Scripture and if the words doe not beare the sense they import who shall tell us what the sense is and what a gap is here to all wickednesse Yet those generall words All men Every Man and the World are not so often found in Scripture in affirmation of any of the forementiontioned particulars As in affirming the death of Christ as the Ransome And surely hee that will not beleeve the same for the testimony the Scripture giveth of it doth not beleeve any of the former for the testimony of Scripture but for some other cause that is moveable If any say what need of Interpreters if the Scriptures have the sense the words thereof import I Answer they are very needfull not to Straighten or take away the sense the words import or to devise another But to open and explaine That sense the words beares and to cleerand evidence out of the words themselves and confirm it by other-like places and so to presse it on us and apply it to us for admonition Instruction Dehortation Exhortation Consolation and so to root out this evill estimate of the Scriptures and evill dealing with it from the hearts and mouthes of all Christians that the Scripture may be esteemed meet to answer words of truth with as is said Prov. 22.21 CHAP. XV. Of Answering a second OBJECTION Objection II. SAint JOHN makes it an infallible marke of the love of CHRIST to them for whom he laid down his life 1 Joh. 3.16 But God hath not loved every man in the World For he hated Esau Rom. 9.13 but his Church and his owne whom he loves to the end Ephes 5.25 Joh. 13.1 Therefore Christ dyed not for Every man ANSWER 1 Joh. 3.1 Being spoken in the first Person and applicatively of perception of love in the Death of Christ propounded for example and motive It is much abused in being cited to this end as may be seen Chap. 3. and 4. and 5. and so the Proposition is of no force for it is a proof of the Love of God to the World That hee sent his Sonne to be the Saviour of the World Joh. 3.16 and 1 Joh. 4.14 and so of the Love of Christ to mankind To give himself a Ransome for all men 1 Tim. 2.6 and yet a proof of more especiall Love To choose and bring any in the perception of this Love to Union and Fellowship with himself Joh. 15.15 16. and Tit. 3.4 7. as in our Types the bringing out of Egypt was a proof of his Love to all so brought out but yet more especiall love to those that hearkened to his Judgements and did them Deut. 7.8 12 13 14. Besides the Apostles doe not there propound the Death of Christ to shew how many he dyed for or as the foundation to bring in unbelievers to beleeve or to shew how many God loves but onely speaking of the perception of Love by Beleevers He sheweth wherein they perceived it and that was in that he laid down his life for us and this was sure when wee were his enemies and so found when he called us also Rom. 5.8 10. Ephes 1.2 4. And that to this end to move us even so to love our Brother who without question is beloved whereas this Objection shuts the door of loving any till or farther then we know his Election Though the Gospel this Objection opposeth giveth a certaine ground for loving all men with Love of Compassion 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Tit. 3.2 3 4. and for Loving Beleevers with Love of delight Psalm 16.2 Coloss 1.4 5. Phil. 1.3 4 5 8 9. This Assumption is full of infidelity and Blasphemy If it had been that God doth not love every man in the World It might have been granted and proved But to say God hath not loved any but his Church and chosen whom he loves to the end is a blasphemy so great that the same may be said of it which is spoken of that Apostacy Jere. 2.10 11 12. For this with one breath both blasphemeth and contradicteth our Saviours affirmation of Gods love of the World some part whereof will notwithstanding perish Joh. 3.16 17 18 19. The Prophets affirmation That the Lord is good to All and his tender mercies are over all his Workes Psalm 145.8 9. and 136.25 Yea the truth and force of all Gods earnest Expostulation Intimation of Love Exhortations and Call to such as refused Deutr. 5.29 Hosea 5. and 7.1 Isa 5.4 Prov. 1.23 24. Luke 19.42 Matth. 23.37 Hos 13.19 Yea the truth and force of our Saviours Exhortation to his Disciples for being like their heavenly Father in Love and mercy to enemies Matth. 5.44.48 The Testimony of Gods goodnesse in all his Works Act. 14.17 Rom. 2.4 Yea this Assumption goeth yet further in that it doth not onely say God doth not now love them while they walk in sin But God hath not loved every man in the World no not any time since Adams fall So as to give any Ransome for them and so denyeth Heb. 2.9 Nay it stops not here except his Elect whom he loves for ever It saith Hee hath not loved any other of mankind no not when he made and beheld them all righteous in Adam as the Publick Person and blessed them and avouched all his workes good Eccl. 7.29 Gen. 1.27 31. It saith God hath not loved but hated them oh fearfull To say that God hateth the Righteous Psal 45.7 and so they could not fall from the love of God in the fall of Adam since his Love was never towards them nor could they fall under the hatred of God by sinne either Originall or Actuall since they were under it before if this Assumption were true for it saith hee hath not loved them and if any should tell them Their sinnes are very great for offending so loving a God for despising so rich a Ransome and refusing the grace offered them in the meanes and giving way to serve sinne that cost Christ Jesus his blood to satisfie for them And that they forsake their owne mercies by following lying vanities And so warne them of the great condemnation that will befall them for the same if they perish in their evills and entreat them by all the Mercies of God and sufferings of Christ for them To hearken to the Gospel Repent and beleeve and turne unto Christ This assumption holds them back and saith It is all Lyes for God hath not loved them Oh whether will this blasphemy reach But to give some satisfying Answer to this Objection Let the Scripture be viewed what it saith of Love or Hatred which there appeares two-fold First the Scripture mentions a divers kind or degree of Love in God towards men shewne in the fruits thereof as to say 1. A Love of Compassion Pitty and Mercy Psal 136.25 and 145.8 9. Such a Love as extendeth it self so farre for the good of man loved in good things afforded That a man is made saveable and so much is done for him and to him That in
I am perswaded not Though no comparrison can fully set forth but darkly hint this businesse And enough to Answer the Objection which was directly framed to gain-say the expresse and plaine Sayings of Scripture CHAP. XVII Of Answering a Fourth OBJECTION Objection IV. THose for whom Christ would not vouchsafe to manifest himself to or to pray for He would not die for Rom. 8.32 Joh. 14.17 22. and 17.9 But Christ will not manifest himself to nor pray for the world of the ungodly and wicked men Therefore hee never dyed for them ANSWER This Objection is very false and many wayes faulty For 1. It were neither right nor good reasoning to say God would never make the Heavens and the Earth and a World of Creatures in both for that man and make that man in His own Image Righteous and put him in a Paradise and give him a Tree of Life and provide him a Sabboath and make him Lord of the Workes of his hands and put the Life and Priviledges of all Mankind in his keeping whom he would not preserve in that good estate yet hath this Argument the same though in a lesse degree of strength to deny God's creating all men yea or the first Adam righteous That this Objection hath to denie the Death of Christ as a Ransome for All. Eccl. 7.29 1 Pet. 4.19 2. The Objection expresseth not what manifestation it meaneth and this is sure Christ will so manifest himself to All men that they shall see what right of Lordship he had over them by vertue of his Death and Ransome given and Conquest made for them Even so that they shall see the greatnesse of their sinne in despising and rebelling against Him and Persecuting His and shall come before his Judgement-seat and acknowledge him Lord to the glory of God Isa 45.23 and 66.14 Psal 86.9 Matth. 25.31 Ezek. 35.11 12. Rom. 14.19.12 2 Cor. 5.10 Phil. 2.10 11. 3. If Jesus Christ had any where said That hee never did nor ever would pray for the World which he never said yet it were evill in us to use that as a Reason to denie the truth of his owne words That said he would give his flesh for the life of the World Joh. 6.51 and that he dyed for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. and every man Heb. 2.9 and gave himself a Ransome for All. 1 Tim. 2.6 4. This Argument confounds into one without difference or distinction First Gods love of Compassion which belongs to all Psal 145.8 9. Joh. 3.16 and his love of Delight which only belongs to all those which in beliefe of his former Love are brought in to love him Joh. 21.23 1 Cor. 2.9 Prov. 8.17 Secondly The Death of Christ as the Propitiation and Ransome which is for All. Heb. 2.9 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Joh. 2.2 and the advacation of Christ that is onely for Beleevers 1 Joh. 2.1 Joh. 14.16 Thirdly Christ sending his Spirit to enlighten every man Joh. 1.9 and 16.8 11. and his Peculiar giving of Spirit to comfort and lead Beleevers into all Truth Joh. 14.17 and 16.14 15. All which things the Scripture maketh distinct as is shewne Chap. 1. and 2. and 3. and 10. 5. Those to whom Christ doth graciously manifest himself are in his first manifesting himself to them found sinners and ungodly and of the World as they were when he Dyed for them Isa 55.5 and 65. 1 Matth. 9.13 Act. 9.3 4 5. and 26.13 18. 1 Tim. 1.13.16 Tit. 3.3 4 5. So that this whole Argument is fallen without farther Answer yet the Proofs are to be considered to see whether they countenance it or be abused by it To prove the first Proposition is cited Rom. 8.32 Hee that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall be not with him freely give us all things also ANSWER I. This is not spoken in the third Person nor of the Ransome onely nor as a Proposition for unbeleevers to bring them in to beleeve and so gives not Answer to the Question for how many be dyed and so is dangerously abused in being brought to that end as is shewne Chap. 3.4 This being applicatively spoken of and to Beleevers to confirme them in that abundant hope which they had and which no other had or could have till they beleeved and so were in Christ as they were 1 Joh. 5.10.13 2. This is not spoken so as may serve the Proposition viz. Hee that spared not his owne Sonne but delivered him up for us all how shall Hee not freely give us all things It is not said so But how shall hee not with him also freely give us all things So speaking of his free giving him to us and with him all things also Wee that beleeve doe through the grace and mercy of God in some measure know that Jesus Christ having made the Propitiation in being delivered up to death for our sinnes and raised for our Iustification Rom. 4.25 Is now exalted at Gods right hand unmeasurably filled with the Holy Ghost in our nature glorified The Advocate high Priest Prophet and King Act. 2.32.33 1 Joh. 2.12 Heb. 5.7 8. The Wisedome of God the Power of God the Sonne of God and Heire of the Kingdome 1 Cor. 1.24 Matth. 13.17 Heb. 1.2 The brightnesse of his glory and the expresse Image of his Person by whom hee upholdeth all things and that is one with the Father and in whom the Father dwells Heb. 1.3 Joh. 10.30 and 14.9 10 11 20. whos 's all that is the Fathers is 1 Ioh. 16.15 Who is made of God to us wisedome righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Who is the Fountaine of Life and spirit out of whom it aboundantly floweth to all that beleeve on him and walke in that saith to make them Sonnes to witnesse their Sonship to confirme them to Christ To lead them into all Truth to preserve them to cause all to worke for good to them to bring them to the Inheritanc and Kingdome with himself Psal 36.8 9. Act. 2.33 Joh. 7.38 39. Tit. 3.4.7 Joh. 1.12 Rom. 8.16 2 Cor. 3.3.18 Joh. 16.13 14. Rom. 8.28.17 1 Pet. 1.3.5 Now when God by his Spirit so makes known his grace in Christ through the Gospel that he enters the heart with the grace of Christ enabling it to beleeve and so receive the Attonement That the Beleever is enabled thereby to depend on Christ for the hope Discovered in him Then and therein is the Beleever drawne and given to Christ Ioh. 6.44 45. 1 Pet. 1.21 22. and Christ in and by his Word and Spirit is given to the Beleever Tit. 3 4 5 6. So as the Beleevers may say Not onely unto us a Sonne is borne but also unto us a Sonne is given Isai 9.6 They now by free-gift and by beleeving receit having Christ and having life by having him and being Sonnes also thereby 1 Joh. 5.10 11 12 13. Joh. 1.12 13. which giveth them hope of all good 1 Ioh. 3.1 2. And hence the Apostle
Prevented The LORD in Mercy give thee so to beleeve minde and acknowledge the Death and Lordship of JESUS CHRIST that this with all such warnings and entreaty may timely take place in thy heart USE II. If thou be one that hast more attentively heeded the report of the Gospel and hast so framed thy self that thou art not onely free from walking in such open and manifest evill wayes as the former but art also more dilligent in frequenting the Church Assemblies and sometimes reading the Scriptures and using some Prayers and shewest some mercy to the Poore and livest justly and peaceably amongst thy Neighbours and herein concludest Peace to thy self and trustest hereby to come to Eternall Life Not yet having received any supernaturall light and motion of the Spirit in the Gospel applying the precious Blood of Christ to thy heart and so speaking Peace to thy soul and purifying thy nature thereby and bringing thee in to God to take comfort in him and seek the things of him that are above But that thou dost yet minde the things that are below and art inwardly most busied and carefull to keep and preserve to thy self a Name or Riches or Promotion amongst men and so taken up with cares thoughts and exercise this way That there is not room enough for the Word of the Gospel to take place and root in thee nor for thee so to heed and give up to it that thou mightest receive from the holy Spirit in the Word the forceable application and effecacy of the Blood of JESUS CHRIST so that by reason of this thy neglect thou art not yet through the Grace discovered in his blood made penitent and so united to CHRIST nor hath received of the Spirit of Christ to fasten thy confidence in him alone that hee might be all in all to thee I pray thee also mind the scope of this Treatise and especially Chap. 1. 2. and what the Scripture saith of this businesse It is a truth that God hath given us Eternall life and that this Life is in his Sonne But if thou have not this his Sonne and be not by an unfained faith united to him thou hast not yet that Eternall Life that is in him Joh. 1.11 12 13. and 3.18 1 Joh. 5.11 12. It is a truth That Jesus Christ hath shed his blood for thee but if by his Spirit thou be not sprinkled and washed therewith thou hast no part with him in his speciall Priviledges 1 Pet. 1.2 Truth it is hee by his blood hath bought thee and procured Life for thee and meanes to use and seek life and so hee is Lord over thee Acts 10.36 But if thou have not his Spirit to keep thee to him and in his Government thou art yet none of his Peculiar Ones Rom. 2.5.9 10 14. I pray thee set thy heart to this businesse it is no vaine word nor falshood that hath been told thee That Iesus Christ did Die for thee and hath life in himselfe to bestow on thee and in him is all fulnesse of heavenly Treasures and riches of Everlasting life freely to bestow on all that come in to submit to and beleeve on him Deut. 30.11.12 20. Rom. 10.7.11 doe not therefore suffer thy self to be detained and kept off from these heavenly riches by seeking worldly and fading things It will be no rejoycing Profit to thee if thou shouldest winne the whole World and loose thy owne Soul Mat. 16.26 be not so unwise as by following lying vanities the goodliest flourishings of the World being no better To forsake thy owne Mercies Joh. 2.8 nor feed on ashes till a deceived heart turne thee aside Isai 44.20 Remember that there is a way that seemeth right to a man and yet the Issues thereof are the issues of Death Prov. 16.25 There is a generation that are Pure in their owne eyes and yet are not washed from their filthinesse Prov. 30.12 Doe not thou therefore by any of thy doings speake Peace and conceive Etaernall Life to thy self before Christ by his Spirit in the Word of Grace make his blood effectuall in thee and thereby speak Peace to thee and so by Spirit give into thy heart the beliefe of his goodnesse and the hope of eternall life renewing thee and seeing there is such Mercy and Hope and Life in him that Dyed for thee Beware thou doe not faile nor come short thereof Let the Love of Christ and his Precious blood he shed for thee and the hope Procured therethrough and in the Gospel set forth for thee bee of more account and force with thee then so But seek him and rest not till hee by his Spirit hath applyed his blood to thee and washed and sealed thee therewith Heb. 4.1 and 12.15 Remember I pray thee that wholsome warning of him that Dyed for thee Matth. 7.21 Nvt every on that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven and is it not the will of our heavenly Father that wee should heare his Sonne and beleeve on him Matth. 3.17 Joh. 6.20 and is not JESUS CHRIST the Authour of Salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 and is not this Obedience to obey his Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 Rom. 6.17 and is that all Obedience to heare it Preached often and to read it and to live honestly amongst men and so to hope for Eternall life Surely no This Obedience is in beleeving on him and submission to him and it beginnes in obedience to his death and bloodshed both in acceptance of it and of what it requires and Promiseth and submission thereto and to be conformed to him in it 1 Pet. 1 2. Phil. 2.5.8 Now I pray thee hath not the Gospel affirmed that Christ dyed and gave himself a Ransome for thee and is he not set forth in the Gospel as the Propitiation for thy sinnes through faith in his blood 1 Joh. 2.2 Rom. 3.25 Now doth not this blood of his so shed for thee if ever it were Spiritually hinted to thy heart require of thee and offer to worke in thee a sight and acknowledgement of the multitude and heynousnesse of thy sinnes that were laid on Christ Isai 53.2.6 Joh. 1.9 with a sensible sorrow and a piercing heart for them Zath 12.10 and killing the very Life and delight in them Gal. 5.24 Rom. 6.6 with an abasing and loathing thy self as that cursed one for whom he was made a Curse Gal. 3.10 13. and doth not the Spirit by this blood require and offer to worke in thee a renouncing of trust or reliance in or thinking to come before God in any Changes Righteousnesse or workes of thy owne which is of the Law Gal. 2.20 Phil. 3.7 8 9. And doth it not likewise require and offer to work in thee a contempt and disrespect of all the glory and appearing Excellency of the Fame Riches Pleasures and Promotions of this World Gal. 6.14 Phil. 3.6.8 and doth it
not require of thee and offer to worke conformity to him in death in being as dead to sinne and to all the life and glory in humane and worldly parts righteousnesse fame riches pleasures friendship and life and submission to be deprived of any of them as Hee and the Gospel shall require That thou mightest finde and receive all thy wisedome righteousnesse and life in and from him Matth. 16.24 25. Phil. 3.3.7 8 9. and doth it not likewise promise in this submission to him and dependance on him Romission of sinnes Peace Righteousnesse and life Acts 10.43 and 13.36 38. and doth not the great love of God testified in his blood-shed sometime move at thy heart to yeeld to all this and let all â—oe to come to him who in this thy obedience to the blood of Christ will by his Spirit sprinckle the same blood in thy heart and thereby speake Peace to thee and purify thee and consolate thy heart and shed abroad his love in thee by his Spirit and so acquint thee with heavenly hope and riches Heb. 12.14 1 Pet. 1.2 Tit. 3.4.7 Rom. 5.15 and till this be Though Christ dyed for thee and life be in him for thee yet thou hast not Life Therefore I pray thee be not deceived say not Thou art rich when thou art yet poor Revel 3.17 but rather seek that which is true riches indeed and seek it of Christ in whom it is and rest not till thou be submitted to him and that he by his Spirit take knowledge of thee enable thee to beleeve and justifie thee Joh. 10.27 1 Pet. 1.21 22. Rom. 3.26 So as thou in some measure experiment that in Rom. 5.1 2. It will bee to thee-ward but a heavy knowledge to stand before him one Day and know that be shed his blood for thee and Redeemed thee that hee might be thy Lord and that true Gospel was Preached to thee when all that blood shed for thee and all the Gospel with all the entreaties of his Servants and motions of his Spirit and all his Patience and Bounty shall be laid to thy charge and come in as witnesse against thee because thou hast not come in to his Regiment and submitted to his Death set forth in his Gospel Rom. 14.9 12. Matth. 11.20.24 Now is the time in which hee is to be found and submitted too and Spirit received from him Hee now offers thee grace 2 Cor. 5.19 20. 6.2 Matth. 25 1 13. Doe not fore-slow till it be too late till the door be shutt for then it will not availe thee to say LORD open unto us wee have eate and drurke in thy Presence and thou hast taught in our streets Remember the Five foolish Virgins Luke 13.2 5 26. Matth. 25.1.13 And deferre not till it be too late which GOD in Mercy prevent but seek in this time of finding which God in mercy grant thee USE III. If thou be one that holdest That Christ dyed and wrought Redemption for All Men and dost desire to Partake of the benifit of his Death and to have Eternall Life with him and for that end makest Images to thy self to put thee in mind of him and makest interceeding Mediatours of Angels and Saints departed to entreat his love for thee and devisest Penitentiall abasements and mortifications as wareing haire garments lying on bare boards or chopt straw going barefoot on Pilgrimage willfull Poverty and usest dilligence in use of humane devises and mens Precepts to Worship God withall and are at labour and cost and usest and dost many Workes of Devotion and of Mercy and Equity to make thy self worthy of Christ and life by him and through all these to make up a Confidence of life to thy selfe I pray thee what wrong should be done thee if one shall charge thee with the sinne of the Heathen in a higher degree then those Rom. 1.18 22. for dost not thou herein hold the Truth in unrighteousnesse and professing to know GOD thou dost not glorifie him as GOD but becommest vaine in thy immaginations and professing thy self to be wise thou becomest most foolish for even in this way wherein thou thinkest to serve and honour him and to have life by him thou dost directly disobey and dishonour him and provokest him to curse thee I pray thee consider and let thy heart answer without stop is this obedience or disobedience to the death and bloodshed of Jesus Christ To be so alive to thy owne wisedome thoughts wayes and workes to choose thy own wayes and put confidence therein See and consider what is said before to such as are not gone a whoring in thy way and what is written Jer. 9.23 24. 1 Cor. 1.29 30 31. 2 Cor. 10.17 18. 1 Joh. 5.20 21. Isai 66.1 2 3. and thou shalt see thy way sinfull is this to honour him or to dishonour him To advance thy self in a Will-worship and in Observation of things that Perish in thousing Coll. 3.18.23 Doth not his blood spiritually applyed to the heart humble and melt mortifie sinne appease the Conscience and purify the heart Zach. 12.10 1 Pet. 1 2. Hebr. 9.14 Why seekest thou this in other things devised by thy self or other men Is not hee full of Spirit to imprint his Word in thy heart and is not his Spirit of devine force and doe not his Words doe good to them that walke uprightly Isai 68.18 Acts 2.32 Heb. 8.1 2 6 10. Jam. 4.5 Mal. 2.7 Joh. 1.14 16 17. Why seekest thou to be minded of him and to serve him by humane devises Is not hee the brightnesse of his Fathers glory and the expresse Image of his Fathers Person Even the Hee that upholds all things by the Word of his Power who when he had by himself purged our sinnes sate downe on the right band of the Majesty on high Hebr. 1.3 Who beareth and seeth all things Hebr. 4.12 13. Whose lippes are full of grace being also the most Excellent in Beauty Psalm 45.2 Cant. 5.10 and who breatheth forth Spirit to reprove to comfort to teach and help to Pray and returne answeres of Prayers Joh. 14.26 and 15.26 and 16.13 15. Romanes 8.26 Psalm 85.8 Why dotest thou then on dead things Images of mens making that can neither heare nor see nor taste nor smell nor speake nor goe nor doe good nor evill but must be borne and so makest thy self in respect of spirituall life like them Psal 115.4 8. If thou say no thou wilt have no Image of God the Father whose Image Christ is but of Christ himselfe as he was Man to mind thee of him sure Thou knowest thou hast no Word of his so to doe and what dishonour doest thou to him who hath promised by his Word and Spirit to be with his to the Worlds end and to manifest himself to such as in beleeving dâ—e honour and love him and walke in that love Matth. 28.20 Joh. 14.21 22 23. and if thou wilt have Images of him hee hath pointed such as can live and breathe
remaining infirmities and causeth them to appeare beloved in the love wherewith the Father loveth him Hebr. 8. tot Jere. 31.34 Mic. 7.18 Isaiah 44.22 and 54.7 9. 1 Joh. 1.7 9. and 2.1 2. Jo. 17.23 II. Present before his Father and himself his Covenant of pretious Promises the Father hath made with him his owne fore put-forth and granted Petitions for them and his present good will and gratious thoughts to them and so procures the grant of dispensation so farre as is meet for them Psal 89.18 19.34 with Hebr. 8.1 6. and John 17.6.20 c. And this not by a submissive intreaty as wee supplicate one for another or yet in such manner as himselfe did interceede on earth by supplications with cryes and sufferings But with Power and Authority his Father having fore-accepted his sacrifice and given all power and authority to him He and his Father being one in will and in love to them so that it is Father I will that they also whom thou hast given mee be c. Joh. 17.24 Hebr. 7.28 and 8.1 III. By his Spirit enter into their hearts moving them with sorrow for to acknowledge confesse and turne from the offences he is taking away for them Acts 5.31 1 Ioh. 1.7 9. And to long and pray for the good things hee is presenting before his Father for them Rom. 8.26 Zach. 12.10 That so they may pray in the holy Ghost Ioh. 14.16 and 16.26 Jude 20. IV. Returning more abundance of the same holy Spirit upon them To answer their prayers Psal 85.8 To dwell in them To teach consolate sanctify support and leade them in Union and fellowship with him through all sufferings and services of love Ioh. 14.16 17 18.26 15.26 27. 16.13 14 15. Rom. 8.2.14 and so to subdue their lusts in them Mic. 7.19 To tread downe Sathan under their feet in due time Rom. 16.20 To answer their Adversaries for them Matth. 10.19 20. To encrease and perfect them in conformity to himself 2 Cor. 3.18 1 Ioh. 3.2 and to preserve them to the inheritance reserved in heaven for them 1 Pet. 1.4.5 And this is the salvation he worketh in his people which they are to suffer to have its perfect worke in them and by his grace shew it forth Rom. 12.1 2 3. Phil. 2.1 2. In which discourse of the Salvation which Christ worketh from heaven by vertue of that Salvation which he wrought in himself on earth appeareth a two-fold Salvation which he from heaven now worketh Viz. Oâ—â— Common The other Speciall and eternall of each it is fit distinctly a little to 〈◊〉 First there is a common Salvation which by vertue of his death and Resurrection and Sacrifice and the accept â—blenesse and effectuallnesse thereof with the Father he hath obtained and worketh for all men So as Scripture Affirming it 1. By him The earth and all the inhabitants thereof which by sin are dissolved hee doth bear up the pillars of it Psal 75.3 4. Hebr. 1.3 and all the frame of the Creatures the Aire to breathe in The Sun to shine the raine to fall and the residue of the Creatures for mans use preserved Psal 145.8 9. Matth. 5.45 Col. 1.18 And this expresly called and said to be a witnesse of his goodnesse Acts 14.17 and 17.24 31. 2. By him also is procured the Patience and long-suffering of God yea and much bounty in many mercies also to men 2 Pet. 3.9 Revel 2.21 Psal 17.14 and 136.25 And this expresly said to be to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 3. By him also is procured some meanes with some light therein and according thereto to â—â—de men to Repentance that they might come to the knowledge of him Though to some more darkly and to some more cleerly and sully Rom. 1.19 c. Acts 17.24 30. Matth. 28.19 Psalm 19. Rom. 10. 4. By him also 〈◊〉 sent forth at one time or other some secret supernaturall light and 〈◊〉 of his Spirit in and according to the meanes vouchsafed tending to and striving with them to reprove them of sinne moving to repentance and seeking after God with sâ—â—e motions tending to confession of sinne to Prayer Equity Mercy Moderation in use of outward things use of meanes to such God John 1.5 9. Prov. 1.23 Joh. 16.8 9. Gâ—ne 6.3 Mich. 2.7 And thus he calleth many yea in some degree or other All the 〈◊〉 of men Act. 17.30 Mat. 27.3 14. Prov. 8.4 5 3â— 34. Isai 4â— â—2 5. By him also is procured and sent forth to men while they yeeld too and doe that which by this sight and these motions of his Spirit hee 〈◊〉 and â—eadeth to an in reast of incrcies with more Light and goodnesse Gene. â—0 tot 2 Chron. 11.17 〈◊〉 10.30 Rom. 2.14 15. And if as light increaseth they abide in his Call and 〈◊〉 on in his Teachings be will poure 〈◊〉 his Spirit to their and make knowne his 〈◊〉 to them and they shall know the truth and the truth shall make them free Pro. 1.33 and 4.32.35 Joh. 8.31 32. Acts 10.1 6. 6. Yea with some where the Gospel comes he goeth farther so inlightning them to understand the truth of the report of the Gospel that they doe beleeve That through the Satisfaction made by Christ remission of sinnes past is procured and that in beleeving on him aeternall life is to be enjoyed where-through they are prevailed with to confesse this truth and to desire after him and to attend with his people in the use of meanes and in some fellowship and walking with them Tasting some sweetnesse of the good Word of God and yet not come into Onenesse with and rest and stablishing in him Isai 6.28 34. Gal. 3.1 2 3. and 4.11.19 and 5.4 Hebr. 6.4 5 6. and 10.29 Hos 11.3 4. And these are brought out of Aegyptian darknesse and so farre saved Though by departing from this grace or abusing of it to wantonnesse some of these may become ungodly and so perish through their owne folly and misse of aeternall life as was shadowed in our Types of old 1 Cor. 10.1 11. 1 Joh. 2.19 Jude 4.5 And as the reconciliation redemption and Salvation wrought by Christ in his owne body for men with God is in it self so perfect that in some sense and that in truth all may be said to have been reconciled redeemed and saved yea justifyed in him though most in themselves be destitute of every of these Rom. 3.22 23 24. and 5.14.18 And though this be mysterious yet may it be as well understood and beleeved as That all men were once made righteous in the first Adam and so were in him Truly righteous Eccles 7. â—9 of which righteousnesse he falling and loosing all and so all falling in him before they had beeing from him none of them ever felt or partaked of Rom. 5.12 for so though all againe recovered and made righteous in the second Adam yet of the choice benefit of this recovery and of this Righteousnesse many doe never partake of
Promises of the New Testament Hebr. 9.14 15 16. Rom. 5.5 11. for his performance to thâ—â— all he hath promised to conferre on them Râ—â— 4.18 25. and working in them all his grace requires of them Psalm 138.8 Is 26.12 as also faith for standing in the dayes of Temptation and overcomming Revel 12.11 and so to live by Faith Gal. 2.20 and walke in love 2 Cor. 5.14 which worketh sweetly Gal. 5.6 1 Cor. 13. 5. Hee bringeth them in to approach with holy boldnesse to God and liberty in use of his Ordinances and to Union and fellowship with himself and his people Rom. 5.2 3. Ephe. 2.13 17 18 19 22. Hebr. 10â— 9.22 and 12.22 24. 1 John 1.1 2 3 7. and so guiding them to some to the Spirit he enters them into his rest and Kingdome and causeth them of the Spirit to reape life everlasting Hebr. 4.3 a â—et â— 11 Gal. 5.18 and 6.8 6. Hee having thus fitted them gives them 〈◊〉 experiment all those things mendoned in 〈◊〉 speciall Intercession and Advocation with many unutterable discoveries of Love and 〈◊〉 of Spirit Câ—â— 1.2 3 4. and 2.5 and 5.10 c. Epâ—es 1.17 â—0 which 〈…〉 with assurance of his 〈◊〉 and of the inheritance Rom. â— 32 36. and makes their hearts to glory in God and to love long and waite for the comming againe of Jesus Christ who will come in due time and free them of all trouble and possesse them of the inheritance and crown them and make them glorious like himself in soul and body 1 Joh. 3.2 Revel 22.17 20. 2 Tim. 4.8 Phil. 3.21 And this is a little discovery of that speciall salvation he worketh in Beleevers unto God of which confession is made Rev. 5.9 Now between those two salvations that with God for men and that in men to God The common and the speciall The Scripture doth often and many wayes distinguish and that very clearly as to instance 1. The former is called a reconciling by his death The other a saving by his life Rom. 5.10 The former a reconciliation wrought for the world by God in Christ The latter a Reconciliation of some by Christ to God God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself God hath reconciled us to himself by Christ 2 Cor. 5.18 19. 2. For effecting the former Christ came from the Father and came into the world Job 16.28 1 Tim. 1.15 and was made poore 1 Cor. 8 9. and made low and abased Rom. 8.3 For effecting the other Hee left the world and went againe to the Father Job 16.28 and was exalted and glorified by and at the right hand of God Acts 5.31 3. In effecting the former he was abased more and more till in his resurrection it was perfect and wee despised him also Phil. 2.7 8. Isai 53.3 4 5. In effecting the other Hee is exalted and glorified more and more till that be perfected and is precious in our hearts Isai 4. â— and 55.5 1 Pet. 1.21 22. and 2.4 7. Phil. 3.7 8 9. Cant. 5.10 c. 4. The one is a Redemption for us in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 the other is a Redemption of us in our soules and bodies Luke 1.74.79 Rom. 8.23 5. The former was by blood-shedding for which he went out of the City Hebr. 9.12 and 13.12 the other is by presenting his blood before his Father and by his Spirit sprinkling the same on the heart and conscience of his people for which he entred into the holy of holyes Hebr. 9.14.24 and 12.24 Revel 1.5 6. The former is already perfectly wrought and done and finish'd in himself and so accepted with the Father that he hath made him Lord and extends through him fruites of patience and goodness to men without mens knowledge of him or what he hath done even while they are enemies and without strength Ioh. 17.4 and 19.30 Rom. 5.6.8 10. and 3.11 12. Act. 14.17 but the other is begun in the making known him in the salvation wrought and perfected in the knowledge of him in both that and the aeternall Salvation Tit. 2.11 12. and 3 4 5 6. 2 Pet. 1.2 3 4. 7. The former hath prevailed with God for men so as hee hath accepted the sacrifice of Christ and given over all into his dispose and made him Lord of all Hebr. 10.12 Psal 110.1 and 2.7 8. and doth prevaile in that God for his sake extendeth patience and bounty to men with means to leade them to Repentance Rom. 2.4 The latter prevaileth in and with men to God Psal 110.3 Isai 55.5 Ioh. 6.44 45. Tit. 3 4 5. 8. The former is affirmed in Scripture to be for all men Ioh. 3.17 but the latter is only for and to beleevers Ioh. 3.16 Act. 10.43 Hebr. 5.9 Thus are the common and speciall Salvation distinct and the former first and generall for all and the latter following and peculiar to beleevers And that which the Scripture distinguisheth it becomes no man to confound Now what the Scripture maketh distinct and putteth difference in we may safely so view and speak of them and so the death of Jesus Christ at the ransome and Propitiation being affirmed in Scripture to be for sinners for the world of mankind for all men and every man and this that common Salvation wrought for all men in his owne body and so the ground of that salvation extended to all wherein all are made so saveable that they might be aeternally saved and this declared that they might beleeve it and in beleeving repent and come in to Christ and so be eternally saved It appearâ—â— to be the sense of 1 Tim. 2.4.6 Hebr. 2.9 And in such and so large a sense is the Proposition and no larger And so this first Consideration hath lead to right stating of the Question for the sensâ—â— and afforded proof also and answer to most of the Objections that â—y â—buse of reason and some places of Scripture speaking of the 〈◊〉 Salvation 〈…〉 against it CHAP. II. Of the divers distinct ends of the Death and blood-shodding of JESUS CHRIST mentioned in the Scripture and of which of them is here meant THere are in Scripture set forth and plainly affirmed divers distinct ends of the death and blood-shead of Christ in his laying downe his life The first end and that which is generall and common of the largest extent was to be a Ransome a sacrifice and Propitiation or a propitiatory Sacrifice for sinfull mankind To take away sinne before God for men He appeared to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himself Hebr. 9.36 The Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world John 1.29 Hee dyed for our sinnes according to the Scripture 1 Cor. 15.3 And he is the Propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but also for the sinnes of the whole world 1 John 2. â— And in this generall and common end are included three distinct yet inseparable ends The first in respect of God that was offended from whom man was fallen and
1.68 Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him Psal 149.2 so Isai 43.15 and sometime to the worser part The weak Brother perish for whom Christ dyed 1 Cor. 8.11 denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 He that made them will not have mercy on them Isai 27.11 sure no sober-minded men will affirme that the sayings of any one of these parts will resolve the Question how many God made or Christ by death and ransome bought unlesse one put both parts together 5. Sometime in the third Person generally without any restraining Application Wee have seen and doe testify that the Father sent the Sonne to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 and 2.2 And that he dyed for all 2 Cor. 5.14 15. hath made of one blood all Nations of men Acts 17.26 And such-like sayings doe directly and fully answer the Question How many God made and how many Christ dyed and gave himself a Ransome for And the like might be said for shewing how many have sinned how many shall dye how many shall rise againe how many shall appeare before Christs Judgement-seat All these are to be found answered in the Third Person generally without any restraining Application where it appeares to be All men and cannot rightly be opposed by places where they are spoken of in the first Person singular or in the first Person plurall or in the second Person with personall Application or in the third Person with any restrictive Application as all and every of them are in many places spooke of in that manner as well as the creation of men or Ransome given by Christ for them Now the 1 Tim. 2.6 and Hebr. 2.9 are spoken in the third Person generally without any restraining application and such places must settle us in the sense And so in this consideration we are led to see what expressions to finde the sense of the Proposition in and where proved Namely where the death of Christ as the Ransome and Propitiation is mentioned without other peculiar ends joyned with it and where that Propitiation is set forth as made by Christ and to be made knowne or offered so to be without the receite in gracious operations joyned with it And what is affirmed of it in places so speaking may not be denyed or straitned by any places otherwise speaking which puts by the most usuall Objections against it CHAP. IIII. Of the divers wayes of propounding the Sufferings and Death of CHRIST in the Scripture and how it is propounded here THE death of CHRIST is diversly propounded in Scripture and that as in respect of every end so in respect of this end of giving himself to the death as the Ransome and Propitiation and sometime coupled with other ends 1. Sometime it is propounded most especially and intentionally as and for an example to Beleevers to follow in love and in the fruits in sufferings and services thereof and as the motive thereto Eph. 5.1 2. 2 Cor. 8.9 In which if the love and services thereof be of Beleevers one to another then he is set forth as having loved us and given himself for us Joh. 15.12 1 Joh. 4.7 10 11. If the love and service thereof be to be enlarged according to any nigh relation between us as husband and wife then hee is set forth as having loved his Church and given himself for it Ephe. 5.25 If the love and service thereof in patience and suffering and in overcomming evill with good be to be exercised towards unbeleeving ones or Adversaries then he is set forth both as having so suffered for us 1 Pet. 2.18 24. and also as having suffered for the unjust 1 Pet. 3.14.18 which manner of propounding his death is used to prevaile with Beleevers to follow his example but doth nor shew how many he dyed for and so cannot with Justice be brought to answer that Question or to oppose it 2. Sometime it in propounded by and of Beleevers as the ground by which in discovery and beliefe thereof they were turned and brought into God and borne anew Tit. 2.11 14. and 3.4.5 with Joh. 3.16 And by which they are kept in dependance on him Rom. 5.6.11 Gal. 2.20 And by which their love is made operative to Brethren 1. Gor. 8.11.13 and all men 2 Cor. 5.14 3. Sometime it is propounded to Beleevers as the ground and motive To be more and more reconcil'd in their hearts and Powers to God 2. Cor. 5.21 To settle and bottome them in the faith of Christ Gal. 1.4 6. To strengthen and stablish their confidence and expectation Col. 1.20.23 To enhance and lead to the testification of love to Brethren Phil. 2.1.8 To preserve from pride carnall confidence in instruments and from schisme 1 Cor. 1.12 4. Sometime it is propounded to such as are Overseers of some Congregations or particular Assemblies of the Church for further end Act. 20.28 To admonish them to keep this doctrine firmly and teach it 1 Tim. 1.11.15 18 19. and 4.10 11. To provoke them to watchfulnesse over the flock over which they are made Overseers and faithfulnesse in declaring the Gospel to them Acts 20.28 To constancy in suffering and enduring hardship in their ministration 2 Tim. 2.3 8. All which wayes of propounding are marvellous profitable for our comfort instruction admonition and exhortation but not set forth as the places shewing how many he dyed for 5. Sometime it is propounded as the foundation laid and ground to offer life and bring in such as either know it not or beleeve it not to beleeve it being true whether they beleeve it or not and therefore as a Truth affirmed that they might beleeve it Joh. 1.29 and 3.16 17. And this propounded sometime to such as beleeve not that they might beleeve Act. 1.7.30 â—1 Sometime to such as doe already beleeve both in respect of themselves and of them which are weak in beleeving and of them which doe not as yet as all beleeve To shew what Gospel was preached among them and to others 1 Joh. 4.14 To shew what Gospel they have to Preach to the World Rom. 1.1 4 5. To be a ground and pattern to them of declaring the Gospel not onely to such as are weak and wavering but also to such as beleeve not 2 Cor. 5.10 11 19. To be a ground of Prayng for such as beleeve not 1 Tim. 2.1 4 5 6 7 8. Mat. 5.44 To be a ground of holding forth the Word of life in a good Profession and a good conversation toward them that beleeve not Phil. 2.6 16. To be a motive to doe all this as the meanes to bring them to God Mat. 5.13 16. with 1 Cor. 2.2 and with patience to beare their injuries and wait till God be pleased to give them Repentance Luk. 9.55 56. 2 Tim. 2.24 25. And as all these last wayes of propounding are of great usefulnesse so in such Places where the Gospel is so propounded shall wee finde resolution of
of Adam by Propagation 1 Cor. 15.22 Now the Words All and Every man in 1 Tim. 2.4.6 and Hebr. 2.9 being spoke by the Spirit of GOD and of the Workes of God for men and the opposition being between God and men and but one man the Man CHRIST JESUS between who is God and Man and is expresly said To give himself a Ransome for all men The larged sense must of necessity be taken and no more is required or affirmed in the Proposition So then the sense of the 1 Tim. 2.6 and Hebr. 2.9 and of the Proposition affirmed is to be understood of 1. The Redemption wrought by Christ in his owne body and the Common salvation he there-through worketh And 2. So of his Death as it is set forth for Propitiation And 3. So mentioned by it self without the other ends annexed too with it And 4. Propounded as the foundation of Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord JESUS CHRIST and this in the Third Person generally in generall words And vet to prevent all mistakes and cavills this is to be further added That the Death of JESUS CHRIST as the Ransome and Propitiation for All and Every Man is to be understood of the Death of JESUS CHRIST as hee â—â—risen and ascended and at his Fathers right hand filled in mans Nature with the holy Ghost and Authority Acts 17.31 1 Cor. 15.3 4. So that his Death Resurrection and Ascention with some fruit of all of them together are herein comprehended and to be heeded Acts 4.10 11 12. with Rom. 14.9 12. 1. He dyed to make Propitiation for the Sinnes of All men 1 Joh. 2.2 Hebr. 2.9 and to seal the new Testament for his called and chosen ones and to purge and cleanse them with the aplication of his blood Hebr. 9 14 15. Ephes 5.25 26. 2. He rose from the death justifyed and to receive justification in the room and for All men that he might have Power to bestow it Rom. 3.22 24. and 5.18 and 4.25 And to bestow it on and give new and living hope to his called and chosen ones Rom. 3.22 25 26. and 5.1 1 Pet. 1.3 3. He Ascended and sate downe on the right hand of God to be the Lord of All. Acts 2.34 36. and 10.36 Rom. 14.9 And to be the Head Husband High-Priest Prophet and King of his called and chosen ones Hebr. 3.1 6. and 5.6 and 6. and 7. and 8. 4. He is filled with Spirit to send forth to the sonnes of men to the rebellious and to enlighten every man that commeth into the world that the Lord God might dwell among them Psal 68.18 Joh. 1.9 and 16.8 And to witnesse Son-ship and lead his Called and Chosen ones into all truth Rom. 8.14.16 Joh. 16.13 14. And thus the Death Resurrection and Ascension of JESUS CHRIST is 1. To all men a ground of Instruction to convince them of sin and of Christ his right of Lordship over them Joh. 16.8 11. Rom. 14.9.12 And of alurement to come in and be reconciled to God by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 20. and of hope that in comming in and yeelding to his Call they should have life Joh. 3.14 15. 2. To his Called and Chosen ones that beleeve on him a ground for Confirmation of their Faith of their Justification of their Preservation in Grace of their enjoyment of the Inheritance Rom. 5. and 8 32. c. of which is not here to be understood in in that affirmed for all men But of the former that hope set forth for All according to that Christ hath done for all and so I suppose all that will may understand the sense That wee may have the Question rightly stated about the death of JESUS CHRIST in what sense he dyed for all men CHAP. VI. An Assay for right stating the Question THIS Question being diversly stated by many I thinke it meet to mention the same briefly that it may appear the better how it is stated here 1. Some say JESUS CHRIS dyed for all his Elect and onely for those that are elect to Sonne-ship and eternall Inheritance and for no other Not for all mâ—n every man or any man but the Elect. This is flat against and openly contradictory to the affirmation of the Scripture and is that opposed in the whole drift of this Tract 2. Some say JESUS CHRIST dyed for all men alike wrought redemption for them all alike with like love and like intention and for like ends But as this hath no ground in the Scripture so it is already shewne confuted by it 3. Some say JESUS CHRIST dyed for every man in case every man beleeve on him and for no man to Salvation in case every man persist in unbeleife But this is no Scripture sense and imperfect to make any sense to goe on with at all for Christ hath dyed and given himself a Kansome to God for all men whether any man beleeve it or no and hath by his death so purchased all men of God that hee is become their Lord and shall judge them though they should persist in unbeliefe neither shall they all so persist Rom. 14.9 12. 2 Pet. 2.1 Isai 53.11 4. Some say JESUS CHRIST dyed in some sort for all men and â—o as all doe receive some good thereby he dyed for all as a Lord but he did not die for all as a Surety to pay the price for and become the Propitiation for the sinnes of all This sense answers not the Question which is not about what good all doe receive from or by the death of Christ but what good hee hath thereby wrought and procured for all men that he might have pouâ—â— and freedome to bestow according to his will that is one with the Fathers yet is the Affirmative in this expressed sense true though it be not the whole truth of this businesse But the negative not onely denieth the remainder of truth but denies and unsaith again even that which was affirmed for if he did not pay the price and purchase them how according to the Gospel is he become their Lord Rom. 14.9 2 Pet. 2.1 And if he be not the Propitiation for their sinnes how shall he judge them according to the Gospel and by it 2 Cor. 2.10 Rom. 2.16 Joh. 12.47 48. and if no price be paid nor Propitiation made for them but that what ever reprievall patience or mercies they receive they will but aggravate their condemnation no doore of Repentance and life being opened in truth for them to which this patience and bounty might leade them what good doe they then receive or rather be they not necessarily more miserable Rom. 2.4 5. 5. Some say JESUS CHRIST so dyed for all that his death is sufficient for all and applicable to all but not so as he hath indeed ransomed all men and become the propitiation for their sinnes The Affirmative part of this sense is very good and will stand well But the Negative both crosseth plain Testimonies of Scripture and
Number as in Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake Rom. 15.19 Through the offence of one many be dead by one mans disibedience many were made sinners and in other places where many cannot nor is by any Christian understood for lesse then All men 2. This Reason is equivocall subtill and fraudulent seeing where All men and Every man is affirmed of The Death of Christ as the Ransome and Propitiation and the fruits thereof onely is affirmed for them But where the word many is in any place used in this businesse there are more ends of the Death of Christ then this one affirmed of as before is shewne at large in Chap. 2. and 3. 3. This Reason is false and ungodly for it is no where in Scripture said That Christ dyed or gave himself a Ransome but for many or onely for many or onely for his Sheep and it is ungodlinesse to adde to or diminish from the Words of GOD in SCRIPTVRE 4. This Reason is deceitfull and erroneous for the Scripture doth no where say Those many he dyed for are his Sheep much lesse his Elect as the Reason intends it As for the place Joh. 10.15 usually instanced to this end it 's therein much abused for our Saviour Joh. 10. Did not set forth the difference between such as he dyed for and such as he dyed not for or such as he dyed for so and so and not so and so but the difference between those that beleeve on him and those that beleeve not on him vers 4 5 14 26 27. one heare his voice and follow him the other not Nor did our Saviour here set forth the priviledges of All he dyed for or for whom he dyed for so and so but of those that beleeve on him through the Ministration of the Gospel and so to know him and approach to God and enter the Kingdome by him vers 3 4 9.27 Nor was our Saviour here setting forth the excellency of those for whom hee dyed or dyed for so and so onely wherein they are preferred before others but the excellency of his owne love with the fruits thereof to those not onely that he dyed for but also that are brought in by his Ministration to beleeve on him vers 11.27 Nor was our Saviour here treating so much of his Ransome giving and Propitiation making as of his Ministration of the Gospel and so of his love and faithfulnesse therein wherein hee laid downe his life for those ministred too and therein gave us example not to make Propitiation for sinne but to testify Love in suffering Besides the opposition appeares here to be not so much between Elect and Not-Elect as between Jewes called and Gentiles uncalled Besides there is in Scripture great difference between sheep and sheep of his flock and pasture of which he here speaketh vers 4 5 11 15 16. Besides sheep vers 4.5 11 15. are not mentioned as all those for whom he dyed but as those that by his ministration are brought in to beleeve and enjoy the benefit of his death and to whom hee ministreth and communicateth spirit vers 3 4 27. like that John 17.6 7 8. Besides here is more ends of his death mentioned then Ransom or Propitiation onely and yet it is not said onely for his sheep and when the Ransome or Propitiation is onely mentioned It is said for all men so that this reason appeares weak fraudulent ungodly and erroneous 4. For the Affirmation that there was great reason that such generall words as All men Every man and the World should be used in those times when Christ and his Apostles were upon the earth when they meant but some even Gods Elect and chosen among All Nations This is as evill as all the Reasons before and as grosse as the Objection it self for though there be a holy and spirituall wisedome and Prudence to be observed in speeches and carriages in respect of the evilnesse of some times Amos 5.13 Mic. 7.5 7. Matt. 3.13.16 Yet the holy Scripture doth furnish us hereto for all times and is able through Faith to make the Beleever wise unto Salvation and the man of God perfect to every good worke 2 Tim. 3.15 17. But that any other doctrine or contrary Words should be necessary to deliver the Gospel within these times Is monstrous to affirme and expresly contradictory to the Scripture Commands Besides according as it is written Those whose faith wee are to follow are such whose word and Conversation hath this end To hold forth in the Gospel JESUS CHRIST the same yesterday to day and for ever Heb. 13.7 8. And as Jesus Christ is that Essentiall Word of God which endureth for ever for is the Word of the Gospel which came forth of the mouth of God and declareth Christ That created and instrumentall Word of God which in the truth plainnesse certainty and goodnesse of it endureth for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 25. And though this Gospel came forth lesse largely and cleerly at the first Genes 3.15 1 Joh. 1.1 2. yet after more fully and clearly to Abraham Genes 12. and 15. and 17. Gal. 3.8 And then more cleerly still to Mases Deutr. 18.18 19. and 30.11 15. Acts 3.22 26. Rom. 10.6 10. and so more cleerly still to Isaiah and the residue of the Prophets Isai 53. and 55. Acts 2.16 36. Rom. 10.13 c. and yet still more cleerly by John Baptist Luk. 1.76 79. Matth. 11.9 10 11. But still more and most fully and cleerly by JESUS CHRIST and his Apostles Ioh. 1.16 17. and 3.15.17 Ephes 3.5 which Apostles of Jesus Christ in respect of Christ being come and having dyed and being risen and ascended and filled with spirit and for whom and to what end and what he is become for all men and what to and for those that beleeve on him They have laid the foundation and other foundation can no man lay then that which is by them laid 1 Cor. 3.11 Ephes 2.20 And this is done by them also in words of Wisedome 1 Cor. 2.4.7 And he that addeth to the words Christ hath already revealed by them God will adde to him all the Plagues recorded in that Book and he that taketh away from those words God will take away his part out of the Book of life Revel 22.18 19. And if any man or Apostle or Angel from heaven shall preach any other Gospel then that they have preached wee are to hold him accursed Gal. 1.8 9. And what shall we then account of this Reason Doth not the words of Christ and his Apostles express their meaning Or did their words serve but for those times Are they not necessary now have any of us found out fitter words to expresse the Gospel in these times now Christ and his Apostles are not upon the Earth shall mortall man be more just then God Shall a man be more pure then his Maker Job 4.17 shall any direct the spirit of the Lord and be his
accepting and holding the same and yeelding thereto and therethrough to God Hee might be saved Psal 36.5 6 7. And lesse love then this was not to the Angels before they fell Jude 6. Nor lesse love to all Mankind before they fall Eccl. 7.29 Gen. 1.2 Yea it was not taken away from Mankind upon the fall though the fall deserved it Gene. 3.15 but in this Love Did God give his Sonne to be the Saviour of the Worid Isa 4.14 Joh. 3.16 And in this Love doth GOD for his Sonnes sake who gave himself a Ransome for all men preserve them Col. 1.16 20. and therein giveth a witnesse of his Mercy Act. 14.17 and that to lead them to Repentance Rom. 2.4 2. A love of delight and pleasance taking in the beloved an abounding flowing and honouring Love that resteth not till the Beloved be brought into Union Fellowship and Possession of it self and all its own Priviledges Num. 14.8 Psal 18.19 and 36.8 And in this Love doth God love his Son Jesus Christ Pro. 8.30 Isa 42. 1 Jo. 5.20 16.15 And in this Love doth Jesus Christ Love all his Elect and chosen Children Psal 149.4 and 147.11 Joh. 15.9 and 17.21 23. yet so as this peculiar love is not manifested to them till in sight and belief of the former Love their hearts be overcome to beleeve in JESUS CHRIST and to love Him and their Brethren and to walk in that love 1 Joh. 4.14 16 19. 1 Cor. 2.9 Joh. 14.21 23. Secondly the Scripture mentions a divers kind or degree of hatred both in God and man Shewn in the fruits as to say 1. A not so much loving as others are beloved and this expresly called Hatred Genes 29.30.31.33 and so intimated Luk. 14.26 and thus it is said of God Hee refused the Tabernacle of Joseph and chose not the Tribe of Ephraim Psal 78.67 and so he is said to abhorre Israel vers 59. and to have been an Enemy to Israel Lam. 2.5 2. An Hatred that is furious positive tending to and moving for the overthrow and destruction of the hated Deut. 19.11 Psal 78.76 Now the love of Compassion and the Hatred that is in a lesse degree of Love may very well stand together both in God Hos 11.5.8 9. and in man Jere. 9.1 2. and so God may Love with the Love of Compassion and shew tender mercies waiting with long suffering and patience for and towards such as he hides himself from and is angry with and speakes in words and workes against Isai 57.17 18. and 63.10 11. Jere. 18.7 Isa 31.2 And such kind of Love are his People commanded to follow and be like him in even towards such as for whom they cannot but mourne and with whom they cannot have intimate Union and Fellowship with Gods allowance who yet bids them love them Prov. 14.7 and 23.20 Ephes 5.11 Matth. 5.44.48 And to say whosoever God Loves with this Love of Compassion hee loves for ever or to say he hateth with any other hatred then that which may be in that lesser degree of Love any before they have hardned their hearts against him and turned from him in abusing of and rebelling against the fruits of his Love vouchsafed is plainly contrary to the Scripture Hos 9.10 I found Israel like grapes c. to vers 15. All their wickednesse is in Gilgall for there I hated them for the wickednesse of their doings I will drive them out of my House I will love them no more So Zach. 7.11.13 and 1.18 28. and 2.4 5. And that this Love to mankind may not be undervallewed This I adde that the discovery of this love of God to mankind in the gift of and Propitiation made by his Sonne and fruits thereof is That in and by which the Holy Spirit doth usually first overcome a man convince him and enable him to beleeve and sâ—renew and bring him in to God Psal 36.5 6 7. and 107.1.8.15 So Christ set the same before Nicodemus to that end Joh. 3.5.15.20 and Paul the same to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 5.19 20 21. and confesseth himself and the rest of Beleevers to be so brought in to God Tit. 3.3 4 5. And those that have experimented this can set forth the same Hope for others that are in no worse case then themselves once were 1 Tim. 1.14 16. Tit. 3. And as for the love of delight that is peculiar and appeares not usually to any till in beliefe of the former they be brought to love God and therefore even so to be waited for Joh. 14.21.23 and so intimated toward Brethren Ephe. 5.1 2. But now for such as while the love of Gods Compassion flowes towards them in his use of meanes to them and moving his People with Compassion to endeavour to doe them good and by his Spirit knocks at their hearts If some of these doe and will persist in rebellion till he give them up to Satan such are Reprobated of God and so hated of him yea and so farre as they are known to be such they are so accounted and hated of his People And none but such set forth in Scripture to be so hated of God Prov. 1.23.33 Ezek. 24.13 Iere. 6.16.27 30. 1 Joh. 5.18 which overthrowes the Assumption and the Objection As for the instances Rom. 9.13 although for the Elder to serve the younger be hated in respect of peculiar love Psal 78.67 yet it stands well enough with the love of Compassion and as for any other hatred of Esau the Scripture mentions none untill it was for the contempt of his Birth-right Heb. 12.17 like that Hos 9.14 15. which is used to warne us that wee slight not the Grace of Christ As for the Hatred mentioned Rom. 9.13 If laying his Mountaines waste which was the fruit of it did witnesse such hatred Did not the before giving him those Mountaines Testify like love though not such as to Iacob Mal. 1.2 3. As for Ephe. 5.25 It speakes of the peculiar love of Christ to his Church and so of higher ends of giving himself then Ransom and Propitiation which the Church hath received even of the speciallâ— fruits of Spirituall Application vers 26. Nor is this here set forth as a Proposition for faith But for an example for beleeving Husbands and Wives to follow in love and if he had been exhorting to love of Compassion and patience towards the unjust and enemies Hee would have said who suffered the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 So that here he was not shewing how many God loves and Christ Dred for which other Places shewn to be All men of which before Chap. 4. As for Ioh. 13.1 will any argue hence That because our Saviour loved his Apostles and his Disciples that by the heavenly Call were drawne in to him and followed him in this World and that as hee having loved them so he loved them to the end and shewed it in his care of them ministration to them and Prayers for them for of those and
such love it is evident he meanes Ioh. 13.14 and 15. 16. and 17. Therefore he neither did nor doth love any but his Called ones and so all must first love him before they be at all loved of him which is contrary to 1 Ioh. 4.10 19. The Citation of Ioh. 13.1 to this Assumption implyeth so much but falsly for it cannot be proved That Judas Iscariot was none of those that were Adversaries to Jesus Christ for his Love and rewarded him evill for good and hatred for his Love Psal 109.4 5. Joh. 6 70. and 17.12 and so the Assumption abides false To let passe the confounding the Love of God and the preception thereof in one without distinction and the making the extent of the Love of Compassion and fruits thereof and the extent of the love of Delight and fruits thereof one and of like largenesse without distinction Both which the Scripture distinguisheth besides the shutting the doore against any more comming in to God or loving any which are not already come in c. which are the least evills of this Objection CHAP. XVI Of Answering a Third OBJECTION Objection III. ALL those for whom JESUS CHRIST did Die and pay the price and Ransome which God required to satisfie his Justice are justified by his blood 1 Joh. 1.7 and shall be saved from wrath through him Rom. 5.9 God being a Most Just GOD cannot require the Debt twice Viz. of Christ and of those for whom he paid it But All men and Every man is not justified by his Blood nor shall be saved from wrath through him Therefore you must needs yeeld That Christ Dyed but for some even his Elect unlesse you will denie God to be just ANSWER This Objection hath all its strength in the first Proposition with the reason annexed to it and to that I will bend the Answer First in the Proposition are two notorious untruth's as to say 1. That all that Christ did Die and pay the price and Ransome for which GOD required to satisfie his Justice are justified by His Blood 1 Joh. 1.7 This is so contradictory to the Scripture that little need be said thereof enough is already shewn in the 8. Chap. from the comparison between Christ and Adam and how that all men fell and became under sinne and death in the first Adam at once Yet none by or through him partake of that misery in sinfulnesse and death Till they come to have a beeing from him And so though all men be in Christ as the Publick Person restored and justified yet by and through him of the benefit of that restauration in justification by his blood Doe none partake till they come to have a beeing in him and that which is Naturall is first as is there shewn Besides what ever justification be in Christ through his bloodshed for men yet he is set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood for the Remission of Sinnes Rom. 3.25 And it is evident that the Justification by his blood mentioned Rom. 5.9 Is a justification received by faith in his blood of such as have received the Atonement in beleeving as is evident Rom. 5.1.3.11 neither is it any where said by the Spirit of God nor did hee ever teach any to say That all that Christ Dyed and gave himself a Ransome for either so are or shall be justifyed by his blood Hee ever affirmes that Justification to be by blood but not by blood-shed onely but by and in the application of the blood-shed the sprinkling or washing therewith Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 And so have the justified ones confessed Revel 1.5 and this is to be redeemed unto God and justified by his blood Revel 5.9 of which Justification by his blood many that have it had their time here on this Earth in which they wanted it Col. 2.13 and many of the Elect in Gods Counsell that yet want it for whom by this Objection Christ should not have Dyed As for that cleansing 1 Joh. 1.7 and forgivenesse vers 9. it speakes of a farther cleansing and dispensation of grace to such as are in Christ and walke in Christ and so already justifyed by his blood and so not to this purpose unlesse to make the Objection vile But this untruth is not onely false and grosse in it self but opposeth and denyeth many sayings of the Truth for it denies the truth of our Saviours sayings Joh. 3.17 18. and 8. â—4 and the truth of the Spirits convincements Joh. 16.8.11 and the truth of many Affirmations of Scriptures as that all shall beare the Image of the first Adam 1 Cor. 15 46. that all are by nature Dead in Trespâ—sses and sinnes and so walke till they be borne againe Ephes 2.1 2 3. Col. 1.21 That God justifyeth the ungodly in their comming in to beleeve on him Rom. 4.5 Yea this untruth denyeth that men are justifyed by faith so much as by an Instrument receiving it but onely discerning it Seeing this ununtruth affirmeth them justified not onely in but by his Blood before they came to beleeve on him and so contradicts Act. 10.43 and 13.38 Rom. 3.25 26 28. and 4.24 25. and 5.1.11 So that the contrary to this affirmation is true namely That many for whom JESUS CHRIST did Die and shed his blood remaine yet without that Justification that is in him by vertue of his blood-shed for them and so are not justified by his blood because they beleeve nor on him Act. 13.38 Joh. 3.18 1 Tim. 1.12 13 14 15. 2. That all that Christ did die and pay the price and Ransome for which God required to satisfie his Justice shall be saved from wrath through him This likewise is very false and plainly contradictory to the Scripture that saith in expresse termes there will be many even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 1.1 2. And this untruth denieth the Lordship of Christ grounded on his death for All and the equity of his Judgement and sentence of any to a second death Rom. 14.9.12 Phil. 2.8 11. Act. 17.30.31 2 Cor. 5.10 14 15. as is shewn Chap. 2. before And this untruth denyeth that aggravation of sinne which Scripture useth when it chargeth with such an evill as causing to perish the weake Brother for whom Christ Dyed Rom. 14.15 1 Cor. 8.11 So that the contrary to this Affirmation is true That many for whom Christ dyed and gave himself a Ransome that he might be their Lord and they live to him shall one day be overthrowne in wrath or fire unquenchable because they would not submit to him nor suffer him to Reigne over them 2 Thes 1.8 Secondly In the Reason annext to the Proposition is both presumptuous rashnesse and gross ignorance declared as to say 1. A presumptuous rashnesse in an intimate charging God with unjustice for did not God lay on Christ the iniquity of us all Isai 53.2 6. 2 Cor. 5.19 was not Christ manifested to take away our
the Death and Ransome of Christ is their unbelief Not simply because they were sinners but because by Repentance and faith they come not in to him that hath made Satisfaction for their sinnes Joh. 3.18.36 and 8.12 and this is Just and according to Gods mind Joh. 3.16 And so to Answer the Objection All men were bound by vertue of the grace of God in the Creation to Love God with all their heart minde soule and strength and their Neighbours as themselves and to walke in that love and the least variation or short comming thereof leaves them under sinne curse and death and helplesse they having no power to fulfill this Law having lost it in the fall and so hopelesse And by vertue of the grace of God in the Redemption wrought by Christ all men are againe farther bound to this former love and walking in it and short-comming thereof leaves them also under sinne curse and death Gal. 3.10 And power thereto they yet have none yet notwithout hope in that the Propitiation is made by him for them Joh. 1.29 1 Joh. 2.2 and hee it filled with Spirit to send forth to them and will enlighten every of them Psal 68.18 By vertue of that common Salvation extended to all men by Christ the doore to repentance and faith is opened and they in the meanes and in some sort by Spirit at one time or other called to Repentance and howsoever God seems to winck it their follies till then yet then hee warneth them to repent that so repenting and comming in to beleeve in Christ they may through him receive remission of sinnes and be enabled to love God in Christ and one another as Christ hath loved them and to walke in that Faith and Love Act. 14.17 and 17.30 31. and for want of this they remaine under sinne and wrath and in danger of a Second Death Joh. 3.17 18 19. and this is a new Debt Now if Jesus Christ send forth more light and meanes and strive farther with them and they be found hardning themselves and rebelling against him It increaseth still their debt Rom. 2.4 5. And if he visite with punishments he is just and Righteous and there is mercy also in it Joh. 33.14.23 And if hee still strive and they still refuse both instruction and correction and will not submit and come in to their lawfull Lord that bought them and called them if hee give them up to Sathan and destruction Is not this just Joh. 3.19 Jere. 6.16.28 30. And thus wee find in Scripture set forth That All smarting corrections on Beleevers are for sinne against Grace Goodnesse and Spirit in the means vouchsafed Levit. 26.11.14 All heavy judgements on others for imprisoning the knowne truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1.16 17. and refusing to be gathered by Christ Mat. 23.37 the great condemning evills are set downe Heb. 6.4 5. and 10.29 By our Saviours Affirmation Joh. 3.18 19. and the Spirits convincements Joh. 16 8 11. Unbelief is the main sinne and the cause why so many abide under the guilt of sinne and the cause that sinne hath such Power and brings forth so many evill fruits in men and it is the root and nurse of more grievous sinnes that they fall into and all may be concluded in one word Not obeying the Gospel of God and this is the debt which God requires and for which men shall suffer in everlasting fire 2 Thes 1.8 So that here is not two payments of one debt but a new debt in spising the Goodnesse of GOD in the Remedy provided including the old Debt in a new manner of guiltinesse for despising the Remedy not seeking nor accepting the Release procured by Christ Joh. 5.40 And here is another even a Second death when all are raised out of the first even that which was not primely prepared for mankind but for the Devill and his Angells Matth. 25.41 And it is justice with God to give over all into the hands of his Sonne who will judge them All according to the Gospel in which he was set forth to them and they would not that he should Reign over them Joh. 12.48 Rom. 2.16 Luke 19.14 22 27. And is not God and Christ just in all this Surely among men this would be understood If some Subjects had committed Treason against their King and offered indignity to his Crowne and had wasted his treasure and were for this banished from the Court deprived of their Estates confined to darke Prison among slaves and enjoyned to suffer stripes every day and at a certaine time to suffer a shamefull and tormenting death If the Kings soul longed to shew them mercy and his Justice not permitting and the Kings Sonne with his Fathers consent would undertake for these Traitors to bring them before the King againe and should for them lay downe his Crowne suffer the punishment due to them and give a sufficient Ransome to the King for them all that hee may have the Pardon for them all and have them all released to him that Hee may bee their Lord and bring them out of Prison at his Pleasure and bestow the Inheritance on as many of them as would accept his grace and willingly come under his Government and judge the rest And that hee might have Liberty to ease them of so much of their daily paines in the Prison and shew them what favours and use what meanes hee pleased to perswade and allure them to come under his Government And the King professes himselfe to bee fully satisfyed with his Sonnes Ransome and setts him on his Throne and gives all this into his hands and sends word of this new Treaty to the Imprisoned Traytors and bids them to hearken and submit to his Sonne And the Kings Sonne begins to take Order for them so that the greatest of their daily Torments and Paines is taken away many sweet refreshings and Liberties afforded them in the Prison to winne them to good estimate of the Prince who sends his Ambassadours amongst them with the Proclamation of the Pardon and invitation to come in to the Government of the Prince and Promise that whosoever so did should both have the Pardon given him and be made an Heire with the Prince If any of these preferre their Fellowship with the Slaves and Liberties given them in Prison before these offers of the Prince and refuse to come under his gracious Government And then at the appointed time hee call them all out of Prison and adjudge them a Double Punishment and a more grievous death then that he delivered them from and aggravate their Rebellions against him By all the Evills they were found in when hee undertook for them and all the cost hee was at for them and all the meanes hee used towards them and all the Circumstances of their Rebellion against him and so judge them to Punishment accordingly Will any reasonable man say now That this were injustice now in the King or the Kings Sonne or two payments of one debt
hath shut the doore against this also leaving no way for any to know Christ Dyed for him till hee have some speciall manifestation which in this sense is not first given Joh. 14.17 Nor any hope of this unlesse ones particular Election be knowne and so opens a way for men to look for and be deluded by passionate fancies and Satanicall Enthusiasmes Jere. 2.8 and 8.8 9. 4. For the particular instance of Joh. 17.9 It is also much abused for 1. This Text saith not the world of the wicked and ungodly as the assumption doth but the world and by world it is evident is meant Naturall men unregenerated not yet called by grace and in that heavenly Call given to Christ and so had not received his words and the manifestation of his Fathers Love Power and goodnesse in sending Christ so as to beleeve on him as it is expresse these prayed for vers 9. and vers 6 7 8 9. So that the world world vers 9. includeth all the Elect that were yet in the world and uncalled forth And this also farther appears in that That for the same things he prayes for these that through his Preaching did now beleeve on him vers 6.9 Hee also after prayes for the same for so many as shall through their Preaching beleeve on him vers 20. But all the way from vers 9. to vers 20. no Petition for any thing for any before they beleeve or yet that might bring them to beleeve So that the Assumption rendring the word world for the wicked not Elect opposed to the Elect it makes two sorts of Elect one sort prayed for vers 9. another sort prayed for vers 20. or else it grants a sort of People in the World that are neither of the Elect nor of the world mentioned vers 9. that were prayed for vers 20. And which way soever the Assumption will have it yet it holds forth this falshood That none of the Elect were are or shall be beholding to the Prayer of Christ for all or any of that Patience and goodnesse of God extended before their faith or for the means and grace by which they were brought to beleeve or for their faith it self seeing no such things are here prayed for for any but the World vers 21.23 Even the World opposed to and distinct from these called out of the world both vers 9. and vers 20. 2. This Text saith not hee will not pray for the World as the Assumption saith but in the Present tense in that very time I pray not for the VVorld It 's not in Preterperfect-tense nor in the Future-Tense and surely to any common understanding I doe not I have not done I will not doe are of a various and divers sense Christ saith Joh. 13.18 to his Twelve Disciples I speak not of you All yet in Joh. 6.70 Saying I have chosen you Twelve hee spake of them all and so it is evident That as the Ransome-giver he did pray for such as were none of These prayed for vers 9.6 7 8. nor such as those prayed for vers 20. but even the Transgressours Isa 53.12 and his Crucifiers Luk. 23.34 such as the VVorld vers 24.25 3. The word Not in the Text appeareth not to be so exclusive as the Assumption with the whole Argument would make it to be few can be so ignorant as not to know that either in Scripture or common speech Not doth not signifie not at all in every Place Sentence or Businesse but sometimes only Not so much not so privily and chiefly and this also discernable enough in the Places Sentences in which it is so used Christ of his Ministration on earth which was chiefly and primely for the Jewes Ro. 15.8 Saith to the Woman of Canaan Mar. 15.24 I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and yet he did helpe her And occasionally Preach the Gospel in Samaria also Joh. 4. and not without mission sure so Paul saith 1 Cor. 1.17 Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach c. And yet baptire some he did and surely not without mission also verse 14.16 And it is most like to be in such a sense here that Not is used as appeares vers 21.23 where the world is put in for 4. The things here prayed for from verse 9. to vers 20. as Preservation in their gratious Estates keeping them in the world and from from the evill of the world that hated them and out of which they were chosen Sanctification of them for carrying forth the Gospel to the world and perfecting them in union and Conformity with himself and one another in him and his Father Are of a higher nature then those things we are to pray for the world or any in it Till they be called and chosen out of the world as these were 1 Cor. 1.9 Joh. 14.16 17 21.23 16.14 15. Phil. 2.8 9 10 11. Short of which things are those which wee are to pray for for the World 1 Tim. 2.1.4 6 7 8. as is seen in that which our Saviour doth intimately pray for for the World vers 21.23 5. In this Ioh. 17. our Saviour prayed not onely as a Ransome-giver and Mediatour between God and man as 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. but also as a Prince and High-Priest over the House of God The Mediatour and Minister of the New Testament for all his Called and Chosen ones such as these prayed for were Heb. 3.1.6 8.1 6. 9.14 15. And his praying here is the same with his Advocation mentioned 1 Joh. 2.1 which is no where said to be for All men and the whole World as his Propitiation is So this Argument crosseth the Scripture in saying Hee Died for no more then he so prayed for or is such an Advocate for Ioh. 1.29 Heb. 3.9 1 Ioh. 2.1 2. As this Argument doth crosse and denie our Saviours gracious End and Intention in this Prayer Ioh. 17. which appeares to be for the furnishing of his chosen Ones to be in his place of Ministration in the World as the light of the World to declare the Gospel to the World vers 11.17 19 20. And this also to this very end That through the grace of God appearing in them and through their Ministration the World might beleeve that God hath sent Christ vers 21. as these prayed for did already beleeve vers 8. And that the World might know that God loveth those that are in Beleeving come in to Christ and made one with him even with such peculiar love as hee loved Christ his Sonne vers 23. That so such as by their Ministration are brought in this sight and Belief To submit to and be one with Christ and with them may partake of this Prayer and all the things here prayed for vers 20. And those that when this light commeth love Darknesse rather shall be left excuselesse and in another day made to see and confesse the same to the glory of God and their own confusion
it 3. The Word or Doctrine that these did heare and in hearing were glad of and did glorify and praise it in their hearts for the truth and goodnesse of it and for the love of God and the Salvation in Christ manifested therein It was not that part of the Gospel which sets forth Gods Election of some to Life and his peculiar Love to them as this doubt pretends But even that part of the Gospel whereof the doubt is made it being the same Prophecyed in Isai 49.6 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles That thou mayst be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth Where all the ends of the Earth called to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 which is evident to be all men Prov. 8.45 In all the ends of the Earth Isai 4.28 Joh. 1.3 4 5 9. and so as large as 1 Tim. 2.6 Hebr. 2.9 So that this place well considered would have prevented or removed the doubt CHAP. XXIII Of some mention of the Benefit of this Doctrine held forth SOme not being able to gainsay the truth so plainly affirmed in Scripture but that it is plainly recorded That Jesus Christ did by the grace of God taste death for Every Man and gave himself a Ransome for All Men came into the World to be the Saviour of the World and is the Propitiation for the sinnes of the whole World yet are pleased to demand What profit is there in maintaining this so Plainly and in such a generall and large Sense as the Scripture expresseth it in To which this Answer might be given that as man beleeveth with the heart unto Righteousness So with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation and so I might say it is one part of the service of our Lord Jesus To hold forth the Word of life and to confesse him and not to be ashamed of his Words before men Rom. 10.9 10. Phil. 2.16 Matt. 10.27 Mar. 8.38 But farre be it that any of us should say What is the Almmighty that wee should serve him and what profit shall wee have Job 21.15 But hoping that this Question is moved with a more Christian mind I Answer to it ANSWER I. This is that Doctrine which our Saviour Jesus Christ in such generall words did himself Preach unto men to bring them to Repentance and faith Ioh. 3.16 17. 6.51 12.46 47 48. And which his Forerunner had also to that end declared Joh. 1.3 4 7 9 29. 2. The same doctrine in the same largenesse did hee put in the hearts of the Apostles and committed the ministration thereof to them to declare 2 Cor. 3.16.12 Acts. 13.47 48. Tit. 3.4 5. 3. The Confession of this Gospel in such generall words hath been an approved Confession of Beleevers Joh. 4.42 It is therefore unquestionable very profitable and if we should reject this Word of the Lord as unprofitable what wisedome would be in us Jere. 8.8 9. yea would not that heavie sentence be verified in us Isai 29.10 11. 28.12 13. 4. This Doctrine so held forth is very profitable for all men And that both first to convince them of the vilenesse of their sinne in which they have been the Crucifiers of Christ the emptinesse of their Righteousnesse the greatnesse of Gods love to them the horriblenesse of their Rebellion against so loving a God as is shewne in nine Particulars Chap. 17. in Answer of Objection 4. Secondly to allure and move them to Repentance of their sinnes and from dead Workes to belief of the Gospel and Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and so to attend his Sayings and receive his reproofs and Councell as that which indeed appertaines to them So as his Death applyed to these ends may be said to be for All for us for you for me for thee and so left to every mans Conscience without peradventure Act. 2.3 Heb. 6.1 2. 2 Cor. 3. and 4.1.6 5.10 14 15 19. And one doubt put in about the truth of Christ's death and Ransome for all men layes a barre to keep them from being convinced indeed of the vilenesse of their sinnes and shuts the doore against them for comming in to Repentance and faith leaving them in the darke to muse upon Election or driving them with the Pharisee to seek some fleshly righteousnesse in which they may be better then others to claime Christ by 5. This Doctrine so beleeved is Profitable for Beleevers to keep them humble and Patient Rom. 3.9 Tit. 3.3 4. to move them with Love and Pitty towards others 2 Cor. 5.14 15. To preserve their Confidence in God for speciall favours Rom. 5.1 5 6 11. yea it teacheth to denie all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present Life Titus 2.11 12. 6. It is Profitable to the servants of Christ in respect of themselves and others in preserving a good estimate of Scripture and freeing from those fleshly reasonings and those false affirmations That all Christ dyed for shall be eternally saved and that hee shall justify by his knowledge as many as he dyed for And those rash Furies of confounding what the Scripture makes distinct yea it is profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 But desiring it rather may be found Profitable then said so to be I intreat all that will vouchsafe the reading hereof to minde the Application in a few Uses in which especially in the Last this Question will be further answered And so give me leave to speake to thee Reader whosoever thou maist be as to one who I am sure Christ did indeed die and give himself a Ransome to God for CHAP. XXIV Of Vses of the Affirmation in 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 As the Proposition at first affirmed USE I. IF thou be one that as thou hast heard of the Death of JESUS CHRIST for All men so thou hast neither opposed the Doctrine nor yet set thy heart seriously to attend what grace is offered thee therein and what is required of thee but still livest in and allowest thy self to goe on in and serve divers lusts and Pleasures in Profanation of Gods holy Word Worship Name Sabbath or in abuse of thy members to cruelty uncleannesse fraud or of the Creatures of God to gluttony drunkennes wantonnes pride or any such like known sinnes surely in these days and this Nation thou canst not but know that these such like evills are the breaches of the holy and righteous law of God which even from thy Creation thou art bound to keep and so great is every sinne in the breach of that Law That all the Creatures in the World are insufficient to satisfy for So that if Jesus Christ had not in thy Nature and Place become under the Law and so borne thy sinnes and suffered the Curse for them Thou must have perished for ever but this hath Jesus Christ done to Redeem and Ransome thee Now I pray thee consider Was sinne so
odious and hatefull to God That no Sacrifices no Ransome nor Workes no Blood nor anything lesse then the Precious Blood of the Sonne of God could pâ—ease his wrath and satisfie his Justice and that the Punishment and Curse suffered for thy sinne was so great as to make such a Mighty One to be in an Agony and to sweat great drops of Blood and to cry out upon the Crosse because of the wrath that was executed on him yea to Die also and even thy sinnes also with the rest of us the Thornes the Speares the Nailes that pierced him the Mallady that caused him to sweat such drops of Blood and the very cause for which he suffered all these Stripes Behold what a share thou hast what a hand thou hast had in the shedding of the Blood of the Sonne of God In which Sufferings hee yet willingly did die and so gave himself a Ransome to God for thee to save and deliver thee from the Wrath of God and the Snare of the Devill and that himself might be thy Lord And shall neither the Blood he hath shed nor the Love hee hath Testifyed thereby melt and gaine in thy heart towards him Did he shed his Blood to satisfie for thy sinnes and wilt thou still goe on in sinne Canst thou delight and allow thy self in those sinnes for which the Lord Jesus was so wounded and suffered so much Did hee become under the Law for thee and for thy Debt Die and Rise that thou might'st come under his Government and wilt thou still yeeld to continue in servitude of sinne and Satan Is there through his blood so much Patience and Bounty vouchsafed to lead thee to Repentance and wilt thou still persist in impenitency wilt thou slight the meanes hee by his blood hath Procured to invite thee to Repentance Wilt thou make thy members which he by his blood hath purchased the Servants of sinne that drew forth his blood Wilt thou oppresse or defraud People purchased by his Blood Wilt thou abuse to gluttony Drunkennesse Wantonnesse or Pride those Creatures the liberty of Sober and moderate use whereof was purchased by his blood Wilt thou still passe on thy time securely without seeing the Peace and Life that is in him and was procured by his blood Is all the Sufferings and Death and Blood-shed of JESUS CHRIST of no more esteeme with thee Canst thou so contemne and tread under foot and cast as farthest off and least in thy thoughts the Precious blood of JESUS CHRIST shed for thy sinnes And wilt thou not suffer the application and beliefe thereof to rest and worke upon thy heart to melt thee and wash thee from thy sinnes to fill thy heart with sorrow for and loathing of thy sinnes to Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof and to turne thee in to Christ whose blood would speak Peace to thee and purify thee Wilt thou so Persist Oh what wilt thou say or how wilt thou be able to endure when thou shalt be brought before this thy Lord that so dyed for thee and have his Precious Blood and all his Sufferings with all the Mercies extended therethrough to thee and all thy contempt and abuse thereof laid to thy Charge and then to be Judged by him that so dearly bought thee and thou would'st none of his Government but set light by all his Sufferings and Councells Oh that thou wert wise and wouldest consider thy latter End and who it is that Calleth thee to Repentance And is it not hee that dyed for thee and paid thy Debt That hath waited for thee and forborne thee so long that hee might be gracious to thee That hath Pardon and Peace and Life to bestow upon thee and that by all his mercies given thee and meanes he used toward thee and calleth on thee to forsake thy owne way and thoughts and turne to him and hee will have mercy on thee and aboundantly Pardon Isai 35.6 7. doth hee not complaine of it as that which is a new Piercing to him that thou wilt goe on still Pressing him with thy sinnes and not come in to him that thou mightst have Life Isa 43.24 Ioh. 5.39 40. Surely he came to save sinners hee dyed for the ungodly Say not therefore There is no hope in him for thee and therefore thou wilt doe as thou hast done and so refuse his Call Jer. 2.25 Neither say thou Seeing hee dyed for mee I shall have Peace Though I walke after the stubbornnesse of my owne heart for though he dyed for the Sinners Vnjust Vngodly and his enemies yet such shall not inherit his kingdome and have Eternall Life with him they that would enjoy this Life must suffer his Blood through his Word and Spirit to cleanse renew and bring them in and conforme them to himself therefore be not deceived God will not be mocked 1 Cor. 6.9 Ephes 5 6. his word is already gone forth that he that so turneth his Grace into wantonnesse and will persist in his evill way and still say hee shall have Peace notwithstanding The Lord will not be mercifull to such a one but all the Plagues written in his Book shall light upon such a man Deut. 29.19 20 21. and the Lord Jesus is a Righteous Judge and will wound the head of such as when this grace of his is made knowne will goe on still in their Trespasses Psal 63.21 Wherefore I beseech thee let the blood of Christ shed for thee and his love testified therein plevaile with thee to soften thy heart and to turne thee from all thy evill wayes into JESVS CHRIST And seek the Lord while he may be found turne and live for there is Mercy in him for thee It is no lying fable that is tould thee 2 Pet. 1.16 Hee hath sworne hee hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that the wicked turne from his way and Live Ezek. 33.11 and 18.23.32 Oh turne thee turne thee and Live why wilt thou die when hee delighteth not to have it so Behold hee hath given himself a Ransome for thee and received Spirit to send forth in the meanes Hee hath procueed Salvation and made thee saveable and calleth thee to Repentance and faith that thou mightest be saved And all this Treatise hath been to Prove the doore of Life open for thee How long wilt thou now deferre and stand out against so great grace wilt thou not be made cleane When shall it once be Jere. 13.27 Follow not lying vanities to the losse of thy owne mercies Jonah 2.8 Loose not thy owne soule now he hath Purchased it Doe not destroy thy selfe now hee hath wrought Redemption for thee Oh refuse not to accept his grace and submit to his government that hath so deerly bought thee Doe not denie him or despise his Councell Doe no longer persist in thy ownewayes least thou Provoke him to give thee up and so an irrecoverable downfall come upon thee 2 Pet. 2.1 2. which yet may be
and heare and speake whom though thou may not worship yet thou maist shew thy Love to him in loving and doing good to them men and women of the same flesh and blood with thee who are his Creature made in his Image Jam. 3.9 and some of these that are Partakers of his grace and Spirit and thereby conformed to him in some measure and shew forth his vertues 2 Cor. 3.3 1 Pet. 2.9 and these are lively Images and representations of him on these look for these be at cost to Pitty and helpe them to feed the hungry and cloath the naked for whom Christ dyed doing good to all especially to them of the houshold of Faith and this done for Christ's sake is to feed Christ and to cloathe Christ c. Gal. 3.8 9 10. Matt. 25.40 and these hath hee left with us to this end Joh. 12.8 doe not so dishonour him to lay out thy cost on mens livelesse Images Is not he that only Mediatour and High Priest that by his owne blood hath entered into the holy of holyes and opened the way for us to approch with holy boldnesse remaining himself there as our Advocate with the Father who hath wrought redemption for us and is the Propitiation for our sinnes having left his Promise for that according to his will wee aske in his Name Heb. 9.12 24. and 10 19 20. 1 Joh. 2.1 2. 5.14 15. Joh. 16.23 24. And why turnest thou aside to others to mediate for thee and do him that dishonour But if thou sayest no thou seekest no Mediatour between God and thee but Jesus Christ but Angels and Saints departed to enterceed to Christ for thee I aske where hath he will'd thee so to doe Nay hee hath bid thee Seek the Prayers of the Church and the Saints that thou knowest To whom thou may'st make knowne thy griefes and that are here on the Earth James 6.13.18 And not to them that have no Portion in the things done under the Sunne Eccles 9.5 6 10. Isa 63.16 who can neither heare nor answer thee Is not hee the great Prophet and Teacher of his Church and hath hee not left his Spirit and Word therewith to teach the same and sealed his care thereof and love there to by his blood-shed Isa 55.4 Acts 3.22 Matth. 28.20 Isai 59.21 2 Pet. 3.2 Joh. 10.15 Ephes 5.22 25. and can any Worship be pleasing to him but that which is through Faith in him confidence in his blood and guidance of his Spirit according to his Word Jam. 1.6 Heb. 10.19 24. Rom. 8.26 1 Pet. 1.21 25. and 2.1 3. 1 Joh. 5.20.21 and thinkest thou hee wanted Wisedome Love or care why then followest thou Humane Devises in Worshipping him Againe is this the way to Life or Death to serve and feare and worship him after thy owne or other mens devises according to the Doctrines and Precepts of men Hath not himselfe said It is in vain so to worship him Mat. 15.9 and hee will chuse delusions for such Isai 66 3 4. and that hee will blast and curse them Isai 27.13 14 15. As thou therefore esteemest the blood of CHRIST shed for thee and his Love testified therein as thou heedest his honour and tenderest thy owne Life Turn from these deceivable follyes and abominations and submit to the Gospel and Spirit of Christ therein and seek him as thon art thereby directed and there is hope of Pardon and life to be mett with for thee As for those that are enamoured with the Golden Cup that is in the hand of the Whore and so given up through desire of her beauty riches honour to Worship the Beast I am not here lead to speak to them they may heare and see what is said of them Revel 14.9.10 11. be not deceived by them USE IV. If thou be one that hast never yet experimented any Spirituall discoveries of the Preciousnesse of the blood of Christ shed for thee so as through the Gospel to be therewith convinced of thy being under sinne for not beleeving in Christ and through the grace righteousnesse and good will of Christ appearing therein bowed to Repentance and overcome to beleeve in him but only having heard that Christ Dyed for sinners and thou not knowing for which nor how many of them but as thou supposest Sure onely for the Elect and not knowing who these Elect are Thou hast found in the Scriptures set forth a holy righteous Law of Precepts discovering such righteousnesse as is verily due from Man the Creature of God to be performed to God his Creator and each to other for Gods sake and to the keepers and fulfillers of this Law thou findest a promise of Life and to the Transgressors thereof a threatning of death and curse and upon this ground thou hast studied the Law and seriously attended good Sermons and read good Bookes Commenting on the same thereby to find out what sinne is and what righteousnesse is and so to escape death and that Life might be attained and by motives from the Law so urged haste endeavoured to worke sorrow upon thy heart for thy sinnes by this Law discovered in thee and to doe thy utmost to avoid every sinne that by the Law thou knowest to be sinne to worke thy heart to likement of every good duty thou knowest the Law to require of thee and to doe thy utmost to performe the same and where thou against thy will commest short to confesse it to be thy sinne and aske Pardon and strive to doe better and then from some attainements in affections and conversation Perceivest in thy selfe a change of Judgement Affection and Conversation from what thou wert to what thou art and from what the most of other men are to that thy self and some few others are and desires to encrease in the same still and from this thy change and desire of Perseverance therein and the approbation of others so changed of the truth and goodnesse of this thy Conversation and Conversion thou gatherest Peace in thy heart and countest thy self more holy and much better then others not so changed and thereupon conceivest thy self to be Elected and so one of those for whom Christ dyed and therefore restest perswading thy self that thou art justifyed by his Blood and one of the Children of God that shall be saved from wrath through him Now it being thus with thee I must needs cleer thee from that grosse bypocrisie and those appearing evills of those that pretend the same Conversion and Conversation and boost of the same Confidence who yet are found to make sport of the ignorance Profanness open sinnes and follyes of others in rymes jeasts and scoffes which they cannot but know to be evill Prov. 13.9 and who are found to slander their Brethren and to speak faire and pretend Love to their faces and to lay waite to catch them and to traduce and cast false aspertions on them behind their backs Psal 35.11 16. who can raile equivocate and dispense with known
to love none but ones friends of the same sort with him which sinners also doe Matth. 5.42.48 Wherefore I pray thee to lay aside not any righteous affections and 〈◊〉 but all this thy confidence made up thereby and 〈◊〉 to the Death of Christ which was for sinners that thou maist come in at that doore where thou shalt be found no better then others And let the Excellency of the grace of Christ prevaile with thee as it did with Paul Phil. 3.3 9. and doe not spend thy strength for that which satisfyeth not but encline thine eare and hearken to him and waite for Spirit and Peace from him Isa 55.1 2 3 4 5. Vse 5. If thou be one who being more enlightned with the Spirituality of the Law and more senseable of thy short-comming thereof so as in all thy zeal watchfulnesse and endeavours thou beholdest many failings and much sinfulnesse in thy self so as the Law hath Power to charge thee with much sinfulnesse and to sentence thee to death and curse which causeth in thee Amazement Fear Sorrow and Perplexity and thou strivest to ward and keep off these charges of the Law and to avoid these feares by setting thy self still to a more through observance of the Law to which thou canst by no means answer but that it still concludes thee a sinner puts thee in fear and affords thee no hope of obtaining by it the life it Promiseth But leaves thee in great distresse and yet in all this the Law is just and good and holy onely shewing thee that of which thou art indeed guilty and to which thouart indeed by desert lyable too and all this for good That thou being hereby slaine mightest see the greatnesse of the grace of God in making of his Sonne Jesus Christ to become under the Law and Sinne and a Curse for thee that thou mightest beleeve on him and receive Life and Spirit from him but now sinne shewes its sinnfulnesse and not the Commandement but sinne taking occasion by the Commandement to deceive thee As if it were not for such a sinner to look for love in God nor yet to beleeve in Christ till he be more conformed to the Law contrary to that Rom. 4.5 and so holds the captive under thee condemning Sentence of the Law and having thee there in this deceit sin reviveth and enclineth thy heart to hard thoughts of God As one that is an angry Judge and beares thee no good will and sometimes discontented thoughts against God As why did God make Adam seeing hee would not keep him and why hath he given such a Law as cannot be kept Nay it stops not here but moves to thinke Oh that there were no Law yea no Heaven nor Hell yea no God and then not able to look on the horridnesse of such thoughts desperate Imaginations arise as if now no more hope mothing now but Hell and what Temptations then followes let silence speake But stay stay I pray thee this is not the fruit of the Commandement but of the deceitfulnesse of sin taking occasion by the Command To which oh yeeld not at all but the reproof and convincement of the Commandement receive own the sinne say Amen to the Curse and behold him that came to save sinners and was made sin and a curse for thee 1 Tim. 1.15 Gal. 4.4 Say not I must be holy â—st that is impossible Say not I dare not my sinnes have been so great for it was for thy sinnes he dyed and where sinne aboundeth there will his grace abound much more and he that beleeveth in him that Justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse Rom. 3.24.26 and 4.5 and 7.7.24 25. thy sinnes ought rather to be a spurre to thee to beleeve on him that came to save Sinners and takes occasion to commend his righteousnesse by the unrighteousnesse found in men Rom. 3.5 5.20 21. Thou canst not winde out thy selfe from being of the number of those for whom Christ dyed seeing it was for every man Heb. 2.9 Doe not now stand out against him through unbelief hee is no enemy of thine He hath laid aside emnity and is full of Love and compassion ready to Pardon abundantly Hee was in Christ reconciling the World to himself not imputing their trespasses to them I pray thee therefore lay aside thy emnity and hard conceits of him and let his love gaine thee in to beleeve his Goodnesse in Christ and depend on him for life and hee will verily shew thee mercy Isa 55.6 7. 2 Cor. 5.19 20. and 6.2 Taste and see that God is gratious Psal 34.6 Vse 6. If thou be one that hast been so farre enlightned by the Spirit in the Gospel of the grace of God that thou hast so seen and beleeved the report thereof that thou seest and knowest that Redemtion is wrought Ransome given Propitiation made with God for Mankind by CHRIST So at in him sinne is satisfyed for Wrath appeased Justice satisfyed Law answered and Death abolished favour and Life obtained and Spirit revived by CHRIST to conserre remission of sins Righteousnesse and Life on such as Beleeve in him and to Renew and Leade them in all Truth and bring them to the Inheritance So as hereby thou art convinced that thou art under both power and guilt of sinne because thou beleevest not on him and thy heart hereby gained to acknowledge him Lord and so let goe all other hopes and delights without desiring after them and to long after him and that hee by his Spirit would enable thee to beleeve on him But yet thou art not so farre overcome by his grace seen as to be drawne upon him so to beleeve in him as to receive remission of Sinnes and Peace in thy heart which still remaineth broken trembling not healed but gasping and panting after healing I pray thee remember what thou hast heard and what thou hast seen concerning the Propitiation made by Jesus Christ our Lord and the great Love of God in giving him to dye for sinners and waite with Patience at his Posts in the use of all such meanes as the Gospel hath set forth for thee Prov. 3.4 14. and 8.33 34 35. Resort to the Church Assemblies heare his Word remember meditate pray have fellowship with such as doe enjoy his grace pitty the distressed goe on in the ordinary imployments of thy Calling his Providence layeth before thee and be still desiring after him and waiting when hee will by discoveries of his grace come to thee and give thee Peace by his Spirit and through the blood of his Sonne It is a good thing for thee thus to hope and waite for the Salvation of God Lam. 3.26 but doe not thou point him his way and say it must be by such a one in such a word or Promise in such a manner c. Isa 40.13 but wait that it may be by his Spirit glorifying his grace and giving in Peace by his blood and so uniting thee to Christ Let the
fulfill all righteousnesse even all the Law requireth and freely carries to more Love holinesse and services of Love then in thy understanding the Law required and then and so far thou art free indeed Ro. 8.1 2 13 14. and 5.1.5 and 13.9 10. Joh. 8.36 But if without this Thou make thy self free thy freedome is but an abuse of Liberty for an occasion to the flâ—sh Gal. 5.13 and a turning the Grace of God into lasciviousnesse Jude 4. No better then that boasted of 2 Pet. 3.18 19. Remember and take heed thou be not of that Generation that is lofty Prov. 30.13 And let the Grace and Blood-shed of Jesus Christ prevaile with thee to Repent and Submitt and turne into him Which Grace if submitted unto will teach thee to denie all ungodlinesse and worldly Luste and to live soberly righteously and Godly c. Tit. 2.11 12 13. And till thou by this grace be brought hereto I know no Liberty thou hast from God either for thy glorying of thy faith or for thy so much Speakings and Declaration of the Gospel for the charge is that none presume above the Grace received or speake beyond the measure of Faith that God hath dealt to him Rom. 12.6.13 and how wilt thou avoide that heavy Challenge What hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes Or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth Seeing thou hatest Instruction and castest my words behind thee Psal 50.16 17. Surely through thee the Name and Doctrine of Christ is by many blasphemed and many that have their Life and Teaching from Christ are heavily slandered Doe not say thou beleevest rightly and wouldest but canst live no better for is the Spirit of the Lord straightned are these his doings Doe not his words dee good to them that walke uprightly Mich. 2.7 Stand no longer out against his grace therefore but humble thy self and seek him in truth and that in time Vse 8. If thou be one that in the Perception of the greatnesse of Gods love in Christ and the Propitiation made by his death and the fulnesse of grace and truth that is in him art drawne to loath thy self thy sinne thy self-wrought righteousnesse with worldly Pomps and allurements and by that grace of his spiritually discovered in the Gospel to thee overcome to submit to Christ Crucifyed and to depend on him for Righteousnesse Life and Spirituall Guidance and there through hath experimented Peace and newnesse of heart and art carried to glorifie him in walking suitable to his grace and seeking for the union and fellowship with and conformity to Christ with desire of the good of others in compassion to the ignorant and hearty love to beleevers But yet dost not see and so not beleeve the largenesse of the extent of the death of Christ and the ransome given and Propitiation made by him that it should be for All men for the world for the whole world and Every man as it is possible that through the many oppositions in these latter times against the same thou maist be darkened therein as some were about the free Communication of the Gospel to the Gentiles without undering them to the Jewes Observances in the Apostles times yet notwithstanding I both acknowledge and thanke God for his love so graciously made knowne to thee and for thy unfained faith and his good worke begun in thee and I pray God increase and perfect this worke in thee more and more and I kindly accept even thy Prayers for the same in me also and in love and for his sake that hath loved us I pray thee without prejudice consider the Answers to this businesse in this Treaâ—â—e and though thou dost not receive them yet whereto wee have already attained let us walke by the same Rule of faith and loves in Christ as we have received him Col. 2.6 and minde the same things for the glory of Christ and good of others with our owne even perfection in Union with injoyment of Conformity to Christ in his Death and Resurrection and Spirit and if either of us be in this matter of the extent of the Ransom otherwise minded then is right God will also in due season reveale even this unto us Phil. 3.7.15 26. for which let us waite in love and in the meane time let me request this of thee That for the love and Reverence thou bearest to the Gospel in which Christ was made knowne to thee and to the Scriptures in which this Gospel is set forth That thou doe not oppose nor set thy reason awork to finde absurdities in that which is often in many places with joynt consent plainly affirmed in the Scriptures nor prefer humane glosses before the plaine sayings often affirmed therein but rather beleeve the Testimony of them in Prov. 8.8 9. 22.21 nor let this be a stumble to thee that multitudes of all sorts doe beleeve that Jesus Christ dyed for All Men in comparison of those few that beleeve hee onely dyed for his Elect ones for this rather shews the glory and victory of the truth that begets a kind of Credence in those that yet obey it not in this as it doth in other parts of truth that are fundamentall as to instance that there is a God is by his Power in his workes so manifest That all Nations are constrained to acknowledge it and though many know not who and what a one this God is yet in this knowledge that there is a God they fancy some This Some That to be He and in their errours devise similitudes to worship him by and those grosse Atheists that conceit no God to bee are yery few to be found in any age or among any Nations againe That this GOD is one is generally held where any face of a Christian Church is whether true or false and few if any will be found among these multitudes to hold a Plurallity of Gods againe that this one God is the Creator of the heaven and the Earth and Sea and all Creatures contained in them is held by all both good and bad among us I suppose I should not say few but none holding the contrary opinion Againe That this one God is distinct in three Persons the Father Sonne and holy-Ghost is beleeved of us all even multiudes and very few of some sort of familists that hold this to be a humane device and that there is no such thing again that the second Person in the holy Trinity did take mans Nature and not the Father or the Holy-Ghost and suffered and dyed for our sinnes and rose againe and ascended to heaven and from thence shall come againe to judge is beleeved generally among all professed Christians and very few of some sorts of familists that are of another opinion again That Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary that was borne in Bethlehem in Judea in the dayes of Herod the King when Augustus was Emperour of Rome is the very Christ the Saviour of the World is generally
toward a conclusion who ever thou be I pray thee let us take notice of the goodnesse excellency and Preciousnesse of this Gospel in this Declaration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the great love of God to Mankind in giving his Sonne to die for our Sinnes and the fulnesse and fitnesse of the Propitiation he made thereby and the life he is filled with at his Fathers right hand and the Spirit be hath received to send forth to the Sonnes of men and all still by vertue of the Precious blood of his once shed be not weary but take it well though I speake a word or two freely of this Declaration of the Gospel when it is spiritually enlightned to any heart and the heart enabled to perceive and beleeve 1. It is a true glasse in and through which the Beleevers looking may see First The hainousness of our sinnes which wee the chief whips Thornes Speare Nailes Crosse and malady that put the Sonne of God in our Nature to so much grievous sorrow shame paine agony and Death Esay 53.3.9 2 Cor. 5.19.21 Rom. 4.24 and the haynousness thereof appeares in this that nothing else nothing lesse then so great suffering and blood-shedding of the Sonne of God could satisfy for and take away sinne Heb. 9.9.12.22 24. 10.1.10 Mat. 26.29 and also in this that now they are against so good a God and so great goodnesse manifested not onely by Creation but now much more by and through a Redemption with such Precious blood Rom. 2.4 Acts. 17.14 2. The vanity worthlesness and inabilitie of all the Sonnes of Adam and of all their righteousness and best workings and of all Creatures with all their excellencies either to doe away sinne or to make man righteous or Procure life with God which if any or all of them could Then Gods onely begotten Sonne should have been spared Esai 59.16 and 50.2 and 63.5 Job 28.1.19 Hebr. 1.10 Gal. 2.21 Luk. 22.42 3. The woefull and unconceivable heavy condition of every man that commeth to hear the punishment of sinne in his own Person for when the first curse and death as the punishment of sinne borne by him for sinners who never did sinne did for a few houres Suffering put this strong Captaine to such an agony so to groane and cry out What will it doe to such when all their sinnes themselves have committed come to be agravated by dispising so great Patience and goodnesse procured by such a Redeemer and therein despising the Redemption it self and refusing to come in to their Lord that hath so dearly bought them and for all their contempt with all their sinnes therethrough abiding on them be cast into a Second death and suffer therein for ever and ever Luk. 22.44 23.30 31. 2 Pet. 2. 4. The holy nature and attributes of God as his exceeding hatred and indignation against sinne his wonderfull justice in fulfilling the Curse on all Transgressours of the Law and his truth in causing the sinner to dye all seen in this that he would not forbeare nor abate his owne Sonne that was but set in sinners Place for them any part of the debt but required it all of him Isai 53. and also his infinite mercy and compassionate love even to mankind fallen into sinne and enmity against him in providing and giving such a Ransome for them Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. his infinite wisedome in making Mercy and Truth Righteousnesse and Peace to meet in one for recovery of sinners Truth fulfilled and Justice satisfyed in the Curse imposed and death inflicted on his Sonne the Man Christ Jesus and so on all in him in the room of all and so mercy and Peace procured and ready for Mankind yea his Mercy and Truth in sending him forth to doe all this Psal 85.10 11. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. his infinite Power in raysing Christ from the death that dyed as the sinner in the room of all free from all those sinnes imputed to him and a Victorer over the Curse and Death imposed on him and over the Devills that conflicted with him Rom. 1.4 4.25 15.3 4.20.5 7. Col. 2.14 15. And so his Infinite Power Mercy Love Truth Justice Faithfulness in Calling to his Sonne Isai 33.3 Joh. 6.44 45. and dispencing Pardon Spirit and Life to those that in his Call are submitted too and brought to beleeve on his Sonne Isai 33.10 11. Joh. 7.9 5. The Three Persons in one God the Father that gave his Son Ioh. 3.16 1 Ioh. 4.14 and calleth to his Son Joh. 6.44 45. Matt. 16.16 2 Tim. 1.4 The Sonne that came forth from the Father and gave himself a Ransome for All Men and went againe to the Father Joh. 16.28 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 11.1 19. and receiveth those that in the heavenly Call are given him by the Father and maketh known his Father and his Fathers words to them and presenting them spotlesse in himself and giveth them the Priviledges of sonnes Joh. 6.37.8.17.4 9. Col. 1.21 22. Joh. 1.12 13 18. The holy Spirit that commeth from the Father and the Sonne with super-naturall and divine light and Power and teacheth and giveth in the words of Christ beareth witnesse of him and affecteth faith and a new heart and witnesseth Sonship and leadeth the Sonnes of God Joh. 14.2 6. 15.26 16.13 14 15. Joh. 5.6 7. Rom. 8.14 15 16. 6. The glorious Love Goodnesse Excellency beauty and Authority in Christ Iesus who is set forth herein to be God Isa 9.6 the Son of God Mat. 3.17 God made man Gal. 4.4 God man in one Person Joh. 1.1.14 God with us Mat. 1.25 whose Ransome given and Propitiation made is full and fit for us and effectuall with the Father 1 Tim. 2.4 6. 1 Joh. 2.2 Hebr. 10 1.10 who is the rightfull Lord of All. Act. 10.36 and Wisedome and Power of God and the Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption unto all that beleeve on him 1 Cor. 1.24 30. the High-Priest Prophet and King Heb. 5.7 9. the Fountain of Life and Spirit ps 36.8 9. 7. The ground and certainty of the Resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. tot and of the equity and certainty of Christs Judging All. Rom. 14.9.11 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 and of the equity and severity of the second Death Joh. 3.19 Lu. 19.27 2 Pet. 1.2 8. The certaine sure and unspeakable happy and blessed Estate of all those that in beleeving are made one with Christ who are therein one with God in him and with Brethren in him having the same Spirit and Priviledges now in first fruits and in due season of harvest Ioh. 1.12.16 17.20 in respect of all which and such discoveries by the Spirit in the Gospel beleeved I. The Gospel is rightly called a Glass 1 Co. 13.12 2 Co. 3 3.18 Ja. 1.2 3. II. It is a sweet Prevailing motive and powerfull load-stone to draw a man 1. To judge condemne and deny himselfe and his owne wisedome parts righteousnesse 2.
To run to Christ and waite and rest on seek and cleave to him desirously 3. To submit the will and all the Powers to Christ to be disposed directed and appointed by him in every thing Seeing he dyed for us to ransome us and is accepted of the Father and filled with love life and Spirit for us Ioh. 16.7.11 Phil. 3.7 8 9. Esai 64.3 8. Cant. 1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5.21 Gal. 2.19 20. Ro. 12.1 2. 14.8 9. 8.28 III. It is a sweet and healing medicine that will both Purge and restore and comfort our Spirits Isai 55.1.4 Yea healthfull food that begets and strengthens us to and in a good frame Ioh. 6.51 Yea so living and powerfull it is that 1. It quieteth the heart and Conscience from the terrours of the Law and feare of wrath and hell and breeds sweet healthfull Peace Rom. 2.8 7.8 5.1 2. Col. 1.21.2.14 2. It breakes the hardnesse of the heart and breeds sweet meltings and Godly sorrow that makes the Heart and all the Powers flexable to Christ Zach. 12.10 Act. 2.37 16 32 33. 3. It inclines the heart to a true and thorough hatred of every sinne for which Christ dyed and of all dishonours and Disobedience to him Rom. 7.15.24 Psal 119.103 104. 1 Cor. 16.22 4 It killeth the Power of Corruption so as it can neither hould a man from God nor command and governe by its Law Gal. 5.24 Rom. 8.2 6.16.22 Heb. 9.14 5. It taketh the affections from the world and things thereof and Crucifieth them thereto and maketh the World a Crucified thing to them Gal. 6.14 1 John 2.15 16 17. 6. It quickneth up child-like affections to God with readiness to pray to him praise and serve him 1 John 4.10 16.19 Rev. 5.9 10. and compassionate affections to men for whom Christ dyed with readiness to pitty them and seek their good 2 Cor. 5.11 14 15 19 20. and delightfull love to Brethren Partakers of the same grace and fellowship with them and services of Love for them Phil. 1.3.9 1 Iohn 3.4 7. 7 It breeds Patience and Constancie and Victory in Sufferings Heb. 12.2 7. Prov. 8.36 Rev. 12.11 8 It strengthens to Confidence in God for all good things in every condition and service of him therein Rom. 5.5 11. 8.32 and so makes strong Phil. 4.13 and in some degree Partakers of the Divine Nature c. 2 Pet. 1.3 4. IV. It is the right Season of all things to us when by faith we view them through Christ crucified for us as the Gospell sets him forth in which it will enable us 1. To see sinne foule and Pardonable and to look on it with loathing and hope 1 Ioh. 2.1 2. 9. 2. To receive favours both Spirituall and Temperall with high prizeing of his Love that purchased them with blood for us with low esteem of our selves and care of right use and returne of Praises to God Rev. 5.9 10. and 1 Chron. 17.17 3. To receive afflictions as turned from being Curses and signes of hatred to be instruments of blessing fruits of love and fatherly corrections to conforme to Christ who is acquainted with them and knoweth how to helpe being filled with Spirit and having been in soorer trialls himself Jam. 1.2.12 Heb. 12.7 2.18 4. To behold unbeleevers as obiects of Pitty and Compassion and to minde us of that wee once were and from what God hath freely delivered and what humility in our selves what thanks to God what mercy and Patience towards them and what acknowledgement of all this is in such spectacles required of us 2 Cor. 5. Tit. 3.3 4. 5. To behold beleevers as fit to be delightfulls loved tendred helped served entertained into fellowship being not onely purchased with the blood of Christ but there through partakers of his grace Act. 20.28 Ro. 14. Ep. 4.2 4. 6. To esteem highly and use reverently and confidently Prayer hearing the Word all spirituall Ordinances and fellowship with Brethren therein as things purchased for us given us and approach through them to God afforded us even through the Sufferings and Blood-shed of Jesus Christ Hebr. 9.10.19 26. 4.15 16. V. It is the opening of the doore and gate to the claiming Attainment and Possession of all the Priviledges of Sonnes Joh. 10.9 14.6 1.12 as first to receive remission of sinnes Act. 10.43 1 Joh. 1.9 and 2.1 2 Accesse to God Rom. 5.1 2. Eph. 2.18 3 To lay hold on the Promises 2 Cor. 1.20 5.20 21. 4 To receive the Spirit Joh. 7.38 39. Ephe. 1.13 Gal. 3.14 5 To newness and holiness of Life and Nature 2 Cor. 5.17 Eph. 4.20 24. Col. 3.10 11. 6 To pray with Confidence and assurance Heb. 10 19 22.7 To attaine to all things belonging to Eternall Life fully in Christ our head in a measure in our selves 2 Pet. 1.2 3 4. Eph. 1.4 7. VI. It is a sure cleere and perfect patterne for us to immitate Eph. 5.1 â— Of obedience to God Phil. 2.8 9. 2 Of love to Brethren Jo. 15.12 13. Eph. 5.2 1 Joh. 4.10 11. 3 Of humbling and abasing our selves Phil. 2.6 7. 4 Of loving Enemies and doing good to such as wrong us 1 Pet. 2.18 5 Of meekness and confidence and constancy in all Sufferings Temptations and Services and so of all holy walking with God Heb. 5.7 8. Eph. 5.1 2. VII It is a sure Refuge to fly unto Fort and Castle to hide ones self and dwell in a Rock 〈…〉 against which no Power of hell can 〈◊〉 It all so 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 with all supplies of 〈◊〉 and Assistance Isa 32.1 2 3 4 Hebr. 7.25 Rev. 12.11 Ephes 6. 〈…〉 8. Is 〈…〉 to cheere and guide us Psal 119.130.105 Clothing to cover our nakednesse and make 〈◊〉 comely Gal. 3.27 Esai 61.2 3. a Foutaine to 〈…〉 defilements Zach. 13.1 Râ—â— â—5 and 7.14 water of life to make and lively and fruitfull Râ—â— 22.19 and all that is good to make us safe and beautifull 2 Pet. 1.3 9. It brings us into a heavenly union and Fellowship with God and all his Holy Ones and all heavenly and durable Riches Eph. 2.17 22. Heb. 12.22.24 1 Pet. 2.3.5.6.9 That I say nothing of the discovery hope and dispensation of 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 Love to them their farre brought 1 Joh 3.1 2 3. But oh my childishnesse to darken Glory by striving to set it forth for beyond our conception is the Excellency of the Gospel enlightned to the heart and beleeved 1 Cor. 2.9 12. a Word of life of Grace and salvation indeed happy they who have it in their heart and walke therein and thereafter for this will evidence mysterie unto them and shew them the glory of God in the face of Christ and purge and heal them Allure feeâ— and strengthen them safe guard and guide them and being them to the Inheritance 2 Cor. 4.6 Joh. 15 1 10. And the very key of this knowledge the opening the doore to it the instrument in which the