only a Temporal Death from that in Gen. 3. 19. Dust thou art and to the Dust thou shalt return But this being as ridiculous as the former I shall not spend much time upon it for certainly all that know any thing of God as they ought know him to be infinite and eternal both in his Essence and Attributes and that the breach of his Law must inevitably procure and deserve eternal wrath which Adam himself had found sure enough had not he by faith laid hold upon Jesus Christ that Tree of Life But that the vanity of this conceit may appear to all men I shall leave them to consider an Argument or two Arg. 1 That which is the portion of the godly as well as wicked of saints as well as sinners cannot be the only punishment of sin But Temporal death is the portion of godly as well as wicked of Saints as well as sinners Ergo Temporal death is not the only reward and punishment of sin Arg. 2 If Temporal death had been the only reward and punishment due to Original sin then Christ need not to have dyed at all to free us from it every man had been then able to pay his owne debt Arg. 1 Where the effects remain the cause is not removed But the effects of Adam's transgression remain to this day Ergo The cause viz. the transgression is not taken away If the guilt of Adam 's transgression be taken away 1. How is it we dy daily especially if this were the only punishment due to it as the opinion saith it is 2. Why do women still travel in pain and sorrow 3. What 's the reason of all diseases aches pains that befal us in this life Do not men still live by labour Doth not the ground naturally produce Thorns and Thistles 4. Whence are all our actual Transgressions Are they not branches of that old stem If the Tree had been digged up by the roots so many thousand yeers ago and cast into the fire surely it would not bring forth fruit so plentifully as by woful experience we see this doth to this day But to pass this also The third opinion being the master-piece about which the curious Artists of our times are so much busied both to prop and paint I shall speak more largely to In the unmasking and refuting whereof the other two must needs fall to the ground viz. That Jesus Christ hath freed all mankinde by his death from the eternal condemnation due to Adam's sin and hath set all men into a state of innocency and integrity The absurdities attending this error are not few it 's a many headed monster the belly whereof is ready to burst with its prodigious propagations some of which I shall lay down by way of Argument as followeth Arg. 1 That exposition that is unreasonable is false But this exposition of Scripture is unreasonable Ergo False Arg. 2 That Doctrine that destroys the harmony of Scripture is false But this Doctrine destroys the harmony of Scripture Ergo False Arg. 3 That Doctrine that is contrary to the analogie of Faith is erroneous But this Doctrine is contrary to the analogie of Faith Ergo Erroneous Arg. 4 That Doctrine that magnifies the creature and vilifies the blood of Christ is false But this Doctrine magnifies the creature and vilifies the blood of Christ Ergo False Arg. 5 That Doctrine that derogates detracts or denies the omnipotency of God is erroneous and blasphemous But this Doctrine detracts from and denies the omnipotency of God Ergo False and blasphemous Arg. 6 That Doctrine that tramples under foot the eternal Decree of God and denies his Soveraignty over the creature is heretical and blasphemous But this Doctrine tramples under foot the eternal Decree of God and denies his Soveraignty over the creature Ergo Heretical and blasphemous Arg. 7 That Doctrine that holds forth salvation by a law of works and not of grace is false But this Doctrine holds forth salvation by a law of works c. Ergo False Arg. 8 That Doctrine that destroys the end of Christs coming in the flesh is erroneous But this Doctrine destroys the end of Christ's coming in the flesh Ergo Erroneous 1. It 's Vnreasonable For 1. Hereby Christ becomes an half Saviour shedding his blood for the Original sin of millions of men that perish in their actual Transgressions Whereas the blood of Christ clenseth from all sin He never purchases half a 1 Iohn 1. 7. pardon for any If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever now the bread that Christ gives is his flesh John 6. 51. His Redemption is an everlasting Redemption Heb. 9. 12. 2. Unreasonable to think that Jesus Christ should pay as great a price for those that perish as for his own people for a company of damned wretches preordained to condemnaetion before the world was Will any man give a Jude 4. thousand pounds for a trifle a gewgaw a Bartholomew Baby One drop of Christ's blood being worth a thousand worlds surely he would not shed it to so little purpose 3. Unreasonable For if the end of Christ's death were only to free men from the guilt of Adam's transgression By what means then are the actual sins of the Elect. done away Christ died but once and without shedding of blood there can be no remission Heb. 9. 22. Rom. 6. 10. Heb. 9. 28. If any shall reply the Elect or those that are saved are saved by Faith I grant that but yet give them to know Faith is only instrumental not meritoricus the blood of Christ being the proper object of Faith which if only shed to acquit from Original guilt then our Faith becoms Rom. 3. 35. of no effect Rom. 3. 3. 4. Unreasonable Because then Original sin is pardoned without Faith we know as all little children are uncapable of that grace so thousand thousands of men in the world are destitute of it also yet the Scripture tells us that 2 Thes 3 2 except the blood of Christ be drunk by Faith it cannot profit John 6. 53. 5. Unreasonable Because it derogates from the nature of Christ's blood for whom he pardons he purifies His blood clenseth from all sin therefore it 's impossible for any man to perish for whom his blood is shed for whom he justifies he sanctifies yea and glorifies Rom. 8. 30. 2. It crosses and destroys the harmony of Scripture For 1. The Scripture tells us that no man can receive benefit by the blood of Christ but those that drink it by faith John 6. 53. as meat cannot nourish except we eat it so none can receive either life or strength by the blood or flesh of Jesus Christ that eats and drinks it not by faith 2. That without Faith and Repentance there is no remission Acts 3. 19. 3. That all men are born yea the best are conceived and born in sin as holy Iob and David both confess Iob 15. 14. 25. 4. Psalm 51.
the Lord over all his creatures as is clearly held forth in Rom. 9. 21 22. 2. If men of themselves have free-will then the will of God is not only resisted but utterly rejected contrary to the priviledge the Master hath of his servant the power a Father hath over his children and contrary to the great soveraignty of God whose will indeed is uncontrollable and irresistable viz. his decreeing Will what he determines shall come to pass Psal 148. 6. Jer. 5. 22. Luk. 22. 22. Acts 2. 23. Rom. 9. 19. Ezek. 12. 25. 8. That this Doctrine destroys the very end of Christs coming in the Flesh appears For The main end of Christs coming in the flesh was to destroy the body of sin the works of the Divel his blood being the purchase of his Church and applicable to none Rom. 6. 6. Acts 20. 28. but Believers such as drink it by faith Titus 2. 14. Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and purge us to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works So that for whom he dies he redeems as well from all iniquity as death he never procures pardon but for his purged ones whom he purifies with his blood he came not only to save from original but actual transgression he being a perfect Saviour His end was not only to be made sin for us but that we might be made righteous in him For those for whom he Rom. 3. 25. died for them also he rose again Them whom he justifies 1 Pet. 2. 24. with his blood he sanctifies with his Spirit and them also glorifies But this opinion tells us he dyed for millions 2 Cor. 5. 21. that never partake in his Resurrection Intercession who he neither sanctifies nor glorifies and so destroys the main end of all he hath done and suffered for the sons of mâ—n Come we now to answer those Objections and Allegations of men contrary minded Object If this be not the meaning of such Scriptures that Christ dyed for all mankinde what then is their right sense Answ For that 1 Cor. 15. 22. As in Adam all dy even so in Christ shall all be made alive it hath no relation at all to the Doctrine of Redemption but of the Resurrection the Apostle discoursing upon that subject and so it 's true as in Adam all dy so by the power of Christ's death and resurrection shall all be raised out of the grave he being the first fruits of those that sleep Nevertheless some shall arise to the resurrection of life others to the resurrection of condemnation John 5. 29. So that some are so far from being made alive to eternity that they arise to receive the sentence and doom of everlasting death and torment But suppose this place had intended the doctrine of Redemption by Jesus Christ as that Rom. 5. 18. and other Scriptures do speaking in general terms yet we must take heed of making every particular Scripture it s own Interpreter for no Scripture is of private interpretation the spirits of the Prophets being subject to the Prophets 2 Peter 1. 20 therefore we must compare one Scripture with another lest we utterly destroy that sweet and holy harmony that is to be found even in Scriptures seemingly opposite one to the other and then such places will hold forth this truth that as all that perish perish in Adam so all that are saved are saved by Christ or as all that dy viz. eternally dy in Adam so all that live viz. eternally live in and by Christ For all do not dy eternally in Adam so all do not live eternally by Christ Although there be sufficiency in the blood of Christ for ten thousand worlds yet it becomes efficacious to none but such as lay hold upon him by faith his elect his chosen ones before the world began Such who are given to him by the Father out of the world who are but a remnant a little flock compared with those that perish The intent of such Scriptures being to declare the way and means of salvation and damnation not the number of those that are either saved or perish the mistake lying chiefly in the mis-interpretation of the word all and world which are in Scripture diversly to be accepted as appears in the ensuing discourse All in Scripture often put for many and few for none as in Phil. 2. 21. All seek their own things but none the things of Christ whereas blessed be God there are many that do principally seek the things of Christ not their owne Object But if some be Elect and some Reprobate how are mens destruction said to be of themselves as in Hos 13. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Answ 1 Because God gave us at first power in Adam to stand which we having wilfully lost the Lord may justly charge us with the guilt of our owne blood for all our actual transgressions and rebellions are fruits and effects of that original pollution 2. By reason there is in all that perish a desperate heart of impenitency and unbelief implacably bent against God despising and rejecting all means of grace and salvation men of reprobate minds who shall never be able to say at last at the great and general day Lord I would have believed and repented but thy Decree of Reprobation kept me back for such men know 1. That they were ignorant whether they were in the compass of that Decree 2. Their own Consciences shall tell them although it was their duty to wait upon God in the use of all means of grace and although they sate many yeers under the droppings of Divine dispensations yet they utterly abhorred all means and opportunities of grace whatsoever and chose rather to perish then to be saved by Christ For this is to be noted that Scripture saith not that God gives reprobate minds to any but that he gives them over to reprobate minds which all men naturally are of God infuses not sin but reprobates 1. By permission suffering men to go on in their sins 2. By subduction withdrawing or with-holding the gifts and graces of his Spirit he being a free Agent and not bound to bestow his graces to any therefore whom he intends and purposes to save to them he gives the grace of faith and repentance others he passes by it being his Prerogative Royal to have mercy on whom he will have mercy it being an effect of mercy that any at all are saved 3. By Tradition delivering men up to the hardness of their own hearts and power of their own lusts saying to the filthy be thou filthy still and to the unholy be thou unholy still Rev. 22. 11. and this a just judgement of God upon them Object If it be not in mens power to repent and believe why is impenitency or unbelief charged upon them as their sin Answ 1 As before God gave us power to stand after he had created us in a holy and innocent estate 2. Unbelief is a sin
be saved or destroyed but as all men do not dy eternally in Adam so all men live not eternally by Christ God having chosen only a certain number to himself on whom he declares the riches of his grace while he rejects others upon whom he makes known his wrath and power The words all and world being in Scripture often put for many or a considerable part as in Luke 2. 1. John 12. 19. John 4. 43. and divers other places before mentioned And if those two words be thus interpreted the harmony of Scripture will be maintain'd even in those that seem most contradictory for no Scripture certainly intends such a sense as that all reprobates unbelievers and ungodly wretches or any of them should equally share with the Saints and peculiar people of God of whose redemption the blood of Christ is the only price He gave himself What to redeem a people from Adam's guilt and to suffer them to perish in their actual sins No God forbid Whom he pardons he puâ—ifies whom he justifies he sanctifies and them brings to glory He laid down his life to purchase a people to himself and to purifie them as well as purchase them Therefore we may safely conclude from all that hath been said that whom he brings not to glory he never sanctifies and whom he sanctifies not them he never justifies and whom he justifies not he sheds not his blood for If dogs may not partake of childrens-bread if ungodly men may not partake in external priviledges how much less in the eternal inheritance of the Saints Shall men pre-ordainâ—d to destruction partake of the portion of God's elect God forbid It 's true wicked men may and do partake of common favours the sun-shine the rain c. and in this sense the Lord Christ may be said to be the Saviour of the world as 1 Tim. 4. 10. where the Apostle saith He is the Saviour of all men but especially of those that believe he hath special favours to visit them withal So that we see how easie it is by private interpretation of Scripture to maintain the most horrid heresie while by an humble holy impartial comparing of Scriptures one with another the Truths of God are clearly held forth and all error and heresie trodden under foot I should here speak somthing in answer to those Scriptures that seemingly plead for free-will as Prov. 1. 29. For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the fear of the Lord. Mat. 23. 27. Oh Jerusalem c. how often would I have gathered thee together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings but ye would not Although in the preceding discourse I have answered all objections of this nature yet I add that it 's true all men have power and free will by nature to do that that is sinful and evil but by reason of our depravity we have no power or will at all to do good me-thinks that natural proueness in children and youth to sin assoon as capable nay sooner capable to sin then almost any thing else that day lie experience the best men have of the remains of corruption in themselves the old man not quite destroyed when I hear that blessed Apostle Paul crying out of that body of sin and death he carryed about with him holy David confessing and lamenting the very sins of his conception nativity innocent Job telling us it 's impossible for him that 's born of a woman to be clean I cannot but wonder why men should be so destitute of common sense as to say we are all by the death of Christ put into a state of innocency Again when I hear the Scripture say we are not able to think a good thought of our selves that the best men cannot do the things they would that it 's not in him that wills nor in him that runs but in God that shews mercy Rom. 9. 16. that it's God that worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 15. that by nature we are all children of wrath dead in trespasses and sins that faith is the gift of God c. I am forbidden to give any further answer to our free-willers till they answer those Scriptures and by that time I think silence will satisfie mean while I entreat them to consider 1. How strongly they strike at God's omnipotence and consequently at his essence when they tell us that thousands perish that God would save as if God were not able to save whomsoever he pleaseth 2. How they as much as in them lies trample under foot the eternal decree of God and deny his soveraignty over the creature 3. How by their advance of free will they usher in a Law of works and so derogate from the doctrine of free grace within one step to that popish tenent of merit that while they profess themselves Protestants they are strongly pleading not only the cause of Papists but of Atheists of the highest magnitude ten degrees beyond and above him mentioned Psalm 14. 1. Object If temporal death and all outward calamity as pain in child-bearing c. be effects of original guilt and that Christ as all confess dyed to deliver all Believers from all both original and actual Transgressions what 's the reason the godly as well as the wicked dy that believers as well as unbelievers suffer like pain Answ It 's very true the wise man saith Eccl. 9. 1 2. that all things come alike to all and the same condition is to the just and unjust to the pure and to the poluted and herein as in all other the works of God appears his wonderful wisdom and goodness that while the greatest miseries of this life befal the godly they are fatherly castigations and preparations for glory he chastens them that they might not perish with the world they having this promise that all things shall work together for the best to them that even death it self is so far from being a punishment to them that it 's only a bridge or passage to convey them to Canaan the promised land of their heavenly inheritance all things and all conditions being sanctified to them and the sting of all outward visitations and strokes taken away while every sickness pain calamity or distress to the wicked is but the yernest of that eternal torment of which they are heirs apparent and death it self the terrible sergeant that hurries and hales them nill they will they to the place of execution And now having shown the several absurdities and dangerous errors that are formed in the bowels of this monstrous doctrine of universal redemption I shall conclude all with a few directions to weak Christians who by woful experience we see so apt dayiie to be seduced to their utter undoing 1. Take heed of being moved with every wind of doctrine according to the advice of the Apostle Eph. 4. 14. Try the spirits whether they be of God yea or no 1 Joh. 4. 1. and if an Angel
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