for them. For fuch of thofe that are elected, who ere not yet believers; though Chrifl died for them, yet we deny that they can have any aflurance of it, whilft they continue inch ; you luppofe it a foul contradiction, if a man ffould be fairi i.o have aiiutance that Chrifl died lor him in particular, and yet continue an unbeliever — -Now this.-firft proportion, as in the be¬ ginning laid down, zz true in the word; in innumerable places, [y j 1 he heart of a believer in the witnefs of the Spirit, aifume? ; but J believe in Thrift ; that is, I chufe him for my Saviour, cafe roll my (elf on him alone for falvation, and give up mvfelf un- to. luni; to be dhoofed of unto mercy, in hi si own way. Of the truth of this propofition in the heart of a believer, and the infaili*
bibty
# The difference between this and the following an Aver, is t© be particularly oblerved. According to this firR an! wer, believers bay ajfure their hearts, of their / hare and in ter eft in Thrift , as held out to taem in the promife ; without refpeet to any experience in themlelves ; bin the next anfwer is, about a re hex a lib ranee, ofc.hri.fi s having had an intention and purpofe } in dyingy to five their fouls*
...... ■
.
and Places oj Scripture opened.
3 *5
Flirty cf-it, there are a4fo many teftimohies in the world, as is known to all; from whence .the ccaciulion is ; Therefore the Lord Jejus Chrifhdiedfor me in particular , with an intention and pnr~
pofe to fave me.
This is fticha collection, as ail believers, and none but believer?, can juftly make ; io that it is peculiar to them alone 5 and unto thole only, is this treafure of conlolation to be impane l. 1 he fufficiency of the death of Chrift, for the laving of every one with¬ out exception that comes unto him, is enough to fill all the ur/u a> tions and entreaties of the golpel unto linnets,* to induce ’hem to believe; which vvhen, by the grace of Ohrid, they do, do fin £ with the promiie, the fore-mentioned infallible a flu ranee of the intention and purpole of Cliriil to redeem them by his death, Matt, i. 2i. is made known unto them. Now, whether this be not a better bottom and foundation, ter a man to allure his loin unto i eh and peage upon, than that reaioning which our oppofers in tmi
bufinefs, (rnoft fuitable to their own principles) lay as a common Hone, v/a. Chrift died for all min ; I am a man; therefore Chrifi died for mss let any man judge; especially con Oder mg, that in¬ deed the fir ft propo lit io:i is abfolutely f alie; and the conclufion, it it could be true, yet according to their perfuafion, can be no mere ground of confolation than Adam's fall. All this is fpoken, not as though either one opinion or other were able of iifeif to give cort- folatkm ; which God alone, in the fovereignty of his free grace, can and doth create ; but only to (how what principles are fuitable to the means whereby he worketh on and towards his elect.
4. The drawing of gofpel conflation from the death of Chrift ^ as held out to be effectual towards the elett only , fur whom alone he died; Hi oil Id dole up our difcourle. But confidering, (i.)how abundantly this hath been done already, by divers eminent and faithful labourers in the vineyard of the Lord ; ( 2 . ) how it is the daily talk of the preachers of the golpel, to make it out to the peo¬ ple of God; (3. ) how it would carry me out be Tides my purpole to fpeak of things in a practical way, having deligned this dilcourle to be purely polemical;- and (4.) that fuch things are no more ex- peeled nor welcome, to wife and learned men, in controverhes or .this nature, than knotty crabbed fcholu.lli.cal objections, in popular fermons and do&rin.tl difeourfes, intended merely for edification ;
I ill ill not proceed therein.
Only for a clofe, i defire the reader to perufe that one place, Romans viiL 33, 33, 34. And I make no doubt but that he will, if not in reeled with the leaven of the error oppofed, conclude with me, that if there be any comfort, any confolation, any alia ranee, .any reft, any peace, any joy, any refrefhinent, any exaltation of fpirit, to be obtained here below, it is all to be had in the blood of Jefus long fmee lhed, and his interceffidn'fbfil continued ; as both a.ri united, and appropriated to the cleft of God ; who by the pre¬ cious
Objections particularly anfiocred , &e.
clous eiTcds and fruits of them both are drawn to believe, anil pi eferved in believing, to the obtaining of an immortal crown of glory that lhall fade away.
I\lono fop ho i'heoj din Jefu Chnflou ho he doxa eis ions Aionas%
AMEN .
■ * * * * * * *. * * # * * # * * #
A few TESTIMONIES of the Anc ISNT5.
H E confejfion of the holy church of Smyrna ; a little after the commendation given it by the Holy G ho ft Rev. it. Upon the martrydom of Polycarpus
Hoti oute ton C hr i ft on pote kataleipein dunefometha, ton hyper tes tou knfmou fen Jozomenon foterias pathonta , cute heteren tina fe- lein. Eujeb . Hijl. Ecclef lib . 4, cap. 15.
€i Neither can we ever for ake Chriil, him who fuffered for the <% falvation of the world of them that are famed y nor worfhip any
o titer
II. The witnefs of holy Ignatius ; as he was carrying to Rome from Antioch, to be caft to beafis for the tejlimony ofjsjits . Epiit, ad Phil, (anno 107,)
bloat os ejlin he pros ten patera agoufa hodos , he petra , ho phragmos , he kleisy ho poimeny to hiereion, he Thyra tes gnofeos, di hes eifelthon Abraam kai Ifaac kai Jacoby Mofes , kai ho jympas ton prophet on chorosy kai ftyloi ton kofmou hoi Apojloioi kai he nymph e tou. Chrifiouy hyper hes ph ernes logo exechee to oikeion haima, bina Gotten cxagor&je*
“ Tiiis is the way leading to the Father, this the rock, the fold, u the key; he is the fliepherd, the facriiice ; the door of know- ledge, by which entered Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob, Mofes, and “ the whole company of prophets, and the pillars of the world, the apoftles and the Ipoufe ofCh.rift; for which , inflead of a dowry, he poured out his own blood, that he might rfcdeen^ her."
Surely Jefus Chrifl gives not a dowry for any , but his own fpcufe . ILL Clemens, whofe name was in the book of life , Phil. N, with the whole church at Ro ne in his days ; in the epijlie to tbs church of Corinth.
ilia ten agapsn hen efehen pros hemas, to haima auto it choker, hy¬ per hi man en thelemati autouy kai ten jarka hyper tes farkos be men, kai ten pjy chert hyper ion pjy chon hemon ,
^ For the love which he had unto us, he gave his blood for us, a ccordjng to his purpofe : and his flefli for our f.db7 and his life If for our lives*9?
A few Tef monies of the Ancients.
3*7
to
r
, rr- J , The canfe of C hr ill's death, his lcve
Where ysu have affignc , heliew'is ; The manner how he , M ; *. The obje.l of it, us or believers, 3.
deemed us, even by commutation.
0. TO. trip!. .effimony fr»” P"“'
V ‘s- "c”iiiu5i "Uh "“l"
mans martyr. Ann. 2 50. ccata noftra portabat.
iie “ed their
peifons op the crufs, for whom lie died.
The fame, to Demetrian.
Hanc gratiam Chriltus impert.t 5 fobigendo mo. tern tropheo cm.
c;s rediniendo credentern pretio fangiuius im- . . ,
’lTh- ce hath Clirift communicated ; fubduing lea.. _
„ .=a« ***■ «■>. •>« r™» °f ■»
“ blood. ,J
The fame; or fame other ancient and pious writer of the cardinal
works of Chrift. Serm. 7- fecund. Rivet. Cat. Sac. lit Cyp. Scultet. Medel. ap. — Erafm. prefat. ad lib.
The Tame author alfo , in exprefs terms, mentions the J efficiency of th ranfam paid by Chrift > arifing from the dignity of hisperfou,
Tants dignitatis ilia una Redemptorls nofiri fait oblatio, ut
una ad tollenda mundi peccata fufficeret. .
“Of To great dignity was that oblation ot our Redeemer,
#i that k alone was fufficicnt to take away the fins of the world.51
V. Cyrill of Hierufaletn, Calechrf, 1 3. [cir. -ami. 350.)
Kai me thaumafes , ei kofmosholos elytrothe , on gar en anthropos p ft lot, allahuios theou monogenes, ho apothnefcon Kai ei tote ilia to xy Ion tes brofeos, exeblethefau ek Parade if ou, ara dia to xylonjs . founun eukapoferonhoi pijieuontes e<s Parade if on oukeifeleujouiai l “Wonder not if the whole world be redeemed ; lor he. was not it a mere man, but the only begotten Son of God, that died : and ft jf then, through the eating of the tree (ioi bidden) they were «> caft out of Paradife ; certainly now by the tree (or crofs of Je¬ tt fus, 111 all not believers more eafily enter into Paiadile ? 9
So alfo doth another of them make it manifeft , in whatfitfe they iife the word all, viz.
VI. Athanaiius^ of tbs incarnation of the Word of God, [cir. an-
np 350*) ;v
s
3tS
AIew TeJHmmies of the Ancients.
H out 05 Jr* /I'T'Tfn » m j • t a w ■
. „ p-iiiQ l zoe} kcu kos probaton hvfyrr tar /*
terms anti pty chon to h+mttni/ r • *r •'* vs pant oh Jo*
“ He l/L f r%T J°ma tkanat™ par aious.
AD, in both places, can be none but the eietl, As
Vil. Ambrofe de vocat. Gen. lib. . „
?er. iib. t cap_ 9. edit. Olivar. (dr. uo P* £ Prof'
Jl 11011 credls> non defeendit tibi Chriltus non t L; „ rr if thou, believe not Chri/i Hi 1 .in,* a r * pa/Tiis eft,
“ not buffer for thee. ” ' defcend f“ lb«- ^ *4
„ , , Ambr- de fide, ad Gratianum.
^abet populus De. pLn.itudinem baam in eiedtis enim « p-xfei ‘!t> , atque ab omn.mn generalise diferetis, fpecialis qmedam o fetur uaiverntas ; ut de tote muhdo, toto* mundus liberal eM
omn.onshomtnibus, omnes homines videantur affitmpt;.
For the people of God hath its own fulnefs_in ele£v and foreknown ; dulmguiihed front th 'generality e/J, there is acf .I °Umed * ^nfP'cialuniverfaUty; fa that (he Jol^Tcl
Sk^xT out Leern^fr0U1 the VVll0le WOrld J and^™°
Jn Mplacs he proceeded at targe to declare the reafons , *,<>•
or:f sfS. “■"i' »»“• "*/■• •/»»
3d2HnterI(ve-fe t|h-at/°!l0W’ W®re Wrote arter the r!fin2 of the Pe- warinefs f - ’ r!i-'C occah011 to more diligence offearchand ' J exP1'tffion, than had formerly been ufed by fome.
»ail. Auguftmus. decor, et grat. cap. n. (cir. ann. 430.)
r **• 'i“ f"‘,uin*
3C> e.ona.is, in eternum bonus.
ft thofa whomT iMe.diat?r’ the Lord declaretji, that he maketh «meSity!’“ ^ " eemed witfl his blood,_of evil good to
l pf P°fldere CIl”flus DUDtl emit ; tanti emit ut poffideat.
« nrlrd, ? p0/[ef!i u'bat he b°ught 1 he bought it with fuch a price that he might poflels it.”
. Ilcrn Stirm* 4^ , de verbis Apofl,
ifi n?° t^nt0 Pret^° emir, non vult perire quos emit.
“ whom h«ha°tKnsh? 'Ucb aprlce> wi,,have ««ne to per, -A
' Idem
A fi&> Ttfiimonus of the Ancients,
S‘£
Idem, tratiat. 87. in Johan.
Ecclefi am plerumqueetiam ipfam, mundi nomine appeliat ; ficirt eft iliud, Deus erat in Chrifto numdum reconcilians fibi : itemque illud 5 Non veuit Filius hominis M judicet numdum, led ut fa!- vetur mundus per ipfum. Et in cpiftola fua Johannes ait; Advo- catum habemus ad Patrem, Jefum Chriftum j utturn ; et ipfe pro * pitiator eft peccatorum noftrorum : non tan turn noftroium, fed etiam totius muildi. Totus ergo mundus eft ecclefia ; et totus mun- <dus odit ecclefiam. Mundus igitcr odit mundum ; inimicus ie. conciJIatum ; damnatu* falvatum ; inquinatus mundatum . led ifte mundus quern Dens in Chrifto reconciJiat fibi, et qui per Chriftum ialvatnr, de roundo electus eft inimico, camnato, contaimnato*
<< He often calleth the church itfelf by the name of the world , n 4S in that, God was in Chrift reconciling the world to himfslf :
aI1a like wife that. The Son of Man cams not to condemn the world ;
<. but that the world through him might be faved. And John , in his “ e pi file faith .* We have an advocate — and he is the propitiation for the fins of the whole world . The whole world therefore is the, 4t church j and the whole world hateth the church. The world then “ hateth the world : that (world) which is at enmity, (hateth) the 44 (world) reconciled ; the condemned (hateth) the faved (world) 41 the polluted (hateth) the cleanfed (world : ) but that zuorld which 44 God in Chrift reconcileth to himfelf, and which is faved by “ Chrift, is chofen cut of the hoftile, condemned, defiled world.** Much more to this purpofe might be eafily cited out of Auguftine ; but his judgment in thefe things is known to all .
IX. Prof peruss Rejpoti . adCapit. Gal. ccp 9. (c7r. arm. 440) Mon eft 0 ucifixus in Chrifto, qui non eft membrum corporis Cbrifti: cum itaque dicatur S tlvator, pro totius mundi redempti- one crucinxus, propter veram humanx naturae fufeeptionem ; pro- left tamen did pro histaiixem crucifimi', quibus mors ipfius profuit, Diverfa ab iftis fors eorum eft, qui inter iilos cenfeiitur de quibus dicitur, Mundus eum non cognovit.
il He is not crucified with Chrijl , who is not a member of the 41 body of Chrift : when therefore our Saviour i- laid to be crucified 4i for the redemption of the whole world, becatife of his true af- u fumptiofl of the human nature yet may he be Did to be crucified 44 only for them, unto whom his death was profitable. Different 44 from thefe is their lot — who a re reckoned among ft them of whom 44 it is laid, The world knew him not C*
Idem; Ref p. Ob jell. Vincent. Rej'p. 1 .
Redemptionls proprietas baud dubie penes -iilos eft, de quibus pviuCeps nnindimiffus eft foras : mors Chrifti non ita impenfa. eft humano generi, ut ad redemptionein ejus, etiam qui regenerandi non erant, pertinerent.
“ Doubtlefs the propriety of redemption Is their from Whom 44 t-he prince of tins world is call out : the death of Chrift is not fo
32 0 A few Tejlimcnies of the Ancients .
i( laid out for human kind — that they alio Ihould belong unto fcifc 4; redemption, who were not to be regenerated.”
Idem ; de ingrat . cap. p,
Seu tamen h»c aliqua fi vis ratione tueri,
Et credi tam ftulta cupis : jam pande quid hsec ft ;
Quod bonus omnipotenfque Deus, non omnia fubdit Corda fibi, periterque omnesjubet e fife fi deles ?
Nam'd nemo ufquam eft quern non velit efie redemption,
Haud dubie impletur quicquid vuit fumma poteftas :
Non oranes autem falvantur.
( Which is in fum : )
If there be one whom God would not have redeemed , why are net all faved; feeing the will of the Almighty is infallibly accom¬ pli pie d ?
X. Council of Valence, Can. 4. ( ann . 855 .}
Pretium mortis Chrifti datum eft pro i Ills tantum, de quihus Dominus ipfe dixit : Sicut Mofes exaltavit ferpentem in deferto, ita exaltai i oportet Filins hominis ; ut omnis qui credit in ipfo non pereat, fedhabeat vitam eternam.
u Theprice of the death of Chrift is given for them alone, of €< whom the Lord himfelf faid : As Mofes lifted np the ferpent in 44 the wilder nejs, even fo muft the Son of man be lifted ups that “ whfoever bdieveth in him Jhould not perijh, but have eternal
'
mm m