calls forth any soul he furnisheth that creature with every thing necessary for the doing of what he expects from him For the better understanding of this consider that for the enabling of creatures to act there is a twofold power requisite yet both from God through Christ The first is that he hath given to men and women as they are his creatures for as such they can hear see know understand walk c. And the second comes forth from him to them when they are able to discerne betwixt good and evil and this is the law light or motions of the Spirit of God presenting his goodness love or grace to them by this to lead them towards him forbidding them to do evil and bidding them do well The former fits us to do or act the latter to do well and till this latter I mean the law light or teachings of God come in some dispensation or other the creature cannot neither is it required to act according to the rule of Obedience to God but when this is come and the Lord layes truth before them they may know and believe him cease from evil and learn to do well according to the light law or power appearing as I have before shewed from Isa 43. 9 10. But some perhaps may say that I detract from the free grace of the Creator and attribute something to the creature as if he could contribute somthing towards his coming to God and his eternal happiness I hear there are many that talk much of free grace understanding neither what they say neither what they affirme for though the love grace mercy goodness or kindness of Jehovah being all but one and the same be ever free yet it is not alwayes without a conditian for Gods appointing of creating redeeming justifying sanctifying and calling of all men to live here to seek and serve him be so free that God required nothing of the creature to do these things for him he ask't no price made no bargain no man sought to him in the business but he alone moved by his own love towards a miserable lost creature finished the fore-mentioned works from the foundation of the world for all mankind yet they that believe not shall not enter into rest For the Lords sake read and consider Heb. 4. 1 2 3. so that now if men will injoy further manifestations of the love of God they must fulfill the conditions which God requires of all such as would have such enjoyments for therefore hath the Great Jehovah done all those things for men freely that men through consideration had of his love might love him that loved them first and hereupon he will yet love them and shew more of his kindness to them Weigh the words of our Saviour well Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and my Father will love him and I will love him and will manifest my self to him It is not to be doubted but the Father and Christ did love those that keep his commands before their Obedience yea before they were born yea so well as to redeem sanctifie and justifie them by the blood of the Lamb from the power or extent of suffering that came by Adams sin or else they had never been born and so could never have been obedient yet here he says My Father will love him and I will love him c. according to that Psal 147. 11. His delight is in them that fear him This further manifestation of love is upon condition and this was the way and purpose of God from the beginning If thou dost well thou shalt be accepted The Lord is with you whilst ye are with him and if seek ye him he will be found of you 2 Chr. 15. 2. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall finde mercy Pro. 18. 13. Hear and your soul shall live Isa 55. 3. see vers 7. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open unto me I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3. 20. And if any man doth his will he shall know the doctrine shall be the mother brethren and sisters of Christ God will hear him and he shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Joh. 7. Mark 3. 35. Joh. 9. 31. Mat. 7. 21. But can the grace of God be said to be free when there is a condition of something to be done by us for the obtaining of it I answer Very well it may be free though it be our duty to receive and obey the giver For first God shews man what he would have done Mica 6. 8. and made all the promises of grace freely none moving him thereto nor any as men excluded from them Secondly It is he that gives all the ability by which we do what he layes before us Thirdly He might require us to do more then he hath yet have made no promises of further grace or of eternal life which is the gift of God and if this last were well understood and explained it would overthrow all the Popish doctrines of merits both of condignity and congruity for without controversie all the obedience of the whole race of mankind is not able to conterpoise much less deserve the least of the mercies which we enjoy as to this life and if God had laid more labour upon us and yet given us only what is here below we could not have said he had been a hard master If he had not pleased to have declared unto us by his Spirit the grace that shall be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ we should never have heard or thought of it It must of necessity be then that the mercy of God to eternal life and his continued manifestation of grace in Order thereunto are most free for Fourthly Hearing the word of God faith repentance baptism prayer praising of God and other works of Gospel-obedience which God enables us to do stand us in nothing they are not like the costly and Burdensom ceremonies of the Jews the Lord onely requires that we should worship him in Spirit and in truth that is as the word of Christ which is Spirit and truth and life teacheth us Lastly our receiving or believing of light truth love and mercyes of God is so far from making it not to be a free gift that this makes it to be so to each particular for though God gave his Son the Gospel and eternal life freely yet no man hath either of these to himself as his proper right to his everlasting happiness except he receive it If a man leave as a legacie two hundred pound to be divided equally by his steward between twenty persons by him named the steward sending for those persons declares his Lords love and gift offers it to them and to their benefit who reject what was bequeathed it becomes a free gift
to wife may sometimes be at peace and quiet in his minde and have some hopes of attaining his desires but when he knows that he is beloved by her whom he loves his joy is more solid and his minde more setled Answer 4. I and many more who have knowne both states can testifie that our joy peace love to God faith and knowledge c. were very weak low and mercenary when we the Doctrine of Christs dying for all although some of us profited above many our equals set a good face upon the businesse and were able to say much against the truth and for my owne part I disputed so long against Christs dying for all that at last I could not tell whether he dyed for me and would have given a thousand worlds if it had been possible to have knowne it by the Scriptures wel knowing that no other evidence can poâ—sibly satisfie a doubting heart except we shall decline them and incline to Enthustasmes and spirits that are to be accursed For if any brings glad tydings to us any otherwise then the Scriptures declare them he is so to be accounted Gal. 1. 8. 9. What he sayes about Christs meriting faith for men is a wild Popish-assertion no where found in the Scriptures having no savour of the forme of sound word is very inconsiderable and contrary to what he sayes in page 45. of his Book that the commands of God of which that we should beleeve is one of the chiefest 1 Joh. 3. 23 shew not what God or Christ hath done for us but what is our duty to do But for M. Trough and all men of his judgement to contradict themselves is is no new thing as I know by sad experience in my former ignorance But I shall through Gods helpe answer his question which is this Let me aske our Adveasaries this question What men aâ—e bound to believe for the peace of their Consciences when they take it for granted already that Christ dyed for them being comprehended in the world of man-kind I Answer 1. That he is raised and ascended up without which we had been in our sins 1 Thes 4. 14. Jo. 20. 17. Act. Answer 2. They ought to believe that he is the Sonne of God the Christ i. e. the onely Anointed King Priest and Prophet who alone is to mediate gives Lawes and teach the feare of the Lord who and none else is to be heard in matters appertaining to Gods worship and the gathering and govering the Church or Congregation of the Lord Jo. 6. 66. Act. 2. 36. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Isai 9. 6. with 33. 22. Heb. 7. 17 Jo. 6. 14. Answer 3. We must beliive all the Commandements Psal 119. 66. Yea All things that are written in the Law and the Prophets Act. 24. 14. Now by beleeving his precepts I doe not meane that we should onely believe that they are his and that they are true and righteous c. Although this be truth and must be first believed and relates to that which some call faith of assurance in that we beleeve and are sure that they are the commands of Christ But we must adhere to them apply them to our hearts and apply our bodyes and soules to the practise of them And hence it is that all Gospel obedience is sometimes concluded under the name faith as Rom. 16. 26. and all disobedience of times is comprehended under unbeliefe as Heb. 3. 19. compared faithfully with Rom. 10. 16. And without this obedience of faith or faithfull obedience to the Gospel or will of God or light revealed to us there is no peace of conscience to any man or woman in the world Disobedient persons may close their eyes stoppe their ears and harden their necks and yet blesse themselves in their hearts saying they say shall have peace they may for a space be a sleep in sin insensible of wrath yea perswaded that they are children of the most high and in favour with the Almighty that they are Disciples Saints Christians and the chosen of God but ere long again their consciences being awakened considering how far they differ and stand at a distance from the commands of Jesus their hearts condemne them or at least are full of doubts feares and flashings of terrour they question their present and future state and are amazed at the wrath which the light or Law of nature presents to their soules the turth they oppose the errors they maintaine and practise their bosome darling closet sinnes stare them in the face but above all their continuall incertainty about Christs dying for them and their election c. do so perplex their spirits that there is no peace to them whereas they who know and so believe that Christ dyed for for them are by that love of his constrained to love him compelled to come iâ—to his wayes and obey his commands and thereby they have the answer of a good conscience before the Lord 1 Pet. 3. 21. 4thly They are to believe all the promises of the Lord both in this life and that which is to come Luk. 11. 13. Such as these Act. 2. 38. Repent and be baptised c. and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Act. 10. 43. Whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive remission of sinnes Mark 16. 16. he that beleeveth and is baptized shal be saved 10. 22. He that endureth to the end shall be saved 1 Jo. 1. 9. that if the Saints confesse their sinnes he will forgive them and the blood of Christ shall clense them c. That the Lord Jesus shall come the second time Heb. 9. 28. that he shall raise up the just and unjust Act 24. 14. yet toe dead in Christ shall rise first this is the first resurrection 1 Thes 4. 16. Rev. 20. 5. that Christ shall raigne and prosper and execute judgement and justice in the earth Jer. 23. 5. yea he shall reigne till he hath put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15. 25. that he will give the Kingdome to the Saints of the most high the little flocke that heare his voice and follow him Luk 12 32. that they who do his commandements shall have right to the tree of life and enter in by the gates into the holy City Rev. 22. 14. where they shall see his face behold his glory be like him and with him for ever where they shall know as they are knowne see him as he is and rest with him under the crown of everlasting peace joy and righteousnesse to all eternity In a word They are to believe that he who dyed for them hath so justified and delivered them from the one offence of Adam and the miseries that came by it that they shall not for ever lye under them and that they shall never be accoâ—â—able or punished for that sinne after they are raised from the Grave 2dly That if they repent and turn from their sinnes be they never so many great open secret old festred sinnes God
Scripture-Redemption freed from Men's Restrictions Being An ANSWER TO A Book lately published by Mr. William Troughton who stiles himself a Minister of the Gospel at Onlep in Leicester-shire INTITULED Scripture-Redemption restrained and limited As also the substance of several Conferences and Disputes had in England Wales and Scotland With Mr. Heath Mr. Bartley Mr. Powel Mr. Sam. Rutherford and Mr. James Wood Two Rectors of the University of S. Andrews and many others About the death of our most dear Redeemer and the Controversies which are the constant concomitants of it Together with a brief Reply to Mr. Troughton's rayling accusations in his Introduction By J. Brown sometimes of Oriel Coll. in Oxford afterwards a Priest of the Church of England and Vicar of Tenbury in Worcester-shire but now through mercy a Preacher of the faith which once he destroyed YE are my witnesses and my servant whom I have chosen that ye MAY know and believe me Isai 43. 10. London Printed by J. C. for Will Larnar at the signe of the Blackmoor neer Fleet-bridge 1653. To all those precious souls who receive the Gospel and follow the Lord Jesus in the way of righteousness to whose view this small Treatise shall by providence be presented Increase of all spiritual riches from the Father of mercies are unfeignedly desired IT is no new thing blessed souls for the God and men of this world to call the sweet saving and most soul refreshing doctrines of the Gospel Heretical opinions and the way of God even that way of Worship which Christ and his Apostles walked in Heresie that so by raising foul though false reports against the Truths of the true and eternal God they and their false Merchandise corrupt Doctrines I mean may seem fair in the eyes of their followers Let it not then seem strange to you neither be discouraged if it be so in our generation but as our God hath imparted to you a great measure of the knowledge of his love in the Lord Jesus let it be your care I beseech you by the mercies of God to walk worthy of the Lords love in all well pleasing and abounding in every good work that you may shine as lights in this world and in the world to come as the sun in the kingdom of our Father for ever and ever You have known and believed the love of God to your souls you know and are assured by the Scriptures that Christ died for you when other poor creatures going about to prove it by their qualifications a most inconstant and crooked rule are oft-times at least very uncertain whether Christ died for them and so through the instability of their sad minds either hurried away by dangerous presumption or hurled into deep despair and other soul-distracting distempers Their condition I much commiserate having my self been somewhat buffeted by Satan under it for at best they are frequently tossed to and fro by doubts and fears whether ever God gave his Son to lay down his life for them and so are kept from the enjoyment of that abiding consolation which you partake of by believing what is plainly written in the Word of Truth and rejecting the dark consequences and deductions of men Oh pity those that are ignorant of that truth which you are acquainted with endeavour to impart it to them but despise them not in that you know Christ died for them Be not weary of well doing The Lord is at hand and if you persist in holiness he will requite your short pains with everlasting pleasures and your work in the day of grace with an eternal and exceeding weight of glory And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up to make you wise unto salvation to make you perfect and throughly furnished to every good work desiring the Lord of glory to preserve you blamless in body soul and spirit till he appears the second time without sin unto salvation that you may be presented faulâ—lest before the throne of his glory with exceeding joy and be made partakers and possessors of that rich and glorious Crown and those precious promises which now by saith and patience we inherit in which most blessed state I trust on the Lords day to meet you and in the mean space whilst the Lord holdeth my soul in life here shall remain Your faithful servant and brother though unworthy in the way and work of Christ J. Brown To all the people in the world who shall peruse this plain Discourse especially such as setting their faces towards Sion have their souls sadned through the uncertainty that is in them about Christs dying for them the Author sincerely wisheth those cordial consolations which which flow from the knowledge and acknowledgment of the Truth in this point according to the Scriptures KNowing by sad experience what a miserable condition they are in who are ignorant of the love of God and how chearfully they are drawn out to serve him who know and are assured that he gave his Son to be a Propitiation for them I have here presented to each impartial Reader a familiar Discourse concerning the death of our Redeemer wherein I shall by the help of Jehovah prove 1. That Jesus Christ did die for all and every man 2. How far this extends to all or what he hath done for all men dying for them and this I shall do by the express Word of the Lord as it is ministred to us by his own Spirit without sophistical Syllogisms dark Deductions Consequences and Inferences the onely proofs of those who assert the contrary 3. I shall also by the assistance of the Lord produce the reasons which I have found in the Scripture confirming this truth 4. I shall as I have met with them answer the Objections brought against it 5. I shall make some Application of the whole wherein I shall take opportunity to shew the soundness and profitableness of this Doctrine the sad consequences and absurdities of the contrary and endeavour to discover some reasons why so few receive it and why there is so great opposition made against it I confess they lie deep but the Lord in time will help us to a more full manifestation The occasion of my undertaking of this work was partly from a nameless Paper received from some Parish Ministers living about Bishops Castle in Shrop-shire to which because I knew not to whom to write I was not careful to return any Reply But especially from the reading of ten printed Arguments set out by one M. Troughton though suckt from others together with several Conferences had providentially with many learned men as they are accounted in England and Scotland about the death of Christ and the controversies which are the constant concomitants of it My resolution is to be plain without Rhetorical flourishes and the wisdom which man teacheth The glory of God is that which I chiefly aim at my conscience bearing me witness and
next to speak in few words of Redemption in a stricter acceptation and to shew how some are in a special manner freed ransomed delivered or redeem'd by Jesus Christ and to that purpose shall first lay downe some Scriptures and to come to the clear understanding of this point Cast your eye then upon Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins and upon 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversations received by tradition from your Fathers but with the pretious blood of Christ c. The great question here to be resolved is this How the Saints come to be redeemed from their vain conversation and to have remission of their sins For answer unto this I beseech you that read to remember what I have in part declared already that there was an offence though committed but by one in which all the world was reputed guilty before God so far as that if Adam for that offence had at the instant of his committing it gone to the grave the whole race of mankinde had perished in him to take away which the Lamb without spot offer'd up himself to God so that that sin imputed to all and so called the sin of the world and iniqnity of us all was by the pouring out of the blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world taken away and remitted so that none shall now dye eternally for it and herein appeared the free love of God who by the blood of his Son washed away sin no creature seeking of it But every individual man and woman when they come to years and know good and evil do themselves commit many sins and walk in a vain conversation by tradition c. and how they come to be redeem'd or delivered from this by the blood of Christ I shall by Scripture and experience briefly make manifest First God sends Christ or the light to them with manifestations of his grace and goodness to lead or perswade them to turn from their sins to God declares to them the sufferings of his Son for their sins and they who seriously consider these manifestations of mercy believe and lay to heart the kindness of God though before Prisoners to sin and Satan are loosed delivered or redeemed from their sins and vain conversions as the Apostle plainly proves Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins So that through the application of the blood of the Lamb to their souls by believing they come to be delivered and have redemption from these sins of theirs and this redemption or pardon of sin is in time and conditional upon faith and repentance I shall indeavour further to illustrate this by a familiar similitude thus Suppose the servant of some mighty Emperor or General should commit an hainous offence to both the high displeasure and dishonour of his master and now conceiving in his heart that his Lord was full purposed to punish him with exquisite and exemplary torments should secretly depart to his masters greatest enemy and with him with a heart full of envy wrath and devilish despite contrive the destruction of him whom he had lately disobeyed in the mean time this mighty man having no such thoughts as his wicked servant imagin'd hearing that another potent person for some horrid crime had condemned his run-agate servant to dye gives his only Son to suffer death to preserve his live who yet still not knowing his Lords love with a perverse and inraged heart carries on the designe of his masters ruine but in the midst of his malice and fear having certaine intelligence of the transcendent kindness of one whom he had so highly incensed and of his own willingness to receive him even as a Son if he would return to him presently his soul begins to melt hatred le ts go the hold it had upon his heart and admiring such unexpected and undeserved love his bands of wickedness full off the rage rancour and wicked resolutions which possess'd him are all cast out the snare is broken and he is delivered not only from that death which his Masters Son quitted him of by dying for him But also by applying and considering his Lords love of those bloody sins and designes against his Master and begins to think of returning to him who had done such great things for him Thus stands the case betwixt God and man when Adam had sinned he ran away from his Maker and what spirit he was of towards him you may perceive by his Answers to him Gen. 3. who yet had thoughts of love and peace towards him and gave his onely Son to ransome him from the pit of which ransome or redemption all his posterity being in his loynes are partakers but they have all as I may say one by one departed from their God and rebelled against him that redeemed them and continue long ignorant of the loving kindness of the Lord at length the Lord by his teachings as himself pleaseth makes known his goodness and riches of grace and as many as believe or lay to heart what he hath done for their souls how he gave the Son of his love to dye yea to destroy the power of death for them that they might live by him and through him rise from the grave and that they have this redemption or deliverance through the blood of Jesus shed for them and have clear evidence of this by the Spirit in the Scripture of truth they begin to loath and leave their sins the love of God known casts out their base fear his mercy manifested destroyes their malice pride lust covetousness c. cuts in sunder all the cords of vanity in which they were held carries them quite out of their prison wherein their souls were pent up though sin tugs hard yet at last it is fain to remit its hold and though before they hug'd sin as a friend they now let it go as an enemy and so in the end through the applying of that blood which was shed for them they are redeemed out of the hand of the enemy and by the application of the blood of Christ they receive remission of THEIR sins as they before had by the effusion of it the remission and redemption from Adams sin which as I before hinted was absolute unsought for free and universal This is conditional and especial And if any shall demand Why all have not this redemption I answer Because they believe not they lay not the blood of Christ to heart if they did it were impossible that they should be so carried away with lust pride ignorance lying swearing cheating drunkenness gaming covetousness formality lukewarness ildeness and all manner of disobedience for if men did consider the grace of God if they knew the gift of God and his kindness which
a man and desires to be joyned to him in Marriage he may boldly and withall earnestness stirre up his friend to affect her and seeke her love who is every way so worthy and withall so loving to him that is to far below her Of no lesse folly are they guilty that spend their spirits in calling and crying unto sinners to love the Lord Jesus and seeke his face and yet either cannot or will not assure them that Christ loved them and layed down his life for them thereby to move them to place their affections upon him Nay it s impossible they should know it and much more impossible they should make others know it that say Christ dyed onely for a small number If a wicked prophane wretch should meet a man and were about to offer some injury to him if another should come and make it evident that this man whom he is about to wrong ransomed him with a great summe out of Captivity or when he was condemned to dye by giving his own onely Child to dye for him delivered him from death this might allay his fury after the resolution and melt the heart of the most cruel hard-hearted and injurious person or if it did not it would render him the most odious of Creatures the most ungrateful of men and unworthy of any further pitty And therefore it is that where-ever we meet with prophane persons that are treading under foot the Sonne of God and crucifying the Lord of life afresh by swearing lying drunkenness persecuting the Saints c. and so injuring and denying the Lord that bought them we acquaint them that he whom they wrong and persecute is Jesus the Saviour of the World the redeemer of mankind that gave himselfe a ransome for all bought them with his precious blood and dyed for their sinnes according to the Scriptures that thereby we may perswade them from their impious persecuting principles and prophane practises or else leave them without excuse but whilest men continue ignorant of this great love of Christ and do not certainly know by the Scriptures that Christ dyed for them they are seldome restrained from prophanenesse and all sorts of impiety or at least are filled with frequent doubtings and tremblings of heat not knowing whether the Lamb was slaine for them yet knowing that forsaking of sin and following of righteousnesse can doe no good to that soul for whom Christ dyed not no precepts can be available or promises applicable to those for whom the blood of Christ Jesus was not shed and so they stand staggering at both and though sometimes through the mercy of a long suffering God they have some sweet tasts of mercy yet by attending to false Teachers and Satans temptations they begin to question whether Christ dyed for them and then all their unstable hopes vanish and their unsettled hearts are hurried into a Labyrinth of soul dstempering confusions the Lord pitty these poor Creatures and deliver them from all self contradicting yea God contradicting Teachers who hold the truth in unrighteousness And whereas Mr. Troughton sayes That men will argue that if Christ dyed for all men then for me I shall be saved though I go on and injoy my lusts c. It s nothing so and they that hold that Christ dyed for all men according to the Scriptures raise no such Arguments knowing that they that deny to serve him that bought them shal be destroyed but they argue thus Christ dyed for me among the rest of men therefore I ought to live to him love serve and obey him to forsake my lusts pride swearing coveteousnesse and prophanenesse to dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse because he dyed for me and rose againe But Mr. Troughton saies That Christs dying for all is a ground of dispaire to many to which I answer First Here Mr. Troughton miserably contradiccts himselfe for he holds that they whom Christ dyed for can never dye in dispaire and for others there was never any hopes of eternall life layed up But here it seemes that there was something to be enjoyed even by them who dispaire of it but I shall not dwell upon any advantages but Secondly I answer That Mr. Troughtons suggestions is very false for seeing that Christ dyed for all seeing he so loved the World as to give his life for man-kind much more will he be found willing to receive and save poor sinners that come to him But Satan hath subtilly circumvented men by a great sleight in perswading them through the Doctrine of the false Ministers who are transformed as the Ministers of Christ that God will save some men that live and dye in sinne and that others who so live and dye shall be damned that one lyar shall be saved and another be damned one swearer shall be saved and another damned one Adulerer shall be saved and another damned that God is angry with one drunkard murtherer whoremonger and not with another though neither of them repent for they hold that it is Christ's wâ—rk to act faith and repentance In the Creature they hold that God was never angry with his Elect and hence it that some say God was no more angry with David after he had perpetrated those horrid sinnes of murther and adultery then he was at any other time others hold which is all one in effect that he forceth some to beleeve and be saved and appointeth others to sinne and be damned and this they call the distinguishing love of God which makes M. Troughton ask page 56. Where is the distinguishing love of God if Christ dyed for all I answer first in that he gave Christ to dye for all Men and not for the fallen Angels Secondly In that he will delight in abide with and save such as repent and obey him as you may see Psal 147. 11. Jo. 14. 21 13. Heb. 5. 9. and not others when he might have required men to have done an hundred times as much as he hath and yet have made no such promise of further manifestations of love or life eternall he gave himselfe a ransome for all yet he giveth more or a further addition of grace He resisteth the proud who deny the Lord that bought them and giveth grace to the humble Isai 4. 9. so here is distinguishing grace First He manifests his goodnesse grace or favour to men yea all men yea to the wicked men and they who humbly receive his mercy and truth shall have more even an increase every way as I have in the foregoing part of this Treatise provâ—d from Jo. 14. 21. An other railing Accusation that Mr. Troughton brings against the truth is this If saith he we shall hold that Christ dyed for all this will be a ready way to reconcile us to Rome I conceive he meanes the Papists but the Papists generally hold that Christ dyed sufficiently but not efficiently for all and they hold directly as Mr. Troughton doth in this point that is That his blood in respect of
whom I have believed I know that my Redeemer liveth c. Men will hardly give credit to much lesse rely upon him they never knew and therefore when Christ askt the blind man whether he did believe on the Sonne of God he answered and â—aid Who is he that I might believe on him Jo. 9. 35. 36. He must know him before he could believe on him Object But sayes Mr. Troughton 'T is the will of Gods purpose who Christ dyed for in particular and therefore thou canst not fetch the ground of thy faith from thence but looke to the generality of the offer of grace and command to believe Ans 1. I grant it and its that which I ever say that no man hath a ground to believe that Christ dyed for him if he dyed for some particular persons only Ans 2. It seems then there is a generall offer of grace and a precept of God commanding and encouraging to believe I intreat the discreet Reader to consider what clear truth Mr. Tronghton professeth and how he hath with one hand ruined that great building of the Doctrine of restrained Redemption which he and many more with all their hands heads and hearts have labouâ—ed almost these two hundred years to raise up for seeing there is a Generall tender of Grace and manifestation of goodnesse from the most high God that offer is reall or not Mr. Troughton I thinke dare not say that it is not reall though I feare dares say any thing or else would never have restrained and limited Scripture Redemption for then he makes God like the worst of men If it be reall then I have ail that granted which largue for as fully as my soul can desire For if there be a generall and reall offer of Grace from God as most certainly there is surely then Christ dyed for all or else God offers grace to them and commandeth and encourageth them to believe for whom his Sonne never dyed and consequently to whom that grace could never have done any good Object But God fore-knew they would not receive it Ans But he fore-knew as well that by those abilities by him given them they could and might have received it and therefore he offers it that they may be left without excuse which could not have beene if the tender had never been made and that in good earnest too though Mr. Sympson in halfe sayes the contrary And wherein is the first act of Grace manifested but in Gods giving of Christ to be a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world That then which is the first and principall manifestation of grace or love which are all one is Gods giving his Sonne to dye for sinners and doubtlesse is first and principally to be made knowne to the world that they may know and believe the love of God and so come to turn from Idols to serve him that so loved them or else we shall make a preposterous preaching of the Gospel What Mr. Troughton sayes That we are not to looke at Christs dying for us but to the precept of God for our encouragement to believe is utterly false and meerly legal for all obedience that is not grounded upon love to him whom we obey is little worth But selfe contradictions breake no square in Mr. Troughtons Doctrine as you shall see in the next place where he saith The command to believe and come to Christ is open and revealed but who Christ dyed for is secret and hid neither is Gods call and command that thou shouldst repent and believe grounded upon Christs dying for thee in particular I Answer 1. This last clause is in part true for it s grounded upon his dying for all in Generall see Joh. 3. 16. and so is the fâ—rst viz that the command to believe is open and revâ—aled but that it is a secret thing who Christ dyed for is untrue for there is not any one thing in all the Scriptures morefully and plainly revealed then this as I have clearly proved But if it be a secret how came Mr. Troughton to know any thing of its in reference to himselfe or others Ans 2. If a man have a conceit at large that Christ dyed for him or a certain knowledge that he dyed for all yet if a man apply it not to his own souls in particular his faith wil be but ill founded For if certaine knowledge of every truth be the sure ground of every act of saving faith how can I beléeve that Christ dyed for me in particular except I fâ—rst know that he dyed for me in particuler and how any man can know that but by confessing that he dyed for all let any soul judge But many that would be thought Christians are growne just like the Jews yea the Pharisees that have high thoughts of themselves and despise others and that Christ never bought wicked men and Hereticks but onely seemed so to doe If I could see the man that hath not been a wicked man or a Heretick I should it may be say so too but there is not that man on the face of the earth that hath not beene one or both of these as every humble heart will ingenuously confesse and that it was the knowledge of the love of God in Christ that drew them out of the sinck of sinne superstition and error led them to repentance and obedience and so to peace of conscience and joy in the Lord the spirit of God in the Word and their owne experience can and will testifie with many thousands Obj. But sayes Mr. Troughton There are many thousands of precious Saints some yet alive and other at rest with the Lord who had true faith and peace of conscience and yet were stranger to the Doctrine of Christs dying for all men I Answer first So there are that never knew that Christ suffered at Jerusalem yea many thousands that never heard of Christ as Infants and others who dye before they have done or known good or evill and others that were ignorant of many pure divine truths in all ages and places of the world Answer 2. Suppose it be so doth that argue that when we may have more and clearer light and knowledge in the love of God and matters of salvation that we should neglect and oppose it though they who are invincibly and inevitably ignorant of many heavenly truths may be happy yet they who resist them cannot be so Answer 3. If they had true faith and joy in the Holy Ghost who did not certainly know whether Christ dyed for them or no they living under such Ministers onely that held that Christ dyed onely for some what strength of faith peace of conscience and rejoycing in the Lord may they have who know and can prove by many plaine text of Scriptute that Christ dyed for them How may such souls exult and leap for joy through the love of God who know and believe the love of God to them A man who desires such a one
him out when by the word or teachings of God which are his drawings he comes to him 6. To reprove obstinate proud Rebells who deny the Lord that bought and dare sin against such grace and kindnesse as is seen by the Fathers giving his Son for them 7. This serves to leave all men without excuse they cannot say that God hath not commended his love to them seeing he hath written it in legible Characters of his Sons bloud 8. Here is consolation for the Saints who through the knowledge of such love have been drawn to obey God they know whom and in whom they have believed and are as sure that Christ died for them as if he had told them with his own mouth in that they believe the Scriptures affirming that he ransomed all 9. This may serve to them as an antidote against sin and errors in that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures 10. It may serve to incite us to love every creature with the love of good will or pity at least when we remember that Christ died for them as well as for us oh if this doctrine were fully known it would so increase love and quench hatred discord and debate peace justice and mercy would florish and wars oppression and cruelty would be banished some beams of this universall love of God beginning to shine forth upon the hearts of our Commanders Rulers Judges c. have inclin'd them to more clemency righteousnesse and pity then some former timeâ— have afforded and as it is more manifested we shall doubtlesse see more of God who is love and lov'd us when enemies appearings 'T is true a man that truly fears God cannot delight in an ungodly person neither can our heavenly Father yet he doth them good and the Saints desire the conversion of their enemies and will do good unto all according to their ability and their fellow creatures capacity and though they hate the vices of men yet they love their persons so as that they will exhort intreat and admonish them to come in to the Lord that bought them and not seek the ruine of their bodies states reputations and souls as I fear too many who deny the death of Christ for all would if it were in their power and could wish that there were something in force like that Popish Statute de Haereticis comburendis as appears by their continuall appeals to the civill yea and military powers their complaints and petitions against such as hold the truth in love by all means labouring to perswade the Magistrates to unsheath their swords to cut off banish or silence by might of men those who are full of might by the Spirit of the Lord to declare against their corrupt principles and practise they have a zeal but not according to knowledge for did they know what love the Father hath shewed those whom they maligne and what sweet communion they have with God and that God lov'd those whom they hate so as to give his Son to die for them they would never suffer that cursed root that beareth gall and wormwood to spring up in their hearts but would endeavour to instruct them with meeknesse or contend against them at least with the sword of the spirit But this they do not but by all meanes seek their impoverishment and ruine and will not speak to them though they bring the same doctrine which Christ and his Apostles taught they shun disputing with them under pretext that they are Heretiques and reject them not knowing that that advise is proper to those that are members together of the Church of Christ and not those that are of different Churches for what authority hath any Church to cast out or reject one that is not immembred with them but the truth is these men are afraid of the light and have no love to such as are of Pauls opinion that Christ died for all and therefore they incense authority gnash their teeth against them But we know that Christ died for them and desire that they also may know it and by that goodnesse be led to repent of all their evills and in particular of their envy and consultations against the Saints of the most high who believe as the Scripture saith and will not receive the corrupt glosses which men put on them or the sad and dark conclusions and consequences which they draw from them In a word if Christ died for all this may serve to keep the poor sin-sick sinner from despair and the proud transgressor from presumption to reprove such as give the Scripture yea the Spirit of God the lye who in so many placeâ— hath clearly evidenced it yet they deny what is there written and would have us rather adhere to their expositions which are all darker then the text Again if God hath of his free mercy in Christ appointed and ordain'd all men to serve him and furnished them with every thing necessary for so doing so that all Nations may know and believe him through that light which lighteth every man which cometh into the world according to that manifestation of it which shines forth to them as undoubtedly he hath then this serves to reprove such as say God did appoint some men as men to be disobedient that is to serve sin and Satan 2. Such as teach that God hath not enabled all his creatures to do what he requires of them but that he exacts more of his creatures then he hath given ability to perform and so make God is an austere man as the wicked servant did yea as bad as Pharoah 3. This may serve fully to convince every sober spiâ—iâ— of the reall truth of those sayings thy destruction is of thy self aâ—d that the damned bring upon themselves swift destruction 4. It serves to clear the pure justice of God and leave all without excuse when they hear that God through his Sons blood hath made all Nations of the earth to seek him and in order thereto hath done what could be done for his Vineyard 5. This may serve to stir up poor creatures to be thankfull and admire the riches of grace and speak good of the name of the Lord so mercifull and bountifull and to incite them to arise and be doing 1 Chron. 22. 16. and God will be with them some to hear search read inquire that they may know and believe the Lord and them that come to know and apply his love to repent and be baptized to separate from the world and such again to continue in the grace of God in the fellowship and doctrine of the Apostles in breaking of bread and prayers in praising of God in holinesse of life watching against sin and for the coming of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ 't is true all are not capable of the same exhortation for to exhort a wicked man that never yet believ'd the Gospel to pray and break bread with the Saints wait for the day of Christ is preposterous
we quarrel with them for praying before and after Sermon To this I have given satisfaction in my answer to his tenth charge In his thirteenth are many gross slanders together for whereas Mr. Trough chargeth us with an absolute denyal of original sin we teach that Adams offence in the garden was the first sin and that we being all in his loines who sinned became subject to corruption yea judgement came thereby on all men to condemnation And as for Gods absolute decree which he most falsly sayes we scoffe at we hold that God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation such as obey the truth through the Spirit and of old ordained to condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness even all such as by the goodness of God are not led to repentance What he means by free-will I know not But we hold that God hath given to his creatures out of the riches of his free mercy ability and liberty one time or other to performe whatsoever he requires them to believe and do And whereas he sayes we preach for falling away to use Mr. Trough own tearms it is most untrue for we preach for holding fast by Jesus Christ and warn admonish and beseech the Saints to take heed lest any of them fall from the grace of God or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him Heb. 12. 15. To the fourteenth where he taxeth us for bringing the Saints into bondage by disswading them from frequenting the Parish-assemblies and exercises I answer Most of those whom he in derision calls our followers have heard him and other Parish-preachers till they were weary of their soul-distracting and self-contradicting doctrines Neither is it we but the Lord who commands both us and them to come out from Babel to be separate and to avoid and turn away from them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine delivered by Christ and his Apostles not to receive to house nor bid such God speed yea and though he were an Apostle or an Angel from heaven to hold such accursed as bring any other Gospel or doctrine then what hath been preached by the Lord Jesus And such I am sure are our tithe-taking mercenary Parish-Ministers who teach men to sprinkle babes and to believe that Christ dyed not for all c. Gospel and Doctrine which never came out of the mouth of our blessed Redeemer yet we will hear you if you will but give a reason of what you say to dissatisfied spirits otherwise we should bring our selves into bondage if you will neither answer us nor let us go Blessed be our God we can hear Christ and his Apostles preach search the Scriptures prove their doctrine and receive satisfaction and they are not offended at us The fifteenth Article of Mr. Troughtons charge against us is a meer cavil and groundless surmise upon his own mistake for he using some vilifying and contemptful language to one that had been a souldier and commander in the States service after long silence and bearing his imperious checks the party told him he had shewed his face in the defence of his Country where Mr. Trough durst not appear But if ever I finde Mr. Trough charging an enemy for his Nations just liberty I shall assure him of all submissive satisfaction But upon this he chargeth us of giving out threatning language And by this you may see the weight of Mr. Troughtons complaints His sixteenth accusation is a gross falsity For he saith that we are ready to make insurrection upon them when they fight against our opinions with Scripture-weapons and that some of us have beaten some of their hearers which till Mr. Trough prove and bring the offender to condign punishment I shall only say this that The religion of that man who bridleth not his tongue is but vain Jam. 1. 26. The contrary to Mr. Trough 17 accusation is true for whereas he sayes our design is to pull down the powerful Ministry of Christ our desires and endeavours are and shall be by the Lords assistance to set it up even such Ministers as are obedient to every command of Christ keep the ordinances as they were delivered by him and are enabled by the Spirit of God through the Scriptures to preach the Gospel without stealing the word from their neighbors and scraping and scribling their Sermons out of Popish Postillers ancient Fathers as they call them and commentators but as for all national parochial tithe-taking hireling baby-sprinkling-Ministers we know they are plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted and will be rooted up The Lord is mercy by his word root them up out of the dunghil of their errors that they may be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ In the last place Mr. Trough accuseth us for holding the truth in love though he alter our expressions For t is true we do deny that any can infallibly prove that Christ dyed for him or her in particular but by the testimony of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures if they can let them bring forth their witnesses I am sure that 's an infallible evidence being the witness of God and all other spirits qualifications and witnesses are fallible false without foundation and are built upon the bottomless pit And we do affirme that they who can and do by the Scriptures prove that Christ dyed for them are built upon a sure foundation even the Doctrine of the prophets and Apostles They may by such a Testimony if profane come to be convinced and converted if of a sadned spirit to be comforted some come thus to be delivered out of the bondage of sin others out of the bands of sorrow It puts a check to the presumptuous sinner and lifts up the head of the despairing soul and though Cain Pharaoh Judas and millions of men deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction yet that no whit abateth the comfort of the Saints who know and believe the love that the Father hath to them I'ts but a fleeting inconstant comfort for a man to believ that which he hath no assurance of to believe that Christ dyed for him before he know it beyond the reach of doubting for of necessity it must be that he believes he knows not what When we say that men cannot certainly and comfortably conclude that Christ dyed for them but by the word of the living God which says Christ dyed for all and for want of this proof are in any kinde of bondage and trepidation of spirit we do it not to upbraid them but in love and tenderness of soul to free and refresh them and therefore Mr. Trough did very ill as I judge to bring in this as a crime against us but hatred for goodwill is the portion of such as follow Christ And withall you may see the spirits of men how they seek a knot in a rush any thing to make the persons of men odious Surely they that shew their teeth
towards man appeared and thoughts of peace he harbours even towards them that are in rebellion against him yea how he was Reconciled to them who yet are enemies they even they would harbour sweet thoughts of God no longer look upon him as an enemy But throwing away the weapons of wickedness their sins would consider him as the chief of friends and so be reconcil'd to him as the Apostle speaks 2 Cor. 5. 20. and of which the prophet Isaiah speaks Chapter 27. 5. This reconciliation also is special and proper to believers Thus have I as briefly as I could and more briefly then the matter indeed will well allow spoken of redemption and reconciliation how general and how special I come in the next place by Jehovahs help to treat of Justification which is also universal and special The one is by the effusion or pouring out of the blood of Christ the other by the application of it of the one mention is made Rom. 5. 9. Being now justified by his blood c. and thus God is said to Justifie the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. but that this may be the better understood we must consider that there is a twofold sin or offence That which some call original which the Scriptures call one offence or offence of one even Adam and theâ—e innumerable transgressions which every man and woman commit From the former only I finde that all are justified by the pouring out of the blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world from the latter none is or shall be but through the applying of that blood by believing The former of these is absolutely free sutable to this is Rom. 3. 24. without any condtion and is universal as you may see Rom. 5. 18. The latter is also free on Gods part but upon condition of believing on ours as you may find Act. 13. 39. For the further clearing of this thing I desire the reader with me to reveiw that lately-recited text Rom. 5. 18. and I shall lay it down according to the Original Therefore as by one offence or sin condemnation came upon all men even so by one justification to life came upon all men But having handled this point partly before upon another occasion I shall only reminde the reader that these texâ—s hold forth this cleerly to us that as sin came upon or was imputed to all men by Adam so righteousness came upon or was imputed to all men by Christ and as for that sin all men were condemned to dye so from that death all shall through Christ be made alive and this is agreeable to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 22. and all divine justice and reason for had not Christ justified mankind from that offence Adam and all his posterity had been banished from God for ever as you may plainly perceive by that which is written 2 Sam. 14. 14. I would gladly know whether any man hath life here or can rise from the grave but by Christ by whom are all things or whether we could by any means enjoy these if we were not justified from that which deprived us of it and so quitted from that prison the grave which without a Christ dying and rising again would have kept Adam and in him all his posterity under its power but the day shall come when all that sleep in the dust shall rise and shall give an account before the Lord not of Adams sin but of the things done in their own bodies so that it seems that when every creature shall stand before the Judge of the world they shall not be look'd upon as unrighteous persons because Adam did offend If any affirme they shall let them prove it by the Scriptures and I shall willingly assent to them In the mean space I propound this to my self and others that either men shall at the day of judgement be damned for Adams sin or they shall not if they shall then God hath somwhere revealed it in his word for he will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the Prophets if they shall not then they shall be considered righteous and justified from it which is cleerly sutable to Rom. 5. 19. As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made righteous And this is that which I understand by the justification of all men even Gods acquitting of them from Adams sin and the suffering which came by it at the day of judgement then which nothing is more cleer to me and thousands more in all the holy Scriptures and agreeable to all the revealed will of God in this case declaring that every soul shall bear his own burden and dye for his own offence But now a word or two of special justification and so I shall conclude this point That which I call special Justification or the Justification of some particular persons is when God is pleased to look upon his poor creatures which through believing in Jesus Christ turn from sin to serve him as righteous in his Son which I desire further to explaine thus God having in the purpose of his own will freely justified mankind from that sin of Adam and granted them to live in this world they all commit many grievous offences against that loving God that gave them life breath and all things by lying swearing drunkenness theft murder adultery fornication pride ambition coveteousness idleness cozening envy by evil thoughts and evil words from which the law of Moses is too weak to justifie them for let poor creatures annoyed imcumbred and compass'd about with these sins read the Law of Moses or offer up sacrifices according to that Law yet that will not drive sin out of the soul but tâ—â— blood of Christ applyed by faith the blood of Christ sprinkled upon the conscience will purge out sin When a poor soul doth know and believe that Jesus Christ shed his blood for him or her they begin to hate iniquity and abhor every sin and at length through faith i. e. the constant application of the blood of Christ to their hearts they who formerly were servants of sin and free from righteousness become quit justified freed from sin and servants of righteousness for with the heart man believes unto righteousness Rom. 10. 10. so that by believing they become justified righteous and cleered from those sins from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses as that before I hinted from the mouth of the Apostle Paul Acts 13. 39. So that which I find in the Scripture concerning this is that though God hath freely through the pouring out of the Lambes blood taken away the sin of the world I understand Adams sin yet none ever did or can get free or justified from the sins which they themselves have committed in their own bodies but through believing or laying to heart the goodness kindness grace mercy or love of God which towards man appeared in Christ Jesus before the
but to such as accept it it is not so their refusal of it keeps it from being a gift or free benefit to them though it still be free on Gods part who tenders it by his instruments to them And thus you see that mans doing his duty in believing and obeying according to the Gospel doth not frustrate the grace of God no more then a mans stretching out of his hand to receive any thing doth cause it to cease from being a gift Secondly I am so far from detracting from the grace of God when I affirm that God hath of his rich and free mercy given to every man and woman power to do what he expects of them that the desire of my soul is to advance that alone and to cleer up this I desire the impartial reader to judge who doth most advance the riches of grace they who affirme with the Scriptures That Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man and that all Nations of men are furnished by the Lord with every thing necessary for the knowing of him and obeying of his commands layd on them or they that say contrary to the Scriptures that Christ did not dye for all but only for a few and that God hath not given all men ability to performe what he commands them to do that he hath appointed some to disobedience and so to damnation Who is it that speaks most to the praise of the glory of Jehovah's grace he that sayes that God doth faithfully offer his grace and call all men to him i. e. to conform to his will or law manifested giving them liberty and ability to accept his love to perform his precepts or they that say that God doth only externally call all men and not really and seemingly offer grace to all men yet hath beforehand absolutely decreed the unbelief and disobedience of many of them For my part I am fully satisfied with those sayings do most advance the exceeding riches of grace which hold forth the free and unfeigned tenders of mercy to every man so as that all are left without excuse and the Justice of God who is no respecter of persons cleared in the sight of all men What you would in words say of such a master as would bind his servant hand and foot yet beat him for not coming to him when he calls him or command him to ride a hundred miles in one hour and buy two hundred penny-worth of ware with one peny threatning him with tortures upon his not-performing such uncompassable commands those men who oppose that truth which I plead for do in effect say of our most gracious and righteous God when they affirm that he hath decreed the unbelief and sins of men and yet will condemne them eternally for these things and that he hath required them to believe and follow him according to the light he reveales yet hath not enabled them so to do which in plain English is that God exacts more of his creatures then they are able to do The Lord in mercy yet grant these men time and space to repent of these doctrines Object But we do not say God is a hard Master to us taking up where he laid not down c. Answ Then what have you to do to say that he is so to others you cannot deny but he giveth strength to his Saints to do what he requires of them and I beseech you consider whether others have not ability from Jehovah to do by him what is expected from them in their several stations Gladly would I demand two or three Questions of any sober humble soul that prefers the faithfulness and glory of God before their own fancies First Whether every Man and Woman have not ability to act something Secondly Whether that power or ability be not from God alone through Christ Thirdly Whether God did indue them with that ability to do well or to do ill or to do nothing Surely you will say not to do ill not to be idle then undoubtedly it was to serve seek and glorifie him And if any shall ask how men come to commit sin then I answer as Adam did they being men heaken to the old Serpent reject the counsel of God resist his Spirit or Teachings deny the Lord that bought them with his pretious blood and bring upon themselves swift destruction Object But surely if God did call all men really they would sure come to him and if he did invite and offer his grace in good earnest they could not but receive it if God open the heart it cannot but be opened if he purge men must unresistibly be purg'd if God freely give faith and repentance men cannot chuse but repent and believe To which I answer first If God in calling men and giving out his love did make use of an unresistible power as some fondly dream all this were true But Secondly To say that God doth not really intend that grace to men which in the means he extends to them is a doctrine which I know makes the hearts of many pretious Saints sad considering how the God of Heaven is by such sayings highly dishonour'd and abus'd by saying or implying at least that men shall be damn'd because God did not really and in good earnest call them and offer mercy to them contrary to Prov. 1. 26 27. Thirdly as I have hinted before God is said to give faith and repentance c. when he affords the means i. e. the word of faith and doctrine of repentance to men and women come to understanding and enabled every way by him to come to him in the duties by him enjoyed and to open the heart when he affords that key of knowledge his word which is spirit and life and the motions or beams of his Spirit to poor souls in a word Gods work and our endeavours in all spiritual duties must go together for God opens the heart by sending the means we open to him by receiving and applying it but as the stretching out the hand to receive a bag of gold is not that which inricheth the receiver but the bounty of him that gives it so our receiving of light and grace offered is not that which makes us rich in knowledge and spiritual treasure but the bounty of God that gives these to us yet you know these are not ours though extended by the Lord never so freely if we do not imbrace and apply them which is indeed but our duty which God himself hath enabled us to perform and no thanks to us for doing that Fourthly and lastly they that heaken to the voice of God and so come to know his love and believe it or lay it to heart cannot but come in the love of God constraineth them to live to him that dyed for them and rose again and these are they that are in a special manner the called of God called to be Saints He is not asham'd to call them brethren Heb. 2. 11. but because all will
lye down in the grave and sleep in the dust yet they shall all live again in the day of the Lord. But may some say is he so the Saviour of all men that none shall be damn'd in the second death I answer No for though he be the Saviour of all men as I have proved yet especially of them that believe as I shall now also briefly shew you by the Scriptures Prov. 3. 35. The wise shall inherit glory Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall 〈◊〉 as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousâ—â—ss as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine 〈◊〉 as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father Mat. 26. 46. But the righteous 〈…〉 Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to givâ— you thâ— Kingdome Whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but 〈…〉 Joh. 3. 15 16 18 36. My sheep hear my voice and I know 〈◊〉 and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not 〈◊〉 Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Joh. 10. 27 28. See Joh. 5. 28 29 All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life c. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth and 〈◊〉 baptized shall be saved Rom. 2. 7. 10. Glory honour peace and eternal life to every man that patiently continues in well doing Mat. 10. 22. He that indureth to the end shall be saved Rev. 2. 23. Be thou faithful unto the death and I give thee the crown of life See vers the 11 17 26 27 28. Rev. 3. 5 12 21. He is made the Author of eternal salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. But the wicked shall be as stubble Mal. 4. 1. He that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. Blessed are all they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter in by the gates into the holy City Rev. 22. 14. with many other pertinent texts of Scripture whereby we may demonstratively evidence that there is a special salvation for some viz. such as hear know believe and obey God and that as all men are and shall surely be saved from the first death and all that came on them through the offence of Adam yet they only who receive the truth in the love of it shall be saved from the second death and they who are contentious and do not obey the truth through their neglect of so great salvation as was purchased by his blood and preached in the word or light of Jesus though they shall be raised up at the last day from the first death yet for their wickedness they shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death All the Objections and Queries that usually men bring in here about the creatures believing and acting in all kind of obedience I have handled in the precedent part of this treatise where I have proved that God never requires any duty of any of his creatures but at some time or other he furnisheth them with ability to fulfill his commands And all our obedience merits not eternal life in the least seeing God might justly have deprived us of a being or have given no more but this life and yet have laid upon us much more work then he hath but it was the good pleasure of his will to give eternal life through his Son to all such as serve him in their generations according to the light manifested to them For which free mercy all praise honour service and obedience is due to Jehovah for evermore Amen THE REASONS OR ARGUMENTS Which illustrate The truth of Christs dying for all men together with the grand absurdities which unavoidably follow the contrary Doctrine with the answer to the Objections or Arguments of M. Trough M. Wood and others HAving thus by the Scriptures proved that Christ died for all men and what he hath done for all or what benefit all men have by him I come in the next place in the strength of the Lord to illustrate the truth of this assertion by Reasons or Arguments drawn from the Scriptures which may easily evince to sober spirits and convince the gain-sayers of this soul-establishing Fundamentall Doctrine of the Gospell and they are these First the coming of our Saviour into the world is glad tidings of great joy to all people Luk. 2. 11. which could never be if Christ had done nothing for the greatest part of mankind but it would have been sad tidings to most men who must therefore die eternally because there was no Saviour for them or at least because they obey not him who never paid a price for them Secondly the Word that is to be preach'â— is the Gospell to every creature Mark 16. 15. the Ministers of the Lord Jesus are to declare peace unto every house where they come Luk. 10. 5. and that can never be done if they are not able by the Scriptures to preach a Saviour to them without leaving any doubts upon their spirits Thirdly God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. and is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Now if Christ died not for all then God would have more men to be saved then Christ died for as some have said which is absurd to imagine or what good will repentance do those for whom Christ-never died Fourthly they that are damn'd Jo. 3. 18. with ver 36. are damn'd because they believe not in the only begotten Son of God therefore the only begotten Son of God died for those or else how shall they be damn'd because they believe not in him except men shall be damned for not believing on him that never died for them Fifthly they that shall be damn'd might have been saved if they had received the truth in the love of it 2. Thes 2. 10 11 12 13. therefore Christ died for them or else they had no probability of salvation seeing there is no name given unto men under heaven whereby they must be saved but only the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4. 12. Sixthly they for whom Christ died may perish and be destroyed see 1 Cor. 8. 11. with Rom. 14. 15. Seventhly some deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1. so that if Christ died for those that shall be saved and those that shall be destroyed he died for all Eighthly the Apostle commands that prayers and supplications shall be made for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. surely prayers will do but 〈◊〉 good to those for whom Christ never died or how can we pray in faith for all men if Christ
for them and they not obeying him but Antichrist are condemn'd in that they gave the honor due to him to his enemy none I think will doubt but these men ought to have worshipped God but what good would that have done them if Christ had never died for them judge ye but if any do say that God did appoint them to serve and worship the Beast I refer to Acts 17. 26 27. and leave them to the Lord who will take a strict account one day of all such sayings Ans 2. That the words may be read whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain as M. Troughtonâ— sayes is utterly false and a great corruption of Scripture yet that Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world is clear from this text which is that which M. Tro. and others study by all subtilty to evade Lastly he that sinneth against God shall have his name blotted out of the book of Life Exod. 33. 32. with Rev. 22. 19. But God loves some with a speciall love Christ loved the Church and gave â—imself for it It is by none that speak the truth in love denied and it 's that which I have in this whole Treatise endeavour'd to clear up that there is a universall and speciall manifestation of love from the Lord the Lord is good to all and he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son but his delight is 〈◊〉 them that fear him Psal 147. 11. Pro. 21. 20. and as for M. Tro. saying that husbands love their wives with a speciall love it 's true but we ought asso to love our enemies and every creature with the love of good will desirous still to do them any good we can so though Christ delights only in his Church that is such as obey him yet he died for his enemies and when the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world we were all enemies alike neither is any one man better then another as he is a man but as grace is manifested and received neither is it the act of receiving which makes some men better then others but the grace which appeareth to them from the Lord from whom every good gift comes and to whom all the glory is due But is it not said that God did hate Esau and loved Jacob before they had done either good or evill Search the Scriptures diligently and see if there be any such text the Apostle never said any such thing Rom. 9. for that which was said was not concerning two children as some have falsly suggested but two Nations as you may see Gen. 25. 23. compared with Rom. 9. 12. and afterwards v. 13. he shews that God hated Esan as it is written Mal. 1. 2. 3. I have hated Esau and laid his mountains and heritage wast for the Dragons of the Wilderness certainly this was not before he was born for he had no mountains nor heritage to be laid wast again it 's very considerable that the person of Esau was never subservient to Jacob but Jacob bow'd down to him and call'd him his Lord Gen. 33. and by this it will be clear that this text speaks not of infants but men and not of single persons personally considered but of a Nation of evill doers especially if you impartially consider what is written by Obadiah in the 10 11 12 13 14. verses of his Prophecy where the Edomites are called Esau and the Jews Jacob. Secondly I answer that they who are spirituall and impartiall will e're long discern that these things are an Allegory which the Apostle Paul brings in to illustrate what he had before asserted viz. that it is not the pleasure purpose of God that men shall be justified by the Law but by grace not by works but by him that calleth and though the Jews judge it an unequal thing yet God having chosen this to be the way of justification his choise or election shall stand and this you may easily and evidently see if you will seriously weigh what follows Ro. 9. 30. 31. as the Apostles collection and the result of all which he had spoken in the precedent part of the chapter what shall we say then c. That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousnesse have attain'd to righteousnesse even the righteousnesse which is of faith But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse have not attained to the Law of righteousnesse wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at the stumbling stone so in all the writings of the New Testament the righteousness of faith though not so antient is prefer'd before the righteousness of the Law and thus the elder serves the younger righteousness by the Law as a servant or handmaid doth and must follow the righteousness of faith or the Gospell for we are to perswade men first to repent believe and be baptiz'd which things the Law mention'd not and then to live righteously soberly chastly and lovingly as becomes such as professe the righteousness of Christ in the Gospell so shewing their faith by their works as it behoveth such as are wise unto salvation Ja. 2. 18. and 3. 13. Moses was faithfull as a servant but Christ in all thiâ—gs hath the preheminence as a son Ismael and Esau were elder then Isaac and Jacob and Pharaoh and the Egyptians more mighty and puissant then Moses and the Israelites out the Lord pull'd down the mighty and exalted the meek the Law of works bare date before the faith of the Gospell but God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the Kingdome Ja. 2. 5. and this is Gods purpose according to election which shall stand for ever in Isaac shall thy seed be called and that this which I have here hinted as the scope of the Apostle and the mind of the Holy Ghost will be more apparent if you look into Gal. 4. from 21. to 31. where the Apostle speaking of two sons one by Hagar the other by Sarah affirms v. 24. these things are an Allegory for these saith he are the two Covenants c. thence look back to Rom. 9. 7 8 9. where he speaks of the two sons and shews who are the true seed even believers as Abraham was they that are of the promise then to shew that the Apostle intends the very same thing by the ensuing discourse concerning Esau and Jacob he goes on thus and not only this as if he had said not this of Ismael and Isaac shew that the believers are blessed with faithfull Abraham and counted for the seed but the two sons of Rebecca as in an Allegory demonstrate the same and if any shall yet say but how is it said Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer take but these two as Ismael and Isaac for the two Covenants and then you
will see that he prefers mercy before Sacrifice the Gospell before the Law faith before works the believers or children of the promise before the natural seed that he regardeth not but hateth such as seek for righteousnesse by the Law as the Jews did and loveth or chooseth such as seek for the righteousness of the Gospell of Jesus Christ as the Gentiles did Isa 1. 14. saith the Lord thus your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my soul hateth yet once these were appointed by God all things that were written of old concerning Ismael Isaac Esau Jacob Pharoah c. were directly as they are written but the Apostle we see draws out the Allegory and shews what they did typifie to us as you may see if you diligently search this nineth to the Romanes and resoâ—ve and roll up all that is here written as the Apostle doth in the 30. and 31. verses but the time will not give me leave to treat largely of these things in this place if God give oportunity I shall declare more of this matter in my Generation as the great God shall give opportunity and utterance either by preaching conference or writing in the mean space every sober man will see that it is not proper to draw positive conclusions from allegoricall expressions and so these words I have hated Esau i.e. refus'd righteousness by the Law or Covenant of works doth not at all prove that Christ did not die for all and withall I desire the Reader to consider that M. Tro. hath not yet produced one Scripture that says he died only for a small number but some few consequences which are too weak ever to overthrow the faith of Gods Elect. But saith M. Trough Christ did not die for all because he did not satisfie his Fathers wrath and justice for the sins of every man and woman in the world for the reprobates go down to hell but he made a plenary satisfaction for the sins of those for whom he died and the Holy God saith he cannot nor will not exact double payment for the same debt or punish twice for the same sin Answer first That which he speaks last is true and it is from this that I conclude that Infants shall not be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death for if they should then they must be punisht twice for one fault viz. Adams offence as some call it originall sin and that Rebrobates that is wicked men shall be cast into hell is as true Psa 9. 17. but what he means by plenary satisfaction to the Fathers justice given for some I know nor in that I find no such terms in the holy Scriptures if there be why did not M. Tro. produce them did he think that his bare word is a sufficient warrant for us to believe by surely it is not and the word of truth testifies that false teachers who bring in damnable heresies deny Christ and bring upon themselves destruction were bought by the Lord whom they deny and that others trample under foot the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified Heb. 10. 29. Answer secondly if M. Tro. means that Christ did so satisfie for the sins of some that none of the punishment due for that sin shall come upon them but that it is wholly by the powring or offering of the bloud of Christ prevented I shall desire him to prove it in the mean space I shall desire the impartiâ—ll Reader to remember first that the Elect the choicest 〈◊〉 must diâ— I mean go to the dust the wise man as well as the fool by reason of Adams transgression so that the punishment which came through that fault is not plenarily satisfied for if it had been so indeed God requires double payment which he will never by M. Tro. own confession do for if by the death of the Lamb this debt had been fully paid the Elect should never have gone to the grave and thus you see how M. Tro. is contrary to himself his light is darknesse and he wearieth himself to bring others to the same condition with himself Secondly consider that amongst all the sons of Adam none shall receive remission of their sins I mean which themselves have acted but believers Mark 16. 16. Act. 10. 43. so that he did not so satisfie as to take away mens actuall sins whether they believe or no. Thirdly consider that if any draw back from the Lord he will take no pleaâ—ure in them Heb. 10. 38. and the best of Saints if they sin must confesse and forsake their sins if they will find mercy and pardon Prov. 28. 13. Joh. 1. 9. but I pray read the whole verse for M. Tro. leaves out in his book the former viz. if we confess our sins as Apocriphal pag. 21. and so deals with us as the Devil did with Christ Luk. 4. 10. 11. conceal that which would make against him Lastly consider and call to mind what I have in this preceding discourse manifested that Christ hath so died that all do live by him and injoy light by him Jo. 1. 9. Jo. 6. 33. and that whosoever believeth on him should not perish Jo. 3. 15. 16. and that all men through him might believe Jo. 1. 7. and that as sin hath raigned unto death even so might grace raign through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord Christ hath so died that all shall â—ise again by him Jo. 5. 28 29. I beseech you read and consider that the just and unjust shall all be called out of the grave by the Lord Jesus he died and rose and revived that he might be Lord of quick and dead Rom. 14. 9. that they which live should live to him 2 Cor. 5. 15. But we never read that Christ died to satisfie for sin whilest men continue in them without repentance but to manifest his love to all mankind thereby to perswade them to leave sin and love him who loved them first he was set forth to be a propâ—tiation through faith in his bloud Rom. 3. 2â— 26. and that the world through him might be saved Io. 3. 17. not by the works of the Law but the words of Jesus Christ God never appointed that righteousness and salvation should be by the Law for then Christ had died in vain Thus you see what the form of sound words speak concerning the death of Christ who took or bare away the sin of the world viz. the sin of Adam in whom the whole world of men were involv'd that so lost mankind through him might have liberty to serve the living God and through believing on the light be delivered from their actuall sins committed before conversion and by confessing and craving pardon might be cleansed from their infirmities after their coming into Christ by the intercession mediation and eternall Priesthood of him whose bloud speaketh better things then that of Abel But he laid down his life or the sheep Jo. 10.
they who shall be damn'd might have been saved had they received the love of the truth if the Apostle may be believed 2 Thes 2 11 12. Ob. But saith M. Tro. many dangerous consequences will follow if we should grant that Christ died for all as first it riseth up against the power of God as M. Tro. says that he should give his Son to die for the salvation of thousands and yet all not be saved Ans 1. To which I answer first by waâ— of the distinction used by the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 10. he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and from hence observe that God who gave his Son and Christ who gave himself a ransome for all hath saved or delivered every man from the power of the grave but God never gave his Son to save or deliver any from the wrath to come or to bring any to eternall glory but such as believe and obey as I have often proved Ans 2. Secondly it doth not impeach the power of God in that we maintain that what God did intend to bring to passe by his own sole soveraign power through the death of his Son is effected viz. the breaking of the Serpents head the continuance of life to mankind here making way for light and salvation and the raising up all men from the grave but that God did ever purpose to bring men to eternall life whether they believe or no by an absolute power we deny for the Saints themselves are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Ob. But says M. Tro. it makes the salvation of the creature to depend on the contingency of his own will and naturall ability Ans 1. Answer first that salvation I mean everlasting glory with God or eternall life is Gods gift as I have formerly proved by the Scriptures Ans 2. Secondly that none shall enjoy this gift of his but such as walk as he hath injoyned them in that Law which he manifested to them is the eternall infringeable and unresistable Decree of God and M. Tro. page 45. confesseth that though the precepts of God do not shew what God hath done for us yet they determine mans duty and the rule of his obedience what God approves as good in it self and what is our duty to do there being a sweet harmony and connexion between the end and the means which is fully as much as I hold in this point viz. that they who would be saved which is the end they must believe and obey as God hath enabled them which is the means or at least one means But says M. Tro. it s contrary to the wisdom justice and love of God that he should give his Son to die for all and not give them faith and repentance c. Ans 1. To which I answer as before that indeed if God had given his Son to die for all with an intent to save all that is give eternall life to all or any without faith and obedience then if any had come short of it it might have seemed to reflect on the wisdom justice and mercy of Jehovah but the Scriptures never reveal any such purpose in God as you may see by Joh. 3. 16. Hâ—b 5. 9. with many other places Ans 2. Secondly so far as God did intend by his Sons death to save or deliver men he did doth and will fully effect â—t and whether men believe it or no they shall one day be saved from the grave by him that died and rose again Ans 3. Thirdly that God so put men in a savâ—â—ble condition that if any come short of eternal life their destruction is of themselves their rejecting light and loving darknesse will be their condemnation Ans 4. God doth not give faith and repentance as M. Tro. dreams viz. make men to believe by an irresistable power for I have shew'd before that God is said to give faith and repentance when by his Word or Spirit he perswadeth men to believe and repent or depart from evill when he gives the Gospell which is the Word of Faith and frequently in the Scriptures is called faith thus Faith is the gift of God and so when by the Gospel or goodnesse of God any soul is led to repentance God is said to give repentance yet the act or duty of believing and repenting is never call'd Gods gift work or act for then they that shall be damn'd for unbelief and impenitency shall perish because God gave them not the means yea because God did not perform his act or work in the creatures contrary to all the revealed will of God so that it appears to me and thousands besides that M. Tro. doctrine doth highly scandalize and impeach and restrain the power wisdom justice and love of God For if Christ did not die for all or redeem all from the power of the grave at least which is that I hold and which M. Tro. cries down under the name of universall redemption it was either because he could not or because he would not I am certain it is not the later for he will raise up all men at the last day 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 if M. Tro. says it is because he could not wise men will aâ—hor such savings both therefore are true he is willing and able and also will do it all mankind are and shall be freed in due time from whatsoever Adam brought on them and whosoever affirms the contrary debaseth the power of the omnipotent God seen â—spâ—cially in raising up Iesus from the dead Eph. 1. 20. that so he might be Lord of the quick and dead as hath before been manifelled of which domâ—nion Lordship or power M. Iro and others though I hope not knowingly have endeavoured to devest Jesus Christ except they will say that our Lord will exercise authority over those whom he never purchased the very thought whereof is abominable to every knowing sincere hâ—aits seeing the Scriptures â—re so pâ—ain that to this 〈◊〉 Christ both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living they that oppose this disparage the power of Christ scandalize his Scepter which is a Scepter of righteousness and make Christ an arbitrary usurper the name whereof 〈◊〉 amongst all and at least in words exploded by us in this Island And as for the wisdome of the Lord which is infinite Mr. Troughtons Doctrine detracts from it for he confesseth that the tenders of mercy by the Lords commands are and must be to all where the Gospel comes though not really and in good earnest as one saith yet Christ dyed not for all saith Mr. Troughton Now I beseech thee O impartiall soul that readest this judge what is right and see whether it suits with the wisdome of God to invite perswade beseech and stretch out his hands unto stubborn gain-saying wretches having never given Christ for them nor Christ any right to
them would Christ ever have been grieved for the hardnesse of the Jewes hearts had he not laid down his life for them we account it folly to grieve for that which cannot be helpt so men ignorantly tax Christ of no lesse when they say God had appointed them to be har hearted and disobedient and yet Christ grieved for it Object Oh but God could have softned their hearts if he would have had it so Answ But I say God never did purpose to soften any hearts otherwise then by the teachings of his Spirit and Prophets and his Son these being rejected he leaves men to themselves and they bring upon themselves destruction Doth it suit with the wisdom justice and love of a man to command his servants to do that which he knows they cannot or are not able to performe Mr. Troughton confesseth that God commands all to repent and believe and 't is certain many shall be damn'd for unbeliefe yet he sayes that its impossible that all should believe nay he saies That God appointed them to be disobedient if this were true as it is most false where were the wisdome justice and goodnesse of God when he shall command them to believe whom he had appointed to unbelief yea damn men for being such viz. disobedient as he had appointed them to be but especially doth not this traduce the unfathom'd boundlesse love of God when men shall say as Mr. Troughton doth that Christ did not die for all and yet the greatest number of men and women shall be damned for not believing on him who payed no ransome for them and doth not this highly impeach the power and truth of God the holy Word of the glorious Gospell when men shall so andaciously affirme that Christ dyed onely for some and but for a few and that he dyed not for all And whereas the word of Faith saith plainly that Christ dyed for all gave himselfe a ransome for all for every man for the sheep and those that deny him for the living and for the dead for the world yea the whole World When men I say denyes these plain texs and like the Papists suffer not poor souls to read them but by their Gloss what do they but vilifie and falsifie the Scriptures and give the truth of God the lie The good Lord judge between us for his own truth sake Let Mr. Troughton produce but one Text of Scripture for all his assertions and wee 'l believe him but the Reader may see he hath not one but instead of Scriptures brings his own reasons and sophisticall Arguments Object But sayes Mr. Troughton if Christ dyed for all then Christ is but halfe a Saviour and man must actually save himselfe c. I Answer first I have proved already that he is the Saviour of all men and how he is so in that he hath saved and delivered all men by his death and resurrection from the Grave so as that none shall die there eternally for Adams sin Secondly He hath prepared and propounded eternall life or salvation freely when none desired it of him and hath provided and given lawes for every soul that will be saved to walk in as the Ministers about B. Castles in their namelesse Paper confesse and through Christ bestowed light to walke and work by and what could God do more except you would have him repent and believe or force some to obey and decree others to disobey and to be a respecter of persons which he will never be I mean to respect persons personally considered the Lord is good to all and extends his goodnesse to all and thereby they who turn to him shall be built up Of a truth God is no respecter of persons saith Peter Act. 10. But in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousnesse is accepted of him Cornelius never heard of Christ as some heard of him yet he was accepted with God serving him according to the light he had which was not without Christ though as yet he knew him not for none are accepted without him But Mr Troughton finds fault with us that we should ever thinke that Christ shed his blood for those that never heard the Gospel To which I answer If by the Gospell he meanes those precious sayings and writings of Christ and his Apostles as he doth for he calls it the voice of the Gospel and word of Faith I think he hath no reason to except against us for none of the Patriaks Prophets and holy men of old so heard it much lesse did Jethro Ruth the Eunuch and many more mentioned in the Scriptures yet I hope Mr. Troughton will confesse that he dyed for them I doubt not but that servant who imployes his one Talent well shall receive the reward of one Talent Thirdly The Scripture sayes Save your selves from this untowardly Generation Act. 2. 40. and worke out your salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2. 12. which I understand to be but thus repent believe obey or use the meanes which God hath appointed you for salvation and this no sober man will deny to be our duty yet when we have done that and if it were possible ten thousand times more we are but unprofitable servants and do no more merit or procure salvation then a poor begger stretching out his hand to receive a purse of Money if any were so free as to give it doth merit procure or coyne that Gold or Silver which is given him as I have before shewed God might have required all dutifull obedience from us and yet at last have sent us to the Grave for ever and as for universall salvation which Mr. Troughton terrifies himselfe and others with I have often shewed how I hold it to wit that all were saved or delivered by Christ dying rising from the miseries that came by Adam so that they shall not for ever lye under them and for any other universall salvation of fallen Angels and Reprobates I know nothing for Christ dyed not for Angels and as for Reprobates that deny the Lord that bought and resist the spirit of God and violate the Law of Nature that know not God and obey not the Gospel they shall be destroyed for ever yet I beleeve that for want of a right dividing and so of a right understanding of the word of truth in the things by me insisted upon many have runne into grosse absurdities about universall salvation not being able to distinguish between salvation or deliverance which is by the death of Christ from Adams sin and sufferings for it and salvation which is through believing on him or comming to him Heb. 7. 25. from our sins which without repentance will damne man eternally in the second death They thought and that rightly that all are and shall be saved or delivered from something but not seriously weighing the word and distinguishing concluded that none shall be damned or consumed forever at the last day of Judgement which is most absurd and such a Doctrine
of universal salvation viz. that none shall be punished or perish in the lake of fire my soul abhors as also Mr Troughtons Doctrine that any shall be punished or perish there meerly because it is the pleasure of the Lord so to have it or because they were by Jehovah appointed to be disobedient and to be damned or because there was never a Saviour that dyed for them or because Adam eat of the forbidden tree my soul also abominates and it is the griefe of thousands to heare that God is dishonoured by such Declarations Though once I confeffe it was my judgement but the Lord hath had mercy upon my soul and now I see that every mans destruction is of himselfe and that the vengeance of eternall fire comes on men through their omitting some good that they might have done or their committing some evill that they might have avoided for rejecting some light that they might have received or turning from what they had received for trampllng under foot the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified and denying the Lord that bought them c. Object But saies Mr. Troughton if it we should preach that Christ dyed for all this would bolster up men in a prophane course or at best in a generall dead faith Answ The contrary to which is true for one constant use that we make of this Doctrine is to diswade deter and dehort sinners from prophanenesse and all manner of sinne and to perswade them therefore to hate that which is evill to die to sinne to live to righteousnesse to love and live to the Lord Jesus because he dyed for them and rose againe and we declare unto all men that if they do not leave sinne repent and live to Christ but deny his word despise his Spirit and slight his blood they shall be sure to be damned for ever because they live not to him that dyed for them and rose againe and that although Christ bought them or layed down a sufficient price for them yea though they professe that truth yet if in their works they deny him and follow not those further manifestations of light which he appeares to them in but refuse his words and so receive him not they shall be destroyed at the last day Secondly This Doctrine cannot be the Nurse of a dead faith if truly preached and received for this teaches men to know first by the Scriptures that Christ dyed for them and what a man knows infallibly he may believe comfortably undoubtedly and without wavering yea all faith that is not groundupon knowledge is but a meere fancy and very uncertaine when men believe they know not what But one the contrary Mr. Troughtons Doctrine is the nursery of prophanesse and deadness of faith or at least of sadness of soul yea dispaire of mercy How many poore wretches hearing that God did appoint a certain number of persons onely to believe and so to be saved and the rest to disobedience and so to be damned have desperately concluded if I am appointed to believe and be saved I shall be saved live how I will and others when they commit sinne sooth up themselves with this conceit it is Gods will that they should commit such sinnes God did decree and appoint them to be disobedient and it could not be avoided with many such devillish conclusions tending to all lewdness loosnesse and prophaneness that can be imagined And hence it is there is so much bitternesse wrath hatred revenge and strife amongst men for did they but know and seriously lay to heart that Christ shed his blood for those poore Creatures that injure them and which they so maligne their heart would melt towards them they would not hate their persons nor seeke to ruine their Estates onely abhor their vices and seek to draw them out of the sinck of their sins It must of necessity also be the root of a dead faith for what life can that faith have which is grounded upon our own qualifications For thus Mr. Troughton teaches men to Argue Christ dyed for beleevers sheep saints but I am a beleever a sheep a saint therefore Christ dyed for me but the Scripture proves neither of his propositions but teaches us better Logick thus Christ dyed for sinners for the ungodly for all for the whole world and those that deny him therefore for me and this shews gracious humility the other vaine ostentations this gives sweet and certaine assurance of Gods love to any poore soul the other when his qualifications are absent as often they are leaves the Creature in a doubtfull dispaire whether God loved it at all this engageth the soul to love God who loved him first and gave his Sonne to dye for him the other saddens the heart with feare shakes the foundation causing a distressed soul to question whether ever Christ dyed for him or her If a faithfull Gospel preacher should perswade a prophane wretch to repent and turn to God and the sinner should aske What should move him to change his life The messenger of the Lord must answer That the goodnesse of the Lord should lead them to repentance if the other should reply Wherein God shewed his goodness towards him The Embassador of the Lord must rejoyne in that he gave his Sonne to dye for him a miserable wretched sinner and that there is a doore of salvation open for him upon his repentance through the blood of Jesus or he sayes nothing for if he should onely tell him of the goodness of God as to this life or tell him of some wild uncertain hopes of mercy without assuring him that Christ was Curcified for him it would leave but a slender impression upon his spirits and to perswade exhort require and beseech a company of exorbitant sinners to amend their lives and love the Lord Jesus is but a lost labour if we declare not unto them the certainty of his kindness and love to them first according to the Scriptures for a soul will never truly love Christ except he be assured that the Lord Christ first loved him or at best if by a preaching of the Gospel at randome as many do any poor soules are fallen in love with Christ yet their spirits are full of feare and perplexing anxieties till they know and are assured of his love to them and wherein that consists the Apostle Paul shews us Rom. 5. 8. 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10 19. Herein is love not that we loved God but he loved us first and sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for us You would blame that man exceedingly who should use his utmost endeavour by all means to perswade his Neighbour being but a mean man to set his affections upon some great Lady admired for vertue beauty birth and riches being not able to assure his friend first that she loves him and desires to bestow her selfe upon him but if he heare it from her mouth or have it made under her hand that she loves such
was but for my part I think such Doctrine is most horrid and dismall the sinck of sinne and the enemy to all close walking with God the decay and ruine of the power of godlinesse and a little will reconcile the brochers of it to the Ranters I am of Christ's mind Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Luk. 13. 3. And of the Prophet Ezekiel's When a righteous man tnrneth away from his righteousnesse and committeth iniquity c. all his righteousnesse which he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespâ—sse that he hath trespassed and his sin which he hath sinned in them shall he die Ezek. 18. 24. And of Pauls mind If any man draw back the Lord will have no pleasure in them Heb. 10. 38. Lastly I do not say that Mr. Troughton may fall from a state of grace but I pray with all my soul that he may come up to it and continue in it therefore he need not be offended and I am certaine no soule that truly feares God will dislike that Doctrine which perswades to perseverance and disswades from carelessenesse and Apostacy Object Lastly sayes Mr. Troughton if we hold that Christ dyed for all this may be an occasion to vilifie and debase the Scriptures for they that so hold do affirme that the Sun Moon and Stars and fruitfull seasons reveale Christ as a mediator savingly c. Ans 1. God hath given unto men three principall wayes of Teaching nature teacheth 1 Cor. 11. The heavens declare or preach Psal 19. 1. and his written Word declared by Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles Now there are no men upon the face of the earth but have the two former and where the Lord affords those onely he expects obedience accordingly these leave men without excuse for mans eternall wel-fare stands not upon how much light or truth is manifested but how that which is manifested is obeyed and followed Ans 2. Where these are if the word of truth and peace preached by Jesus Christ may be enjoyed and is rejected then the others will not suffice Ans 3. As under the Law there was a dark discovery of Jesus yet sufficient as to that dispensation so in the teachings of nature and the creatures there is some discoveries of mercy and goodnesse in and from God which is not without Christ and will be found sufficient to those who have no other means For God accepts where there is a willing mind not according to what men have not but acâ—rding to what they have 2 Cor. 8. 12. and will require according to what he gives if Christ may be judge Luk. 12. 43. I see some very inquisitive what shall become of Heathens Turks and Jewes c. others insulting over them judging and censuring them as a people of whom God hath no regard but who art thou that judgest another mans Servant look not how little they have and what shall become of them but how much thou hast and what is required of thee and know that God will expect of thee a suitable improvement taking this withall for the debellation of thy haughty thoughts of thy riches that as he that hid his one Talent is condemned and he that imployed well his ten Talents commended so whoever makes his own Talent two shall be rewarded when thou that boastest with thy great light and many Talents if not improved according to the Doners will and bounty maist be receive the greater condemnation it shall be easier for Tyre Sidon Sodom and Gomerrha at the great day of the Lord then for Chorazin Bethsayda and Capernaum Neither let any man think that anothers improvement will excuse him or that he may build his faith or what men have written in these things of which I have treated but on the Rock of ages and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles whose pure rule and perfect prophesies discover to us the truth of these things wherein men differ Mr Troughton would perswade men that it s but a fiction to say that Christ dyed for all because it is not said in the Scripture that Christ dyed by name for thee John Thomas Robert c. their is no such particular Scripture revelation I grant there is no such particular revelation and therefore we affirme with the Scripture that Christ dyed for all that to John Thomas Robert or any other man may have a ground to believe that Christ dyed for every one of them 't is true if Christ did not dye for all then no man can certainly know that Christ layed down his life for him except he could finde both his names written in the Scpriptures And I appeal to every wise and impartial man whether Mr. Troughtons Argument doth not evidently conclude against himselfe for what need is there that every mans name should be recorded in Scripture seeing Christ gave himselfe a ransome for all But if that were true that Christ bought only a small number then its requisite that their names should be expressed or else no man can positively conclude that Christ dyed for him as for example If a pardon should be sent to all the prisoners in a prison there is no need of nominating them but if it be onely for two or three amongst many their names being not mentioned in the pardon the bringer of the pardon cannot tell who to call for nor the Keeper of the Prison whom to release nor the prisoners to whom it relates for if a man should come to a place where a thousand prisoners lay bound and should pretend that he comes with joyfull tydings to them and then at last tell them that two or three of them are onely redeemed though every one of them may have some hopes yet no man can know who it is till their names are manifested but if the act of Grace be sealed to them all every one hath a certaine ground of serious rejoycing by this you that love the truth and peace may see the bottome of Mr. Troughtous errors and depth of his wisdome Who teacheth men in the next place to argue thus Whosoever beleeveth on Christ shall be saved But I beleeve in Christ therefore I shall be saved For Answer hereto Consider how improper it is for men to tell men they must beleeve in Christ before they know who he is and what he hath done for their soules except you would have men beleeve they know not what and to walk by an implicit faith as Mr. Trovghton doth and then you will soon be reconciled to Rome The Scriptures teach us another Doctrine Ye may know and believe Isai 43. 10. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Psal 9. 10. we have knowne and believed the love that the Father hath to us Jo. 4. 16. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly c. Act. 2. 36. after they have escaped the pullutiont of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 2 20. I know
will pardon them through Christ according to the promise Isai 1. 16. 17. and that Isai 55. 7. Let the righteous forsake his way and the wicked man his thoughts and turne to the Lord for he will have mercy on him and our God for he will abundantly pardon The Lord is not wanting to convert us or to doe whatsoever he hath promised for the turning of us to himselfe They that come to the Lord must beleeve that he is and that he is a bountifully rewarder of them that diligently secke him Heb. 11. 6. They must constantly apply the sufferings of Christ to their hearts and their hearts and mindes bodyes and soules to his statutes alwaies believe their Resurrection from the dust and those glorious joyes and songs of Triumph and peace which are in the mansions of blisse this will purifie the Saints 1 Jo. 3. 3. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Thus believing they become eighteous through Christ and are justified from what they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13. 39. And being justified by beleeving they have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 5. 1. Exercising themselves in these things as the Apostle Paul did himselfe Act. 24. 14. 15. 16. they come to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men They are to believe that God hath freely redeemed justified sanctified and saved them through the blood of his dear onely spotlesse Son from that destruction which Adam brought on all man-kind by his sinne that fury is not in God in reference to that offence and the believing of this great and infinite love with the heart will so cleanse and sanctifie poore soules that they will thereby come to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world for with the heart men believeth unto righteousnesse Yea this love known and believed will constraine sinners to confesse the Lord that bought them and so with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Rom. 10. 10. which salvation also they are to believe and wait for knowing certainly that our Redeemer Jesus Christ will come and will not tarry Thus have I answered Mr. Troughtons Question and shewed what men who know that Christ dyed for them are to believe for the peace of their consciences Much more might be added but I proceed to speak a word or two to the conclusion of Mr. Troughtons Book that I may also draw towards the conclusion of this worke We declare unto you in our Mimistry saith he That Christ dyed for all for all the world for every man and woman that shall believe on him and accept of him upon the termes of the Gospel and is not here encouragement to poore sinners be their sinnes never so great Thou art not excluded by name and why shouldst thou exclude thy self through unbeliefe This Mr. Troughton calls the conclusion he might rather call it the confusion of his small Tract as he termes it For as I shewed you before he pul'd downe the maine building of his opinion in his 61. page By confessing that there is a generall offer of Grace and page 62. where he confesseth there it an umversalitâ—ie of the offer of Christ which offer none that regard the honour of God will doubt to be reall and here he razes the very foundation of his contradictious Doctrine in that he acknowledgeth that they who misse of mercy exclude themselves through unbeliefe and like men refusing helpe when they are almost drowned bring destruction to themselves through their neglect or refusall not striving to lay hold of mercy that they might be saved but questioning whether Christ were offered them with an intent to save them From whence these Coclusions do very freely flow 1. That there was mercy for them to lay hold on by faith who perish through unbeliefe 2. That they who enjoy not this mercy exclude themselves from it 3. That it is beyond doubt and question that Gods offer of Christ to men is with a purpose of his part to save them 4. That they who would be saved by Christ must strive to lay hold on him all which are pure heavenly and eternall truth and comes from Mr. Troughton as blessings from Balaam his heart dissenting from his hand and tongue For another while you shall find Mr. Troughton peremptorily concluding that God never intended his Sonne or mercy by him to all as Page 52. of his Booke where he speakes these very words in effect that it was not the purpose of God to give his Sonne to dye for all and that his death should be a sufficient price for all was never intended by God Now how should God send down his Sonne to save that which was lost and yet not give him to dye for them or that he should offer his Sonne to more then he gave him to dye for is senslesse to imagine except we should make God a mocker of his poore undone Creatures as Mr. Tronghton and others sometimes do In another place you shall heare him say That God appointed or decreed men to be disobedient How then can their destruction be of themselves yea how can their sin be of themselves if God appointed them to be disobedient Another while that Christ meriteth faith for the Saints and that he worketh or acteth faith in the Creatures how then can that be true which he sayes here that men must strive to lay hold on Christ and they that do not perish through unbeliefe Can there be any possibility that they should believe for whom Christ meirteth not faith seeing all that do believe had faith merited for them and it was not they that believed but Christ in them or that they believed at least by an unresistable power Sure then they laid not hold of the rope as Mr. Troughton sayes drawing men out to doe not asking questions much lesse did they strive so to doe but the rope laid hold on them and pluckt them up whether they would or no. And thus you see that Mr. Troughtons Doctrine is but like ropes of Sand it holds not together none can lay any sure hold of it it wil not hold his own weight for what he fastens in one place he breaks in another and what truth he speaks in one leaf oâ— his Book he leaves yea denyes in another what he buildes in a moneth he throwes downe in a minute For how is it possible that any soule can beleeve in God or Christ through his Teaching for he sayes that God did not give his Sonne to dye for all yet he offers grace to all that Redemption is not universall but the tenders of Christ are universal That God did let or send downe Christ to save lost man and they are not to question it but yet he appointed the greatest part of men to be disobedient That men exclude themselves by unbeliefe yet there was never a Christ for them to believe except they would believe on one that
never dyed for them That God decreed both the sinne and suffering of the Creature yet their destruction is of themselves With a hundred more of such contradictions which may be found in his and other mens Books which maintaine his Opinion which leaves many poore soules in the darke many in despaire more in prophanness and builds up the rest as I have shewed upon an uncertaine sandy foundation This he calls his or their Ministery and well he may for it 's not the Ministery of Christ or ministration of the Spirit for where doth the Spirit of God say Christ died for all and every man that accepts of him this Doctrine sets a soul to accept of Christ before they know what he hath done for them The ministration of the Spirit speaks thus that he diâ—d for all for every man for the whole world sinners heretikes which deny him and they that receive accept or believe on him shall not perish c. and this is the doctrine which we teach which the Lord hath blest blessed be his name to the conversion and consolation of mine and many thousand souls within these seven years Thus you see the conclusion of M. Troughtons little Tract put forth to lesse purpose which though some may judge legitimate yet such as have seen what men have formerly writ on this subject will discerne that it 's but borrowed out of other mens works of this kind yet he begs a blessing on his Babe but if ever his wisdome returne to him and his eyes are opened to see the deformity of the self contradiction and soul-distraction that is in it he will fly from it as Moses from his changed Rod and rather curse the day that this mishapen Monster came to light to restrain and limit Scripture Redemption I wonder what use M. Tro. can put his Doctrine to it affords no encouragement to the rebellious to come in for if they should be of that number which Christ died not for which is far the greater if M. Tro. doctrine were true it will not benefit them at ill as to their eternall state it can yeeld no solid or certain comfort to a drooping heart for if Christ did not die for all still he doubts whether he died for him And if God appointed men to be disobedient how dares M. Tro. reprove them for being so no sound exhortation to repent and believe arises from his tenets for he sayes God hath not enabled his creatures to do either but it must be done in them by an irresistable power he can never convince a soul of the riches of the grace and love of God to him for nothing will do that but the unerring evidence of the Spiâ—it in the Word of God and where that sayes Christ died for all he denies it and sayes the Scripture means no such thing it sends forth no dehortations from vice for he sayes that they who are partakers of the Grace the state to use his expression can never fall finally from it nor they that Christ died not for shall never come to it and what need M. Tro. disswade any man from an evill way be this doctrine And how can he inform any poor soul of the great kindnesse of God and Christ to him or her when he cannot clearly prove by expresse texts of Scripture that Christ died for them Hâ— may say thus seeing Christ did not die for all which is his doctrine then this serves to reprove them that say he did and that is â—saiah Christ Paul Peter and John and seeing God hath appointed most men to be disobedient this may encourage and comfort them in their disobedience in that they do what God appointed them to do and seeing God commands all to believe and accept of Christ yet hath not given power or ability to any so to do as he says it shewes what a hard Master God is who requires of his creatures that which they can never yea that which at least he never intended the greatest part should perform And seeing those that he calls Saints can never fall away from that state this may incourage men to go on in sin and cry peace and safety till suddain destruction hurles them into endlesse misery And though M. Tro. will not in words make such uses of his Doctrine yet Satan hath and doth prevail upon thousands the more 's the pity to make such uses of it they so naturally arising form those positions which he maintains I know that such uses are wicked much more is the doctrine that yeelds them if such fruit be to be abhor'd as sure it is much more the tree that bears it a good tree cannot yeeld such corrupt fruit the great God lay his Axe to the root of it and pluck up every plant that his hand hath not planted not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. But if Mr. Tro. hath better uses which clearly come from his doctrine I wonder he did not produce them for my part I shall as briefly as I can shew you that read these things what uses the Lord hath taught me by his Spirit in the Word to make of the Doctrine that I hold forth and which M. Tro. calls hereticall erroneous and corrupt opinions A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit search therefore courteous Reader and see whether the uses I am by the strength of the Lord about to lay down be good and then whether they be not the naturall and genuine issue of those doctrines which men call hereticall 1. If Christ died for all which is Pauls Doctrine and mine for the world for the whole world for every man as the Scriptures say c. it may serve to convince M. Tro. and every man and woman that he died for him and her that hears this glad tidings and that there is good news or Gospell for them and also to convince them of sin who believe not on him which could not be if he died not for them 2. It serves to reprove them that continue in sin and act contrary to him that gave his only Son to die for them 3. It informs us of the great and infinite love of the Father that gave his only Son he his dearest hearts bloud first virtually in the promise then actually in person rather then lost man should want a Redeemer and withall to inform men of the horrid and odious nature of sin which nothing can fully take away without the bloud of the Son of God 4. This may serve to perswade yea constrain sinners who do all live through Jesus Christ to love him that loved them first and gave his Son to be a propitiation for them and to keep his Commandements that is to live to him that died for them and rose again 5. This may encourage the greatest sinner that groaneth under sin to forsake sin and come to Christ who seeing he lov'd him so well as to die for him will in no wise cast
nor for for there is a world that is not thine a world that then diâ—st not give me to die for and therefore a world that I must not pray for I wonder that any man who pretends tendernesse of conscience and love to the Scriptures should dare to add to them but they that dare to restraine the Scriptures will dare also to add to the Scriptures and in time do any thing if they repent not But Secondly though Christ prayed not for the world in the same words and at that time when he prayed for his Disciples both not being in the same capacity yet afterwards and elswhere he doth and to clear up this let us search the Scriptures Job 17. which M. Tro. says is the patern of his prayer in heaven and to prove this he quotes Arminius for my part I never read his works as the searcher of hearts doth know but seeing M. Tro. thinks him authentique in this point I shall desire to shew this patern to all those that shall read this work that so we may be as well acquainted with the intercession of Christ as his Oblation of himself to God for us Observe then first that Christ from the 6. ver to the end of the 19. makes mention only of his Disciples in being as any considerate soul may see if they do but read and mind what is written In the 20. and part of 21. he prays for all that should believe through the word of truth and in the later part of the 21. and in part of the 33. for the world that they might believe and know that the Father sent him And if any shal say as they often do that by the world is meant the Believers Saints Elect or the Disciples of Christ they mistake much for Christ sayes ver the 8. they his Disciples have surely knowne that I came out from thee and have believed that thou didst send me and besides all impartial spirits will confesse that the world and the Saints are always oppos'd to each other Secondly that Christ made intercession for the transgressors Isâ— 53. 12. and Luk. 23. 34. he prays for his persecutors Romans Israelites Jews Gentiles Father forgive them for they know not what they do and Christs precepts and practise are not contradicting one to the other nay he commands us to pray for them that persecute us Mat. 5. 44. for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. Christ did pray for his friends and he prayed for his enemies for Saints and for sinners though not in the same expressions for if he had prayed for the world I mean wicked men in the same terms as for his Disciples he had prayed rather against them then for them when he petition'd that they might be one for unity in iniquity is as bad as unity in piety is good every one that prays with understanding is apt to pray for the Saints that God would keep them in peace and unity that they may continue in the way that they are 〈◊〉 and for all people and Nations that God would disperse the beams of truth amongst them that so they may know and believe and be converted they desire that God would preserve their friends and pardon their persecutors but do not usually pray that God would keep the men of the world in the way that they are in onenesse of mind c. or that the Saints may be converted neither did our Teacher the Lord Christ do thus but that the Disciples who had known and believed might be preserv'd in one and kept from evill and that the world might know and believe him whom the Father had sent and sealed Thus you see if this prayer of Christ in the 17. of Iohn be the patern of his prayer in heaven as M. Tro. from Arminius hath asserted that then our dear Redeemer hath not left out one man or woman for there are but two sorts of people nor ever were there any more believers and unbelievers Saints and sinners the Elect and the world and for both these he prays though in different expression as you have heard before Ob. But will some say that that if Christ had ever prayed for the world that they might believe and know him then they should have so done because Christ was alwayes heard by the Father but say they we see that all do not believe and know Christ therefore he need not to pray This argument is very deceitfull and grounded upon a false supposition that because men do not therefore they cannot nor ever could know the Lord and believe him but this supposall being false the argument is so to as I have largely proved before in this discourse But secondly I answer Jesus Christ did never pray in vain but obtain'd what he prayed for the works of redemption and intercession c. being finished from the foundation of the world and all men may know and believe the Lord as the Prophets and Apostles have testified and as from them I have before shew'd out of Isa 5. 4. Isa 43. 9 10. Jo. 1. 7. Rom. 1. 19. 20. with many others I beseech you read and consider them and from them you will clearly see that God hath not been wanting to reveal light and knowledge of himself through Christ but men may know and believe 't is possible for them and nothing hinders them but the devill and themselves their self-will and their sins which cause God to leave them and hide good things from them Christ prayed that the world might believe and know him and it 's granted all men through him may believe Joh. 1. 7. 't is true as hath been formerly shew'd that God doth not enable all men to know and believe with the same measure of light but every man hath sufficient according to his ability neither shall all men be accountable for the same proportion of talents yet he that had but one must reckon for that and they that have been faithfull in a little shall be Rulers over much And let this be considered well by all men that as Christ died for all yet none that are men and women shall have eternall life only by his powring out his bloud for them without obedience to him according to what he reveals to them so though Christ prays for all men yet none are saved to the uttermost meerly through his intercession except they being invited by the spirit come to God through him as you may see Heb. 7. 25. wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them and this being true that all men may know and believe the Lord I conclude that this ability is obtain'd for them through the intercession of Christ without whom we never had enjoyed any thing no not a being and that Christ in this was heard in that he desired all men through him according to his request may know and believe the world through him may be saved yea
little or much life or death they shall rejoyce in the God of their salvation say to the righteous it shall be well with them And if any shall say that if they should quit their forced maintenance peoples hearts would be so hard that they would allow them nothing I answer 1. Through the power of the word many would be converted and then they cannot withhold their carnall things from those who minister spiritualls to them then the love of Christ would constrain them to do willingly that at least which before the Law of men compell'd them to by that uncouth force of treble damages And 2. They shall find that a little which the righteous hath is better then the grrat revenues that come with hatred strife and contention 't was the saying of Elies sons thou shalt give it us or we will take it by force and they were sons of Belial who knew not the Lord. I hope the Ministers of England and Scotland who term themselves the Ministers of Christ will not conforme to such Ministers if they do and resolve so to do God will cut them off as he did them And let not any ask what became of our Forefathers for God who causeth the light to shine out of darknesse hath appeared in far more translucent brightnesse of Gospell purity then they knew and therefore more is expected of us they were precious instruments in the hand of God but few years â—ince many of them and others yet are alive who were such their labours successeful and persons acceptable who neglecting to follow yea opposing another or more discoveries of divine light have been laid aside are grown dull and dead and some taken off short by the hand of divine justice Oh therefore you who are the Parish Teachers in this Isle consider that Christ died for you as well as for the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam therefore love him and shew your love by keeping his Commandements and his only do not do any more in Gods worship then Christ hath commanded you he requires you to believe or do no more then what is written do not add to your task and Christs yoke consider how the Lord will deal with such as add to or diminish from his will beware of stumbling at the word being disobedient where unto you were appointed or set they that stumble at the rock shall be broken in pieces and they upon whom that rock or stone shall fall shall be ground â—o powder God is not willing that you should perish but rather that you should turne from your own way and live I know this to be truth for he hath spoken it and Christ hath sealed it with his bloud he shed for you which he would never have done if he had not desired your welfare And thus you see how usefull the Doctrine we preach is and therefore no way to be despised or disparaged as it is by many in our Generation who speak evill of the things they understand not But I come in the last place by the blessed assistance of God to shew you by whom and why this doctrine is opposed and then I shall conclude this work 1. This Doctrine is opposed by Satan who knows that if it should be evinced that Christ died for all then men would come to see the love of God to them and would every where begin to love God and so obey his voice and if it should be published and proved that God hath of his own free mercy ordâ—in'd that all men may and ought to serve him and hath furnished them with ability to know and believe him and to do whatsoever he requires of them and that if they perish it 's their own fault then they would blesse his name and be doing his work and listen to his word all which things destroy Satans Kingdome And if it should be manifested that there is very great danger of departure from God and of being deceived then he knows that the Saints would be more heedfull and watchfull they would be fearfull of falling into sin and of back sâ—â—ding from truth which things are contrary to Satans projects and profit for he strives more to train aside one poor soul from the way of righteousnesse then to keep twenty in the way of wickednesse knowing that he can make the enemies of the truth â—riumph and blaspheme more by the fall of one that is called to be a Saint then by a thousand sins done by others 2. This Doctrine is opposed by false Teachers such as deny Scriptures Order Ordinances or such as rage and raile against the way of Christ and practise contrary to him worshipping the true God falsly yea all sorts of false Teachers as for example Christ sayes Disciple all Nations baptizing them but saith the world baptize them and disciple them afterwards for infants as infants cannot be Disciples for he that taketh not up his Crosse and followeth Christ cannot be his Disciple and that infants cannot do the Spirit of God sayes repent and be baptized the men of the world say be baptized and repent after yet they say they bring sin enough into the world to damn them eternally and they baptize them before they repent of it the Spirit sayes if thou believest thou mayest the world sayes they may be baptized who believe not the Spirit of God sayes who can forbid water that they should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost some men say that they who are baptized with the Spirit need not nay ought not to be baptized with water though they know not who they are In a word they who eitâ—â—r in judgment or practise continue contrary to light revealed oppose the doctrine and light held forth by Christ his Word and Spirit and walk by the light of their own fires fancies I may say oppose that Doctrine by me and thousands received from the Scriptures 1. Because if it should be declared that Christ died for all then people would begin to love him and to repent of sin and enquire after him and his wayes and forsake all false Teachers and every false way then they would so love Jesus Christ that they will cry out Lord what wilt thou have me to do and more or lesse they would not willingly do in his worship then he hath required not more because he hath given enough and works of supererogation and to be wise above what 's written are abominable in the sight of God not lesse because that which he requires of us is but little in comparison of the great things he hath done and suffered for us 2. If it should be published that Christ died for all then the greatest part of the Scripture must be taken as it is written and that is contrary to the profit of the Papists and all false Prophets who would fain have people believe that the Scriptures are very obscure that so they may deter the people from studying them and give them money
according to their demands for to expound them by their corrupt glosses and theâ— also great would be the company of the publishers of the Gospell for the love of God would so fill their hearts as with new wine that they could not but declare what God hath done for their souls and this would make false teachers fill'd with the wisdome of this world fret when the mysteries of the love of God should be revealed to and by Babes in the Gospell 3. Self is much an enemy to it for most men yea all those many thousands which now own this truth of Christs dying for all do well know that not only Satan and false Teachers did secretly and openly incite them against it but their own heart corrupt through custome in fin did rise against it and that for this reason If they should acknowledge that Christ died for all and that God through him hath appointed and enabled them to do his will then they should have no liberty or leisure to linger and loiter in fin but they must appear in love to Jesus Christ to be doing his work which he calls them to there must be no sleeping nor slumbring nor folding their hands to sleep but up and be doing and as in the bodily so in this spirituall labour the creature deluded by Satan cannot endure to do his duty which the Gospell calls for and this self I mean self-love self-will self-interests and ends c. till it be subdued by the appearing and receiving the light from the Lord cannot endure to hear that there is any possibility of falling from the favour of God for this would be a mighty check to their pleasure profit and delight they have in sin fain would self even the fleshly mind root out all such thoughts that it may feed it self with lusts and take its ful swindge in sin without controule And whatever specious pretences men may cover their conceits with and cry out against this Doctrine as uncomfortable c. yet the Serpents head lies hid beneath them who prompts them to decry it that so he may keep them from that godly feare and trembling with which they ought to work our their owne salvation I know we must serve God without fear of displeasing men by obeying him and without fear of his deceiving of us of any thing he haâ—â— promised yet continually fearing to offend him who loved us and fearing lest we should come short of what is promised through our own unbelief The Apostle Paul was as eminent a Saint as most yet he kept his body in subjection lest by any means when he had preached to others he himself should be a east-away In a word if this Doctrine should be faithfully published it would wonderfully draw out mens soules after Christ drive out the power of sin carry forth mens Spirits to propagate the Gospell hurle down the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist by the mighty increase of knowledge faith and love advance holinesse sobriety and righteousnesse stir up men to diligence godly fear and watchfullnesse at least leave men without any encouragement to live in sin one moment take away all those Cob-web cloaks with which men palliate their impieties remove all excuses and even force men to confesse their destruction is of themselves and therefore is it oppos'd by Satan selfe and false teachers who would all suffer losse by the fire of Gods Word if their deceits and doctrines come to be discovered by the glorious light of these truths which men call heresie and erroneous opinions I am not unacquainted with the tossings and torments of mind which they are subject to that hold the doctrines contrary to these in the foregoing treatise insisted on their dejections of spirit and dubiousnesse of heart one while even drownes them in black despair another while their foundationlesse faith and groundlesse confidence through the exceeding subtilty of Satan makes them to dare to adventure upon a sin upon this score that if they are elected they cannot hereby fall finally and if they are not it will not be any impairing of their irrecoverable hopelesse condition I know Satan will provoke men to fret exceedingly against these things with the highest risings and liftings up of spirit But it being my owne experience in former times and of hundreds who have communicated theirs with mine since the daies of their conversion I cannot neither will I conceal the counsells and cunning of so great an enemy but speak truth to his yea to my own shame neither am I ignorant of the strong consolation in obedience the strength against temptations the heedfull diligence care and watchfullnesse against sin which they are possest with who knowingly and cordially hold and lay to heart that Christ died for all for thereby they are so sure that he died for them that it 's a hard matter for the devill and world to drive his love out of their hearts and draw them into disobedience but they that hold the contrary call the truth of many and so at length of all the Scriptures into question as the Shropshire Ministers confesse pagâ— 1. of their namelesse paper And I am confident that as the Lord hath so he will blesse this Doctrine with those that professe it and practise that holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety which that grace of God which â—ringeth salvation to all men teacheth and by his owne Spirit not the word and arme of flesh will signally appeare to the overturning of that great mountain of false doctrine that hath kept poore creatures from beholding the face of the Son of righteousnesse in the truth of the Gospell and that they who say Christ did not die for all so giving the lye to the Spirit of God and that God did absolutely appoint the greatest part of men to be disobedient not giving them ability to do what he requires and yet will damne them for not doing it that God commands men to do that which he will work in them by an irresistable power and to make as though God contradicts himselfe that the Lord that bought false Teachers was not Christ c. shall be convinced or covered with the cloak of confusion For my part if any maligne me for the puâ—â—ishing of this plaine downe-right discourse I desire the Lord to forgive them and turne their hearts and yet graciously wait to manifest to them that precâ—ous â—râ—th which they oppose that by it they may be comfoâ—ted and established in their minds encouraged to take up the Crosse of Jesus and follow him in all Gospell-obedience I desire no lesse for the greatest of my Adversaries then that they may come out of Babilon the false Church and worship one God in spirit and truth amongst such as keep the commands of Jesus as he hath given them out to us by his Spirit in the word of truth that so we may walk in the light of the Lord whilest we are here and being accounted worthy to escape all those things which shall come upon this Generation may hereafter sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the everlasting Kingdome of God our Saviour Amen FINIS * Master Trough p. 1. Isa 28. 21. Isa 29. 14. Job 38. 2 13 7. * Cap. Ever Sam. Oates Benj. Morley Mr. Prior Wil. Kendal Re. Fâ—ilding c. Mr. Troug in his Introduct pag. 1. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. Powel M. Wood others M. Powel Ma. Butler of Col Berye's Regim Mr. Rutherford Mr. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford M. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford Mr. Resbury M. Wood. Mr. Tro. Mr. Wood. Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood M. Grant M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Jam. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Syd Simpson A. M. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Batty c. The Shropshire Ministers M. John Symson Simil. Mr. Deiamain Mr. Powel Simil. M. Trough Argument M. Trough Simil. M. Trough Conclusion M. Resbâ—ry M. Owen M. Rutherford M. Staltham Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3.