a man and desires to be joyned to him in Marriage he may boldly and withall earnestness stirre up his friend to affect her and seeke her love who is every way so worthy and withall so loving to him that is to far below her Of no lesse folly are they guilty that spend their spirits in calling and crying unto sinners to love the Lord Jesus and seeke his face and yet either cannot or will not assure them that Christ loved them and layed down his life for them thereby to move them to place their affections upon him Nay it s impossible they should know it and much more impossible they should make others know it that say Christ dyed onely for a small number If a wicked prophane wretch should meet a man and were about to offer some injury to him if another should come and make it evident that this man whom he is about to wrong ransomed him with a great summe out of Captivity or when he was condemned to dye by giving his own onely Child to dye for him delivered him from death this might allay his fury after the resolution and melt the heart of the most cruel hard-hearted and injurious person or if it did not it would render him the most odious of Creatures the most ungrateful of men and unworthy of any further pitty And therefore it is that where-ever we meet with prophane persons that are treading under foot the Sonne of God and crucifying the Lord of life afresh by swearing lying drunkenness persecuting the Saints c. and so injuring and denying the Lord that bought them we acquaint them that he whom they wrong and persecute is Jesus the Saviour of the World the redeemer of mankind that gave himselfe a ransome for all bought them with his precious blood and dyed for their sinnes according to the Scriptures that thereby we may perswade them from their impious persecuting principles and prophane practises or else leave them without excuse but whilest men continue ignorant of this great love of Christ and do not certainly know by the Scriptures that Christ dyed for them they are seldome restrained from prophanenesse and all sorts of impiety or at least are filled with frequent doubtings and tremblings of heat not knowing whether the Lamb was slaine for them yet knowing that forsaking of sin and following of righteousnesse can doe no good to that soul for whom Christ dyed not no precepts can be available or promises applicable to those for whom the blood of Christ Jesus was not shed and so they stand staggering at both and though sometimes through the mercy of a long suffering God they have some sweet tasts of mercy yet by attending to false Teachers and Satans temptations they begin to question whether Christ dyed for them and then all their unstable hopes vanish and their unsettled hearts are hurried into a Labyrinth of soul dstempering confusions the Lord pitty these poor Creatures and deliver them from all self contradicting yea God contradicting Teachers who hold the truth in unrighteousness And whereas Mr. Troughton sayes That men will argue that if Christ dyed for all men then for me I shall be saved though I go on and injoy my lusts c. It s nothing so and they that hold that Christ dyed for all men according to the Scriptures raise no such Arguments knowing that they that deny to serve him that bought them shal be destroyed but they argue thus Christ dyed for me among the rest of men therefore I ought to live to him love serve and obey him to forsake my lusts pride swearing coveteousnesse and prophanenesse to dye to sinne and live to righteousnesse because he dyed for me and rose againe But Mr. Troughton saies That Christs dying for all is a ground of dispaire to many to which I answer First Here Mr. Troughton miserably contradiccts himselfe for he holds that they whom Christ dyed for can never dye in dispaire and for others there was never any hopes of eternall life layed up But here it seemes that there was something to be enjoyed even by them who dispaire of it but I shall not dwell upon any advantages but Secondly I answer That Mr. Troughtons suggestions is very false for seeing that Christ dyed for all seeing he so loved the World as to give his life for man-kind much more will he be found willing to receive and save poor sinners that come to him But Satan hath subtilly circumvented men by a great sleight in perswading them through the Doctrine of the false Ministers who are transformed as the Ministers of Christ that God will save some men that live and dye in sinne and that others who so live and dye shall be damned that one lyar shall be saved and another be damned one swearer shall be saved and another damned one Adulerer shall be saved and another damned that God is angry with one drunkard murtherer whoremonger and not with another though neither of them repent for they hold that it is Christ's wâ—rk to act faith and repentance In the Creature they hold that God was never angry with his Elect and hence it that some say God was no more angry with David after he had perpetrated those horrid sinnes of murther and adultery then he was at any other time others hold which is all one in effect that he forceth some to beleeve and be saved and appointeth others to sinne and be damned and this they call the distinguishing love of God which makes M. Troughton ask page 56. Where is the distinguishing love of God if Christ dyed for all I answer first in that he gave Christ to dye for all Men and not for the fallen Angels Secondly In that he will delight in abide with and save such as repent and obey him as you may see Psal 147. 11. Jo. 14. 21 13. Heb. 5. 9. and not others when he might have required men to have done an hundred times as much as he hath and yet have made no such promise of further manifestations of love or life eternall he gave himselfe a ransome for all yet he giveth more or a further addition of grace He resisteth the proud who deny the Lord that bought them and giveth grace to the humble Isai 4. 9. so here is distinguishing grace First He manifests his goodnesse grace or favour to men yea all men yea to the wicked men and they who humbly receive his mercy and truth shall have more even an increase every way as I have in the foregoing part of this Treatise provâ—d from Jo. 14. 21. An other railing Accusation that Mr. Troughton brings against the truth is this If saith he we shall hold that Christ dyed for all this will be a ready way to reconcile us to Rome I conceive he meanes the Papists but the Papists generally hold that Christ dyed sufficiently but not efficiently for all and they hold directly as Mr. Troughton doth in this point that is That his blood in respect of
next to speak in few words of Redemption in a stricter acceptation and to shew how some are in a special manner freed ransomed delivered or redeem'd by Jesus Christ and to that purpose shall first lay downe some Scriptures and to come to the clear understanding of this point Cast your eye then upon Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of our sins and upon 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversations received by tradition from your Fathers but with the pretious blood of Christ c. The great question here to be resolved is this How the Saints come to be redeemed from their vain conversation and to have remission of their sins For answer unto this I beseech you that read to remember what I have in part declared already that there was an offence though committed but by one in which all the world was reputed guilty before God so far as that if Adam for that offence had at the instant of his committing it gone to the grave the whole race of mankinde had perished in him to take away which the Lamb without spot offer'd up himself to God so that that sin imputed to all and so called the sin of the world and iniqnity of us all was by the pouring out of the blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world taken away and remitted so that none shall now dye eternally for it and herein appeared the free love of God who by the blood of his Son washed away sin no creature seeking of it But every individual man and woman when they come to years and know good and evil do themselves commit many sins and walk in a vain conversation by tradition c. and how they come to be redeem'd or delivered from this by the blood of Christ I shall by Scripture and experience briefly make manifest First God sends Christ or the light to them with manifestations of his grace and goodness to lead or perswade them to turn from their sins to God declares to them the sufferings of his Son for their sins and they who seriously consider these manifestations of mercy believe and lay to heart the kindness of God though before Prisoners to sin and Satan are loosed delivered or redeemed from their sins and vain conversions as the Apostle plainly proves Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins So that through the application of the blood of the Lamb to their souls by believing they come to be delivered and have redemption from these sins of theirs and this redemption or pardon of sin is in time and conditional upon faith and repentance I shall indeavour further to illustrate this by a familiar similitude thus Suppose the servant of some mighty Emperor or General should commit an hainous offence to both the high displeasure and dishonour of his master and now conceiving in his heart that his Lord was full purposed to punish him with exquisite and exemplary torments should secretly depart to his masters greatest enemy and with him with a heart full of envy wrath and devilish despite contrive the destruction of him whom he had lately disobeyed in the mean time this mighty man having no such thoughts as his wicked servant imagin'd hearing that another potent person for some horrid crime had condemned his run-agate servant to dye gives his only Son to suffer death to preserve his live who yet still not knowing his Lords love with a perverse and inraged heart carries on the designe of his masters ruine but in the midst of his malice and fear having certaine intelligence of the transcendent kindness of one whom he had so highly incensed and of his own willingness to receive him even as a Son if he would return to him presently his soul begins to melt hatred le ts go the hold it had upon his heart and admiring such unexpected and undeserved love his bands of wickedness full off the rage rancour and wicked resolutions which possess'd him are all cast out the snare is broken and he is delivered not only from that death which his Masters Son quitted him of by dying for him But also by applying and considering his Lords love of those bloody sins and designes against his Master and begins to think of returning to him who had done such great things for him Thus stands the case betwixt God and man when Adam had sinned he ran away from his Maker and what spirit he was of towards him you may perceive by his Answers to him Gen. 3. who yet had thoughts of love and peace towards him and gave his onely Son to ransome him from the pit of which ransome or redemption all his posterity being in his loynes are partakers but they have all as I may say one by one departed from their God and rebelled against him that redeemed them and continue long ignorant of the loving kindness of the Lord at length the Lord by his teachings as himself pleaseth makes known his goodness and riches of grace and as many as believe or lay to heart what he hath done for their souls how he gave the Son of his love to dye yea to destroy the power of death for them that they might live by him and through him rise from the grave and that they have this redemption or deliverance through the blood of Jesus shed for them and have clear evidence of this by the Spirit in the Scripture of truth they begin to loath and leave their sins the love of God known casts out their base fear his mercy manifested destroyes their malice pride lust covetousness c. cuts in sunder all the cords of vanity in which they were held carries them quite out of their prison wherein their souls were pent up though sin tugs hard yet at last it is fain to remit its hold and though before they hug'd sin as a friend they now let it go as an enemy and so in the end through the applying of that blood which was shed for them they are redeemed out of the hand of the enemy and by the application of the blood of Christ they receive remission of THEIR sins as they before had by the effusion of it the remission and redemption from Adams sin which as I before hinted was absolute unsought for free and universal This is conditional and especial And if any shall demand Why all have not this redemption I answer Because they believe not they lay not the blood of Christ to heart if they did it were impossible that they should be so carried away with lust pride ignorance lying swearing cheating drunkenness gaming covetousness formality lukewarness ildeness and all manner of disobedience for if men did consider the grace of God if they knew the gift of God and his kindness which
but to such as accept it it is not so their refusal of it keeps it from being a gift or free benefit to them though it still be free on Gods part who tenders it by his instruments to them And thus you see that mans doing his duty in believing and obeying according to the Gospel doth not frustrate the grace of God no more then a mans stretching out of his hand to receive any thing doth cause it to cease from being a gift Secondly I am so far from detracting from the grace of God when I affirm that God hath of his rich and free mercy given to every man and woman power to do what he expects of them that the desire of my soul is to advance that alone and to cleer up this I desire the impartial reader to judge who doth most advance the riches of grace they who affirme with the Scriptures That Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man and that all Nations of men are furnished by the Lord with every thing necessary for the knowing of him and obeying of his commands layd on them or they that say contrary to the Scriptures that Christ did not dye for all but only for a few and that God hath not given all men ability to performe what he commands them to do that he hath appointed some to disobedience and so to damnation Who is it that speaks most to the praise of the glory of Jehovah's grace he that sayes that God doth faithfully offer his grace and call all men to him i. e. to conform to his will or law manifested giving them liberty and ability to accept his love to perform his precepts or they that say that God doth only externally call all men and not really and seemingly offer grace to all men yet hath beforehand absolutely decreed the unbelief and disobedience of many of them For my part I am fully satisfied with those sayings do most advance the exceeding riches of grace which hold forth the free and unfeigned tenders of mercy to every man so as that all are left without excuse and the Justice of God who is no respecter of persons cleared in the sight of all men What you would in words say of such a master as would bind his servant hand and foot yet beat him for not coming to him when he calls him or command him to ride a hundred miles in one hour and buy two hundred penny-worth of ware with one peny threatning him with tortures upon his not-performing such uncompassable commands those men who oppose that truth which I plead for do in effect say of our most gracious and righteous God when they affirm that he hath decreed the unbelief and sins of men and yet will condemne them eternally for these things and that he hath required them to believe and follow him according to the light he reveales yet hath not enabled them so to do which in plain English is that God exacts more of his creatures then they are able to do The Lord in mercy yet grant these men time and space to repent of these doctrines Object But we do not say God is a hard Master to us taking up where he laid not down c. Answ Then what have you to do to say that he is so to others you cannot deny but he giveth strength to his Saints to do what he requires of them and I beseech you consider whether others have not ability from Jehovah to do by him what is expected from them in their several stations Gladly would I demand two or three Questions of any sober humble soul that prefers the faithfulness and glory of God before their own fancies First Whether every Man and Woman have not ability to act something Secondly Whether that power or ability be not from God alone through Christ Thirdly Whether God did indue them with that ability to do well or to do ill or to do nothing Surely you will say not to do ill not to be idle then undoubtedly it was to serve seek and glorifie him And if any shall ask how men come to commit sin then I answer as Adam did they being men heaken to the old Serpent reject the counsel of God resist his Spirit or Teachings deny the Lord that bought them with his pretious blood and bring upon themselves swift destruction Object But surely if God did call all men really they would sure come to him and if he did invite and offer his grace in good earnest they could not but receive it if God open the heart it cannot but be opened if he purge men must unresistibly be purg'd if God freely give faith and repentance men cannot chuse but repent and believe To which I answer first If God in calling men and giving out his love did make use of an unresistible power as some fondly dream all this were true But Secondly To say that God doth not really intend that grace to men which in the means he extends to them is a doctrine which I know makes the hearts of many pretious Saints sad considering how the God of Heaven is by such sayings highly dishonour'd and abus'd by saying or implying at least that men shall be damn'd because God did not really and in good earnest call them and offer mercy to them contrary to Prov. 1. 26 27. Thirdly as I have hinted before God is said to give faith and repentance c. when he affords the means i. e. the word of faith and doctrine of repentance to men and women come to understanding and enabled every way by him to come to him in the duties by him enjoyed and to open the heart when he affords that key of knowledge his word which is spirit and life and the motions or beams of his Spirit to poor souls in a word Gods work and our endeavours in all spiritual duties must go together for God opens the heart by sending the means we open to him by receiving and applying it but as the stretching out the hand to receive a bag of gold is not that which inricheth the receiver but the bounty of him that gives it so our receiving of light and grace offered is not that which makes us rich in knowledge and spiritual treasure but the bounty of God that gives these to us yet you know these are not ours though extended by the Lord never so freely if we do not imbrace and apply them which is indeed but our duty which God himself hath enabled us to perform and no thanks to us for doing that Fourthly and lastly they that heaken to the voice of God and so come to know his love and believe it or lay it to heart cannot but come in the love of God constraineth them to live to him that dyed for them and rose again and these are they that are in a special manner the called of God called to be Saints He is not asham'd to call them brethren Heb. 2. 11. but because all will
Scripture-Redemption freed from Men's Restrictions Being An ANSWER TO A Book lately published by Mr. William Troughton who stiles himself a Minister of the Gospel at Onlep in Leicester-shire INTITULED Scripture-Redemption restrained and limited As also the substance of several Conferences and Disputes had in England Wales and Scotland With Mr. Heath Mr. Bartley Mr. Powel Mr. Sam. Rutherford and Mr. James Wood Two Rectors of the University of S. Andrews and many others About the death of our most dear Redeemer and the Controversies which are the constant concomitants of it Together with a brief Reply to Mr. Troughton's rayling accusations in his Introduction By J. Brown sometimes of Oriel Coll. in Oxford afterwards a Priest of the Church of England and Vicar of Tenbury in Worcester-shire but now through mercy a Preacher of the faith which once he destroyed YE are my witnesses and my servant whom I have chosen that ye MAY know and believe me Isai 43. 10. London Printed by J. C. for Will Larnar at the signe of the Blackmoor neer Fleet-bridge 1653. To all those precious souls who receive the Gospel and follow the Lord Jesus in the way of righteousness to whose view this small Treatise shall by providence be presented Increase of all spiritual riches from the Father of mercies are unfeignedly desired IT is no new thing blessed souls for the God and men of this world to call the sweet saving and most soul refreshing doctrines of the Gospel Heretical opinions and the way of God even that way of Worship which Christ and his Apostles walked in Heresie that so by raising foul though false reports against the Truths of the true and eternal God they and their false Merchandise corrupt Doctrines I mean may seem fair in the eyes of their followers Let it not then seem strange to you neither be discouraged if it be so in our generation but as our God hath imparted to you a great measure of the knowledge of his love in the Lord Jesus let it be your care I beseech you by the mercies of God to walk worthy of the Lords love in all well pleasing and abounding in every good work that you may shine as lights in this world and in the world to come as the sun in the kingdom of our Father for ever and ever You have known and believed the love of God to your souls you know and are assured by the Scriptures that Christ died for you when other poor creatures going about to prove it by their qualifications a most inconstant and crooked rule are oft-times at least very uncertain whether Christ died for them and so through the instability of their sad minds either hurried away by dangerous presumption or hurled into deep despair and other soul-distracting distempers Their condition I much commiserate having my self been somewhat buffeted by Satan under it for at best they are frequently tossed to and fro by doubts and fears whether ever God gave his Son to lay down his life for them and so are kept from the enjoyment of that abiding consolation which you partake of by believing what is plainly written in the Word of Truth and rejecting the dark consequences and deductions of men Oh pity those that are ignorant of that truth which you are acquainted with endeavour to impart it to them but despise them not in that you know Christ died for them Be not weary of well doing The Lord is at hand and if you persist in holiness he will requite your short pains with everlasting pleasures and your work in the day of grace with an eternal and exceeding weight of glory And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up to make you wise unto salvation to make you perfect and throughly furnished to every good work desiring the Lord of glory to preserve you blamless in body soul and spirit till he appears the second time without sin unto salvation that you may be presented faulâ—lest before the throne of his glory with exceeding joy and be made partakers and possessors of that rich and glorious Crown and those precious promises which now by saith and patience we inherit in which most blessed state I trust on the Lords day to meet you and in the mean space whilst the Lord holdeth my soul in life here shall remain Your faithful servant and brother though unworthy in the way and work of Christ J. Brown To all the people in the world who shall peruse this plain Discourse especially such as setting their faces towards Sion have their souls sadned through the uncertainty that is in them about Christs dying for them the Author sincerely wisheth those cordial consolations which which flow from the knowledge and acknowledgment of the Truth in this point according to the Scriptures KNowing by sad experience what a miserable condition they are in who are ignorant of the love of God and how chearfully they are drawn out to serve him who know and are assured that he gave his Son to be a Propitiation for them I have here presented to each impartial Reader a familiar Discourse concerning the death of our Redeemer wherein I shall by the help of Jehovah prove 1. That Jesus Christ did die for all and every man 2. How far this extends to all or what he hath done for all men dying for them and this I shall do by the express Word of the Lord as it is ministred to us by his own Spirit without sophistical Syllogisms dark Deductions Consequences and Inferences the onely proofs of those who assert the contrary 3. I shall also by the assistance of the Lord produce the reasons which I have found in the Scripture confirming this truth 4. I shall as I have met with them answer the Objections brought against it 5. I shall make some Application of the whole wherein I shall take opportunity to shew the soundness and profitableness of this Doctrine the sad consequences and absurdities of the contrary and endeavour to discover some reasons why so few receive it and why there is so great opposition made against it I confess they lie deep but the Lord in time will help us to a more full manifestation The occasion of my undertaking of this work was partly from a nameless Paper received from some Parish Ministers living about Bishops Castle in Shrop-shire to which because I knew not to whom to write I was not careful to return any Reply But especially from the reading of ten printed Arguments set out by one M. Troughton though suckt from others together with several Conferences had providentially with many learned men as they are accounted in England and Scotland about the death of Christ and the controversies which are the constant concomitants of it My resolution is to be plain without Rhetorical flourishes and the wisdom which man teacheth The glory of God is that which I chiefly aim at my conscience bearing me witness and
will yea Oath of God I have already shew'd Secondly all rational and unbyassed men that fear God know that the world in Scripture-phrase is opposite to the Lords chosen ones as John 15. 19. John 17. 9. Thirdly It is inconsistent with the Tenents of Mr. Tro. and others with him for they say the Lord chose a certain number of men to everlasting life without reference to any faith and obedience from which Election they could never fall and if so what need of reconciliation therefore it must needs be of some that were not in favour for it 's very improper to say that God was in Christ reconciling the beloved of his soul to himself which never did nor ever could lose his favour But this will be more plain when we consider into what state mankind was bought and brought by the blood of Christ and that is not to eternal life for he did not buy all men or any man that by the pouring out of his blood only without faith repentance they or any one of them being come to yeers of discretion should be saved for if redemption and reconciliation had been such and so fully absolute as to this what need the Apostle have besought the Corinthians so earnestly that they would be reconcil'd to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. And if some men shall be saved in glory onely and alone because Christ dyed for them then those many melting invitations tender intreatings with all the exhortations admonitions reprehensions instructions and other teachings of the Lord might have been spared But therefore I hold that men even all men were delivered redeemed or bought out of the hands of their enemies that they might live through Christ here in this world Secondly that they might live to him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. i. e. through him believe Joh. 1. 7. and serve God in holiness and righteousness before c. Thirdly That they who for nought had sold themselves to death and the devil might rise again from the dead In a word as God through Christ chose or appointed all men to serve him and by Christ created or made all Nations of men to seek him as the Scriptures say so by the blood of his Son he bought again or redeem'd lost mankinde And if it be true that all men without a Christ were once dead and now living by him are bound in duty to live to him it 's as true that he dyed for or bought all And that these things are true you may clearly see if you read and seriously consider 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. where the Apostle being proving that all were dead a thing it seems somewhat strange to the Corinthians doth it thus If one dyed for all they were all dead And that he dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose againe It seems that they onely are bound to live to Christ for whom he dyed and rose againe That all are bound to live to him none dare deny that all men shall be rais'd by Jesus at the last day is true as I have before shew'd And that Christ bought or redeemed all men See John 10. 15. and 2 Pet. 2. 1. Now none will deny that he bought the sheep that is such as confess him hear his voyce and follow him and Peter saies There shall be false teachers c. denying the Lord that bought them so that he bought them also who deny him and are destroyed Object But the Lord that bought them is not the Lord Jesus say some Answ They that shall say so and teach men to say so are in this some of those false teachers who deny the onely Lord even our Lord Jesus Christ If they shall say 't is the Father Answ Christ and his Father are one shew another Lord. Object But saith the Objector The price wherewith they were bought was some other price then the blood of Christ Answ 1. When he shall shew me what that other price is with which false teachers are bought I shall believe him and not before for it 's not exprest in Scripture 2. He may as well say that the Saints at Corinth were not redeem'd or bought by the blood of Christ because it s not mentioned 1 Cor. 6. 20. and 7. 23. Object But the word in the Original signifies to buy without a price or acquire men into the Profession of Gods service I Answer first This is utterly false and though it be not alwaies meant to buy or acquire with blood yet whatsoever men purchase buy or acquire they lay out study labour industry health friends strength mony or some other means or price by which they get or compass their desires Object But is it not sayd Come buy c. without money and without price Isa 55. 1. Answ First we cannot buy spiritual things with mony or silver as some Translations render it But Secondly He that comes to the Lord to obtain any mercy if he come without the blood of Christ upon his soul be sure he will acquire or get none And whereas it hath been said that Christ doth acquire men into the profession of his service I demand whether he doth acquire them to serve him or profess his service really or seemingly If really then it 's the same that I say Christ did really buy men that they might really serve him and because some serve Satan and others serve God in hypocrisie they shall together have their portion with their Father and Master the Devil in the lake of fire If seemingly then Christ by their doctrine acquires or gets men to be Hypocrites for seeming service or the profession of service which is not real is all one and both abhor'd Hypocrisie The Lord in mercy yet grant men space to repent of these their hard sayings Object It s true say some that Christ dyed for all and bought all in a sense but dyed not for all alike I Answer The question is not in what sense Christ dyed for all or bought all but whether the thing be true and if he dyed for all in any sense as you call it it is true that he ransomeed all But say others All were bought by Christ to live by him and shall rise by him But not as a Mediator These poor cavils and senseless shifts are not worth answering I shall onely say this to them That when the Objectors can prove what they say by the Scriptures viz. that Christ dyed two waies I shall heed their sayings in the mean space such expressions are so far from the form of sound words that I fear they flow rather from a critical then conscientious spirit that seeketh truth in the love of it I have shew'd you what the Scriptures say and how according to them Christ dyed for all so that all live by him and ought to live to him I desire not to be wise above what is written I come
calls forth any soul he furnisheth that creature with every thing necessary for the doing of what he expects from him For the better understanding of this consider that for the enabling of creatures to act there is a twofold power requisite yet both from God through Christ The first is that he hath given to men and women as they are his creatures for as such they can hear see know understand walk c. And the second comes forth from him to them when they are able to discerne betwixt good and evil and this is the law light or motions of the Spirit of God presenting his goodness love or grace to them by this to lead them towards him forbidding them to do evil and bidding them do well The former fits us to do or act the latter to do well and till this latter I mean the law light or teachings of God come in some dispensation or other the creature cannot neither is it required to act according to the rule of Obedience to God but when this is come and the Lord layes truth before them they may know and believe him cease from evil and learn to do well according to the light law or power appearing as I have before shewed from Isa 43. 9 10. But some perhaps may say that I detract from the free grace of the Creator and attribute something to the creature as if he could contribute somthing towards his coming to God and his eternal happiness I hear there are many that talk much of free grace understanding neither what they say neither what they affirme for though the love grace mercy goodness or kindness of Jehovah being all but one and the same be ever free yet it is not alwayes without a conditian for Gods appointing of creating redeeming justifying sanctifying and calling of all men to live here to seek and serve him be so free that God required nothing of the creature to do these things for him he ask't no price made no bargain no man sought to him in the business but he alone moved by his own love towards a miserable lost creature finished the fore-mentioned works from the foundation of the world for all mankind yet they that believe not shall not enter into rest For the Lords sake read and consider Heb. 4. 1 2 3. so that now if men will injoy further manifestations of the love of God they must fulfill the conditions which God requires of all such as would have such enjoyments for therefore hath the Great Jehovah done all those things for men freely that men through consideration had of his love might love him that loved them first and hereupon he will yet love them and shew more of his kindness to them Weigh the words of our Saviour well Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and my Father will love him and I will love him and will manifest my self to him It is not to be doubted but the Father and Christ did love those that keep his commands before their Obedience yea before they were born yea so well as to redeem sanctifie and justifie them by the blood of the Lamb from the power or extent of suffering that came by Adams sin or else they had never been born and so could never have been obedient yet here he says My Father will love him and I will love him c. according to that Psal 147. 11. His delight is in them that fear him This further manifestation of love is upon condition and this was the way and purpose of God from the beginning If thou dost well thou shalt be accepted The Lord is with you whilst ye are with him and if seek ye him he will be found of you 2 Chr. 15. 2. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall finde mercy Pro. 18. 13. Hear and your soul shall live Isa 55. 3. see vers 7. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open unto me I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3. 20. And if any man doth his will he shall know the doctrine shall be the mother brethren and sisters of Christ God will hear him and he shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Joh. 7. Mark 3. 35. Joh. 9. 31. Mat. 7. 21. But can the grace of God be said to be free when there is a condition of something to be done by us for the obtaining of it I answer Very well it may be free though it be our duty to receive and obey the giver For first God shews man what he would have done Mica 6. 8. and made all the promises of grace freely none moving him thereto nor any as men excluded from them Secondly It is he that gives all the ability by which we do what he layes before us Thirdly He might require us to do more then he hath yet have made no promises of further grace or of eternal life which is the gift of God and if this last were well understood and explained it would overthrow all the Popish doctrines of merits both of condignity and congruity for without controversie all the obedience of the whole race of mankind is not able to conterpoise much less deserve the least of the mercies which we enjoy as to this life and if God had laid more labour upon us and yet given us only what is here below we could not have said he had been a hard master If he had not pleased to have declared unto us by his Spirit the grace that shall be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ we should never have heard or thought of it It must of necessity be then that the mercy of God to eternal life and his continued manifestation of grace in Order thereunto are most free for Fourthly Hearing the word of God faith repentance baptism prayer praising of God and other works of Gospel-obedience which God enables us to do stand us in nothing they are not like the costly and Burdensom ceremonies of the Jews the Lord onely requires that we should worship him in Spirit and in truth that is as the word of Christ which is Spirit and truth and life teacheth us Lastly our receiving or believing of light truth love and mercyes of God is so far from making it not to be a free gift that this makes it to be so to each particular for though God gave his Son the Gospel and eternal life freely yet no man hath either of these to himself as his proper right to his everlasting happiness except he receive it If a man leave as a legacie two hundred pound to be divided equally by his steward between twenty persons by him named the steward sending for those persons declares his Lords love and gift offers it to them and to their benefit who reject what was bequeathed it becomes a free gift
lye down in the grave and sleep in the dust yet they shall all live again in the day of the Lord. But may some say is he so the Saviour of all men that none shall be damn'd in the second death I answer No for though he be the Saviour of all men as I have proved yet especially of them that believe as I shall now also briefly shew you by the Scriptures Prov. 3. 35. The wise shall inherit glory Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall 〈◊〉 as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousâ—â—ss as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine 〈◊〉 as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father Mat. 26. 46. But the righteous 〈…〉 Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to givâ— you thâ— Kingdome Whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but 〈…〉 Joh. 3. 15 16 18 36. My sheep hear my voice and I know 〈◊〉 and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not 〈◊〉 Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Joh. 10. 27 28. See Joh. 5. 28 29 All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life c. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth and 〈◊〉 baptized shall be saved Rom. 2. 7. 10. Glory honour peace and eternal life to every man that patiently continues in well doing Mat. 10. 22. He that indureth to the end shall be saved Rev. 2. 23. Be thou faithful unto the death and I give thee the crown of life See vers the 11 17 26 27 28. Rev. 3. 5 12 21. He is made the Author of eternal salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. But the wicked shall be as stubble Mal. 4. 1. He that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. Blessed are all they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter in by the gates into the holy City Rev. 22. 14. with many other pertinent texts of Scripture whereby we may demonstratively evidence that there is a special salvation for some viz. such as hear know believe and obey God and that as all men are and shall surely be saved from the first death and all that came on them through the offence of Adam yet they only who receive the truth in the love of it shall be saved from the second death and they who are contentious and do not obey the truth through their neglect of so great salvation as was purchased by his blood and preached in the word or light of Jesus though they shall be raised up at the last day from the first death yet for their wickedness they shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death All the Objections and Queries that usually men bring in here about the creatures believing and acting in all kind of obedience I have handled in the precedent part of this treatise where I have proved that God never requires any duty of any of his creatures but at some time or other he furnisheth them with ability to fulfill his commands And all our obedience merits not eternal life in the least seeing God might justly have deprived us of a being or have given no more but this life and yet have laid upon us much more work then he hath but it was the good pleasure of his will to give eternal life through his Son to all such as serve him in their generations according to the light manifested to them For which free mercy all praise honour service and obedience is due to Jehovah for evermore Amen THE REASONS OR ARGUMENTS Which illustrate The truth of Christs dying for all men together with the grand absurdities which unavoidably follow the contrary Doctrine with the answer to the Objections or Arguments of M. Trough M. Wood and others HAving thus by the Scriptures proved that Christ died for all men and what he hath done for all or what benefit all men have by him I come in the next place in the strength of the Lord to illustrate the truth of this assertion by Reasons or Arguments drawn from the Scriptures which may easily evince to sober spirits and convince the gain-sayers of this soul-establishing Fundamentall Doctrine of the Gospell and they are these First the coming of our Saviour into the world is glad tidings of great joy to all people Luk. 2. 11. which could never be if Christ had done nothing for the greatest part of mankind but it would have been sad tidings to most men who must therefore die eternally because there was no Saviour for them or at least because they obey not him who never paid a price for them Secondly the Word that is to be preach'â— is the Gospell to every creature Mark 16. 15. the Ministers of the Lord Jesus are to declare peace unto every house where they come Luk. 10. 5. and that can never be done if they are not able by the Scriptures to preach a Saviour to them without leaving any doubts upon their spirits Thirdly God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. and is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Now if Christ died not for all then God would have more men to be saved then Christ died for as some have said which is absurd to imagine or what good will repentance do those for whom Christ-never died Fourthly they that are damn'd Jo. 3. 18. with ver 36. are damn'd because they believe not in the only begotten Son of God therefore the only begotten Son of God died for those or else how shall they be damn'd because they believe not in him except men shall be damned for not believing on him that never died for them Fifthly they that shall be damn'd might have been saved if they had received the truth in the love of it 2. Thes 2. 10 11 12 13. therefore Christ died for them or else they had no probability of salvation seeing there is no name given unto men under heaven whereby they must be saved but only the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4. 12. Sixthly they for whom Christ died may perish and be destroyed see 1 Cor. 8. 11. with Rom. 14. 15. Seventhly some deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1. so that if Christ died for those that shall be saved and those that shall be destroyed he died for all Eighthly the Apostle commands that prayers and supplications shall be made for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. surely prayers will do but 〈◊〉 good to those for whom Christ never died or how can we pray in faith for all men if Christ
they who shall be damn'd might have been saved had they received the love of the truth if the Apostle may be believed 2 Thes 2 11 12. Ob. But saith M. Tro. many dangerous consequences will follow if we should grant that Christ died for all as first it riseth up against the power of God as M. Tro. says that he should give his Son to die for the salvation of thousands and yet all not be saved Ans 1. To which I answer first by waâ— of the distinction used by the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 10. he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and from hence observe that God who gave his Son and Christ who gave himself a ransome for all hath saved or delivered every man from the power of the grave but God never gave his Son to save or deliver any from the wrath to come or to bring any to eternall glory but such as believe and obey as I have often proved Ans 2. Secondly it doth not impeach the power of God in that we maintain that what God did intend to bring to passe by his own sole soveraign power through the death of his Son is effected viz. the breaking of the Serpents head the continuance of life to mankind here making way for light and salvation and the raising up all men from the grave but that God did ever purpose to bring men to eternall life whether they believe or no by an absolute power we deny for the Saints themselves are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Ob. But says M. Tro. it makes the salvation of the creature to depend on the contingency of his own will and naturall ability Ans 1. Answer first that salvation I mean everlasting glory with God or eternall life is Gods gift as I have formerly proved by the Scriptures Ans 2. Secondly that none shall enjoy this gift of his but such as walk as he hath injoyned them in that Law which he manifested to them is the eternall infringeable and unresistable Decree of God and M. Tro. page 45. confesseth that though the precepts of God do not shew what God hath done for us yet they determine mans duty and the rule of his obedience what God approves as good in it self and what is our duty to do there being a sweet harmony and connexion between the end and the means which is fully as much as I hold in this point viz. that they who would be saved which is the end they must believe and obey as God hath enabled them which is the means or at least one means But says M. Tro. it s contrary to the wisdom justice and love of God that he should give his Son to die for all and not give them faith and repentance c. Ans 1. To which I answer as before that indeed if God had given his Son to die for all with an intent to save all that is give eternall life to all or any without faith and obedience then if any had come short of it it might have seemed to reflect on the wisdom justice and mercy of Jehovah but the Scriptures never reveal any such purpose in God as you may see by Joh. 3. 16. Hâ—b 5. 9. with many other places Ans 2. Secondly so far as God did intend by his Sons death to save or deliver men he did doth and will fully effect â—t and whether men believe it or no they shall one day be saved from the grave by him that died and rose again Ans 3. Thirdly that God so put men in a savâ—â—ble condition that if any come short of eternal life their destruction is of themselves their rejecting light and loving darknesse will be their condemnation Ans 4. God doth not give faith and repentance as M. Tro. dreams viz. make men to believe by an irresistable power for I have shew'd before that God is said to give faith and repentance when by his Word or Spirit he perswadeth men to believe and repent or depart from evill when he gives the Gospell which is the Word of Faith and frequently in the Scriptures is called faith thus Faith is the gift of God and so when by the Gospel or goodnesse of God any soul is led to repentance God is said to give repentance yet the act or duty of believing and repenting is never call'd Gods gift work or act for then they that shall be damn'd for unbelief and impenitency shall perish because God gave them not the means yea because God did not perform his act or work in the creatures contrary to all the revealed will of God so that it appears to me and thousands besides that M. Tro. doctrine doth highly scandalize and impeach and restrain the power wisdom justice and love of God For if Christ did not die for all or redeem all from the power of the grave at least which is that I hold and which M. Tro. cries down under the name of universall redemption it was either because he could not or because he would not I am certain it is not the later for he will raise up all men at the last day 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 if M. Tro. says it is because he could not wise men will aâ—hor such savings both therefore are true he is willing and able and also will do it all mankind are and shall be freed in due time from whatsoever Adam brought on them and whosoever affirms the contrary debaseth the power of the omnipotent God seen â—spâ—cially in raising up Iesus from the dead Eph. 1. 20. that so he might be Lord of the quick and dead as hath before been manifelled of which domâ—nion Lordship or power M. Iro and others though I hope not knowingly have endeavoured to devest Jesus Christ except they will say that our Lord will exercise authority over those whom he never purchased the very thought whereof is abominable to every knowing sincere hâ—aits seeing the Scriptures â—re so pâ—ain that to this 〈◊〉 Christ both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living they that oppose this disparage the power of Christ scandalize his Scepter which is a Scepter of righteousness and make Christ an arbitrary usurper the name whereof 〈◊〉 amongst all and at least in words exploded by us in this Island And as for the wisdome of the Lord which is infinite Mr. Troughtons Doctrine detracts from it for he confesseth that the tenders of mercy by the Lords commands are and must be to all where the Gospel comes though not really and in good earnest as one saith yet Christ dyed not for all saith Mr. Troughton Now I beseech thee O impartiall soul that readest this judge what is right and see whether it suits with the wisdome of God to invite perswade beseech and stretch out his hands unto stubborn gain-saying wretches having never given Christ for them nor Christ any right to
of universal salvation viz. that none shall be punished or perish in the lake of fire my soul abhors as also Mr Troughtons Doctrine that any shall be punished or perish there meerly because it is the pleasure of the Lord so to have it or because they were by Jehovah appointed to be disobedient and to be damned or because there was never a Saviour that dyed for them or because Adam eat of the forbidden tree my soul also abominates and it is the griefe of thousands to heare that God is dishonoured by such Declarations Though once I confeffe it was my judgement but the Lord hath had mercy upon my soul and now I see that every mans destruction is of himselfe and that the vengeance of eternall fire comes on men through their omitting some good that they might have done or their committing some evill that they might have avoided for rejecting some light that they might have received or turning from what they had received for trampllng under foot the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified and denying the Lord that bought them c. Object But saies Mr. Troughton if it we should preach that Christ dyed for all this would bolster up men in a prophane course or at best in a generall dead faith Answ The contrary to which is true for one constant use that we make of this Doctrine is to diswade deter and dehort sinners from prophanenesse and all manner of sinne and to perswade them therefore to hate that which is evill to die to sinne to live to righteousnesse to love and live to the Lord Jesus because he dyed for them and rose againe and we declare unto all men that if they do not leave sinne repent and live to Christ but deny his word despise his Spirit and slight his blood they shall be sure to be damned for ever because they live not to him that dyed for them and rose againe and that although Christ bought them or layed down a sufficient price for them yea though they professe that truth yet if in their works they deny him and follow not those further manifestations of light which he appeares to them in but refuse his words and so receive him not they shall be destroyed at the last day Secondly This Doctrine cannot be the Nurse of a dead faith if truly preached and received for this teaches men to know first by the Scriptures that Christ dyed for them and what a man knows infallibly he may believe comfortably undoubtedly and without wavering yea all faith that is not groundupon knowledge is but a meere fancy and very uncertaine when men believe they know not what But one the contrary Mr. Troughtons Doctrine is the nursery of prophanesse and deadness of faith or at least of sadness of soul yea dispaire of mercy How many poore wretches hearing that God did appoint a certain number of persons onely to believe and so to be saved and the rest to disobedience and so to be damned have desperately concluded if I am appointed to believe and be saved I shall be saved live how I will and others when they commit sinne sooth up themselves with this conceit it is Gods will that they should commit such sinnes God did decree and appoint them to be disobedient and it could not be avoided with many such devillish conclusions tending to all lewdness loosnesse and prophaneness that can be imagined And hence it is there is so much bitternesse wrath hatred revenge and strife amongst men for did they but know and seriously lay to heart that Christ shed his blood for those poore Creatures that injure them and which they so maligne their heart would melt towards them they would not hate their persons nor seeke to ruine their Estates onely abhor their vices and seek to draw them out of the sinck of their sins It must of necessity also be the root of a dead faith for what life can that faith have which is grounded upon our own qualifications For thus Mr. Troughton teaches men to Argue Christ dyed for beleevers sheep saints but I am a beleever a sheep a saint therefore Christ dyed for me but the Scripture proves neither of his propositions but teaches us better Logick thus Christ dyed for sinners for the ungodly for all for the whole world and those that deny him therefore for me and this shews gracious humility the other vaine ostentations this gives sweet and certaine assurance of Gods love to any poore soul the other when his qualifications are absent as often they are leaves the Creature in a doubtfull dispaire whether God loved it at all this engageth the soul to love God who loved him first and gave his Sonne to dye for him the other saddens the heart with feare shakes the foundation causing a distressed soul to question whether ever Christ dyed for him or her If a faithfull Gospel preacher should perswade a prophane wretch to repent and turn to God and the sinner should aske What should move him to change his life The messenger of the Lord must answer That the goodnesse of the Lord should lead them to repentance if the other should reply Wherein God shewed his goodness towards him The Embassador of the Lord must rejoyne in that he gave his Sonne to dye for him a miserable wretched sinner and that there is a doore of salvation open for him upon his repentance through the blood of Jesus or he sayes nothing for if he should onely tell him of the goodness of God as to this life or tell him of some wild uncertain hopes of mercy without assuring him that Christ was Curcified for him it would leave but a slender impression upon his spirits and to perswade exhort require and beseech a company of exorbitant sinners to amend their lives and love the Lord Jesus is but a lost labour if we declare not unto them the certainty of his kindness and love to them first according to the Scriptures for a soul will never truly love Christ except he be assured that the Lord Christ first loved him or at best if by a preaching of the Gospel at randome as many do any poor soules are fallen in love with Christ yet their spirits are full of feare and perplexing anxieties till they know and are assured of his love to them and wherein that consists the Apostle Paul shews us Rom. 5. 8. 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10 19. Herein is love not that we loved God but he loved us first and sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for us You would blame that man exceedingly who should use his utmost endeavour by all means to perswade his Neighbour being but a mean man to set his affections upon some great Lady admired for vertue beauty birth and riches being not able to assure his friend first that she loves him and desires to bestow her selfe upon him but if he heare it from her mouth or have it made under her hand that she loves such
him out when by the word or teachings of God which are his drawings he comes to him 6. To reprove obstinate proud Rebells who deny the Lord that bought and dare sin against such grace and kindnesse as is seen by the Fathers giving his Son for them 7. This serves to leave all men without excuse they cannot say that God hath not commended his love to them seeing he hath written it in legible Characters of his Sons bloud 8. Here is consolation for the Saints who through the knowledge of such love have been drawn to obey God they know whom and in whom they have believed and are as sure that Christ died for them as if he had told them with his own mouth in that they believe the Scriptures affirming that he ransomed all 9. This may serve to them as an antidote against sin and errors in that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures 10. It may serve to incite us to love every creature with the love of good will or pity at least when we remember that Christ died for them as well as for us oh if this doctrine were fully known it would so increase love and quench hatred discord and debate peace justice and mercy would florish and wars oppression and cruelty would be banished some beams of this universall love of God beginning to shine forth upon the hearts of our Commanders Rulers Judges c. have inclin'd them to more clemency righteousnesse and pity then some former timeâ— have afforded and as it is more manifested we shall doubtlesse see more of God who is love and lov'd us when enemies appearings 'T is true a man that truly fears God cannot delight in an ungodly person neither can our heavenly Father yet he doth them good and the Saints desire the conversion of their enemies and will do good unto all according to their ability and their fellow creatures capacity and though they hate the vices of men yet they love their persons so as that they will exhort intreat and admonish them to come in to the Lord that bought them and not seek the ruine of their bodies states reputations and souls as I fear too many who deny the death of Christ for all would if it were in their power and could wish that there were something in force like that Popish Statute de Haereticis comburendis as appears by their continuall appeals to the civill yea and military powers their complaints and petitions against such as hold the truth in love by all means labouring to perswade the Magistrates to unsheath their swords to cut off banish or silence by might of men those who are full of might by the Spirit of the Lord to declare against their corrupt principles and practise they have a zeal but not according to knowledge for did they know what love the Father hath shewed those whom they maligne and what sweet communion they have with God and that God lov'd those whom they hate so as to give his Son to die for them they would never suffer that cursed root that beareth gall and wormwood to spring up in their hearts but would endeavour to instruct them with meeknesse or contend against them at least with the sword of the spirit But this they do not but by all meanes seek their impoverishment and ruine and will not speak to them though they bring the same doctrine which Christ and his Apostles taught they shun disputing with them under pretext that they are Heretiques and reject them not knowing that that advise is proper to those that are members together of the Church of Christ and not those that are of different Churches for what authority hath any Church to cast out or reject one that is not immembred with them but the truth is these men are afraid of the light and have no love to such as are of Pauls opinion that Christ died for all and therefore they incense authority gnash their teeth against them But we know that Christ died for them and desire that they also may know it and by that goodnesse be led to repent of all their evills and in particular of their envy and consultations against the Saints of the most high who believe as the Scripture saith and will not receive the corrupt glosses which men put on them or the sad and dark conclusions and consequences which they draw from them In a word if Christ died for all this may serve to keep the poor sin-sick sinner from despair and the proud transgressor from presumption to reprove such as give the Scripture yea the Spirit of God the lye who in so many placeâ— hath clearly evidenced it yet they deny what is there written and would have us rather adhere to their expositions which are all darker then the text Again if God hath of his free mercy in Christ appointed and ordain'd all men to serve him and furnished them with every thing necessary for so doing so that all Nations may know and believe him through that light which lighteth every man which cometh into the world according to that manifestation of it which shines forth to them as undoubtedly he hath then this serves to reprove such as say God did appoint some men as men to be disobedient that is to serve sin and Satan 2. Such as teach that God hath not enabled all his creatures to do what he requires of them but that he exacts more of his creatures then he hath given ability to perform and so make God is an austere man as the wicked servant did yea as bad as Pharoah 3. This may serve fully to convince every sober spiâ—iâ— of the reall truth of those sayings thy destruction is of thy self aâ—d that the damned bring upon themselves swift destruction 4. It serves to clear the pure justice of God and leave all without excuse when they hear that God through his Sons blood hath made all Nations of the earth to seek him and in order thereto hath done what could be done for his Vineyard 5. This may serve to stir up poor creatures to be thankfull and admire the riches of grace and speak good of the name of the Lord so mercifull and bountifull and to incite them to arise and be doing 1 Chron. 22. 16. and God will be with them some to hear search read inquire that they may know and believe the Lord and them that come to know and apply his love to repent and be baptized to separate from the world and such again to continue in the grace of God in the fellowship and doctrine of the Apostles in breaking of bread and prayers in praising of God in holinesse of life watching against sin and for the coming of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ 't is true all are not capable of the same exhortation for to exhort a wicked man that never yet believ'd the Gospel to pray and break bread with the Saints wait for the day of Christ is preposterous
died not for them Ninethly they who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercies Jonah 2. 9. I desire to know what mercies they can or do forsake for whom Christ never died Tenthly men judge themselves unworthy of eternall life Act. 13. 46. and neglect their own salvation I beseech you consider whether it be possible for men to put off eternall life or neglect their salvation if Christ never died for them so as to bring them into a possibility of enjoying everlasting happinesse Eleventhly if Christ died but for some then the Devil destroys no man but they perish for want of a Saviour contrary to Jâ— 3. 17. and many other places Twelfthly if Christ died not for all then despair of pardon and salvation in them that perish is no sin seeing there is nothing for those men to believe unto their everlasting peace for whom Christ shed not his bloud Thirteenthly if Christ died not for all then it would be a sin for some men to believe that Christ died for them in that they should believe a lye and all will grant that it is a sin for any man to believe a lye Fourteenthly if Christ died but for some even such as are eternally saved then none can be guilty of that sin of treading under foot the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified contrary to Heb. 10. 29. Fifteenthly if Christ died not for all then Satan doth no evill in perswading some that Christ died not for them but perswades them to believe the truth if it be true that Christ died but for some of the world Sixteenthly if Christ did not die for all then the Devil doth not deceive those that are damn'd when he perswades them that Christ died not for them and the Opposers of the truth affirm that he cannot deceive them for whom Christ died and so he can deceive none and by this if it be true the divell is no deceiver Seventeenthly if there be some men that Christ died not for then it is a vertue for some men not to believe in Christ for salvation for in believing this they believe the truth and it 's a vertue in any to believe every truth Eighteenthly if Christ died not for all mankind then this unavoidably follows that those for whom Christ died not do as well in believing that Christ died not for them as those for whom he died do in believing that he did die for them seeing both are true if the Adversaries of the truth say right and it is as much vertue to believe one truth as another Nineteenthly all are bound to live to him 2 Cor. 5. 15. even unto him that died for them and rose again Now I wonder what good it will do men to live to Christ or why we should perswade all men to live to him yea tell them that they are bound to do so if Christ died not for them yea we know that therefore men shall be damn'd at the last day because they live not to him that died for them and rose again Twentiethly he being Lord of quick and dead shall judge all men at the last day as you may most clearly see Rom. 14. 9 10. For this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living and he shall judge all men quick and dead at his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 1. how shall he judge those whom he never purchased with a price shall we think that he that reproves men for judging another mans servant will allow that which he condemns God forbid it must needs be then that Christ died for all seeing he is Judge of all except you will say that Christ will judge men because they had not a Redeemer 21. There is no place of Scripture sayes that Christ died only for the Elect or only for his Church that he died but for a few or but for some therefore they that so say speak not the language of the Holy Ghost but a private interpretation we speak what we know and testifie what we have seen that which we have looked on with our eys and heard from Christ and his Apostles with our ears which our hands have handled of the Word of life declare we unto you Mr. Tro. doth as good as confesse that there is not one plain Scripture to prove his position that Christ did not die for all for if you mark the inscription of his book he says not an Antidote against universall Redemption in ten positive texts of Scriptures but in ten Reafons deduc'd from the Scriptures I have proved that Christ d d die for all by ten Witnesses proceeding every one out of the mouth of God by the Ministery of Christ the Prophets and Apostles through the Spirit and whether you that read will believe what these say in so many words or the dark consequences and conclusions of men chuse ye if there had been any text that had said that Christ died only for some sure Mr. Tro. would have cited it we know and acknowledge that Christ died for some for his Church for the Elect for the Saints but to say that he therefore died for none else is contrary to Scripture reason and sense we may as well argue that he died for none but Paul because he says Gal. 2. 20. he loved me and gave himself for me and hence it is that we are perswaded to take whatsoever the Scripture holds out in this point which says he laid down his life for the sheep i. e. such as hear his voice and follow him Jo. 18. 15. compared with ver â—7 and we believe that he bought those that deny him and bring upon themselves destruction read 2 Pet. 2. 1. and because we believe in Christ as the Scripture hath said even all that is written in the Law and the Prophets for this cause we are accounted Heretiques and Sectarians as the Apostles and Saints of old were Acts 24. 14. with chap. 28. 22. For they did declare the love and mercy of God towards all men and such as laid his love to heart and were thereby led to repentance they did baptize with these they did walk in Church-fellowship in breaking of bread in prayers and praises in holinesse of life and waiting for the Lord Jesus from heaven I also and many more declare the love of God in Christ towards all men such as repent and believe this kindnesse of his do we baptize with these we walk in Church-fellowship in breaking of bread and in prayers praising God and provoking each other to holiness and to wait for Christs coming in glory that this is through the mercy of God our practise as it was the practise of the Apostles our God is witnesse and that for this as the Apostle was we are called Heretiques is manifest to all men even our enemies themselves being Judges and because we will not say that Christ did not die for all or that he died only for a few