Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A41319
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An answer to Mr. Thomas Grantham's book, called, A dialogue between the Baptist and the Presbyterian by Martin Finch.
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Finch, Martin, 1628?-1698.
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1691
(1691)
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Wing F942; ESTC R7436
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100,803
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186
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enquire in what Sense we are to understand Christ's dying that we may know what we dispute about Let us consider 1. Who it was that dyed for Sinners and this may give light into this Controversie tho' it was only the Humane Nature of Christ that dyed or was capable of dying yet the Person was God the fellow of the Lord of Hosts therefore God is said to purchase the Church with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. If Christ indeed had not been God by nature then People might have had such low undervaluing thoughts of his Death as that he might dye in vain as to some yea as to all he dyed for But we that do believe he was God-man cannot believe but that he will infallibly save all that he dyed for Indeed if we did not believe the Doctrine of the Trinity and that Christ is the second Person of the for ever blessed and glorious Trinity and that he is the Son of God by Ineffable Eternal Generation very God as the Father is and that he took upon him Human Nature that he might suffer the Punishment of our Sins and redeem and save us we would never contend about his Death who he dyed for because if he had not been the Brightness of the Father's Glory and the express Image of his Person he could never by himself have purged away our Sins by the Sacrifice of himself It is to be feared that some Arminians are Socinians too Antitrinitarians as Michael Servetus was of whom I shall speak afterwards if God permit And indeed Arminianism prepares the way to Socinianism if God does not graciously stop Men in the way of Errour So that this I lay down as a Basis and Foundation for an Enquiry who Christ dyed for that all would consider the Eminency yea the Infiniteness of the Person that dyed for us It was he that was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God tho' he took upon him the form of a Servant and was found in fashion as a Man and was obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross to redeem his Church This was the greatest wonder that ever was done in this World It is the astonishment of Angels and Men to Eternity and can any imagin that God was manifest in the Flesh and dyed in vain for any for whose sake he bare the Punishment of their Sins and went through unutterable pain and suffering for their Redemption 2. Let us consider what is the sense and meaning of Christ's dying for us It is that Christ dyed in our stead as our Surety and as a proper Sacrifice for our Sins Christ dyed not only for our good as the Socinians speak but in our stead as well as for our good Our Iniquities were laid upon him Isai 53.6 He bare our Sins in his own Body upon the Tree 1 Pet. 2.23 He suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust 1 Pet. 3.18 for all the Sins whatsoever of them for whom he dyed Rom. 4. ult Who was delivered for our Offences and was raised again for our Justification Those for whom Christ dyed he made an absolute perfect satisfaction for all their 〈◊〉 yea purchased Converting and Keeping Grace for them here and Glory hereafter He did not do the work of Mediator and Saviour by halves He obtained Eternal Redemption for those for whom he dyed Heb. 9.12 he gave himself for those for whom he dyed to Merit and Purchase for them Faith Repentance Grace and Glory to be infallibly bestowed upon them in the Lords appointed time and season 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Titus 3.13 14. as I shall endeavour to shew in a Chapter by it self But as for this Author and those of his way though they make a great noise about Christs dying for all Adams Posterity Yet they do really deny that Christ dyed for any Man or Woman in the World in a true Scripture Sense that is that Christ so dyed for any as to make Satisfaction for all their Sins and to purchase saving Grace here and Glory hereafter to be infallibly bestowed upon their particular persons For they say that notwithstanding Christs Death there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved The truth is though some may mean well and think they exalt Christ by the Doctrine of Universal Redemption Yet they do debase and dishonour Christ and bring all at last to Mans Meriting his own Salvation 1. I say that Arminians do Debase Disgrace and Dishonour Christ and that Glorious and for ever to be adored Redemption by him They talk indeed of Universal Redemption by Christ but indeed it is an Vniversal nothing in comparison of that True Perfect and Eternal Redemption that our Lord Jesus Christ hath wrought for those for whom he dyed which shall infallibly bring them to Grace here and Glory hereafter as shall God willing be manifested afterwards 2. I say that Arminians whether they do really intend it or no bring all at last to Man Meriting his own Salvation For if God the Father did no more in Electing a particular person to Grace and Glory and the Son of God in Redemption and the Holy Ghost in infusing a new Heart for those that are Saved than for those that perish for ever Then those that are Saved it is by their own Merits Worthiness Towardliness and Goodness above others and so they are not Saved by meer Grace not by any Special Discriminating Grace from the Father Son and Holy Ghost to them and so whereas God hath ordered it so that no Flesh should glory and boast in his presence These lay a Foundation for pride and self-conceit and make poor provision for admiring free special Discriminating Grace here and to Eternity in Heaven Yea one of the Arminians in answer to that question who maketh thee to differ would not mince the matter as some others do But boldly and roundly answered to the Apostles question I make my self to differ These things being premised I shall now close with you upon the Scriptures you bring and shall make it manifest if the Lord put in by his Spirit to give Light they do not hold forth that Christ dyed for all Adams Posterity 1. The first you name is Hebrews 29. We see Jesus made a little lower than the Angels for the suffering of Death Crowned with Glory and Honour that he by the Grace of God should tast death for every Man This Scripture this Author cites in the first place and Mr. J. C. in his Book called Redemption redeemed counts this Text the fullest of all other places for Universal Redemption but indeed 't is a notable Text against it and may give us much light how to understand the word all and every Man and the World in other places of Scripture 1. The Apostle shews what was the cause of Gods giving his Son to tast Death for us it was the grace of God the for ever to be Adored grace of God the exceeding
Riches of his grace that ever was or can be to those persons that God gave his Son to dye for 2. He expresseth what Christ suffered for them in pursuance of Gods eternal and infinite grace to those persons whose Surety and Mediator he was and that is set forth by tasting of Death for them whereby is meant the bitter Passion of Christ suffering in his Soul and Body to bear the Curse of the Law the Wrath of God due to their Sins that so they might not bear it themselves 3. He shews who it was that Christ tasted Death for this bitter Death in the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which lest any should think is meant of all Adam's Posterity it is restrained by the Apostle himself he shews it was only for the Elect for it follows v. 10. For it became him for whom are all things in bringing many Sons unto Glory to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through Sufferings So that the Apostle shews that the all that Christ tasted Death for are all the Sons that are to be brought to Glory all that God hath Predestinated to the Adoption of Children Christ tasted Death for all them and only them Again he shews who were intended by the all that Christ tasted Death for by calling him The Captain of their Salvation that those that Christ as their Captain and Leader would infallibly conduct to Salvation v. 11. For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one The all and every one that Christ tasted Death for is restrained by the Apostle again to all those that are or shall be sanctified by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus their Sanctifier and in the end of v. 11. it is said For which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren and v. 12. I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Church will I sing Praise unto thee So that the all that Christ tasted Death for is all that he makes Believers makes his Brethren makes his Church and v. 13. Behold I and the Children which God hath given me So that those that Christ tasted Death for is limited to those that the Father hath given him and are the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ such as are given to Christ to bring all of them at last to be actually the Children of God So that all things considered as I said before we have the Apostles example in enquiring into the true meaning of any Scripture that speaks of Christ's dying for all giving himself a Ransom for all his being a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World to restrain and limit such Expressions to the Sons that were to be brought to Glory to those that Christ was to make Brethren to those that are or shall be sanctified by him to his Church to those that were given him of the Father to be certainly and infallibly brought to Glory 2. The next place this Author bringeth for Universal Redemption is 1 John 2.2 Who is a Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World Now for the finding out the true meaning of this Scripture 1. Observe that this Epistle was written to the Jews v. 7. Brethren I write no new Commandment unto you but an old Commandment which ye had from the beginning It was the Jews that had the Commandments of God the sum of which old Commandments was Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine Heart and thy Neighbour as thy self Matth. 22.37 38 39. As for the Gentiles they had not the written Law committed to them Psal 147.19 20. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them 2. Consider that when the time came that the Lord would visit the Gentiles and that the Gospel should be preached unto them it was expedient that there should be such Expressions used that Christ was the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World not only to encourage the Gentiles to look after Christ but also in respect of the Jews who did generally despise the other Nations of the World and thought the Messiah was only for them yea for a time the Jews that believed could hardly bear to hear of the calling of the Gentiles Therefore the Apostle shews that Christ was not only a Propitiation for the Sins of Believers amongst the Jews but for the Believers amongst the Gentiles throughout the whole World 3. The word Propitiation will give light into the meaning of the place and determine the true sense and meaning of it for what is it for Christ to be a Propitiation for our Sins it is to make Satisfaction and Reconciliation for our Sins an absolute and perfect Satisfaction for all our Sins to the Law and Justice of God and this is laid up with the Faithfulness of the Father to be certainly and infallibly bestowed upon us in the Lord 's appointed time Those that Christ hath died for he hath made such an absolute and eternal Satisfaction and Reconciliation for their Sins for all their Sins that they shall certainly be Called Sanctified and Eternally Saved So that as Divines have observed the true sense and meaning of this place before us is the same with what we have John 11.51 52. And this spake he not of himself but being High-Priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation that is the Nation of the Jews and not for that Nation only but that also he should gather together in one the Children of God that were scattered abroad that is the Elect amongst the Gentiles throughout the whole World 3. Then he cites 1 Tim. 2.6.7 Who gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle I speak the truth and lie not a Teacher of the Gentiles in Faith and Verity for the understanding of this Scripture 1. Consider that when the Apostle wrote this Epistle the Magistrates were Gentiles and not Jews and they were generally wicked Persecutors whereupon the Professors of the Gospel through their Corruption and Weakness did many of them neglect to pray for them but rather prayed against them Now the Apostle puts them upon Prayer for these Magistrates and shews them that if God do not please to Convert them yet he can so over-rule them that they may live peaceable lives and enjoy the liberty of God's Worship in their Dominions yea the Apostle goes further he would have them pray for the Conversion of those Wicked Persecuting Magistrates and saith v. 4. That God would have all Men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth Some of all sorts and ranks some Kings and great ones as well as mean People and that for any thing they know God will save and bring