The glorious Truth of Redemption BY Jesus Christ Rescued out of the Hand of UNRIGHTEOUSNES OR The Doctrine of Redemption rightly stated WHEREIN 1. All Arminian and Pelagian glosses and absurdities are resuted 2. All carnal allegations and reasonings silenc'd 3. All concern'd Scriptures scemingly discording reconcil'd 4. The Doctrine of Redemption clearly held forth according to the harmony of Scripture and Analogie of Faith By W. L. Rom. 1. 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which with-hold the Truth in Vnrighteousness Gal. 1 7. Which is not another Gospel but there are some which trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ 2 Pet. 3. 16. Among which some things are hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do other Scriptures to their own destruction LONDON Printed for the Author 1653. To the Worshipful Henry Langley Dr of Divinity Canon of Christ-church and Principal of Pembrook Colledge in Oxford SIR THat undeserved respect those worthless Papers of mine which came to your hand received hath emboldned me to come now a begging to the University Although it's sad to have the Father to seek when the Child is come into the World especially to a poor mother Yet this is the condition of this poor Infant which however by Divine Providence having received a Being yet is both naked and bare and unless countenanc'd cover'd and nourish'd by your care and charity it must needs remain despicable and cast out to common odium Shall I therefore commend and commit the care thereof or rather freely bestow it on you This I am sure of it will be well provided for if once under your Roof and if you as willingly entertain it as I beg However let it receive such accomodation as seems best in the eys of so skilful a Nurse I know the Herods of our times will be hunting after it but my care is over when once under yours Sir To deal plainly this poor Paper I know will meet with much opposition therefore I as boldly as humbly tender it to your protection and as I do it out of that due Respect I owe to your self so I also aim by this broken and patch'd piece to prompt and provoke some of the able Champions of the Truths of Christ to set upon a more learned and perfect Vindication of that precious Truth of Redemption so much prevaricated and adulterated in our days And give me leave to give you a little encouragement to own it although a Mephibosheth yet it 's of the Royal Race nobly descended as legitimate as any begotten by the immortal seed of holy Scripture able to derive its Pedigree from and before Adam was Therefore setting aside all excuses I once more entreat its entertainment or else I must shamelesly leave it at your Dore to the mercy of the wide world yet comforted that there cannot be less pity harboured in your heart then was found in Pharaoh's Daughter I crave leave to pay that old debt due ever since I knew you viz. William Levitt The glorious Truth of Redemption By Jesus Christ Rescued out of the Hand of UNRIGHTEOUSNES 1 COR. 15. 22. For as in Adam all dy even so in Christ shall all be made alive ROM 5. 18. Likewise as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by the justifying of one the benefit abounded to all men to the justification of life FRom these and such like Scriptures men of corrupt and unstable minds with Pelâ—gius Armiâ—ius and others in all Ages have drawn corrupt and unsouâ—d conclusions so that that grand Gospel Truth of Redemption by Jesus Christ as held forth in the holy Scriptures wherein the honour of God and comfort of his Saints are priâ—cipally concerned is so exceedingly prevaricated that little of either appeareth For the removal of which evils take notice of the fond conceits of some yea too many in our times wrested from such Scriptures 1. Some hence affirm and that boldly that Jesus Christ came to save all men with an eternal salvation 2. Others there are conclude hence that Jesus Christ by his death freed all men from the guilt of Adam's transgression and consequently from the punishment due thereunto which as they say is only temporal from Gen. 3. 19. Dust thou art and to the dust thou shalt return 3. A third sort there are and of these although very many yet more skilful to deceive who hence publikely teach that Jesus Christ by his death hath discharged all mankinde from the eternal condemnation due to Adam's transgression yea and many of them although of as strong abilities as plausible conversations yet make it their study to maintain this Brat of their own breeding although they stretch both their brains as well as the Scriptures upon the Tenters of their opinion till they rend both asunder The unsoundness of all which opinions with their several absurdities are clearly manifested in the ensuing discourse and the doctrine of Redemption rightly held forth as founded upon the holy Scriptures both Prophets and Apostles nay Christ himself all agreeing in this necessary truth that neither the Death Resurrection Ascension or Intercession of Christ ever was or shall be beneficial to any but such as lay hold upon him by a true and lively faith according to John 3. 15 16. So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Where we see 1. The moving cause God's love 2. That Jesus Christ was the Father's free gift 3. The extent of God's love to the world terminated in the Believers who only have benefit by Christ Yea and this an act of free grace when he might justly have sent all to hell Come we now to the opinions themselves For the first That Jesus Christ came to save all men with an eternal salvation as well from actual as original sin This is so point blank against the very current of Scripture that few or none in their right senses dare owne it the Authors thereof being for the most part either ignorant or profane men not at all acquainted with the holy Scriptures which speak a clean contrary language as John 5. 29. And they shall come forth that have done good to the resurrection of life and they that have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation So also Matth. 25. 34. Then shall the King say to them on the right hand Come ye blessed of my Father Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world c. v. 41. Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire c. So also Mark 16. 16. and hundreds of Scriptures more But this not worth time Come to the second That Jesus Christ by his death hath freed all men from the guilt of Adam's transgression which they say procured
5. That even the people of God were somtime the children of wrath as well as others Eph. 2. 3. That all men by nature are dead in trespasses and sins Eph. 2. 1. 5. 4. That except a man be born again of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Iob. 3. 3. 5. That Faith is the gift of God Eph. 2. 8. Col. 2. 12. 6. That we are not able of our selves to think a good thought 2 Cor. 3. 5. But this Doctrine contrary to the whole Tenure of Scripture tells us that thousands go to heaven never capable of Faith as all children nay of very Heathens and Pagans c. That we come into the world as innocent as Adam before the Fall therefore no need of Faith or Repentance or being regenerate That we have Free-will to stand or fall to be saved or damned That Faith is in our own power c. 7. Although some Scriptures seem to favour these Opinionists yet others are direct opposite so that they must set them together by the ears or else they cannot possibly have any shaddow of support from them To instance One Scripture saith Christ dyed for all as in a right interpretation he may be said to do as 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Another saith Though the children of Israel be as the sand yet but a remnant shall be saved Rom. 9. 27. and while one Text saith Christ is the Saviour of the world Iohn 4. 42. another saith The whole world lies in wickedness 1 Iohn 5. 19. that he is not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel Matth. 15. 24. that he lays down his life for his sheep Iohn 10. 15. yea that certain men are pre-ordained to condemnation Iude 4. 3. Contrary to the Analogie of Faith For 1. By Faith we believe that all men are born the children of wrath dead in trespasses and sins 2. That God hath sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world that whosoever believes in him might not perish but have everlasting life 3. That salvation is of Free grace not from any moving cause in us 4. That God is omnipotent and all-sufficient 5. That some are elected by God to be heirs of glory some rejected and pre-ordained to destruction before the world was 6. That those for whom Christ dyed for them also he rose again and whom he justifies with his blood he sanctifies with his Spirit and them also glorifies 7. That all men at the last day shall rise again some to the resurrection of life others to the resurrection of condemnation How contradictory this Doctrine is to the faith of Gods elect I shall leave all to judge If Christ hath freed all from Original guilt then we are not born dead in trespasses If none but Believers have benefit by Christ then he dyed not for all If salvation be of grace then there 's no place for free-will If God be omnipotent he is able to save all whom he pleases But this Doctrine tells us many perish that God would save If some elected and some rejected then Christ dyed not for all If he dyed for all he rose again for all and brings all to glory If some men arise to the resurrection of life others of condemnation then this Doctrine must needs be palpably erroneous 4. It magnifies the creature and vilifies the blood of Christ exceedingly For 1. Hereby we become our own Saviours for if we be all cleared from original guilt then come we into the world holy innocent and perfect as Adam 2. Hence must needs follow the Doctrine of Free-will that as the destruction of the wicked is of themselves so also the salvation of the just is likewise of themselves it being in our own power as this heresie holds forth to be saved or damned we must needs have power in our selves also to believe and repent and so salvation is ours by a Law of works not of grace 2. It vilifies the Blood of Christ For 1. Hereby Christ is held forth an half Saviour sheds his blood for millions of men and women in the world that perish everlastingly to whom it becomes vain yea for thousands pre-ordained to condemnation 2. Hence is the blood of Christ held forth as an unholy thing purchasing pardon for thousands whom it never purges justifying those whom it sanctifies not he is made sin for many to whom he becomes not righteousness a Saviour to such as for whom he is not their Advocate nor Intercessor Contrary to the whole tenure of Scripture as Rom. 8. 28 29 30. Tit. 2. 14. Acts 20. 28. 5. It derogates detracts from and utterly denies the omnipotency of God For If God would save many that perish or all that perish and cannot as this Doctrine would have us believe then where is his omnipotence and if not omnipotent where is his essence therefore they may as well tell us like down-right Atheists there is no God and so appear more palpable fools than that mention'd in Psalm 14. 1. who only saith so in his heart these proclaim it in their words and teach men so Psalm 53. 1. 6. That this doctrine tramples under foot the eternal Decree of God appears plainly For 1. If God hath elected and chosen some to be vessels of Honour from or before the foundation of the world and pre-ordained others to destruction then the blood of Christ was not shed equally for all and if for all universally indifferently and indefinitely then the Decree of God is of no effect Certainly Jesus Christ shed not his blood for those whom God never purposed to save But that God hath elected some and passed by others is plain Rom. 8. 28 29 30. That he hath predestinated some to be his adopted ones through Jesus Christ in himself according to the good pleasure of his own Will according to the purpose of him that worketh all things according to the counsel of his own Will Eph. 1. 5 11. Rom. 9. 11. Eph. 3. 11. 2 Tim 1. 9. Mat. 24. 22 31. Mark 13. 20 22. Rom. 8. 13. 11. 5 7. 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Acts 13. 48. Jude 4. All which places of Scripture and many more do so clearly hold forth the doctrine of Predestination Election Adoption and Reprobation as that if Sathan had not blinded the eyes of such men it were impossible for them to withstand so clear a light 7. This Doctrine utterly denies Gods Soveraignty over the Creature For 1. If the Lord hath not power of his own pleasure and Free-will without any moving cause in us of his owne free grace and love to make some vessels of honour and some of dishonour some on whom he may declare the riches of his grace and others to make his wrath and power known if he have not power to have mercy on whom he will and to reject others according to Rom. 9. 15. where is his Soveraignty over the Creature But certainly as the Potter hath power over the clay so hath
Christ in such places of Scripture upon which they would plead a toleration for their intolerable idleness is that men and women in the use of lawful means should have their dependance upon God and that as Christians should not over-incumber themselves with worldly business so as to neglect the one thing necessary so in the midst of the moderate use of the creature and of their lawful callings they should cast ofâ— all immoderate and inordinate care relying upon God who careth for them for it 's an unwarrantable and extreme presumption and a temptatiâ—n of God by a particular or private interpretation of Scripture to serue such a senseless sense as this For although a man rise early and go late to bed and eat the bread of carefulness all will be but as put into a bottomless bag unless God give a blessing And thus these Scriptures that seem so to thwart one another being comparatively and joyntly considered are really reconcil'd and hold forth one and the same thing John 11. 17. For the Law came by Moses but Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 19. What the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law c. v. 20. By the works of the Law shall no slesh be justified Rom. 7. 6. Now we are delivered from the Law Rom. 10. 4. For Christ is the end of the Law to alâ— that believe Eph. 2. 15. Having abolished the Law of Commandments Mal. 2. 6. Remember the Law of Moses Mat. 5. 17. 18. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law but to fulfil it v. 19. Till heaven and earth perish one jot or tittle of the Law shall not escape till all be fulfilled v. 20. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and teach men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven Rom. 7. 12. Wherefore the Law is holy and the Commandment holy and just and good Divers other Scriptures of like concernment Gal. 3. 10. Rom. 7. 46. Gal. 2. 19. 1 Tim. 1. 9. Rom. 16. 14. Gal. 2. 16 21. Gal. 3. 2. 4. 21. â— 3. Eph. 2. 15. Mat. 11. 13. Luke 16. 16. Acts 13. 39. Rom. 3. 28. 4. 13. 15. 7. 4. 9. 32. c. Other Scriptures of like concernment Mat. 15. 3. Mark 12. 30. Rom. 13. 9. Eph. 6. 2. John 2. 4. Mark 10. 17 19. Luke 1. 6. John 14. 21. Acts 28. 23. Rom. 2. 13. 3. 20. Gal 3. 24. James 2. 11. John 1. 3 4. Mat. 19. 16 18 19. Mark 12. 29 30. John 15. 10. 1 Cor. 7. 19. Neh. 10. 29. Rev. 22. 14. 1 John 2. 4. c. These Scriptures and many more of like import not here mentioned being compared one with another hold a sweet and holy harmony one with another nay although each Text were particularly discussed yet being Evangelically interpreted according to the Analogie of Faith would not at all differ Yet men of corrupt minds by sinister and private construction of them draw forth such a sense as may suit their own fancy although they bring them into a direct opposition although such private Interpretations are quite contrary to the Word of God as in 2 Pet. 1. 20. and is cause of not only that old Antinomian but all other heresie and error it 's an old heresie new vampt to say The Law is of no use to Believers now in Gospel times For certainly as the Gospel was of special use to Believers in times of the Law so is the Law of precious use to Believers in Gospel times viz. the Moral Law I wonder of what use the Law of God the ten Commandments given in Mount Sinai were to Abraham Isaac Jacob Noah Job Daniel c. that it is not to every Believer in these days No man thinks they were saved by the works of the Law or expected Justification by the Law but by faith nevertheless it was the rule of their sanctification and obedience it was the way they walked into life although not the cause of life and so it must be to all the godly in Gospel times although not the cause of Justification yet it 's the standing rule of their sanctification obedience and conversation This error ariseth principally from the mis-interpretation of the word Law which is severally in Scripture to be accepted Somtime intending the Ceremonial Law somtime the Judicial somtime the Moral Law somtime the penalty of the Law as Col. 2. 14. Eph. 2. 15 c. there it intends the Ceremonial Law in Acts 23. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 9 10 11. there the Judicial Law and the penalty thereof is intended the Judicial Law being a rule of life in Civil respects none are concern'd in the penalty thereof but evil doers So although the penalty of the Moral Law belongs to none but unbelievers and ungodly wretches yet it 's a rule of life to all even to the most precious people of God It was the comendation of Zachary and Elisabeth that they walked in all the commands of God unreprovably for any man to say the Law is of no use to Believers is I say an old desparate heresie that brings hundreds of Scriptures by the ears which is prevented by an holy humble judicial and impartial comparing one Scripture with another and interpreting one by another It 's confest that the damnatory the domineering nay the justifying power of the Law is abolished as in a legal sense yet evangelically interpreted every Believer is saved by a Law of works as between God the Father and Jesus Christ the mediator of our peace who hath fulfilled the Law for us and therefore salvation is of free grace to us yet withal know this no man shall ever receive benefit by the fulfilling of the Law by Christ that practises not obedience to that very Law for as Jesus Christ was the Angel of the Covenant that conducted Israel to Canaan that appeared in the Bush Exod. 3. 2. Acts 7. 35. the same hath left this lesson to all that love him and will follow him to the heavenly Canaan to keep his Commandments And thus those Scriptures before mentioned although they seem to speak a contrary language are to be reconciled Come we now to those Scriptures that concern the present Controversie which because very many there can be no expectation of a particular account of every or any one of them neither is it my purpose Yet by Gods grace I intend so to ballanee the account as to give in the summa totalls of them all so far as is necessary to the matter in hand according to the holy Spirit that speaks in them 1 Cor. 15. 22. For as in Adam all dy even so in Christ shall all be made alive Rom. 5. 18. Likewise then as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by the justifying of one the benefit abounded to all
men to the justification of life John 4. 42. This indeed is the Christ the Saviour of the world John 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world Mark 16. 16. He that believes and is baptised shall be saved he that believes not shall be damned John 3. 15 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life He that believes not is condemned already John 1. 5 19. The whole world lies in wickedness John 7. 7. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth 1 John 4. 14. And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world 1 John 2. 2. And not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world 2 Cor. 5. 9. That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Gal. 3. 8. In thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed John 3. 17. That the world through him might be saved John 6. 33 51. Ana giveth life unto the world Which I will give for the life of the world Other Scriptures of like concernment John 12. 47. 15. 18 19. Rom. 4. 13. 11. 12 15. 8 32. Acts 3. 16 25. Gal. 3 28. 2 Pet. 3 9. Ezek. 18. 32. 33. 11. Prov. 1 30. Mat. 23. 57. Luke 1. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 4. 2 Pet. 3 9. c. John 14. 17. Whom the world cannot receive John 17. 2 9. Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to them thou hast given him I pray not for the world but for them thou hast given me out of the world Mat 15 24. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel Rom 11 7 Then Israel hath not obtain'd but the election Rom 9 27 Though Israel be as the sand yet but a remnant shall be saved Eph. 1. 4 5. Chosen us in him before the foundation of the world John 10. 15. I lay down my life for my sheep Jude 4. Men of old pre-ordained to destruction Other concern'd Scriptures Mat. 20. 16. 24. 22 24. 29. 34. Luke 13. 23. 1. 68. 18. 17. Mar. 13. 20 22 27. Act 13. 18. Rom. 8 29 30 33 9 11 23. 11. 5. Tit. 1. 1 2. 1 Pet. 1. 2 20. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Eph. 3. 11. 1. 4 9. 2 Tim. 1. 9 Rev. 14. 4. Gal. 5 17. Forasmuch as that 1 Cor. 15. 22. first mentioned to maintain that pernicious doctrine of Universal Redemption hath no relation at all to the doctrine of Redemption but of the Resurrection I shall not speak much to it only this It 's true that by the power of Christ's death and resurrection all men both godly and wicked shall arise at that great and terrible day of the Lord but withal consider that as some shall arise to the resurrection of life so also others to the resurrection of condemnation the day of resurrection is so far from being any benefit to unbelievers as that it 's only the taking them out of prison to receive their last and dreadful doom and so to be hurried to the place of execution But as for all other Scriptures that seem to plead this heresie if we compare them with others we shall finde them directly opposite to that opinion For as it is said the Lord Christ bealed all sicknesses and diseases and evert one possessed with divels c. in like sense he dyed for all and becomes a Saviour to all to wit all that are given to him and come to him by Faith For as millions of men in the world never received cure by Christ of their corporal diseases that neither came nor were brought to him so millions perish that never lay hold upon Christ by faith his blood being beneficial to none but such as come to him and eat his flesh and drink his blood by faith It 's unreasonable contrary to harmony of Scripture derogatory to the excellency of the blood and merit of Christ overthrows the omnipotency and very being of God denies his soveraignty over the creature tramples under foot that precious doctrine of election and predestination makes the eternal decree of God of no effect destroys the doctrine of free grace and instead thereof sets up free-will or a Law of works as already hath been plainly manifested with many other gross absurdities attending to hold that Christ shed his blood for all universally and indefinitely that he hath freed all from the guilt of Adam's transgression and puts every man into a state of innocency that all men have power to stand or fall to repent and believe c. But that Christ laid down his life for his sheep for those whom God the Father hath given him out of the world for all that believe that many are called but few chosen that Christ's flock is a little flock that none but the elect nay the elect of Israel obtain mercy that but a remnant even of Israel shall be saved that certain men are elected and chosen to be vessels of honour and some pre-ordained to condemnation before the world was that no man can come to Christ unless drawn to him by God the Father that we are not able of our selves to think a good thought that it's God that works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure that we are all by nature children of wrath and disobedience dead iâ— trespasses and sins that faith is the gift of God and that without faith none can receive the least benefit by the death resurrection or intercession of Christ that all men dying in a state of unbelief perish eternally that the ungodly and hypocrite shall be in hell tormented for ever while the godly and such as believe in the Lord Christ shall reignâ— with him eternally in glory This Scripture clearly holds forth as by comparing one Scripture with another he that runs may read The main cause of this error as aforesaid is a misconstruction and mis-interpretation of the words all and world which are severally accepted for even the elect may be called the world not unaptly considered in themselves being very many Rev. 7. 4. read there of an hundred forty and four thousand of the Tribes of Israel sealed and verse 9. a great multitude whom none could number and yet all these compared with those that perish but a remnant a little flock and in this sense is the word world to be taken in 1 John 29. and 2 Cor. 5. 19. and divers other places And whereas it is said As in Adam all dy even so in Christ shall all be made alive If that Scripture had any reference at all to the doctrine of Redemption it should be thus interpreted That as all that dy eternally dy in Adam so all that live eternally live in Christ the way and cause of salvation being there intended not the number that are to