the hands of an Executor given to many to be given unto them when upon the publishing the Will they come in to the Executor and acknowledge the benefactor which if they refuse when so made known and tendered the refusers may be refused And so this Redemption life and justification is in Christ as in the giver some fruits whereof he extendeth to all men in preservation of creatures for them and their lives and giving meanes that they might know seek and receive the thing it selfe Psal 75.3 and 36.6 7. Acts 14.17 and 17.26 27 30 31. John 1 4 5 7 10 11. But the choyce fruites and the Redemption life and justification it selfe that is eternall he according to the Fathers appointment giveth to those that beleeve on him Iohn 17.2 and 6.40 and 1.12.12.33 But now this Redemption is in us not as such a manner of gift and in such a giver but as a gift in this gift first and then with and through this gift 2 Tim. 1.9 Rom. 8.32 and 7.25 and 8.1 2. And from the gift of this giver Jesus Christ Iohn 1 12. and 17.2 Ephes 5.14 Rev. 2.10 it is in us as a receit that wee have received of in with and through Jesus Christ in the receit of him Iohn 1 12 16. Acts 26.18 Rom. 1.5 and 5.11 1 Cor. 15.1 Gal. 4.5 Col. 2.6 7. This Redemption life and justification is in Christ Jesus before men either know it or beleeve in him so whether men beleeve in him or no set forth that men might beleeve Rom. 3.24 25. Iohn 1.4 5.7 1 Iohn 5.11 12. neither doth any mans beleeving make it the more in him nor any mans unbelefe make it the lesse in him who is alwaies and for ever the same 2 Tim. 2.10 11 12.13 Heb. 13.8 But now whatever all men or any man as they are in the nature Christ tooke and wrought Redemption in have by the gift and preparation of of God in Christ yet have they no enjoyment in themselves of the same no not before God or in Gods account till by grace they be brought to beleeve in Christ when there is not an imaginary change or a bare manifestation but are all change wrought in them Tit 3 4 5 6 7. a new birth John 3.5 1 Peter 1.23 a reall translation and change not in Christ but in them from the power of Satan and darknesse unto God and the Kingdome of Christ Acts 26.18 Col. 1.23 from children of wrath to be children of God Ephes 2.1 22. from darknesse to light 1 Peter 2.9 from death to life 1 Iohn 2.14 15 yea from being not his peculiar people nor so beloved to be his peculiar people and so beloved Rom. 9.25 26. And is not here a great difference between the same redemption as it is in Christ for men and as it is in and upon men or can such teachers of Israel be ignorant of these things or are they not willing to yeeld Jesus Christ the preheminence in all things as the Father willeth or if in other things will they needs deny it him in the largest of the Redemption that is in him But enough hath been said to this But that I must follow him in the veiw of the Scriptures abused by him Rom. 3.24 and 4.24 25. his abuse of these and the truth is cleared before Rom. 5.18 is quoted by me for the atonement made in and by Christ for men and Rom. 5.1 6 10 11. is for the same received which he in quoting and answering obscures and answers darkly like a man a fraid of the light in the text for what if the Apostle speaking of the receit of the atonement and justification speaketh of the receivers doth that prove there is no atonement made by Jesus Christ nor Justification in him for any more then had then received or that there was no atonement or justification in Christ for them before they receive it or had they received it from eternity Consider the text when Jesus Christ made the atonement they were without strength ungodly verse 6. sinners verse 8. enemies verse 10. But when the atonement was received by them sure they were friends and Saints c. as Scripture affirmeth besides it is not affirmed of them that beleeved verse 1. they had now received By Christ the atonement verse 11. and was not that by faith Rom. 4 22 23 24. and 5.1 John 1.12 and how could they receive the atonement if the atonement was not made compleat in Christ before how or could they truly say they received it yea that they have now received if they had it from eternity in themselves So that all the way the atonement received is held forth and yet as plainly the same atonement held forth and the foundation laid for such also as yet had it not that they might be brought in to beleeve and so receive the same and these receives propounded as an incouragement to them as in 1 Tim. 1.11 to 16. the Apostle first mentioning the Gospell verse 11. and then shewing what a great sinner he was and yet received mercy verse 12 13 14 he then layeth the foundation for others and that in generall and at large verse 15. and then affirmeth the mercy shown him was for an example or pattern of encouragement to them that should after beleeve c. verse 16. even so here in this Rom. 5. having shewn the rich grace received in such beleeving as in which the atonement is received verse 1 5 11 he both laieth and explicateth the foundation and sets it forth even for such also as had not received it and so verse 6. though he saith when we were without strength yet he speakes not there so applicatively Christ dyed for us much lesse as Mr. Garner would have it for us who have received the atonement and enjoy it in our selves for such if such before his death he needed not to have dyed But he speaketh indifferently and undeterminarly in generall and at large and that truly Christ dyed for the ungodly verse 6. and then his explication is sutable in which he setteth forth the disease as generall and opposeth the remmedy to it as generall verse 12. yea surpassing the disease and then he comes to distinguish between the remmedy and the receit of the remmedy verse 17. for if there be not grace and the gift of grace before receit there can be no receit and the Apostle saith not that all for whom there is grace and such a gift of grace prepared but all that receive the same shall raigne in life c. and then the Apostle gives a ground of all he had said in this businesse verse 18 19. in which the extent of the foundation and distinction between it and the receit or the truth of it before receit and the effecacy in receit is held forth in verse 18. read it in what translation you will and take the text only and forbeare the words added by translators to supply the
mercy Seat in his own bosome as I may say there was Truth requiring our death and Justice our suffering the curse But Jesus Christ that dyed for our sinnes being risen for our justification and gone with the vertue of his blood to the Father mercy truth are met righteousnesse peace have kissed and Christ hath made the atonement with God and is become the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world and now righteousness looks down from Heaven and God shewes mercy to men Psal 85.10 11 1 John 2.2 Psal 36.7 8. so that here is a reconciliation made with God for men 2 Cor. 5.19 Ephes 2.16 Col. 1.20 a purgation Heb. 3. a laver of regeneration Tit. 3.5 to reconcile and purge with all and this for men But yet if this be not applied if men receive it not and be not sprinckled washed and purged and renewed therewith they cannot be reconciled in themselves to good and so not eternally saved 1 John 3 3 5. and this spinckling is a spirituall businesse namely When through the Gospell in which Christ is set forth for a propitiation Rom. 3.25 the spirit beares witnesse of Christ John 15.26 1 John 5.6 and therein instructeth in the knowledge of his death and resurrection for us and so gives in to beleeve the testimony 1 Cor. 15.1 4. Gal. 3.1 5. 2 Thes 1.10 then shines in commends the love of God to the heart in this that while we were siners Christ dyed for us and his love thus commended through his death made known then the vertue of his death becomes prevalent and effecatious in the beleevers heart reconciles him to God in this his receit of the atonement Rom. 5.8.10 11. Tit. 3.4 5. and redeems him from his vain conversation 1 Pet. 1.18 19. from among men to God Rev. 5.9 and so purgeth both conscience and nature Heb. 9.14 and so doth he purchase to God and wash from sinne with his blood Acts 20.28 Rev. 1.5 and yet in himselfe in the propitiation he hath made with God for men there is the same fulnesse still for those that have not yet received and to dispence more still of the vertue of his blood to those that have received Rom. 25.26 1 Cor. 15.2 3 4. 1 John 1.7 8 9. Iohn 1.16 So that both the distinctions remain sound as they are explicated in the faulted but not confuted Treatise chap. 1. and 2. and I am sorry that Mr. Knowles and Mr. Gerner are adversaries hereto 5. He secretly and covertly faults the distinction about the severall endes of the death of Christ one for propitiation and one for witnesse bearing to the truth and so giving us example of obedience to God and love to one another and one for confirming the new Testament all which are proved and explicated in the second chapter page 16 21. and not at all by him refused and if he desire any further explanation or proofe he might have it I trow he will not say that as Christ dyed for our sinnes the Scribes and Pharises did make him flesh or under the Law for us or that they did charge our sinnes upon him or put him to death for them but that God the Father did all this to Christ for us and so delivered him for our offences and raised him for our justification Isay 53.6 Rom 4 24 25. I hope also he will not say that as Christ did willingly lay down his life in suffering all that befell him or witnesse-bearing to the truth for calling sheep and feeding the called and to give us an example to follow his steps therein that God did persecute and crucifie him for speaking the words he gave him to speake and doing of that he gave him to doe for the good of men and the speciall good of his sheep But that the Scribes and Pharises the Elders chiefe Priests c. did through envy persecute crucifie and put him to death for that Psal 2.1 4. Mat. 27.18 I hope he that can see the difference between Gods sending Joseph into Aegypt for good and his Brethens sending him for evill can see the difference in this also and so distinguish of the ends of the same death of Christ in these respects And for the third end is that a confirmation of a Testament when the Testator is put to death as an evill doer surely it s not proper to say God the Father put him to death to confirme Christ his owne Testament nor did the Pharisees so put him to death but as he was one with the Father in will and so willingly yeelded himselfe to dye for our sinnes and willingly laid down his life in witnesse-bearing too and defence of the truth he had preached so he most willingly and freely as his owne more peculiar acting did give up the ghost and die to ratifie the new Testament Heb. 9.16 17. Galath 3.14 15. which appeares also in the timelinsse of his death before those that were crucified with him Mark 15 44. though that also was for another speciall end Joh. 19.36 But yet most clearely in this that whereas others when they were spent and gave up the ghost their heads fell downe he cried with a loud voice Mark 15.37 and first bowed his head and then gave up the ghost Joh. 19.30 And so freely dyed and confirmed his Testament But Master Garner would be faulting knew he how saying that I speaking of the severall ends of his death in my Treatise pag. 22. But hee was mistaken for that was in the former chap. but in the third chapter I was speaking of the divers maner of mentioning those ends in Scripture but something hee would say to bring that distinction within compasse to be faulted in faulting the distinction pag 7. lin 3.19 though to no advantage to him 6. He saith also pag. 7. That I say That when the death of Christ in respect of that end which was for propitiation and ransome is only mentioned as it is for all so it is exprest in such generall words only as the world all men c. But here he hath clipt my words and left out that I say in Propositions for faith it is here exprest and for this I quote hee saith 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 c. And hee should have done well to have put in many other places and expressions quoted Chap. 20. pag. 133. Proof 6. But this conclusion is unsound saith he which will appeare from what is written Heb. 9.28 where mention is made saith he of the death of Christ in respect of ransome and propitiation only c. And yet it is not exprest in such generall words as the world or all men to which I answer hee hath corruptly left out c. which was explained in my Treatise chap. 20. pag. 33. But to passe that I question his first affirmation and deny his second though he calls to mind it and double the same But now let us mind it well Heb. 9.28 So Christ was once
to all men according to his dâ—iâ—t eternall life where as the Scripture speaking of all comming before him gives us to understand it in a larger sense namely that as in his call many are by discoveries of his grace drawn in to beleeve on him and so given up to him and receive eternall life in and with him so they that refuse and rebell shall yet one day by his power given him by vertue of his ransome come before him bow to him and acknowledge him Lord before he passe the sentence on them Isay 45.22 23. Rom 14.9 10 11 12. Phil. 2.7 to 10.11 So that the same abuses as before may here be noted ☞ 1. 3. The word For 2 Cor. 5.14 15. Rom. 4.25 and 5.8 page 28 29. 2 Tim. 2.6 Mat. 20.28 and 26.28 Luke 22.20 page 49 50. This word For where it is Hee dyed for all or many for thee for us and the like The nature and force of the word For saith he is very significant It signifies interest propriety and carrieth the force of promise performance in it unto the persons concerned therein and this sense he explicateth thus They have an interest or propriety in the glory vertue power life and riches of his death yea he after puts in specialty right enjoyment In which expressed sense of his as set down page 28 29. and 49 50 There is much darknesse and un Scripture like language in it for the dying of Christ was but once in his own person as the publike man to fulfill truth and satisfie justice and it is over and past and he is not now so dying nor can dye any more Rom. 6.9 10. Rev. 1.18 Besides had he not risen and overcome death Wee had yet been in our sinner and our faith vain and perished when our bodyes dye 1 Cor. 15.17 18. Yea and however his death is exceeding precious and fruitfull yet the vertue of it for eternall life glory riches c. is in Scripture language ratherest put upon his resurrection ascension and glory with which the Father hath glorified him and his everliving to intersede Asts 13.33 34.38 39. â— Rom. 5.10 and 6.10 and 8.2 34. Heb. 7. and 8 and 9. and 10.1 Peter 10 â— Col. 1.19 and 2.3 9. But his death in the vertue of it as he is risen and is with the vertue of it gone into the holy of holyest and hath there presented before God the Father and offered himselfe by the eternall Spirit to God a ransome and spotlesse sacrifice and so fat down by vertue thereof a Mediatour so his death in the vertue of it is remaining and perpetuall Heb. 9.12 14.15 and thus it appears by his after writing page 189. he is to be understood and so if wee mind that which is generall and common to the nature of man his sense as first set down without his explication hath a truth in it that as he tooke that very nature that all mankind hath and dyed in that nature for sinnes and rose for just fication and ascended and gave himselfe a ransome to God for all and by vertue thereof is the man the Mediator between God and men so all in that nature have a speciality of interest a bove the fallen Angels and so have their lives by him Acts 17.27 28. John 6.33 And have mercy and life prepared in him and so a right to looke and come to him in the meanes that he useth John 1.4 5. And a promise that in so turning and comming in to him he will save them c. Porv. 1 22 23 24. Isay 45.22 whence they that deny him in his call and follow still on for lying vanities are said to deny him that bought them 2 Peter 2.1 To forsake their own mercies Jona 2.8 To loosse their own soules Mate 16 26. to bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Peter 2.1 and so even such to perish for whom Christ dyed 1 Cor. 8.11 But when they are so given up and perish they have lost their interest that once was theirs and are blotted out of the Book of life and so though in agravation of their sinne it may be said stall Christ dyed that is did once dye for them but then For implyes not the remaining vertue of his death in blessed operations nor their present interest therein which they have now deprived themselves of Prov. 1.24 25. But now for his sonse as explicated by him it is very false for it is not in every place so significative for such an interest as he hath explicated that is manifest abundantly in the Scripture 1. Christ dyed for the Ephesians before Paul preached to them and yet before their receit of the Gospell they were without Christ being alians from the common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world Ephes 2.12 which had not been true if Christ his dying for them had in and by that act of dying only or in that saying For given them such an interest as Mr. Garner affirmeth from the word For. 2. But to proceed he speakes in a plain contradicting language to the Holy Ghost who saith expresly That Christ dyed for the ungodly Rom. 5.6 For the unjust 1 Peter 3.18 And yet saith again as expresly that none such hath any inheritance in the Kingdome of Christ and of God Ephes 5.5 and that such that is while such or as such shall not inherit c. 1 Cor. 6.9 10 Gal. 5.22 And that those who now doe inherit were some times such but then they did not inherit but now they are washed c. and so made meet to inherit 1 Cor. 6.11 Col. 1.12.13 The holy Ghost never fastening the inheritance and such interest on this word or bare act Christ dyed for them But on his gracious application of the vertue of his death and resurrection inabling them to beleeve and making on in Christ Iohn 1.12 so that heerin his sense appeares unsavory in such an affirmation of Christ dying for all But to come closer to him in that wherein hee would strive to wind himselfe out by saying though the word For implyes not such an interest That all have at present yet it implies that at one time or other they shall that are concerned in that word For shall have such an interest I shall therefore let the Scripture appeare 3. That not only the dying but the death of Christ in the vertue of it in his Resurrection Ascension Sacrifice offering with its prevailency with God and spirit and grace received as it is in him the publicke man a purgation fit to purge a Reconciliation to reconcile a medicine to heale a life to enlive food of life to afford eternall life to the eaters and all ready and prepared in him and set forth in the Gospell and men by Christ and his servants called thereto Prov. 9.1 2 3 4 5. Mat. 22.17 So it is affirmed ready yea and many called and invited on this
whether only the materiall blood which in shedding issued out of the body of Christ as the blood he did bleed and that came forth of him when he was circumcised Luke 1.21 and when he was in his agony Luke 22.24 and as some suppose when he was Scurged and when he had a crown of Thornes platted on his head Mark 15.15 17. and when they nayled him on the Crosse and crucified him Mat. 27.35 and when after his death his fide was peirced with a speare Luke 19.34 35. whether this be his meaning by all the blood as the words with that he writ before and after it would so seem and whether this shedding be all the sprinckling he beleeveth or not it remaines doubtfull but as I understand as he tooke flesh and blood when he was made in our nature Heb. 2.14 even so all the abasements sorrowes anguishes and torments he suffered in that nature with all the forementioned being compleated or consummated in his death or dying the whole being his laying down his life for us this all this nothing lesse then this I understand by all the blood that Christ did shed 1 John 3.16 Isay 5.3.1 8. and with all his sufferings the compleating of them in dying I count the shedding of his blood though in this businesse bloodsheeding doth imply the Sacrifice offered whose blood was shed Heb. 9.12.22.26 and yet take in all his sufferings with the vertue thereof in his Sacrifice offered still shedding is not sprinckling but shedding and sprinckling are two distinct things tnd so with out shedding of blood and so offering the sacrifice whose blood was shed there is no remission of sinnes because otherwise there can be no blood to be sprinckled Heb. 9.22 23 26. yet even so also without sprinckling of blood and therein applying the vertue of the sacrifice there is no remission of sinnes purgation of conscience and nature and happy safety received and enjoyed Heb. 9.12 13 14 23. and 12.24 And this is clearly shaddowed and typed out it was not enough for the Passeover that the Lamb was of the first yeare and without blemmish and slain and so the blood shed c. unlesse the blood was offered with a branch of Hysop taken and sprnickled on the two side posts and the upper post of the dore and without which no assurance of a sacrifice Exod. 12.6 7 22 23. nor for cleansing and sanctifying Blood-shedding was not enough if it were not also sprinckled Lev. 8.11 30. and 14 7. nor for taking away any uncleannesse it was not enough that the water of purification was made for all Israel unlesse the particulars defiled were sprinckled with it Num. 19.13 18 19. yea this distinction between blood-shedding and blood-sprinckling is in the Law clearly held forth Exod. 29.16 21 Lev. 1.5 and 4.6 7. Num. 8.7 And come to the Gospell â— may be said of all to that what ever right or part Christ hath in them by vertue of his bloodshed and Sacrifice offered to God yet as Christ saith to Peter John 13.8 If he wash them not they have no part with him 3. Thirdly â—as he hath set down his proposition darkly and unprofitably so he hath set it down subtilly and craftily as a man guilty of some known errour in what he would seeme to maintain in that going about to disprove the distinction between blood-shedding and blood-sprinckling he saith all the blood which Christ did shed is the blood of sprinckling which is fit togull the un-wary leaves roome when the distinction proves sound for him notwithstanding his position to say he ment not to fault the distnction though that be his main drift that he might thirdly disprove another distinction if he could As here is a suspition ofcarnality and ignorance in his understanding of the blood of Christ as it is sprinckled may not some Reader conceive that he would have men to thinke that in the Mosayecall Sacrifices the materiall blood even so such and as it was when shed was sprinckled even so the materiall blood of Christ his body such as it was when shed even such and so materially sprinckled a brave motive for the Romish reservation of rellects and because this can no way be demonstrated and evidenced how it should be so and that it so is therefore all the blood-shedding must needs be sprinckling But to come a little neerer him If blood-shedding had been the sprinckling or if it had or could so have been sprinckled upon any what would it have profited them seeing if Christ be not risen wee are yet in our sinnes our faith vaine and preaching vain 1 Cor. 15.14 17 and the Lord Jesus Christ of whom and whose redemption wee treat hath a spirituall body and is a spirituall man the Lord from Heaven heavenly A quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15.40 49. So now as he hath dyed for our sinnes and rose for our justification and offered himselfe with the vertue of his blood and death a sacrifice to God the Father appearing now in Heaven for us Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Heb. 9.12 14.24 when we speake of his blood and death as presented before God in the heaven or applyed to or sprinckled on the hearts and consciencs of men on earth wee understand it spiritually his words even when he speakes of these things are spirit and life and so spiritually to bee understood John 6 63. and so though when we speak of his suffering blood shedding and dying we understand it materially as in a mortall body hee suffered in the flesh and shed materiall blood indeed and dyed for our sinnes and was put to death in the flesh yet as he is risen for our justification and hath overcome death and is gon up to Heaven and hath presented the vertue of his blood which is reall and spirituall before his Father in the Heavens and by the spirit by which he rose from the dead offered himselfe a spotlesse sacrifice to God and obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.12.14 So when wee speake of the sufferings blood and death of Christ as presented in Heaven to God or applyed on earth to men wee understand it spiritually of the worth vertue and prevailing effecacy thereof with God or men and as the High-priest did once a yeare go into the holy of holiest sprinckled blood on the mercy seat c. and so sanctified the tabernacle and made an atonement for all Israel and this that they might be cleansed legally from all their sinnes Levi. 16.14.15 36.34 and yet they had their sacrifices to come to and sprincklings of blood and of the waters of purification for application which if neglected the neglectors were not personally clean but to be cut off or dye in that their legall uncleannesse Num. 19. to 8. And the fault found in those sacrifices as appertaining to conscience is that they did not make the commers thereunto perfect even so we being fallen and God yet mercifull and willing to shew us favour even at his
not this as large and generall as all men Dan. 12.2 many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt surely what ever first fruites of this may be in the call of the Jewes and though here be a word not usuall in such a businesse as many of them for which also a reason might be given yet by our Saviours saying Mat. 13.42 43. It appeares it will be as large as that John 5.28 29. so that if plentifully appeareth the word many is often as generall as the word all men But that I may do M. Garner no wrong I will a little further consider the word many because it is diversly used and so let us consider it First It is sometimes used with a speciall limmitting and restraining word singling out from others and pointing to some speciall and this sometime to the better part as John 1.12 As many as received him opposite to the residue that did not and So Revel 3.19 and 13.15 yet here it signifieth all of that sort and 2. Some times to the worser part as 2 Cor. 2.17 Mat. 24.12 Secondly the word many is some times used without any such word and then it is alwaies generall and larger though sometimes the twofold businesse mentioned carries too a twofold sense one generall and the other more speciall as is shewn in the opposed Treatise and some times one businesse mentioned and then it is as generall as all men as in the place quoted But the word many used without a speciall limmitting word is never used opposed to the greater number as Master Garner would have it But it is used as opposed to the fewest and smallest number Mat. 20.16 many are called but few are chosen and so Mat. 22.14 compare with Esay 45.22 23. Thirdly the word many is used as a generall out from among which some spetiall are by degrees called and so it appeares evidently in this Heb. 9.28 to beare the sinnes of many there is the generall and he shall appeare the second time without sinne unto salvation unto them that looke for him there is the spetiall called out of the generall for he shall appeare to the residue also though to their terrour for denying him that so dearly bought them and so many thus used is both as generall and large as all men and serveth to amplifie the word all and sheweth it to be a great and large number though reason also might here be showne why it 's rather said many then all So that Mr. Garner hath changed this Text in saying Christs offering c. is not exprest in it in such generall words as all men c. is And overthrown his whole businesse in calling this place for his helpe against the truth where as it with the whole chapter justifieth the distinctions yea and the doctrine he opposeth 7. I passe by his grosse abuse of 2 Timothie 1.9 10. that he might blast the distinction that where the Apostle speaking of the manifestation of the grace of God in the appearing of CHRIST saith of CHRIST that he hath abollished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospell he put it in thus and is then made manifest in the hearts of those to whom Jesus Christ appeareth abollishing death and bringing life and immortality to light page 11. I hope he is not of their mindes that confesse not in their hearts Jesus Christ the Sonne of the Virgin Mary to be the Christ and to have once dyed and to be risen and a live for ever more but fancy only a spirituall being and frame in themselves to be the Christ and so to be now dying and bearing their sinne in them and to be rising in them yet here he flies the Scripture language and speakes their language so as at least making the fruit the foundation I should have looked that grace or the feare of God would have kept him from such altering the words of the Holy Ghost But because every Reader may discerne this alteration if he looâ—â— the text I passe it 8. Last of all he comes to oppose the distinction that putteth difference between the Redemption life and justification that is in Christ for men and the same upon or in men through the enjoyment of Christ And this he doth from page 11. to page 24 in all which he seemes to wrest the severall Scriptures from what they say about the same But all he hath said doth not discourage but incourage men still to distinguish and put great difference between the redemption c. in Christ and the same marke what I say not another but the same upon or in men through the enjoyment of Christ for surely I beleeve 1. It is a Redemption life c. in him wrought for others he was never in bonds or death for himselfe but for us and our sinnes but it is a Redemption c. in us given from another even him who was free when wee were in bondage Rom. 4.25 Gal. 1.4 and 4.3 4. John 12.24 Rom. 1.5 and 5.11 2. It is a Redemption c. in him which he by vertue of his ownblood and Sacrifice hath obtained in and by himselfe Heb. 9 12. But it is a Redemption in us obtained by no vertue of ours but by him and in receit of him by an unfained beleeving on him Ephes 1.7 Rom. 5.1 11. Acts 10 43. 3. It is a Redemption life c. in him as in a fountain and cause and that immeasurably all fulnesse in him Psal 36.9 John 1.14 Col. 1.19 and 2.3 9. But it is in us as a receit in a vessell and though springing yet both receit and spring but a fruit of that of which he is the cause in us according to a measure Rom. 9.23 2 Cor. 4.7 John 7.38 39. and 1.16 Rom. 12.3 Ephes 4.7 4. It is in him absolute perfect and compleat in soule and body Heb. 7.1 and 8.1 1 Pet. 3.22 but it is in us but as a first fruits wee still waiting for the Redemption of our body and the compleat conformity to him Rom. 7.24 25. and 8 23. 1 Cor. 13.12 1 John 3.2 Col. 3.4 5. It is in him first and that as a preparation for us before wee partake of it Col. 1.18 19 20. Prov. 9.1 2 3. Mat. 22.1 8. But it is in us after when we by grace are brought into him Ephes 2.1 8 12 17. Col. 1.13 14. 6. It is in him as a gift in a giver God the Father gave him John 3.16 And God hath given us eternall life in him so that this life is in Christ 1 John 5.11 and God is making known tendering and giving this life by the Gospell in which he hath set forth Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for remission of sinnes though unbeleevers receive it not Rom. 3.25 John 6.32 36 and to speake after the manner of men It is in him as a gift in a Will in
against which the opposer fighteth and for that cause faulteth the distinction But if he be sure of truth on his side then 6. Why doth he not set down his saying plainly why shunnes he the light and seeks to carry away his oppinion in the darke Why saith he not plainly the death resurrection and sacrifice of Christ the preparation of redemption propitiation Justification and life in him and the mentioning and setting it forth in the Gospell and calling men thereto is for no more then those that are partakers thereof both by faith in Christ and really and gloriously in themselves before God and that the declaration of all this holds forth no want in them to whom it is spoken but a reall enjoyment of all for whom it is prepared and that for those that refuse there was never any thing in truth prepared for them this had been plain dealing and as he knowes who once said thus so all his writing testifies this to be his meaning in his own often expression of his businesse pages 3.4 5 6 and 10 11 12 and 13 14 15 and 17 19 20 21 and 23 24. all which is fully and in every of his expressions answered in which both the truth of the proposition and the distinction opposed is cleared and proved and that in consideration of Redemption as in Christ for men and as received by men in reciving Christ the former is larger then the latter and so his Babell of confusion on which he hath walked through his Treatise is confounded in that is shewne Prov. 9.1 to 5. Mat. 22.1 7. Heb. 9 5. John 6 37 40. Ezek 24.13 Mat. 13. And all the answer to him hitherto though there was enough said in the opposed Treatise that remaineth unanswered and more and further explication in another Treatise entituled A discourse a bout the precious blood and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the first twelve chapters of that Treatise which may serve for answer in that businesse and so I might have the farther view of this opposers Tract because he hath here left my Treatise and answereth not thereto but because he pretends an including of mine as he goeth along I will take a briefe view and answer accordingly THE SECOND PART AND so as he includeth me in answering Mr. Lamb. This I find all the way that hee chargeth mee with putting on many Scriptures a corrupt sense which if I had done and hee had made it manifest I would have acknowledged it and have thanked him but I find no such matter at all discovered though often boastingly affirmed by him but I will plainly set it down without mending as it is in the opposed Treatise and then note what wayes hee hath taken to prove that sense corrupt and so whether it stand good or not The whole drift of the Treatise was to testifie the truth of these two places of Scripture according to the sense the words import and that was in my Title though another that is true also was put on it and the places were 1 Tim. 2.6 who gave himselfe a ransome for all And Heb. 2.9 That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man and the sense said by me to be imported Is this That Jesus Christ by the grace good-will and favour of God did taste death for every man and so gave himselfe a ransome to God for all men and so is become the Saviour of the world and the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world This is the sense as the Holy Ghost hath left it for me in expresse words If Joh. 3.16 17. be compared with Heb. 2.9 1 Tim. 2.6 and Joh. 4.42 and 1 Joh. 4 14. and 22. And so is the sense exprest in that opposed Treatise Chap. 1. pag. 1. And all the five first Chapters with the Distinctions in them then used to cleare the stateing of the question shall now remaine as this Opposer calls them so many proofes to which he hath said nothing to shew the abuse of any Scripture or weaknesse of any proofe as he that reades that Treatise and seeth what is said may know and then the sense is opened and affirmed by plain Sayings of Scripture without any exposition chap. 7 which neither he nor Mr. Knoles is able to doe for the corrupt sense and contradictions of Scripture which he in many places setteth downe After that the sense is proved six severall wayes by the Scripture manifestly which hee hath not shewed the least weaknesse in and this from chap. 8. to chap. 19. And then againe by six severall arguments chap. 20. which he hath not so much as medled with And then againe by his severall proofes which also unlesse three or foure expressions in answer of Mr. Lambs Reasons mentioned by him he hath not at all answered besides following reasons that are all let alone Where were Mr. Knoles his eyes or his care of speaking truth when hee writ to the Churches that the most waighty reasons c. were fully and clearely answered which is true of never a one and but very few of the weakest also medled with But now as the sense is not only in but the very sayings of the Holy Ghost So let us see how the holy Ghost teacheth us to take it and when in the largest extent of the sense Psa 8.6 The Prophet by the Spirit speaking of God the Father concerning Christ that dyed and rose and revived to that end that he might be Lord of all Rom. 14.9 Thou hast put all things under his feet Now how doth the Holy Spirit teach us to understand the word All when it is used in mentioning the works of God in and concerning his Sonne Christ when it is God that saith or doth it And when it is his Sonne of or to whom he speaketh or doth how must wee understand All then mind what the Holy Ghost saith in Heb. 2.8 1 Cor. 15.27 Heb. 2.8 he rehearseth the words Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet now marke the Inference or Interpretation for in that he put All in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him What is the extent of the word All here Is any exception here of any but only of God that did put all things under him So 1 Cor. 15.27 For he hath put All things under his feet But when he saith All things are put under him It is manifest that hee is excepted that did put all things under him that is as is said God only is excepted from being put Under and marke that he saith when he saith that is when the Lord God saith and when he saith it of his works concerning his Sonne he saith not when men speak of Christ no nor when his servants speake to all men or of them nor saith he when God saith of earthly Kings He will put All under them that it is so large no not when Jew and Gentiles are opposed but when God saith and when
when they turned aside they came neerer to truth and had before been seeming servants to him who by this mans doctrine was but a seeming Lord to them whose heart trembles not at this But he will helpe it with comparing it with the Epistle of Iude let that therefore be also veiwed doth not Iude mind them of the faith of the common salvation and tels them of some that turned not a seeming or shew but the grace of our God into wontonnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ Iude 2 3 4 doth he not professe for their admonition even therefore to put them in remembrance though they once knew this how that the Lord having saved the people out of the land of Aegypt afterwards destroyed those that beleeved not Jude 5. Doth not Jâ—â—â— here point the Christians to the remembrance of Gods dearing with Israel of old as Peter about their Teachers to the Prophets of old And was not this deliverance out of Aegypt a â—ipe of Gods now bringing men out of the darknesse and fellowship of the world to fellowship with his people which is somthing above that Mr. Garner opposeth and is not that deliverance called a redeeming them Deu. 15.15 and. 25.8 and 24.18 and buying them Peu 32.6 16. a saving Psal 109.8 15. so that here were a people redeemed bought saved yet many of them for their unbeleef afterwards destroyed and this writ for our admonition who is that which is so bold to give the holy Ghost the lye say they were not really redeemed bought saved but only seemingly so they perished really in the first overthrow but seemingly afterward now that men were once alive in Adam fell truly into the power of the first death but are in no sort truly made alive by Jesus so cannot be twise dead indeed but once really and the other is seemingly How thinkes any they shall perish in a second death for denying a seeming Lord a seeming redemption forsaking a seeming life in a seeming profession who like M. Garner to paint out these things in fine words yea in his conceit he hath so coloured and garnished these texts with his device that every understanding Reader shall see no other but take this his forgery to be as he professeth it to be even the mind of God not only in this but in many other Scriptures as he saith page 163. so that where the holy Ghost speaks not of mans goodnesse or works in purging or sanctifying themselves but of his own goodnes in the gift of his Son and of his Sons blood in the vertue thereof that had made a purgation for them prevailed for means to work purgation in them and sent his gracious spirit in the meanes with some prevailing effecacies to set forth the greatnesse of their sinne and the justnesse of their judgement like that Ezek. 24 23. that slight such grace despite such a spirit and ill require such goodnesse 2 Peter 1.9 Heb. 10.29 30. all this gracious workes of Father Sonne and holy Spirit he conceives must be taken for counterfeits and seemings also and who will be charged with hypocrisie here so that the evill of men in departing from the faith is their departure from hipocrysie whereas the Holy Ghost chargeth them with hypocrysie in their wayes when they are departed 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4 now he that dares thus deal with the Scripture pretend the originall put words for text that are none make seemings of truth and adde too and change the sayings of the Holy Ghost and call his own sayings the mind of God what error may not he this way bring in if beleeved But who that is wise will credit him that so dealeth with the Scripture VII I might note his intimation of difficultie in the plain sayings of the Gospell page 47.77 which when they speak of the foundation and first beginning of the Gospell are all plain and easie as they are now set forth as the Holy Ghost justifieth Pro. 8.6 7 8 Heare for I will speake of excellent things and the opening of my lips right things for my mouth shall speak truth and wickednesse abomination to my lips all the words of my mouth in righteousnesse nothing froward or perverse in them they are all plain to him that understandeth and wright to them that find knowledge and chapter 22.20 21. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsell knowledge note the end that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth and that thou mights answer the words of truth to them that send to thee Surely had Mr. Garner beleeved this testimony he would not have conceited so many impossibilities of truth and absurdities in the plain sayings of Scripture and under pretense of difficulties have so wrested altered and added to them to make them right to his seeming but it may be he will deny all this and say he hath denied no truth though he have often but onely sound out fitter words to expresse it but for that note Eccles 12.10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words note here words acceptable and pleasing to God and profitable and safe for men to vent and receive the mind of God in and what are they marke and that which was written up ight words of truth Where is he that can find us out more acceptable words to tell us the mind of God in or that will plead difficultie in his words in the beginning of the Gospell that he may help us with plainer words to give the sense wil such a one reply that in 2 Pet. 3 16. many things hard to be understood which they that are unlearned unstable wrest as they do all the other Scriptures to their own destruction Let such a one again mind this very place whithout colouring or wresting or glossing he may see 1. That the spirit by Peter speakes not here by things of the beginning of the Gospell of Christ neither what Christ hath compleated in his own body for men not what by spirituall opperation he workes and dispenseth heere in beleeving men But of the second comming of Christ to restore all things and so of the new Heaven and new Earth of which things Paul writ to these Hebrewes Heb. 2.5 8. and 12.26 27 28. and so in all his other Epistles in one place or other 2. That he speaketh not of all or any whole Epistle of Paul but only of some of his sayings about these things the comming and Kingdome of Christ c. and of these things he saith not all but as some Translators many some certain things are hard to be understood 3. That he saith not that the manner of his writing nor that the sayings but some things in those sayings are hard to be understood now this is commonly known a saying may be plain and easily understood what is said and yet somthing spoken in that saying above our knowledge especially in promises of this
cause to acknowledge another And in points of practice also how many have pressed Beleevers walking after and according to particular dictates and motions suddenly given in by the Spirit of grace which is very good to deny or make carelesse of the sayings of Christ in the Gospel sutable to which he hath writ his Law or mind in the hearts of Beleevers that would move on all occasions according to those sayings if they were heeded And approve of pressed speaking and teaching the things of Christ by a sudden and immediate revelation of them by the Spirit of grace to the heart which is exceeding profitable when that is indeed vouchsafed and suiting to the Prophets of old and yet this that they may deny Beleevers according to the knowledge and faith given them by comparing searching and producing Scripture to teach the things of Christ which is also profitable and sutable to the Priests and Levits of old And so to commend singing according to a gracious inspiration which is very good when so vouchsafed yet this pressed to deny singing according to grace in the heart such Psalmes as are left upon record which is also good and many such like might be instanced and when it may be to hinder the receit and to disturbe and put by the settlement and profitting of some needfull and profitable truth If it may be that way compassed Satan himselfe by his instruments will not let to acknowledge even some main truth he could move his servant to say of the Apostle and Disciples to trouble them Acts 16.17 These men are the servants of the most high God which shew unto us the way of Salvation yea that he might hold his fold still if that would have served he would confesse Christ Thou art the Sonne of God Mark 3.11 wherefore though I deal with a gracious man yea were he as gracious as he that was reproved Mat. 16.22 23. Gal. 2.14 yet while I acknowledge with him every part of truth that he acknowledgeth I must also maintain against him that part of truth which he so plainly yet in that respect subtilly denieth XIII He professeth his uprightnesse having Gods assistance Epistle Treatise pag. 201. and that he knoweth he hath the spirit of of God which will reveale spirituall things to him yea the deep things of God p. 32. and so often professeth his sense that is far fetched and forced on a text to be the mind of God and hath Mr. Knoles to affirme and confirme the same and for his uprightnesse and having the Spirit of God I would be lought to deny but in some measure acknowledge the same both in Mr. Knoles and him and desire the increase thereof both in them and my selfe But yet whether either of us be upright or have or are lead by the Spirit of God in this businesse about testifying for or against this part of the truth by him opposed must be tryed by the agreement of our sayings with the plain word of God Isay 8 20. Gal. 1.7 8 9. for to compare our selves with our selves and among our selves it is not right neither is he that commendeth himselfe approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10 12 18. And he that speaketh of himselfe secketh his own glory John 7.18 and wee are willed not to be shaken in mind or trouhled neither by word or spirit or writing as if from the Apostles 2 Thes 2 2. And a Church commended for trying them which say they are Apostles and are not and finding them lyers Rev. 2.2 and it is made a marke of false teachers to speak great swelling words 2 Pet. 2.1.18 Jude 16. intruding into things they have not seen Col. 1.18 so that this boasting of having uprightnesse or the Spirit is no good way for any man to prove or determine any thing in controversie XIV Hee forceth private strained and unsound senses upon divers places of Scripture as to instance some of them in order as they are in his Book 2 Cor. 5.15 that they which live c. Here saith he the living or life mentioned is that eternall life that is in Christ Jesus and the same sense he puts upon the life of the world mentioned John 6.33 51. now marke how weakly he proves this and how unsound and forced it is saith he he dyed for all to make them a live to recover them from death and to bring them into an estate of lifeâ— by his dying for them and rising againe this saith he is the force and meaning of the words he hath in this if he had gone no farther acknowledged some part of truth though weakly and scantily and with some questionable expressions because all must once dye and after that the judgement and the end of this life here mentioned given is that they that live should live unto Christ so shall they have comfort in that judgement and this is the scope and force of the words from verses 10 11. to 14 15. But now that the life here mentioned is the eternal life which is in Christ Jesus and only had in having him 1 John 5.11 12. as he affirmeth imposing that sense on these three places page 27. that remaines to be tryed and by Scripture will appear unsound for 1. This life appeares evidently to be that which by Christ is procured and given to all men to the world of mankind as is affirmed Acts 17.2 Psalme 35.3 with John 1.3 4 5 9. and so all the mercies and meanes for the preservation of it and for the leading men to repentance during the time of it is procured by Christ his ransome given and propitiation made John 1.4 10. Col. 1.18 In whom mercy and truth are met and righteousnesse and peace have kissed in whose resurrection truth is sprung out of the earth and by whose ascension and mediation between God and men Righteousnesse flowes down from Heaven and the Earth is filled with his goodnesse Psalme 85.10 11. And as his mercies are over all his workes so is he righteous and holy in all his waies Psalme 145 yea the preservation of the life of creatures is for the good of mankind Psalme 126 and 36. 5.6 7. and this life procured for mankind is truly called life because it with all the mercies vouchsafed to it are testimonies of his goodnesse Acts 14 17. Psalme 19.1.6 Rom. 10.18 To lead to repentance Rom. 2 4 That men might seeke him Acts 17 24.27 and also while they are joyned to the living there is hope Eccles 9.4 and this life is called life and a living in opposition to death Iob 30.23 Isay 38 18 19. And it is an estate of life because of that light that proceeds from that life in Christ to inlighten them that they might seeke him John 1.4 5.9 10. Joh 33.30 Acts 17.27 28. But had not Jesus Christ made a propitiation for men if their beings had a long time continued yet by the truth and Justice of God it must have been with
such or a sorer curse then that mentioned Deut. 28.27 28 29. and without any hope so not an estate of life whence also when men for their contempt of and resisting the meanes used for their repentance are given up of God so reprobated that there is no more hope for them Ier. 6.16 30. Ezek. 24.13 Rom. 1.18 28. Prov. 1.23 24. c. Their life is not then an estate of life though once it was but then also as well as in death such are said to be blotted out of the Book of life Psal 69.28 not though this seacible being of those reprobates after raised and made a live by Christ shall after his sentance remain in torment for ever yet is that no where called life as this life of men during the time of Gods patience and giving space and meanes is 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 2.21 Eecles 9.4 Job 33.30 Besides this life and eternall life are set forth indifferent expressions in Scripture this is a preservation from death that there may be a time to seek the other Eccles 11. and 12. Psalme 69.8 9 10. But eternall life is a life from the dead Rom. 11.15 This the life that now is but the other that which in its fulnesse and visibility is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 This the life or light of men John 1.4 But the other the life of Beleevers Col. 3.3 This is called the life of the world John 6 5.33 But eternall life is called the life of Jesus 2 Cor 4.11 and the life of God Ephes 4.18 the one affording a hope that men following lying vanities may deprive themselves of Prov. 1.23 24. Isay 55.6 Ionah 2.8 The other affording such blessednesse as preserves the honour for ever Iohn 10.27 28 29 30. yea the one vouchsafed to unbelievers that they might receive him though they doe not Iohn 1.4.11 but the other only to them that receive him Iohn 1.12 Now let us mind what life or living is here meant 2 Cor. 5.15 And this without any wresting by minding first the reading secondly the expression thirdly the dependency it bath with that fore declared fourthly the explanation and confirmation in other places speaking of the same things First for the reading eternall life sure by all confessed is even God living in his and so they living in God and to God and sure so farre not to themselves but to Christ and the text speaketh not in such tearmes that they which live unto God should not live c. But that they which live Secondly the expression is That they which live should not hence-forth after life vouchsafed though before they did 1 Peter 4.2 3 4. live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again Now sure so much eternall life as is in any heart the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake Rom. 8.10 and so farre doth and can doe no other but live in God and to God and so farre not to themselves but to Christ Rom. 8.2 1 John 3.6.9 and 5.4 Thirdly the dependency of this with the first ground of the Apostles exhortation 2 Cor 5.10 That we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perswade men c. And where in will either the equity or terrour of that judgement be if not in this that such as he dyed and rose for and hath offered them life when some light comes doe refuse to yeild to him and will still live to themselves I trow this will not be said of them that have eternall life And fourthly for the explanation and confirmation in other places of Scripture speaking of the very same businesse doth not the same Apostle speaking of Beleevers not living to God give a ground like this 2 Cor. 14.15 why all ought to do◠so Rom. 14 9. for to this end Christ both dyed and rose and revived That he might be the Lord both of the dead and living and doth he not on this ground diswade men from living to themselves and perswade to live to Christ and this also with the same motive that wee must be judged by him and give account to him verse 10 11 12. And doth not the Apostle Peter lead us to the same sense 1 Peter 4. For as much as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh arm◠your selves likewise with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath seaced from sin that he no longer should marke here the living scope of live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men but to the will of God for the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentils c. See how in all things the places agree and what life or living they speak of As for Mr. Garners pointing 1 John 6.51 to know the life here ment to be eternall life he is confuted by the place he points to which sheweth the life of the world to be procured and given by the death and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered to God by which they live but eternall life is received only in feeding on him which none doe till by grace drawn out of the fellowship of the world to beleeve on him John 6.27.29 40 51.53 c. So that in this beginning of his dealing with the quoted Scripture he hath preferred his reason as a light before the plain saying of the Scripture which indeed is a light though by him counted darknesse that his reason that should have submitted to be inlightened by it may inlighten it and so he useth here carnall reasoning before faith and acknowledgeth though weakly some part of truth to deny another part and takes the expression as independant and so forceth an unfound sense upon it and two other places together I hope M. Knowles nor Mr. Garner did not count the sense given by him on these words 2 Cor. 5.15 those that live to be one of the mysteries he unvailed for he hath striven in this to vaile that which is open and plain and discover in it a mystery of deceit that he might privily bring in a damnable heresie leading the greatest part of men to deny the Lord that bought them by denying his right of Lord-ship by purchase by denying his goodnes in proucring them thereby their lives with mercies a door of hope by denying their ingagement to him not to live to themselves but to him by denying the equity of his judgeing them Auill beginning And to save labour where like abuse of Scripture and reason and teaching such denyals are I shall but note them with this marke ☞ 1. 2. And in abusing three places to force sense on these words That liveth he doth the like by these words John 12.32 Will draw all men unto me which he limmiteth to this sense I will give
ground Luke 14 17. come for all things are now ready and yet those concerned in it never eate of this ready and prepared supper Luke 14.24 Mat. 22. And where was the interest Mr. Garner talkes on for present or furture in these or those that perish for whom Christ dyed more might be said and also how Christ first purchased a right in men as Rom. 14.9 before he give that right to any which he gives only to beleevers Iohn 1.12 13. Besides the word For Being a relative to other words which words gives us to understand the force of it whether it point to the cause or to the motive or the persons c in which we shall alwaies see that Beleevers are only concerned in the saying when For hath that force for such a sense as Mr. Garner fastens on it when it 's said he dyed for all men And wee can shew Mr. Garner that all men have not saith 2 Thes 2 3. And so not such an interest though Christ dyed for all But as neither Mr. Garner nor Mr. Knowles are able to produce a Scripture that saith Christ dyed not for all men to exclude the Scripture sense so neither can they produce one sentence of the Holy Ghost that all men have faith to justifie their own sense withall and so did ill to make this an independant expression to force a sense to exalt reason above the plain sayings of the Holy Ghost to take of most mens engagement to Christ and stop the passage of their comming to him ☞ 1. 4. The word All in 2 Cor. 5.14 15 page 31. Heb. 2 9. page 41. 1 Tim. 2.6 page 52. This word All and every he restraineth to be ment though he would say it in generall words yet of the fewest and smallest number of men in all ages from Adam to Abraham from Abraham to Christs comming in the flesh and from thence to his comming again for of that small comparatively though in themselves a great number he speaketh and desireth to be understood and his reasons he gives for such an understanding are very weake That in 2 Cor. 5.14.15 cannot be saith he All mankind because it 's said verse 12. Some glory in appearance c. which were specially the Jewes which saying of his is too restrictive for many both then and now that were of the Gentiles did glory in appearance as their great knowledge parts gifts their enjoyment of Church order Baptisme and other Ordinances with many famous Consentors that had it not in heart from the word and spirituall evidence and the Apostle writ some things to this end that they and we might have to answer such and amongst the rest this in speciall verse 10. Wee must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one c. and verse 11. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord wee perswade men c. And of these men that must all appeare before the judgement seat of Christ it 's evident he speaketh saying Hee dyed for all That in Heb. 2.9 cannot be taken for every man because the word All and every is some times to be understood with a limmitation as when it 's spoken of the Church or a company of Beleevers in one place Acts 2.14 15. and 4 45-21 No question but this high understanding together with restraining generall sayings to applicative is the way by which some evade these generall and plain sayings Rom. 13.7 8. Render therefore to all their dues c. Marke 10.19 Defraud not Marke 10.19 Doe good to all men Gal. 6.10 To speake evill of no man but to be gentle shewing all meeknesse unto all men Tit. 3.2 To justifie the defrauding of dues c. Defrauding and breaking truth and faith with those that are not of their Religion and using rigor towards them saying these generall sentences must be understood by the applicatory sayings 1 Thes 4.6 that no man go beyond or defraud his Brother in any matter Col. 3.9 Lye not one to another c. Ephes 4.25 Speake every man truth with his neighbour for wee are members one of another Col. 3.13 Forbearing one another Oh that every Scripture should be thus grossely abused Again 1 Tim. 2.6 All cannot be All because saith he All he dyed for he ransometh from the power of Satan to God from death to life This he affirmes in his own name and abuseth that of Peter thereto which speaketh of an applicatory redemption for by his ransome he first purchased all of God and they are given into his dispose who hath redeemed them from perishing utterly by the first judgement which he underwent or in the first death which he hath over come so that if they perish it is for their sinnes as they stand related to him And by a second judgement and in a second death and for denying him that bought them Psalme 2.6 11. Rom. 14 9-12 And so from the word For and the word many c. he reasons which are fore-answered and likewise he reasons from the will of God to have all saved which by Scripture is evident in such a salvation as fore-mentioned that fore runs the knowledge of the truth is done by Christ who also will bring all to a knowledge of the truth one day Phil. 1.10 11. Though I will not oppose those who conceive his will to have all saved is to be preserved that they may all come to the knowledge of the truth and so it hath reference to the Magistrates ordained of God to such an end Rom. 13 And here on that ground to be prayed for But so much is said in the 11. chapter of the opposed Treatise about this and nothing of it refuted that it is needlesse to say any more But he hath a little more to say and that in which there is a mystery He saith also that by All is meant all degrees of men but chiefly all Nations or kindreds of men not of the Jewes only but of the Gentils also page 53. All to be meant of Nations or kindreds of people and not of persons wee had need mind this well because it is one of his profest mysteries that he hath unvailed who saith page 53. and 39. many Scriptures are so to be understood Whereas I beleeve Christ tooke on him the person of the publike man and so the nature of mankind and in that nature dyed for men the persons of men and tooke his degree of exaltation after his resurrection and that he did not take on him any humane degree of King Magistrate superiour or inferiour or Judge Lawyer Counseller Noble-Gentleman Yeoman Husbandman or Farmer School-master or Scholler yet I suppose he had a trade but not to prefer a Carpenter before a fisher Tent-maker Tayler Weaver or Apothecary not doe I thinke that he dyed for these degrees but for the men themselves and that for our sinnes not for our degrees though I beleeve he sanctified them as other creatures for the good of men But mind this
not be as their Fathers A stubborn and rebellious generation c. Now if any with a brazen face would say Might here had the force of an absolute certainty the sequele in both places will prove him false for they did not all so but to come to the very Text thus by him abused Joh. 3 17. For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Here if Might have the force of an absolute certainty the world shall certainly be eternally saved or otherwise then in and by himselfe ransomed and preserved and means used that they might repent beleeve and so be saved How is that true our Saviour saith of the same world distributed into parts verse 18. He that beleeveth on him is not condemned but he that beleeveth not is condemned already c. vers 19 36. Where were Mr. Knowles and Mr. Garners eyes that durst presume to force such a contradictory sonse on this place But let us see this very word Might in this Evangelist and and take the interpretation from our Saviours own mouth Joh. 5 32 33 34 There is another that beareth witnesse of mee c. now did not John beare witnesse of the light that all men through him might beleeve Joh. 1.7 And are not here many of them to whom he did beare witnesse that did not beleeve Besides our Saviour in this John 5 farther instiucting and teaching these Jewes Doth he not say expressely vers 34. These things I say that Jee might be saved behold the same word that is in Iohn 3.17 and yet doth he not say to the same Jewes Ioh. 5.40 Yee will not come to me that yee might have life Oh how contrary is the mind and exposition of Christ to the mind and exposition of Mr. Garner whose corrupt sense is of ill consequence viz. 8. The words Gave Give Send Sent Joh. 3.16 17. we are every where in Scripture speaking of this businesse saith he pag. 79. To understand therein the everlasting blessednesse and salvation of those for whom God Gave Sent c. This is so contrary to Scripture and truth that nothing need be said thereof the next verses 18 19.36 confuting it 1 Cor. 6.8 Mark 12 2.8 and Joh. 6.32 My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven And what was this lesse then that John 3.16 17. and yet they mist that everlasting blessednesse c. Iohn 6.66 ☞ 1. 9. The words Taketh away in Joh. 1.29 Taketh away the sinne of the world Here and else-where he saith the words Taketh away is Hee certainly fully freely powerfully and for ever taketh them away and this in some sense might stand but he stops not here but proceedeth and saith it signifieth a perfect powerfull absolute and compleat removeall and that for ever yea of the dominion lordship merit wages power and strength of sinne so as the one or the other shall never returne any more yea so as makes to the perfection and salvation of those from whom hee taketh them away c. pages 66 67 68. Are not here glorious and high words Are his own sinnes thus taken away thinke you what ever they may be hereafter Is he already so much freer then the Apostles were in their times Ro. 7.15.24 and 8.1 2 23. Jam. 4. ◠1 Joh. 1 7 8 9. But let the businesse be weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary Taketh away both in Scripture and common use of speech may be truly and rightly understood 1. Of one that hath taken sinne out of the way 2. Of one that doth it that is ordained to and able for it and will do it in all them that come to him 3. Of one that hath done it in all that have come in to him And in all these senses it is meant of Jesus Christ First For Taking out of the way We have two things to note how sinne lyeth in the way between God and men to make a separation and so to stop the passages and make it impassible either for the mercies of God to bee extended to men or for mens approach to God And these are 1. That great offence of our first Father Adam by which sinne entred into the world and death by sin so as all have sinned and in their receiving of their being from him are guilty of and defiled with and under the power of sin and so subject to Law and Death Rom. 5.12.18 19 And the truth of God necessitates his Death and his Justice necessitates his suffering the curse and till both bee done and overcome there can no mercy bee shewne to men nor is there any passage open for their approach to God The Winter abides for impassibility of the way Heb. 9.22 Now Jesus Christ as a publike man in the nature and stead of all being manifested to take away our sins and being made a curse for us and in rising Just and a Conquerour offering himselfe a sacrifice to God hath done this work fulfilled truth and satisfie Justice and so mercy and truth meet and truth is sprung out of the earth and hee hath abolished death removed out of the way that which was contrary to us opened a gate to life procured mercy to be shewed us so as the Winter is past the way passible and righteousnesse flows down from heaven 1 Joh. 3.5.6 Psal 85.10.11 2 Tim. 1.9 Cant. 2.11 Psal 136. and 145. So far are all men indebted to Jesus Christ for so taking sn out of the way that mercies are shewne them through him and a gate opened that they might enter Psal 75.3 Rom. 14.9 which might move to submit to him Though Mr. Garner by denying this teach the greatest part of men to deny the Lord that bought them 2. This Doore opened through Christ and these mercies extended testifying of him and calling to him Act. 14 17. and 17.24.28 Rom. 2.4 God being well pleased in his Son and delighting in him lookes downe from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there bee any that by all this his goodnesse extended will understand and seeke after him but alas men comming to understanding and the light of his mercies shining on them they yet abide in darknesse impenitencie and unbeliefe hardning their hearts against his mercies c. Psal 14. and 53. with Rom. 3 10.19 And this most properly is called The sinne of the world John 1.4 5-10 11. 1 Joh. 5.19 And its terrible to persist therein Psal 68.18.21 For this provokes more highly then the former so as from the love God beares to his Son it would stop all continuance of mercies and meanes and cause the shutting of the doore to repentance and life but that even this Jesus against whom they so sin doth mediate for them by vertue of his sacrifice and takes this sin also out of the way that hee procures lengthening the dayes of his patience and continuace of mercies and meanes with some strife of spirit to them 1 Tim.
denyall of Christ come in the flesh and of the truth of the Apostles record and testimony Rom. 16.25 26. or whether he meanes that which was hid and is made known but hath a depth of excellency in it beyond conception and then he usurpes the office of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 2.9 10-15 or whether he mean it of that which is manifested and made Known but vailed so with superstitions false glosses and interpretations that till confuted men cannot rightly see that which is This is the fairest and best sense to take him in and thus I conceive his meaning to be though herein he wrong and rob others of their due and arrogate to himselfe boasting of other mens line 2. It might be demanded which of or how many of the Mysteries he meaneth seeing he pretends unvailing mysteries for the Scripture and Spirit therein speaking of this glorious life and blessednesse in and by Christ cals it the mystery Rom. 16.25 Ephes 3.3 4 9. Col. 1 26 27. The mystery of God Col. 2 2. the mystery of Christ Col. 4.3 the mystery of the faith 1 Tim. 3.9 the mystery of godlinesse verse 16 the mystery of his will Ephes 1.9 the mystery of the Kingdome Marke 4.11 yea the wisdome of God in a mystery 1 Cor. 2.7 So that as God and Christ is on so the mystery is one which I say not to fault his saying mysteries for which some destinctions he may so say rightly Mat. 13.11 but then he should not have cryed down distinctions as divisions and separation when he must be driven to use them and shall not be so charged for the same that he cals unvailing mysteries he cals the truth unvailed and I will take him every way in the best and most favourable sense for the truth or this life and blessednesse in Christ the wisdome of God and the power of God may be considered as it was ordained and prepared of God in Christ and so was in him perfect even Propitiation wisdome righteousnesse sanctification redemption everlasting Covenant inheritance Kingdome glory union and fellowship with God and eternall life all was prepared by God in Christ 1 Peter 1.20 and in Christ Iohn 1.4 and was with the Father 1 Iohn 1.1 2. though hid with God in Christ Col. 3.3 And also it may be considered according to the severall degrees of Gods revealing and giving and so Jesus Christ the Propitiation in the very nature of man to take away sinne abollish death and overthrow the works of the Devill that so such as beleeve in him might have life and the reside reserved to judgement this was made known in some measure and beleeved also before any difference was between Jew and Gentile 1 Iohn 3.5 6. Gal 3.15 Jude 14 15. Heb. 11 2 7. So that I conceive he means not this discovery Again God made known to Abraham the Gospell more fully and so made known to him that Christ should come of him That in him all Nations should be blessed revealed to him the everlasting Covenant for the spirituall seed the multiplicity union and stability of the same seed and their certainty of enjoying the inheritance and made that Covenant fore confirmed in Christ with Abraham for all the spirituall seed which yet made no difference between Jewes and Gentils according to the flâ—sh Gen. 12.3 and 15.5.6 and 17 1-8 and 22.17 Gal. 3.8 9.16.29 but I will not charge it on him to mean it of this discovery Again that Christ should suffer and overcome and see his seed and of the travell of his soule and that he should be Gods salvation and shew forth judgement to the Gentils and that God would make a new Testamentall Covenant with his People and power out his Spirit on all flesh was still further revealed to and by the Prophet Isay 53. and 42.19 6. and 49 6 Jer. 31. Joel 2. Neither did this put the difference between Jewes and Gentils Yet I cannot though faine I would cleare him from intending it of this discovery but I passe it yet as also the shewing what made the difference and wherein it was of that in fit place But all this while the manner of his comming his Birth exile returne manner of life his preaching with the manner of all his sufferings death buriall and resurrection ascension offering Sacrifice exaltation and filling in our nature with the powring out of the Spirit and giving the precious promises of the new Testament though fore mentioned by the Prophets yet not clearly but as a thing still hid with God till it come to be fulfilled and acted by Iesus Christ our Lord the Holy Ghost also bearing witnesse of him and then and so was this mystery unvailed Luke 24 44-48 Rom. 1.15 and 16.25 26. 2 Tim 1.10 And the Apostles were the first makers known and revealers of this Mystery so as Mr. Garner cannot be the unvailer in this sense nor I suppose doth he so mean though of these things I suppose he meanes for to them one head of his mysteries are belonging And yet further the Gentils free participation of the benefit of al these things by the Gospel and so to be fellow heirs and of the same body and to have fellowship in all the priviledges of Israel without Circumcision or any outward observance to under them to the Iewes and to make them of the Iewish Nation this also was not clear but a hidden thing till performed by Christ and testified by his Spirit and so it was manifest to the Apostles who were the first declarers and makers of it known Acts 10. and 11. Col. 1.23.26 27. Ephes 3 4 5 6 7. And in this sense Master Garner cannot be the unvailer nor I beleeve will say he is though of this and the former he must needs be understood to mean by Mysteries For the glory of Beleevers estate at the appearing of Christ though revealed that it shall be and they shall be like Christ yet how glorious and what that same is is a thing that is still hid in God with Christ and will not be manifested till he doe come again in glory and appear visibly Col. 3 3 4. 1 Iohn 3.2 and I hope M. Garner would have none to count him the unvailer of this 3. It might be questioned what he means by Vnvailing whether the manifestation and evidencing that it might appreare but that is the worke of God in and by Christ effecting and the Spirits testifying as is shown or the first making known publishing and witnessing but this was the businesse of the Apostles and first witnesses who had the whole Gospell immediatly from Christ his own person as is shown or whether he mean only the blowing away of some mists and removing some darknesse cast on by mens deceits interpretations and glosses this is the most charitable sense to understand him in though in this sense he is not an unvailer but a gleaner out of those that have done it yet in this sense I understand him
before Mr. Garners time or mine so that he in this hath unvailed no mystery but strove to cast a vail on Iohn 6.33 51. to obscure the plainly appearing sense and to make men beleeve that the life of the world and the life of Christ that eternall life he gives to them that in beleeving he draws out of the world is all one and the same life a grosse and absurd conceit V. Mystery That the reall manifestation and suffering of Christ in the flesh his personall Death upon the Tree was more wonderfull glorious and mysticall in respect of the declaration of the wisdome power and grace of God which did more wonderfully shine forth in it then either the promises or shadowes of his Death so it was more wonderfull and glorious then those in respect of the power fruit of it also which was the breaking down the partition wall which was between Jewes and Gentils it was the beginning of life and salvation unto all Nations of the world p 111 112 113 114 126. He cals ' it the glorious saving power of the Death of Christ and surely I am ready to acknowledge the dying of Christ precious powerfull glorious c. and the Death of Christ exceeding in power glory and fruitfulnesse and that to Gentils also But this hath been unvailed by the Apostles and is clearly held forth in preaching and writing generally and so not unvailed by Mr. Garner who hath rather vailed the plainly appearing truth then unvailed the mystery in his expressions for the Death of Christ was gloriously and savingly powerfull even before his actuall dying and that to mankind and in Beleevers from Adam to Noah and from Noah to Abraham before there was any Nation of Israel distinct from Gentils Heb. 11.1.8 and when that distinction was it did not limmit the power of his Death to Israel muchlesse did it limmit it to the lewes it only limmitted the enjoyment of the priviledges of the first Testament to them and yet not so but that the door was open for any Gentile of any Nation in submitting and comming in by Circumcision to be one people with them they might enjoy Exod. 12. and 13. though through the pride of the Gentils this became a partition-wall And yet farther through Christ was much glorified in being inabled to dye such a death and mercy and truth met therein yet the Holy Ghost speaketh of the personall sufferings and dying of Christ as of an abasement Isay 53. 2 Cor. 5.21 Phil. 2.7 8. and of his resurrection as that wherein he was mightily declared to be the Sonne of God Rom. 1.4 and sayeth expresly notwithstanding his denying that if he had not risen wee had been yet in our sinnes and faith and preaching vain 1 Cor. 15.17 And that he is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour c. Acts 5.31 and received spirit gifts in the man for men even for the rebellious also That the Lord God might dwell among them Psalme 68 18 and by this spirit making known and applying the death of him that is risen that was once dead and is alive for evermore it is that his death is so glorious powerfull and saving in men as is foreshown But Mr. Garner saith expresly that to dye for men and to gather them together in one is one and the same thing pag. 126. so that he doth but talke confusedly when he talkes of sprinckling for blood-sheding and blood sprinckling are by this saying one and the same thing so that here he vailes the mystery in Scripture unvailed VI. Mystery That Christ was fore promised to be a light in the Gentils revealing in them and giving to them remission of sins salvation life everlasting through saith in Christ page 128 And that unto all those to whom he is a light which himselfe expounded in many places to be all the Nations of the earth All men the World the whole World the Gentils c he revealeth himselfe in them drawing their hearts to beleeve in him unto life everlasting page 129. This is the main and bottome matter the grand mystery and swaying and interpreting truth which though in many places he puts down in his own name yet he takes it for granted none will deny it this streams through his Book from the beginning to the end and is the ground of his forcing his private sense on so many places of Scripture this is it led him to such expressions in his unvailing Mysteries This is it with which he answers Mr. Lambs reasons this is the maine matter and bottome proofe for his confounding the destinctions at first and for raising his conclusions at last and to speak as the truth is if he have unvailed any one Mystery this is it but whether it be a mystery of truth or no that remaines to be tryed for he hath brought no proofe nor testimony for the truth of it but his own affirmation and Mr. Knowles aprobation and that is to light for proofe for we have no Rabby to take any point of faith from for his own authority or testimony but only Christ Mat. 23.8 nor are we to esteem any light in his sayings that addes to or takes from or speakes besides and otherwise then the sayings of Christ in the Gospell Isay 8 20. Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. Rev. 22.18 19. Besides Mr. Garners expressions are some-what harsh and dangerous giving to much aprobation to the opinion of those that will speak as gloriously of the death of Christ as he and yet concerning Jesus that was borne in Bethlehem â—e out of us dying and rising and offerering Sacrifice for us and so a propitiation with God for us and this made known to us concerning that in his person without us by word and Spirit and all effecacies thereof are nothing but Christ after the flesh and knowing him after the flesh And they exalted a Christ that is the Son of God the Saviour the propitiation they say and in every man Dying in a man and rising in a man and this their happinesse when this in them is revealed to them quite besides the Scripture the next step to Athisme And Mr. Garners expressions are come very neer to it but to say the least in this expression of his mystery that with faithfulnesse can be said he wrongs the Scripture Isay 52.15 and 9.1 2. Mat. 4 14 15. That speakes of Christ personall comming to the Jewes preaching the Gospell to them and that Gentils also might enjoy the same As if Zabulun and Napthaly because bordering upon and in the way of the Gentils were Gentils and as if the Gospell preaching by Christ come in the flesh were not a great light among them yea no light but only to those in whom Christ was revealed giving them remission of sinnes and everlasting life yea he alters the language of the Holy Ghost who speaking of the life and propitiation in Christ and the Salvation in him as set forth shining and tendered in the Gospell
Gospell this was not so known before now what was their inheritance what was their body how did they partake of the promise did not the Word Oracles Covenants and services of God belonging to them and to their children Rom. 3.2 9.4 5. Acts 2. was not in their body Israel and the Israel of God the outward and the inward Church had not they heires in hopefulnesse and heires indeed were not their Infants discipled I conceive They that know the Gospell and this mystery well would not deny the Infants of profest Beleevers to be received into the Church by Baptisme with water nor renounce that to take up another And it yet seems strange to me that any of the same saith and Judgement with me in the Gospell should be of the same opinion and practise with him about the Ordinance of Baptisme But I love them in the truth we beleeve not the lesse nor shall shrink from witnessing it because he hath joyned me in his Treatise with them nor like his cause the better And in answering thus farre his whole Treatise is answered and in the Treatise he opposeth particular answers may be found at large which I will not again transcribe Mr. Lambs Reasons abide and are so weakly answered that more then is said need not be said and if it were M. Den or he I question not have or wil do it only this I say by such waies and dealings with the Scripture as he hath gon in if it were received any heresie may be countenanced and all the grounds of Religion denyed and Paganisme or Athisme ushered in give but way under pretence of unvailing Mysteries to deny the sayings of the Scripture to have the sense they import for another sense by other words to be brought in and whether then may one be drawn from one to another till they come to nothing wherefore my desire is that all men would heed the Scripture and take heed to the plain sayings of the Gospell and suffer the Grace of God appearing therein to reprove and take us off from every folly and to inamour our hearts with God and Christ and so carry us to live by faith and walke in love as the Gospell of Christ directeth us And know that Gospell is true and good in all it saith and that of for or to every one Oh far be it that any called Christians should make the Gospell of Christ like the Lottaries of some men in which are more blancks then prizes and where men must cast faith at an adventure and such as declare it sound it before all not knowing to whom it belongs let it light where it will nor as Mr. Garner that sets forth such and so many workes of the Spirit in a man to know Christ dyed for for him and must call on men first to forsake vain confidence and turne from their evill waies and then beleeve and saith no propitiation no life that is perfect in Christ for men til by believing it be in them yet unsayeth again and cryeth down every thing in a man to be as a preparation to beleeve In which he doth well but his doctrine affords no ground of faith without it For upon what ground should any man forsake vain confidences and evill wayes and then beleeve if there be nothing true in Christ for him before he beleeve surely if this be not a sandy or aiery foundation no other can be so But know that the Gospell is good newes for to every one to whom it comes which could not be howglorious soever if not true and true it will be found to all so as if they doe not receive it and suffer it to save them it will be their judge and send them without excuse to condemnation whence even such as refuse the tender are willed to be sure the Kingdome of God was come nigh to them and that the word they refused to suffer to save them shal judge them Luke 10.5.11 John 12.47.50 Thes 2.10.11 12. Wherefore take heed that none of us refuse to receive the love of the truth that wee may be saved but attend and yeeld there-too and be not deceived God will not be mocked nor suffer Mr. Garners Mysterious deceits though approved by Mr. Knowles to keep or withdraw us from beleefe and obedience to the Gospell and sayings of Christ And so I for beare any farther following him in any farther discovery of his errours absurdities and slanders only intreating God for the sake of Christ to give both him and mee and every of us more light and understanding in and hearts more submitted to the truth of God in Christ that so we may rightly speake it and walke in it and so prayeth his friend and the friend of all that love the truth though differences in some circumstances be found in expressions or walkings Thomas Moore A REPLY TO Mr. T.W. HIS pretended Confutation of T. M. THAT there was value and worth enough in Christs death in regard of the sufficiency and excellency of the price for the redeeming all men in the world is granted on all hands saith Mr. T. W. He hath fairely granted if fairely expressed for it is in the expression doubtfull to my understanding in what sense hee takes Christ his Death whether simply for the Act of his Dying as some of his after-sayings page 4. l. 3. last and else-where give occasion to thinke he doth But the Holy Spirit by the Apostle tels us If Christ bee not Risen beleevers are yet in their sins faith vaine preaching the Gospell vaine c. 1 Cor. 15.14.17 or whetherhe meane it of the vertue of his blood Dying or Death as he is risen just and ascended to heaven with the vertue of that his own blood having by the eternall Spirit offered himselfe a spotlesse Sacrifice to God and obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.12.14 And if he take in all this as I suppose he will exclude no part thereof And though all this be oft encluded in the expression of Christs Death Rom. 5.10 Blood Rev. 1.5 Ransome 1 Tim. 2.6 Sacrifice Heb. 9.26 Yet I suppose in our blessed Saviours acting of these he will allow Distinctions considerable betweene Christ his Dying and Rising and Ascending and offering himselfe a Sacrifice Though our faith without any separation looke at and receive all as one But the questions here to bee answered for right understanding his meaning are first with whom Christ had to deale with God or with men I yet suppose he will confesse that in acting all this hee had to deale with God and that he in all this gave the ransome offered the Sacrifie to God and made the Atonement with God 1 Tim. 2.5.6 Secondly For whom Christ did this and presented his Death and offered his Sacrifice to God and I am loath to conceive otherwise of him but that he will confesse it was for men though he answer in speaking of his dying or laying downe his life pag. 64. l. 30. That redemption
belonged to Paul not as a man but as an elect vessell A secret indeed no where as redemption was effected by Christ in his owne body set forth in the Scripture which tels us That all are by nature dead in trespasses and sins under sin c. without difference Rom. 3. Eph. 2. And that Christ dyed for the ungodly and unjust and for our sinnes and surely men are ungodly and unjust and sinners as they are men and not as they are elect vessels Rom. 3 10-20 But that it was for men is evident 2 Cor. 5.11.14 15. 1 Tim. 2.5 6. Thirdly for what Christ thus gave himselfe to God whether for this that for and upon this very gift men should be at peace with God one with him and God now without any more done take all sinne out of them or from off them and so all punishments and deaths and fill them with eternall life embracing them as sons in his delightfull love or whether it was for this that for and upon that very gift Jesus Christ might have the dispose and be the Lord of all Rom. 14.9 Psal 2.7.9 And be the Saviour of the world 1 John 4.14 Isa 49.6 And the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world Ioh. 2 2. And be filled with authority power and spirit to preserve men and creatures for their use and to use means and send forth spirit in the means to move men to repent and seek the Lord Matth. 28.18 Phil. 2.8 9 10. Psal 75.3 68.18 Rom. 2.4 And to be the Judge of all to absolve all that by his grace in the meanes are prevailed with to beleeve on him Mat. 9.6 Act. 10.43 And to condemne such as hold the truth in unrighteousnesse and so persist in their impenitencie unbeliefe and rebellion Ioh. 1.18 19. Psal 68 18-21 And that being thus made perfect he should be the Author of eternall salvation to all that obey him Hebr. 5 8 9. And throw into a second death all that rebelled against him their right and lawfull Lord that bought them and abolished the first death for them 2 Pet. 2.1 2 Tim. 1.10 With the Devils also for that they usurped to deceive and draw men to rebell against his government Now whether of these wayes Mr. T. W. will answer this question Charity bids me make no resolution because if he should answer the former way as his writing gives occasion to suspect then I know no full or plaine sentence of Scripture to expresse or countenance his Answer with nor can Iunderstand how he can free his saying from charging God with injustice for receiving a sufficient price and detaining that for which it was given in suffering such as by such saying ought to be freed still to be born under guilt and defilement of sinne and to remaine many dayes under the power the darknesse and sinne and Satan and afflicted with punishments and death nor can I see how he will avoyd derogating from the great mediation and exercise of the High priest hood of Jesus Christ which Scripture shews to be at the Right hand of God and by vertue of his Death and Sacrifice offered to God wherefore I will not so conceive of his meaning but if he Answer in the latter though it be with more apt and fit expressions then hee granteth all that T. M. hath laboured to maintaine for how else will he understand the sufficiency of the death of Christ wee are not questioning what is the sufficiency of God the Creator as Creator The Death Resurrection and Sacrifice of Christ is certainly a creature though such as in which the Creator is yet as Christ is the first borne of every creature The first borne from the dead the second man made a quickning Spirit so all this in him a new creation now how there should be a sufficiency in any created being though possessed with God for redeeming any for which there neither is nor ever was any intention or will of the Creator I cannot understand indeed if he had said it might have been sufficient if God had so willed I might and would have spared this given another Answer But he plainly confesseth There was value and worth in Christs Death in regard of the sufficiency and excellency of it for the redeeming al the men in the world And if there was such value and worth for sufficiency in it It is so in it still compare John 1.4.5 with 1 Ioh. 1.1 2 3. The Word of the Lord endureth for ever I say 40 8. 1 Pet. 1.24 25. And we are to follow those the end of whose doctrine and conversation is to set forth Iesus Christ The same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13 8. And so whosoever misse it is for not receiving the tenders of it in the meanes Prov. 1.23 24 c. So that Mr. T. W. in this saying hath secretly granted that which he openly opposeth but yet he saith whether Christ in Gods intention and his owne performance so payed a ransome for all and every particular man as thereby to make satisfaction and procure reconciliation with God for them is the thing in question This T. M. undertakes to prove saith Mr. T. W. He meanes not that T. M. goeth about to prove that this is the thing in question that rests for himself to prove But that T. M. undertakes to prove this thing that is in question but he should either have put downe T. M. his owne expressions or else not after have slandered him p. 3. l. 5 6 7. saying That Christ entended to reconcile all men to God by the reconciliation wrought in his body with God for men which saith he are Tho. Moore his owne words but as hee hath annexed them they are Mr. Tho. Whitfeild his owne surmises And therefore seeing he hath not set downe the question either as Doctor Davenant did To which I yeelded in my Booke nor as I there expressed it nor kept close in his Treatise in answering to that hee expresseth as mine I must a little open the businesse before I yeeld him this to be mine And so I confesse my selfe to conceive that I understand and beleeve that in the beginning God made one man a living soule and that he made him righteous and a publike man Gen. 1.26.27 1 Cor. 15.45 That he made them superiour and inferiour male and female fit for encrease by generation and called their name Adam 1 Tim. 2.13 Gen. 1.27 5.2 And that God at the first created all men in his creation of this man and made all men righteous in making this man righteous Eccles 7 29. So as what this Adam was in his publique place in which he then stood all men were in him for he was all men and what God adorned and furnished him withall he did it in him to all men And the oportunity of eating of the Tree of Life with the charge not to eat of the tree of Knowledge of good and evill and affirmation of
of the first Adam but only the nature which was one in both sexes and each degree Then he came and dyed for all men in both sexes and every degree not so much respecting sexes or degrees as the nature of men for whom and for whose sins he came and dyed and so for them as men ungodly and sinners and not as elect vessels and a holy generation though to make such and even from the roofe and beginning of all it is evident That Jesus Christ the second publique man undertook as the second man A publique person for the first man a publique person and so for all that were in him and by propogation to come of him that they might not perish in this first judgement and death but to be given him into his dispose to preserve alive a time that they might live to him in this life and after death to raise them and bring them alive before him to be judged by him in another judgement to another life or to another death according to the Gospell Rom. 14 9-12 2 Cor. 5.10 11 14 15. Phil. 2 7-11 Rom. 2.16 and so the holy Ghost teacheth us to understand the businesse saying As by the offence of one unto all men to condemnation even so by the righteousneosse of one unto all men to justification of life Rom. 5.18 that is as is aforesaid in the other in the publicke man that undertooke for all men and that so as their lives are preserved a time and the old creation for them that such as come into him by the meanes he useth while he preserveth them in this old creation may partake of the new creation in him and such as perish in rebellion against him may be brought to another judgement and sentenced to a second Death And so in this sense Jesus Christ hath dyed and given himselfe a ransome for All men so as he hath made an atonement with God and is himselfe become the propitiation for their sinnes that it may be declared or testified in some fruites of his goodnesse to lead to repentance and seeking the Lord that so such as are by grace brought in to beleeve may be reconciled unto God and receive remission of sinnes and eternall life and those that perish in refusall and rebellion be justly sent down to a second Death which is a foundation and ground of and motive to repentance faith and obedience for all men set forth in the Gospell shewing in all this their obligation to Christ with incouragement to come in to Christ and terrour to all that rebell If Mr. T. W. his expressions may be taken in this sense it is yeelded as a true report or else not for this is that which Mr. T. W. opposeth and which T. M. endevoureth to shew proved in the sayings of holy Scripture for otherwise to prove he is still lesse being no Linguist for knowledge of divers tongues no Arthist in Logick either according to Aristotle or Ramus nor learned in Philosophy either morrall politicall or naturall either Epicurian Pithagorean Stoicke or Platonist or were he yet he could not thinke meet by these to square mould and prove Divinity but only what God saith in his word as he is helped to understand he desireth to beleeve and takes his sayings to be proofe enough and of more worth then all the reasons and arguments of men against them But Mr. T. W. saith that for proofe T. M. makes use of three things which he makes the principall ground of his Doctrine That which he cals the first ground for T. M. his proofe is The distinction between the Redemption reconciliation and salvation which Jesus Christ effected in his own body with God for men and that he effected by his Spirit in men God this saith Mr. T. W. is not agreeable to Scripture To which I answer I have been so told by such whom he reproacheth as lay preachers but not by any profest Divines before I read it in Mr. T. W. 2. This distinction and foure more one about the distinct ends of his death another the distinct manner of mentioning those ends another about the divers waies of propounding his death and another about the difference of the extent and force of the same word in Scripture I used for clearing the businesse in stating the question But seeing so many of those he reproacheth as lay preachers affirme them my proofes and now it is so affirmed by two Clerks professed Divines though of contrary judgement and practice let them so stand each of the five distinctions being of the like force to prove and foure of them not faulted by Mr. T. W. 3. This distinction he faulteth is in the Treatise shewn expresly in the Scripture there quoted page 2. to 14 15. and nothing there disproved in any quotation but remaineth full enough to answer all he hath said to fault it besides the distinction and that which it now acknowledged a proofe for are both shewn in that Treatise and in the first part of my answer to Mr. Garner to be plainly set forth and proved in the Scripture 4. His way of faulting the distinction is by framing reasons and calling Scripture to make a consequent with though I hope he will not justifie the Saduces so reasoning from Scripture Mat. 22. as divers in our-dayes also have done to deny the reurrection of the body But this with all that followes in his leasons is answered and the abuse of Scripture therein shewn before in that Treatise in divers places to which he hath said nothing and again in the first and third part of the Reply to M. Garner so as for answer no more need but only to desire the Reader to peruse the same though the Reader of his may see 1. In his first reason much weaknesse for whatever reconciliation be wrough with God in Christ by his Death yet no men are reconciled to God but by the spirituall application thereof when the love of God is there through commended to the heart which slayes the enmity there and reconciles to God in receit of the atonement whence the words while wee were c. and being now justified and wee have now received Atonement Rom. 5.8 9.10 11. The Colotians were enemies in their minds by wicked workes in which they walked after Christ had dyed yea and made peace in presenting the vertue of his death before God also and by application of this were after reconciled to God Col. 1.20 21 22 23. Besides he is not able to prove that the Death of Christ is agreater worke then the resurrection of Christ nor that the reconciling to God by love commended through the death of Christ a greater worke then the further saving by the power of the Spirit of life by which he rose from the dead which sounds harsh to Ephes 1.17.19 20. though his so saying acknowledgeth the distinction As for his altering the Text Rom. 8.32 it may be said God doth not give an unâ—glorified Sonne to
nature and will and draw him God ward and for this Jesus Christ hath ascended to heaven and received spirit in the man to send forth even to the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them which he also doth send forth Psal 68 18. And so as in my Treatises may be seene I understand Jesus Christ makes men saveable 1. In himselfe as he is the second man the last Adam that stood in the place and undertook for the first publique man for him and all that were in him having taken the same nature and in it dyed fure for the first Adams sin or else for no mans sin and if for his sin then for all mens sin or else his sin was not al mens sin and he is in that nature risen just and hath offered up himselfe a Sacrifice for man and is now in mans nature glorified so that in him is peace righteousnesse c. So as in him as the publique man the nature of all mankind is as fully yea more abundantly saved restored and enriched with glorious salvation then it was fallen in the first Adam and this is as really in him for mankind as the fall and death of the former was 2. This salvation and life in Jesus the second publique man is as vertuous and more vertuous and powerfull in him and fuller of efficacie to make all that by grace come in to him like himselfe then the sin and death of the former to make those that by propagation come forth from him like him And both these are evident Rom. 5.12.14.18 19. 1 Cor. 15.45 46 47. 2 Cor. 3.18 And this is great salvation actuall salvation in Christ for men before it be preached or hee set forth as the propitiation Rom. 3.24 25. Heb. 2 2-4 3. He by vertue of this hee hath done and is become with God for men is now the Mediator between God and men and so procureth of God for men and extendeth towards them the preservation of the creatures for their use and space of repentance Psal 75.3 2 Pet. 3 9. which the Apostle cals Salvation and wills us so to account it 2 Pet. 3.15 The Dispensation of meanes and mercies as testimonies of his goodnesse Acts 14.17 which the Apostle saith is to lead to repentance and seeking the Lord Act. 17.26 27.30 31. Rom. 2.4 And with these means at some seasons some strift and motions of his Spirit to reprove c. Gen. 6 3. Prov. 12.23.24 And this with so much efficacy that at some or other enlightens every one in some measure that commeth into the world that was made by him Iohn 1.9.10 And by his workes manifesteth some truth in men Rom. 1.18 19. and so striveth with them But all this more openly and abundantly where he sends the Gospell which is a preaching of great salvation Heb. 2 3. wherein also is some presence of Christ by his Spirit to discover witnesse reprove draw to and apply salvation Though many breake all bands Joh. 15.26 27. 16. Mat. 28.20 Hosea 11.3 4 7. And this that they might beleeve Joh. 1 7 and be saved Joh. 5.34 And this with so much prevailency that he bringeth them in some measure to see and heare and toucheth their hearts Though divers like not the light and so willingly close their eyes and eares and harden their hearts Joh. 3.19 20 21. Act. 28.27 And all this is actuall salvation and extended that men might come in to him and partake of eternall 4. He hath eternall life and salvation to bestow on every one of them that in these his drawings come into him Joh. 17.3 Heb. 5 9. And all this was in and by Christ from the first beginning of his undertaking with God as is fore-shewne though since his comming in the flesh more manifest and in the fruits more abundant And this is meant by his making all men saveable so as those empty and undivine reasons of A purchasing only a possibility of salvation Of the ineffectualnesse of Christ his death before his acting it Of restraining the word Death to the act of his dying Of redeeming God of making salvation actuall by faith faith being neither Discoverer nor Applyer but only the receiver of what he by Spirit in the means discovers and applyes Of urging that if a potentiall wrought that should be the phrase Then no actuall as If he the God of the Valleys then not of the Mountaines are of no force and beseemed Lay-preachers better then Mr. T. W. As for the other objections of his owne framing I may leave them to his owne Answering though he might be bold There was a doore before so opened as 2 Tim. 1.10 as there was a well before Hagar saw it Genes 21.19 else not only some but all both Jewes and Gentiles before Christ came in the flesh are perished for ever But I may not slip over his Answer of his owne framed objection That if Christ Dyed not for all they want a foundation of faith To which he replyeth No. For the foundation of both our faith and obedience is not the secret but the revealed will of God which enjoynes every man to beleeve on him whom the Father hath sent c. Surely here he hath said something if he would either stand by it or make any thing of it But according to his direction wee must search to that in another place and here and there I will make the best of it that I can 1. As God is one so his will and though there be much more secret then is yet revealed yet hath he not in his word revealed any one thing for men to believe as his mind that is contrary to his will that is yet secret his sayings are all true certain c. Prov. 8.6 9. â—2 20 21. what an intimation of a heavy charge is this to the sayings of the God of truth 2. A Minister of the Gospell or a Beleever ought to meddle no farther about the will of God concerning any thing in their declaration then what by word or workes he hath revealed Deut. 29.29 to which those who are submitted when God saith his Sonne dyed for all will not conceit another secret meaning and use reasons to scare men from beliefe of his testimony 3. The foundation of Repentance faith and new obedience is not the injunction to beleeve c. But that which is to be beleeved even Jesus Christ as he is set forth in the Gospell Isay 28.16 Acts 4.10 11 12. 1 Cor. 3.11 And for whom there is not the Christ that hath dyed for their sinnes and rose for their justification there is no foundation for repentance or faith nor is there any injunction for or liberty to or hope in it for any man to repent or beleeve or to looke to Christ for salvation if where Gospell comes they doe not first beleeve that Christ dyed for their sinnes and rose for their justification 1 Cor. 15.1 4 17. so that in this grant Mr. T.W.
hath run himselfe into such snares as he snares himselfe worse to get out againe saying every one is enjoyned to beleeve on Christ page 7. And yet that it may be denyed that all men are bound to beleeve on Christ page 68. Put a duty to beleeve instead of Christ for the foundation of faith page 7. Proclaiming such commands as God gives for men to walke in to be some of them contrary to the inward mind of God some contrary one to another surely if Enthusiastes may be granted this denies them nothing but how may this appeare he saith God gave Abraham a command to kill his Sonne and then another not to kill which latter being his purpose was crosse to the former command page 49. 84. But where will he prove this not in the revealed word of God for that tels us God bad Abraham offer his Sonne for a burnt offering and so much was revealed Gen. 22.2 And Abraham not knowing that this contained any lesse then to offer him up a burnt offering he did offer and intended to slay there was his tryall but the latter command though crossing Abrahams intentions did enlighten his understanding and so he saw not one command crosing another but obeyed both in offering his Sonne Heb. 11.17 and not slaying him but offering the Ram a burnt offering And as for Pharaoh he had hardened his own heart long before nor was Gods hardening any other but the withstanding that opperation by which he had before been moving his heart and so justly for his rebellion and cruelty leaving him to Satan yet did he command nothing in charging him to let his people goe but what he would have done there being a people to be let goe and he had done well if he had willingly yeelded it but he brought him to it at last as he will one day all those that in the day of grace refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ the Lord bring them to it Phil. 2.10 11. Oh what spirit is that which so sets out the command of God that he is faine to plead the equity of them with that Rom. 9.20 did the Apostle so in that place or hath God done so Ezek. 18. surely his commands are righteous altogether Psal 19. I set passe that might be said in that which followes page 7. to avoid provocation But as he deales with the command so he is as crosse to the Apostles in setting forth the Gospell to be beleeved consider page 169. First saith Mr. T. W. no man is bound to beleeve Christ dyed for him till he seele his need of him and be humbled but first to beleeve that God hath given his Sonne to purchase redemption for all repenting sinners Now what Gospell is this what humiliation and repentance is that and whence comes it that must be before a man beleeve so much as that Christ dyed for him Christ dyed for the ungodly his enemies c. But such as have repented are not so called yea the Apostles have preached the death and resurrection of Christ for men to call and move them to repentance Acts 13.37 39. 1 Cor. 15.14 Secondly he saith it is their duty to see and feele their sinnes and be so humbled for them as thereby they may be brought to repentance See here they must not see their sinnes by this doctrine as Christ was made finne and a curse for them nor look upon them as they have pirced him and so come in to him for they may not yet beleeve that he dyed for them how crosse is this to the Scripture Zach. 12.10 and the Apostles preaching of repentance who set it forth as the gift of Christ that is risen from the dead and exalted and urged it one that ground that in beleeving it might be effected Acts 2. 3. 13. 17.31 Thirdly hee saith that when they are truly humbled and brought to repentance it is their duty to renounce their own righteousnesse and rest on Christ alone for salvation strange doctrin that a man should rely on Christ before he can beleeve that Christ dyed for him surely Paul was otherwise led the knowledge of Christ produced his repentance faith confidence and not these that Phil. 3 7 8 9. Fourthly he saith that doing this they ought to perswade themselves that Christ dyed for them c. here is right the cart to lead the horse and the building made the foundation surely the Apostle receiving the atonement throug divine love manifested in his death did let goe his own righteousnesse and depend on him to besaved by his life Rom. 5.8.10 11. Thus have I noted the Gospell and saith Mr. T. W. sets forth Oh you that through grace beleeve is not this a humane faith did such a faith ever support you in a day of tryall and when God by Spirit in the word of grace testified of his Sonne and in discovery of his rich grace to your heart brought you in to believe did not that melt humble and worke repentance in you or were you left to view reason from such things in you selves to parswade your own hearts to believe I must a peale to beleevers in this and so to M. T. W. his own heart because of that 1 John 4 5 6. That which he saith is the third ground Tho. Mocre brings to prove that Christ dyed for all is those generall expressions which the Scripture useth in speaking of Christs Death Surely if I can find him right in none of his heads of proceeding it is time to let answering of him alone 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 not an expression only but the whole sentences I writ to testifie the truth of them in the sense the words import whatsoever Title was put on my Book of which I need not be a shamed but before I began to prove I endevoured to cleare the businesse by severall distinctions in five severall chapters containing 32 pages and now I have by reason oâ— his and another not the worse because a Shoo-maker and another not the worse because an Apothecary seeing they are Christians calling them proofes yeelded them so to be and out of the first distinction Mr. T. W. hath affirmed two grounds though he hath disproved nothing by it then in the first chapter I shewed how the question is stated by divers the first as I had it from such as Mr. W. cals lay-preachers and that I opposed and that is it Mr. T. W. labours to maintain the second as it is stated by those called Arminians which I also have confuted in the Treatise the third as some Ministers have stated it the fourth and fifth as some learned sober and judicious Ministers in great place whom I love and reverence as godly howsoever they be affected towards me have stated it the sixt as some learned writers are reported to have stated it the seventh as it was stated in the Synod of Dort which I approve as good and true the last as Doctor Davenant stated it to