them or affirm that he Prayed for them after they were dead which I think they will scarce do either But 2. Tho Christ in his Prayer Joh. 17. Particularly Prayed for his Disciples vers 9. And for all actual believers vers 20. And if he interceeds for none else then he Prayed not nor interceeds for the Conversion of any no not for their Elect world and then on their own account he prayed not for them for they say he prayed not for the world and yet they say the Elect are the world so that on their account he prayed not nor interceeds for the Conversion of any but only for his Disciples and actual believers By which you may see how ill their arguments will hold together 3. Christ did pray for the world and this is most apparent if we consider his Prayer which hath in this matter three Gradations 1. He Prayeth distinctly for his present Disciples vers 9. And in this petition he prayed not for the world nor for all Believers 2. In vers 26. He prayed for all Believers 3. And in this Petition he did as well pray for the world as for Believers that being the reason yea and all the reason rendered why he prayed for Believers it was for the worlds false vers 21. That Believers might so walk in Unity that the world seeing thereof might believe that he was sent of God By which it 's apparent that the very end of his praying for Believers was for the worlds sake in which he as really prayed for the world as for Believers and wonderful ignorance it is in those who affirm that he did not pray for the world Christ Some will say as Death of death that for the worlde believing it intends not believing unto life but a Conviction that Christ was not what they took him to be i. e. a seducer and false Prophet Min. This is boldly affirmed but the plain truth of the matter is that the great end of Christ in praying for Unity among Believers was that the world might believe that he was the sent of God i. e. That they might believe and be saved It being evident that to believe he was the sent of God includes the whole Faith of the Gospel the same as the Apostles had who were the first in his prayer v. 8. They have known surely that I came out from thee and have believed that thou didst send me So ch 16. 30. And so of all other believers Joh. 8. 24. 20. 31. 1 Joh. 4. 2. 5. 1. So that it 's most evident that Christs prayer for the world was that they might believe and be saved Christ Whence is it that to believe that Christ is the sent of God is so commonly stated in Scripture to be the Faith of the Gospel to which Salvation is ensured seeing there are many other things to be believed concerning him without believing of which we cannot be saved Min. 1. Because to believe that he was the Messias promised the sent of God was the whole of Faith before his sufferings Mat. 16. 16 17. Joh. 17. 8. 2. Because after his sufferings if they believed that he was the Christ the sent of God then Faith in his Death and Resurrection with the ends thereof was included therein 3. Because it 's most apparent that the great ends of his coming into the world was understood in a great measure both by Jews and Gentiles before he came tho the manner of his effecting thereof they were greatly ignorant in viz. by his being a sacrifice for sin but that the end of his coming was to be the Saviour of the world they knew the Jews by the prophesies and promises thereof that he should be for Salvation to the ends of the Earth Isa 49. 6. 45. 22. Mal. 1. 11. Sutable to which is the saying of Simeon Luk. 2. 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy People Israel And John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ saith John 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world And after his sufferings John the Apostle and Evangelist testifieth 1 Joh. 4. 14. We have seeen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the world The weight of this Testimony is to confirm that the Father had sent him that was promised the Saviour of the World this being their great work to convince the world and confirm believers that he was the promised Messias the Saviour of the World Act. 9. 22. 18. 28. And that he suffered and was raised again from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. And as it was understood among the Jews that when he came it was to be the Saviour of the world so was it likewise among the Gentiles by their converse with the Jews and Septuagint translation many among the Gentiles expected the coming of the Jews Messias and understood that the end of his coming was to be the Saviour of the World Joh. 4 25. 26. The Woman saith to him I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ when he is come he will tell us all things vers 29. The Woman goeth into the City and saith see a Man that told me all that ever I did is not this the Christ And vers 40 41 42. The Samaritans believed and said we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the World tho they were of the Gentiles yet these were Principled in this and that truly too that the Messias promised was to be the Saviour of the world and therefore the great Doctrin to be taught and matter of Faith was to believe that he was the Messias the sent of God which as thus understood included the whole of the Gospel A sin and a shame it is that we who profess to believe him to be the Son and sent of God should deny him to be the Saviour of the World and so in this great matter to come short of the Faith both of Jews and Gentiles before he came in the Flesh and before he suffered for the sins of the World Christ It is objected If Christ dyed for the World why is not the Gospel Preached to all the World there being many parts of the world where it is not known and it is not likely he should dye for them and not Vouchsafe to make it known to them Min. As to this it 's enough were there no more to be said in this matter that the Lord both sent the Gospel by Commission to be Preached to all the Creation Mar. 16. 15. Among all Nations Luk. 24. 47. So that there is no bar or limit set by the Lord upon it the defect lyeth in Men and not in the Lord or the Commission for publishing thereof it having been the usual method of God in his Dispensations towards Men to give the word and leave the Issue to men for the improvement thereof so he did to Adam and so
And now in performance Gal. 4. 4. 2. That Jesus Christ being sent for that end Joh. 6. 38. Heb. 10. 7. did in love freely lay down his life a sacrifice for the sins of the World Joh. 1. 29. 6. 51. 1 Joh. 2. 2. and this is called Gospel or good tidings 1 Cor. 15. 1. the Apostle calls it the Gospel that he preached unto them ver 34. explains this Gospel what it is i. e. that Christ died for our sins and was raised again the third day according to the Scriptures and indeed if he had not been raised again there had been no glad tidings in his dying for our sins Christ How shall we account it glad tidings Was it not sad tidings rather that the prince of life the Lord of Glory should be crucified and killed for our sins Min. 1. It 's true it was sad that man by sin was faln into such an estate of sin and death as that nothing short of the life and blood of the Son of God the Prince of life and Lord of Glory could help him out thereof the due sense of which it concerns us to keep duly and daily upon our hearts to keep us humble and thankfully to prize the mercy 2. It was sad that when he was come into the world that the World viz. both Jews and Gentiles should be so bad as to unite to put him to death Yet 3. It stands true that it was and is the best tidings that ever came to the world that God should so love the world as to send his Son and that Christ should so love the World as to give himself for the life of the world is the greatest Mystery of grace and the best tidings that possibly could come to the world so that it may well be called glad tidings it being the foundation of all Gospel doctrine and so of all Gospel faith of all Gospel grace and of all Gospel glory it 's all built on this one Sacrifice for sin on this foundation all is built pardon peace acceptation in service preservation too and the glory to come it 's all founded here Rom. 1. 16. Eph. 1. 14. 3. And as the effect of this foundation glad tidings of the fathers love and the sons giving himself for the life of the world as the glad tidings of the restitution of all things which was the great design of God and Christ in this wonderful undertaking the recovery of mankind out of that state of death faln into by the first transgression Act. 4. 2. 1 Cor 15. 21 22. and with man the whole creation shall be restored Act. 3. 21. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Which shall be the new and restored world called in Scripture the World to come Heb. 2. 5. Rev. 21. 1 5. in and over which the Kingdom and Government of Christ shall be eternally Rev. 11. 15. And from hence is the Gospel so frequently called the Gospel of the Kingdom Mat. 4. 23. 9. 35. 24. 14. Mar. 1. 14. so called not only because it opens the Kingdom to us and prepares us for it but because the restitution new world and the kingdom of Christ therein is so great a part thereof as that all before it and without it can be no glad tidings at all Cor. 15. 19. Christ Is there nothing else in Scripture called Gospel the word seems to be general and to be given to the whole Scripture of the New Testament especially the four Evangelists which contains precepts and threats as well as promises and soâ—â— say that it 's all Gospel Min. Although the grace the blessing the restitution the glory is properly the glad tidings yet in a right and true sense all things concurring thereunto may be called Gospel viz. the holy precepts directing us in the way to obtain the glory and the threats of Judgment and damnation to those who reject or neglect it considered as designed to prevent the damnation and as a help to obtain the salvation viz. so far as it 's designed to work us from sin to Christ and a constant cleaving to him it 's Gospel and good tidings that being the Prime and proper end thereof viz. Salvation and not damnation but to deliver and preserve from it and mens destruction is and will be of themselves by wilful transgressing the good Laws of the Gospel which 〈◊〉 not the prime design of those Laws but salvation yet the penalties must be executed on the wilful transgression thereof It 's human good tidings when those in human poâ—er make good laws with strict and severe penalties for preservation of human society order and property among men their design in so doing is not punishment primarily but the peace preservation and safety of all if men wilfully transgress and come under the penalty the fault is in themselves and not in those good laws and so it is in the present case Hos 13. 9. Christ I desire you would speak something of the faith of the Gospel viz. what faith it is to which the salvation thereof with eternal glory is promised Min. True faith ever has been and still is to believe God and to cleave to him and obey him sutable to the ministration under which men have lived in all ages This was Abrahams faith Rom. 4. 3. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness Jam. 2. 22. this being Abrahams faith the father of the faithful the faith of his children must needs be the same So then to believe the truth of the doctrine of the Gospel in all its parts and to cleave to the Lord therein is the faith of the Gospel to which the life thereof is promised What the Gospel preacheth to us that we ought to believe and that is the faith thereof The doctrine of the Gospel consisteth especially in these particulars 1. That Jesus Christ is the Messias promised the Son of God and the son of man the son of David of the seed of Abraham according to the Scripture Luk. 1. 32. Joh. 20. 31. 2. That God in love to the World sent him Joh. 3. 16. and that he in love gave himself a sacrifice and ransom for the life of the world Joh. 6. 51. 1 Tim. 2. 6. 3. That by virtue of his death and resurrection all shall be raised and restored to a new life and world when he shall come again to raise and judge both the quick and dead 1 Cor. 15. 21 22. 2 Tim. 4. 1. at which time or times shall be the restitution of all things Act. 3. 21. the new and restored world to come in and over which with his saints shall be his eternal Kingdom and glory which will be the finishing of the Mystery spoken of by the holy Prophets and then the time of this world shall be no more Rev. 10. 6 7. with chap. 11. 15. 22. 5. 4. That those who believe and obey the Gospel of this his grace and glory shall be saved and
A Compendious DISCOURSE About some of the greatest matters of Christian Faith propounded and explained between a MINISTER and an enquiring CHRISTIAN designed for clearing the truths of the Gospel the honour of Christ and advantage of men And also may serve for an answer to two books one called The practical Discourse of the Sovereignty of God the other called The Death of Death by the Death of Christ written by J. O. Whereunto is annexed a very brief Appendix Written by T. Collier Gal. 〈…〉 To whom we gave place by subjection no not for an hour that the truth of the Gospel might 〈…〉 tinue with you 1 Tim. 6. 3. 4. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness he iâ— proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strife of words whereof cometh envie strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds destituâ—â— of the truth c. Zec. 8. 19 Therefore love the Truth and Peace London Printed by H. H. for Tho. Fabian at the Sign of the Bible in St. Paul's Church-Yard a Corner sho◠〈◊〉 Châ—â—â—â—â—dâ— 168â— The Authors desire and end in the ensuing Discourse GO forth my Muse take Wings and flee Speak plain and true that all may see For none can see without a light Nor can they see without some sight All have some sight within them so As to discern what light do shew And when discerned to make choice Of what is spoke by the Lights voice But without Light no man can see Nor can in Truth instructed be Most true it is that God is Light The Fountain clear in whom 't is bright And from that Fountain it doth shine In ways of his that are Divine The Eye within in the true sence Has had three Books to learn from thence The Works the Law the Gospel pure The Book of Life that shall endure To turn away from this clear Sun Is the right way to be undone This is the Light discoursed on And calleth for reception It calls aloud and cries to men Let it not be rejected then And if that some do thee traduce That thou returnest with abuse Be not afraid what e're do come Nor yet dismaid for any doom 'T is Gospel Light does in thee shine Therefore none can thee undermine Thy Dress is plain thy Language sharp 'T is that thou mayst speak to the heart If the good end design'd by thee Shall in some part effected be Which is the common good of men Let God have all the glory then And then again my heart shalt sing With joy the praise of Sion's King And this also thy work shall be And that unto Eternity The Epistle DEDICATORY To the Learned Doctors Masters and Students of the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and to all the Learned in the Nation Learned SIRS IT 's the saying of the Wise man Prov. 4. 5. Get wisdom get understanding forget it not v. 7. Wisdom is the principle thing therefore get wisdom with all thy gettings get understanding v. 8. Exalt her and she shall promote thee she shall bring thee to honor when thou dost embrace her and chap. 16. 16. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold And to understanding rather to be chosen than silver Then surely it is not wisdom to get gold and silver but that which is far above it Which will give to thine head not a Crown of gold and silver but an Ornament of grace a Crown of glory shall she deliver to thee They are the great things of Divine wisdom as revealed in the Scriptures of truth that I have been exercised about and of which it 's said 2 Tim. 3. 15. They are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus And therefore I have no reason to suppose you 'le count it strange or presumption that I present the Dedication of the ensuing discourse to your learned and serious consideration 'T is true it 's a plain English Christian Discourse yet the things discoursed on are the great and high things of God and the Gospel and therefore am not willing to doubt but you will readily grant are such things as concern your most scrious Studies Though with some their Studies may be much if not too much about things of a lower and terrene concern as indeed all things are beneath the glorious Gospel of the blessed God yet I doubt not the lawfulness of endeavours for attainments in human learning and that both as to the Languages â—â— Philosophy both in the rational natural and moral parts thereof though my self have little or none of either in its artificial parts Yet it 's radically in all rational men though it has been and is too much debauched and defaced in most by sensual lusts Your learned and Philosophical studies may tend to make you men of parts and of use among men in things of torrene concern if not abused and if kept subject in its place may prove no hindrance to you but a help in your Divine studies though I acknowledge not Philosophy to be the Mother of Theology as some say Gal. 4. 26. yet this I dare say that without rational Philosophy in its root we could not be rational men and then we could not be Christian men without a miracle indeed as some say it being to the rational understanding part in man that the Gospel comes and by which it 's understood and believed Learned Sirs Whatever ends you design in your studies it concerns you all to take in Theology and the glory of God as the chief and glory of all things of Gospel concern being of highest of best and eternal concern and this I am sure your learning simply considered in it self will not hinder but help you in while you keep humble and improve your acquired Talents for God The blessed Gospel of his grace by Jesus being very much suted to the rational capacities of men or else it were in vain to publish it unto them Though the Gospel in it self being the Ministration of Peace by Jesus properly relating to the general restitution new world new state and life with all its Ordinances of divine worship faith and holy life in order to preparing us for and obtaining of the glory and as so is above the reach of reason and all the human Philosophy in the world without the Divine revelation thereof Rom. 10. 14. 1 Cor. 1. 21. 2. 7 8. but being by the Gospel revealed and brought down and opened 〈◊〉 Rom. 10. 6 7 8 9. to those who believe the Scripture to be the Divine Revelation it 's rational as well as divine to believe God in his word and love and cleave to him therein which is the great and saving Faith of the Gospel though over and above our rational capacities He has of his own grace ordered the Gospel which is the Divine Revelation thereof to be
him but for their ill doing of it Isa 47. 6. 7. Amos. 1. 11. Ob. v. 10. to 15. Zec. 1. 15. 4. And after all and as an Effect of this continued Relation interest and pitty in and towards them he has made to them many great and precious promises of their return and Salvation in the times appointed and that to the very same sinning and Judged People the same that he owned loved and pittied when he Judged them for their sins and not only their seed or posterity that might be of them some Thousands of years after as has been Imagined but to the same People to whom the promises were made after he had recompensed them double for their sin Jer. 16. 16 17. 18. v. 14 15. is a promise of deliverance yea to all of them Ezek. 20. 40. For in mine Holy mountain in the mountain of the height of Israel saith the Lord shall the House of Israel all of them serve me ch 39. clears it so plain as may silence all Objections ch 36. 10. I will multiply men upon you all the House of Israel even all of it and ch 30 about this matter and that both as to the persons concerned and the time of Effecting thereof 1. The persons concerned and that is the same that fell by the Sword for their Iniquities v. 23. For their Iniquities so fell they all by the Sword v. 25. Now will I bring again the Captivity of Jacob and have mercy upon the whole House of Israel v. 26. After they have born their shame and all their Trespasses whereby they have Trespassed against me when they dwelt in their own Land and none made them afraid So that they are the very same People that sometimes dwelt safely in their own Land and for their sins were destroyed by the Sword and not their posterity only that never dwelt safely there that are here intended and this is remarkable that the promise is to the whole House of Israel not of Abraham nor of Isaac because Ishmael and Esau went out from thence but to the whole House of Israel whose whole posterity was under the Promise Gen. 26. 2 3 4. 2. And as for the time of this return and Salvation it shall be at and after the destruction of Gog. the last and great Enemy Ezek. 38 39 Chapters And of this Salvation we may see Amos 9. 3. Tho they be Sifted among all Nations yet not one Grain or stone shall be lost Hos 11. 10 11. Isa 43. 5 6 7. with many more which relates to this universal Salvation of Israel 5. And then it 's no marvel the Apostle saith Rom. 11. 26. That all Israel shall be saved Of which I have spoken in my Answer to Mr. Coxe ch 7. To which Salvation of all Israel not only all the Scriptures Mentioned agree but Isa 45. 17. Jer. 30. 10. c. Ezek. 37. 21 22 23. with many more to which Promises we may conclude the Apostle relates when he saith v. 27. This is my Covenant with them when I shall take away their sins this is the Covenant after they had born their Punishment for their sins Ezek. 16. 52 58. 37. 26. 6. This universal Salvation shall be after the Resurrection and Judgment is over or else it could not reach them all but it shall be when they are raised up and come all of them and in this the Scripture is as express as to the Salvation it self Isa 25. 8. The time when God will take away the rebuke of his People from off all the Earth is when he doth swallow up Death in victory Which words the Apostle applyeth to the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 54. Then shall he bring to pass that saying that is written Death is swallowed up in Victory Isa 26. 19 20 21. Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of Herbs and the Earth shall cast out the dead ch 49. 6. It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved or desolations of Israel And Ezek. 37. 10 11 14. and 39. 23 25. plainly declares the time thereof So Zech. 10. 9. They shall live with their Children and turn again So Hos 13. is 1. A discovery of their Sin and Judgment vers 2 to 9. 2. A promise of help vers 9 vers 10. I will be thy King c. But how can this be when he had destroyed them See the time when it should be vers 14. I will ransom them from the power of the Grave I will Redeem them from Death O Death I will be thy Plague O Grave I will be thy Destruction Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes Here is an absolute promise to those People of which God will not repent and this Scripture the Apostle applyeth to the Salvation of all Israel Rom. 11. 29. The gifts and callings of God are without Repentance viz. He will never repent of the Promises and Salvation made to those People and the same Apostle applyeth the same Scripture to the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 54. All which makes Ezek. 37. 10 to 14. plain unto us So that the time of this general Salvation of all Israel is plainly and fully stated in the word of Truth to be at and after the Resurrection and Judgment when the deliverer shall come from God out of Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob this is the Covenant with them when he shall take away their sins Rom. 11 26 27. 1. To them then shall be Repentance for sin Ezek. 16. 61. Then shalt thou remember thy ways and be ashamed vers 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame 20. 43. 36. 31. 2. To them then shall be purging and cleansing of sin Isa 1. 25. I will turn mine hand upon thee and purely purge away thy Dross and take away all thy sin ch 4. 4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughter of Sion and shall have purged the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment and by the Spirit of burning see ch 7. 9. Jer. 33. 8. Ezek. 36. 25 33. Joel 3. 21. Mal. 3. 2 3. 3. To them then shall be pardon of sin Isa 43. 25. I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins Jer. 31. 34. I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more and 33. 8. I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me See Mic. â— 19 20. 4. And in this way of Repentance Pardon and Purging will God be pacified towards them Ezek. 16. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame