tendencie are for all men Of this nature is that prayer of our Saviour Joh. 17. 9. he saith He doth not pray for the world that is directly and in the first place in these Petitions or for these Blessings to be conferred on them they being not capable subjects of them But for them that the Father had given him through the prevalency of the heavenly Call out of the world not that they might be taken out of the world but still a seed or generation of them preserved in the world and therein kept from the evill of it verse 15. And that they might be sanctified through the truth to peculiar service of him in the world as he had sent them into the world even as the Father sent him in respect of his Ministration to be the light of the world verse 17 18. with Joh. 9. 5 Mat. 5. 14. And this not onely for the first Apostles but also for all those that should after believe through their word that they may be one with him and his Father in their Design love and endeavour for the good of the world All this saith he vers 21. 23. he prayes for for them That the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them namely all such as through grace receive this word as thou hast loved me so that all these prayers in respect of their end and tendency were for all men And with this agrees Psal 67. God be mercifull to us and blesse us and cause the light of thy countenance to shine upon us That thy way may be known upon earth and thy saving health among all Nations The first verse we may take either as a prayer especially and more peculiarly for all the Israel of God but then for all of them not onely of the Jewes but of the Gentiles also even all such as in his calling are perswaded to come to him to receive him according to the manifestations afforded them to know the grace of God in truth in every Nation for such there are even children of the Kingdome as good seed sown all over the world And then compared with the next verse it instructs that peculiar and special particular blessings as before protections in and preservations from the evill of the world sanctification and furniture through his truth according to the manifestations given them the light of his countenance shining upon them in more abundant opening his glorious grace as appearing in or through his Son unto them And in and with all this his mercifull pardoning and passing by their iniquities that otherwise might keep these good things from them they being of a higher nature and deeper dye than other mens sinner That these things are to be desired and prayed for onely for the Israel of God to be directly conferred upon them according to their needs and capacities But to this end these prayers are to be prayed for them that in Gods gracious answering and so by them as they are by Gods providence sent to or scattered among all Nations His way may be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations to the end that all men even all the people may praise him Or Secondly we may take the first verse as a Prayer generally for all Israel after the flesh for the whole Nation as a Nation to whom God had made known his Word his Statutes and Judgements as he had not done to other Nations and upon whom his Name was called that by them it might be proclamed and known to other Nations a Prayer for such peculiar National blessings protections and Salvations among other Nations and more abundant manifesting himselfe amongst them as a people called by his Name but then in such a sense it was a prayer peculiarly and only for that Nation so Numb 6. 23 24 c. The blessing where-with the whole House of Israel was to be blessed and so compared with the next verse it instructs us That peculiar or special general or National blessings such as by which among other Nations they may be known as a People whom God hath respect unto for his Name-sake are to be prayed for for such Nations as upon which the name of God in Christ is called that have his Word Ordinances and hold the profession and acknowledgement of him though too generally not in truth nor in righteousnesse and so to be more abundantly and especially desired for upon such as on whom his Name is more abundantly or more rightly called but to this end they are so to be prayed for and blessed in his Name that so by means of or through them His way may be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations to the end that al the people may praise him And such is that prayer of Solomon 1 King 8. 59 60. which is much of the end and summe of all the former Petitions that he may maintaine the cause of his Servant and of his people Israel at all times That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else which is that which being known by all or any of the ends of the earth wil move them to look to him and be saved Isa 45. 22. so that even these prayers for peculiar Nationall blessings though directly only for those Nations on whom his name is called as wel as also those fore-mentioned prayers for peculiar particular and personal blessings though directly only for the Saints and Servants of God in the world yet and upon a like account the one and the other are prayers made for all men for as much as one maine and last end of the things desired and of the desiring of them is for the good of all men even for their best good Of this nature are those prayers for all Saints exhorted to Eph. 6. 18 19. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints and for me that utterance may be given me to what end that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mysterie of the Gospel which is equivalent with this 1 Tim. 2. 7 8. Paul being appointed and furnished a Herauld or Cryer of this Message to the Gentiles he wils therefore that men pray every where namely that he and others with and after him may be ever furnished to preserved and blessed in this service for the good of all those Gentiles amongst whom they are sent And that this is the first sort of Prayers and first sense in which prayers are to bee made for all men that is meant in this text also appears by the scope of the text as fore-considered 2 Those prayers that are made directly against them in their evil purposes and wayes against his Name his Gospel and people or against some particular persons and whole Nations of them in such their evil enterprises are yet for them in respect of their end
themselves selves and their wayes and bethink themselves of the Grace they had sinned against that so they might not abide in their unbelief and therefore the Apostle knowing the cordialnesse of God herein being one with him in his designe did strive if by any means he might provoke them to emulation that he might be an instrument of saving some of them verse 14. His hearts desire and prayer to God for whole Israel now in part rejected being that they might be saved Chap. 10. 1. So that prayer against the heathen Psal 79. 6. breathed forth also by Jer. Chap. 10. 25. That God would poure out his wrath upon them c. namely in their Rebellious enterprizes and lifting up themselves against his name and people For they saith the Text in both places have devoured Jacob and made him desolate yet the first end and tendencie of these prayers so directly against them in their evill wayes were for their good considering that as we aforeshewed in Psal 67. for Israel to be preserved among the heathen and defended from their rage and malice seeing it was to this end That by them his way might be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations was of all mercies the most conducing to their good Therefore in the posture they were in there could be no better prayer for the generality of them than for God to poure out his wrath upon them in revenging the bloud of his servants and so blasting and breaking their enterprizes that his people might yet be preserved amongst them though in these judgements many of the heathen might be suddenly destroyed and snatched away yet even those might receive admonition and reproof from God who doubtlesse was not wanting in giving it in due time while it might be for their good even while his judgements were on them to the destroying them from the earth if they had not so long provoked him before by their rebellions that he had wholly rejected them And however the snatching away some in their stubbornnesse and rebellion so as Gods hand might be seen in it for his names sake was much conducing and therefore oft used by God as a gracious instrument to the general admonition and good of all the surviving enemies as Luke 13. 1-6 That they might see and fear and do no more so wickedly lest they also perish in like manner Therefore also is this prayer of David in the following verses delivered in such termes See Psal 79. 10. equivalent with Psal 83. 16 17. Let God be known among the heathen in our sight by revenging c. and so the first and direct end of these prayers verse 13. is that his people and the sheep of his pasture may give him thanks and praise him to all generations which is for this cause that the Gentiles may glorifie God for his mercy and come in and laud him with them compare herewith Rom. 15. 8 9 10. with Psal 67. So that even these prayers in respect of their end and tendencie were for the heathen against whom directly they were made And in such manner are these prayers to be made for all men But 2 There are also Intreaties Supplications and Intercessions to be made more directly for all men even for mercies favours and good things to be conferred on them according to their needs and capacities And such as may conduce to the great Design of God and his people for their good and those such as may be more directly and properly signified by Intercessions Prayers are to be made for all men for Gods gracious extension of such pardon of their iniquities in which they ill requite rebell and sin against the grace of God bringing salvation to them all in the means forementioned and so in all mercies and chastisements that judgements tending to their utter cutting off may yet be kept off through the mediation of Christ and for his sake that it may not be speedily executed but liberty occasion and opportunity yet put in their hands to enjoy the mercies of God that may lead them to repentance and to repent and turn to him as we have noted before Stephen at his last breathing kneeled down and cryed with a loud voice Father forgive them or do not lay this sin to their charge to execute judgement speedily but give them time yet againe to repent that in repenting they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance So the Apostle generally instructs us If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death he shall pray and God shall give give him life such pardon of the sin to the sinner as that judgement be not executed he not be cut off but breathing-time afforded that he might repent and in owning his sin as grace discovers and reproves in repenting and turning to him he shall give him life in a further sense the cleansing of the conscience and healing of the nature peace with God through our Lord Jesus and hope of the glory to be revealed neither are prayers to be made for them otherwise or on other termes and if we pray according to his will we know he heareth us But on those termes according to mens need and capacity and as the Gospel instructeth we are to be instant in prayer not to cease to pray for them Though God having many times in such cases even when judgements have been prepared for them graciously delivered them and not stirred up all his wrath against them and in such a sense forgiven their iniquity as Psal 78. 38. not laid it yet to their charge that they might turne to him and be healed yet they are sinning still to provoke him to anger and hardening their hearts against his goodnesse that leadeth them to repentance yet still prayers are to be made for them and with so much the more earnestnesse while it may be in due time God yet giving opportunity not having utterly separated them That forbearance may yet be granted That God may yet wait to be gracious and not yet cut them up for their unthankfulnesse and unfruitfulnesse as in that Parable Luke 13. 6-9 our Saviours example instructeth us and also in his praying for those that added that to all their former iniquities of abusing the former servants they crucified him that was the Heir Yet Father forgive them and by his Spirit leading Stephen after they had added yet more iniquity to iniquity still to intercede for pardon and so he instructeth us To pray for them that persecute us Blesse them that curse us in such manner and for such things as in which we may be one in Gods Design and render our selves like him who graciously through the Mediation of his Son extends such forgivenesse and longsuffering and to such ends That he still causeth his Sunne to shine and his Rain to fall and therein is really pitifull and kind to the unthankfull and evill witnessing his goodnesse to lead them to repentance Matth. 5. 45 46. Luke 6. 35
c. Chap. 4. 1. 5. To keep it without spot unrebukeable unto the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6. 13 14. And to that purpose To charge some that they did teach no other Doctrine nor give heed to fables c. And to abide or stay long at Ephesus for the doing this That so such charges might be insinuated and charged home not by rash and hasty censures and restraints by a compulsive Law as the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them Mat. 20. 25. 28. and 23. 8. 11. But by holding forth the faithful word amongst them and that with long-suffering and doctrine as hath been taught and going before others therein in all things shewing himselfe a patterne c. as 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 5. and 2. 24 25. Tit. 1. 9 11. and 2. 1. 7. The Apostle having I say committed this Commandement and charge to Timothy Chap. 1. 3 4 15 18. That according to the Prophesies that went before on him and by that furniture of Instruction Gifts and Grace conferred on him he might war a good warfare holding faith and a good conscience c. this service to which he was furnished and appointed being weighty and that it might be blessed and succesful He doth therefore in these two verses that we have read exhort that first of All in the first place alwayes and in order of nature as the first thing in and unto All his service not onely himselfe but All his Brethren with him that have their faces Sion-ward whose hearts joyne in the promoting and furtherance of such service should have their eye or heart directed unto God for Accommodation Preservation Blessing in and unto such service as he appoints them too Even as the eyes of a servant are to the hand of his master and of a maid to the hand of her mistresse Psal 123. 1 2. And that this is the occasion end and scope of this exhortation appears not onely by considering the word therefore as it hath relation to the latter end of the foregoing Chapter but also by comparing herewith the 7. and 8. verses of this Chapter which also clearly shew the word Therefore in the first verse to have relation especially and directly to the 18. and the beginning of the 19 verses of the first Chapter In that 7. and 8. verses of this second Chapter the Apostle declaring his owne Ordination Appointment and Furniture to be one of the prime Apostles and Teachers of the Gentiles in the faith and verity of the Testimony of God concerning Christ mentioned in the 4 5 and 6. verses as now come forth and committed to them he Therefore on this occasion and to the end his ministration may be blessed profitable and succesfull doth will or desire that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting So here having commit ted this Commandement and Charge unto Timothy as one of those secondary Ministers who having beleeved and been reconciled and received the word of reconciliation in believing by Jesus Christ and mediately through their word as Joh. 17. 20. with 2 Cor. 5. 17 18 19 20. were to carry on the same work holding fast the platform of sound Doctrine which they had received from them and so building upon and according to the foundation of Doctrine as laid by them who as wise master-builders had laid the foundation 2 Tim. 1. 13 14. Tit. 1. 11. 15. 1 Cor. 3. 10. He exhorts that first of all prayers be made c. And in this exhortation to the making Prayers and Thanksgivings thus occasioned and to this end he exhorts that the said Prayers and Thanksgivings be made for All men Now in That the Apostle in such an exhortation to Prayers and Thanksgivings thus occasioned and to such an end That the servants of Christ in the Gospel might war a good warfare c. as foreshewed doth exhort That Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for All men It doth fully imply and signifie to us this note of Instruction That the service or warfare not onely of the first Apostles but that also to which Timothy and so the succeeding secondary Ministers in the Gospel of Christ are furnished and appointed It was and is to be exercised Amongst and for the good of All men indefinitely and generally where ever by Gods providence they are set Like as John the forerunner of Christ was sent for a witness to beare witness of the light That all men through him that light witnessed by him might beleeve Joh. 1. 7. And our Saviour himselfe in his owne personal Ministration while he was in the world was so the light of the world Joh. 9. 5. Though in respect of that his personal Ministration he was primely sent to the lost or scattered sheep of the house of Israel Mat. 15. 24. and yet to All of them Act. 3. 26. And therefore limited his Disciples Commission while he was on earth Mat. 10. 6. yet he was therefore a Minister of the Circumcision not onely therein to confirme the promises of God made to the Fathers but also that thereby the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written For this cause I will confesse to thee among the Gentiles or Heathen I will sing unto thy name Againe he saith Rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people and land him all ye Nations Rom. 15. 8 9 10 11. So those his first Apostles or Messengers were by him sent into the world as the Father sent him in respect of his Mission for Ministration of the Gospel Joh. 17. 18. And after his Resurrection as his Ambassadors their Commission was enlarged by him on the Account of his owne as to the extent of his Ministration or plaine preaching the peace he had made being enlarged by the Father Mat. 28. 18 19. They were to goe into All the world and preach the Gospel to every creature To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable Riches of Christ in such manner as before it had not been named to which they were immediately furnished and commissionated and to make All men see c. Mark 16. 15. with Eph. 3. 8 9. and Rom. 15. 15 21. And this grace and Apostleship they received for obedience to the Faith among all Nations for his name Rom. 1. 5. And therefore according to the Commandement of the everlasting God they were to make known the mystery as so revealed and that out of the Scriptures of the former Prophets unto them All that they might beleeve Rom. 16. 25 26. And that they might make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which had been hid from generations past As they were to baptize the Nations with their word or doctrine as the first and maine part of the work to which they were sent 1 Cor. 1. 17. sprinkling or dropping that on them as Isa 52. 15. Deut. 32. 1 2 3. with Rom. 15. 21. So also together there with as an outward seale of the
7. The second general Instruction we shall propound is no other but that which is fully exprest and lyes whole in the first verse as considered in it self and with relation to the occasion foreshewed namely That in pursuance of this great Design for the good of all men and that to that purpose The believers ministration may be blessed and successeful among them First of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are to be made for all men For proof of this Proposition in these termes I need adde no more it is so plain in the words considering the occasion of them yet it is again confirmed in the 7. and 8. verses Paul being appointed an Herauld or Cryer to the Gentiles in faith and verity of the testimony of God concerning Christ he wills therefore seeing he is appointed to such service amongst them and for their good that men may pray every where ever more in every place in all cases yea for All men as is signified in the following words without wrath or doubting which signifies that many of those for whom prayers are to be made that the warfare of the servants of Christ may be blessed and profitable to them are such as against whom they shall have occasion of wrath and concerning whom occasion or cause of doubting if they consider them according to outward appearance yet even for such the worst sorts and so All men unto and amongst whom they are sent Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made to this end that they may war a good warfare amongst them And therefore the Apostles giving up themselves wholly to the service of Christ in the Gospel of his Son were said to give themselves continually in the first place to Prayer and so there withall to the Ministry of the word Act. 6. 4. But for more distinct opening and usefulnesse of this Proposition Consider 1 Who are the All men for whom Prayers and Thanksgiving are to be made 2 Who are those men by whom they are to be made 3 What are those Supplications Prayers and Intercessions that are to be made for all men 4 What those Thanksgivings that are to be joyned with Prayers and made for all men 5 What foundation we have or upon what account and ground we are exhorted to make Supplications Prayers c. for all men 1 Who are the all men here meant in the Text for whom Prayers c. are to be made let the Text speak They are all those men whom God would have saved and come to the knowledge of the truth verse 4. That good will in God towards them being rendred as the ground of praying for them plainly shews they are all to be prayed for towards whom there is such good will in God and who they are see and compare these Scriptures Tit. 2. 11. The grace of God brings salvation to all men 2 Pet. 3. 9. He would not that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Eze. 33. 11. with Ch. 18. 31. He hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked of such wicked men as do dye but that they should turn and live For God sent not his Son into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Joh. 3. 17. even such as by rejecting when they hear do bring upon themselves everlasting condemnation verse 19. with Chap. 12. 47 48. They are all those whose nature Jesus Christ took and for whom therein he gave himself a ransome and between whom and the Father he is the Mediator that he might be testified in due time which are as the following verses say Men as opposed to God which signifies the whole species or kind of that creature man none excepted but the Mediator who is of both God and man All other of the whole kind every one of that nature as Heb. 2. 9. and 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. And so other Scriptures plentifully tell us He hath redeemed ransomed or bought all men even those that deny the Lord that bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction by so denying him 2 Pet. 3. 2. And doth make Intercession for the Transgressors even for such Transgressors and that a long time as afterward for their wilfull unprofitableness and rebellion he justly leaves to be cut off for ever Isa 53. 12. Luke 13. 6. 9. as for those that crucified him he prayed Father forgive him Luke 23. 33. 34. Do not yet lay sin to their charge so as to execute Judgement speedily on them but grant forbearance yet unto them and further means for admonishing them to repentance and his prayer was heard for them and they were spared that time that had a hand in that and had speciall means used by the Apostles to instruct and admonish them to repentance for the blessing them in turning every one of them from all his iniquities Act. 3. 19 25. even those very persons that afterwards persecuting the Apostles and rejecting the Gospel as preached by them also filled up the measure of their sin till wrath came upon them to the uttermost 1 Thess 2. 14 15 16. see particularly in the case of Judas our Saviour affirms his body was given to be broken and offered for him his bloud shed for him even then it was virtually done and accepted for him as one of the rest of mankind the works being virtually finished before the actuall accomplishment of them Luke 22. 19 20 21. giving the Bread and the Cup to his Disciples and to them all there present and speaking to them he saith This is my body which is given for you This is my blood which is shed for you But behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table But behold c. as if he should say notwithstanding this forementioned is true for you all and I have thus declared it to you and given you this as a witnesse and seal of the truth of it which still makes the sin so much the the greater yet even one of you will betray me neither did our Savior in this or by any fore-purpose necessitate Judas or willingly give him over or leave him to this sin to betray his Master but here evidently as oft before did faithfully timely admonish him while it might have been for his good even for the preventing him in the accomplishment of his wicked enterprise and that that was the first end and intention of it towards him appears by considering the next verse with Matth. 26. 24 25. and the whole current of Scripture as to this point nor did God stand in need of his help with the destruction of his soul to bring to passe his enterprise he could have brought that about some other way if Judas had received his Masters warning as God desired and indeed this warning of our Saviour to Judas in both the parts thereof is of like nature with that Psal 68. 18 19-21 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast
set and preserved in the world The glory of God in the good of all men p. 11 Motives thereto to be considered by them are 1 Their engagement they are debtors to all men p. 13 2 The love of God in Christ to all men p. 14 3 The many examples of Gods servants before p. 15 4 The recompence of Reward both present and eternal p. 17 2 From the first and general part of the Exhortation as considered in it self and with relation to the occasion fore-shewed This Instruction That in pursuance of that great Designe for the good of all men and that to that purpose Beleevers ministration may be blessed and succesful among them First of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thanks are to be made for all men p. 18 For more distinct opening this 1 Who are the All men for whom Prayers and Thanks-giving are to be made All mankind every of them in an acceptable time p. 19 c. 2 Who those are by whom such Prayers c. are to be made In answer to which That all men every where as natural men considered have an effectual door opened and liberty afforded and are invited to seek the Lord while he may be found and call on him while he is near But that it is especially required of Beleevers who are therefore furnished to it to make Prayers and Thanks-givings for themselves and others even for all men And of them That men as opposed to women pray every where women being not permitted as the mouth of the rest to speak in every place not in publick and mixt Assemblies p 26 c. 3 What those Supplications Prayers and Intercessions are which are to be made for all men That is first shewed according to the signification of the several termes p. 31 And then by ranking them under two general heads 1 The petitioning of good things in the behalf of them all that are not directly for them all or for blessings to be conferred on them all But for them in respect of their end and tendency for the good of all p. 32 And of these first Those prayers for peculiar blessings to be conferred on Beleovers in the World according to their capacity to furnish them for the good of others yea for peculiar National blessings on those Nations on which his name is called And that also for the good of other Nations p. 33 2. Those prayers that are directly against many particular persons and Nations as walking in their evill purposes and wayes viz. for the blasting and confusion of them therein Yet those in respect of their end and tendency are generally for the good of all men yea particularly for the good of all those persons or Nations against whom they are made while yet they are not wholly reprobated p. 36 2 The Intreating Supplicating or making Intercession directly for them or for mercies and good things to be conferred on them according to their needs and capacities p. 40 4 What are those Thanks-givings joyned with Prayers to be made for all men There first t is shewed That all manner of right prayer is joyned with Thanks-giving and then that explicated to be a commemoration and thankful acknowledgement of Gods goodnesse in what he hath already done for the giving us ground and encouragement to ask for those things we want And this such as in which Gods goodnesse and glory is magnified and not our own p. 42 This shewed distinctly in several sorts or occasions of Thanksgivings suitable to several prayers or petitions to be made for several persons which yet are all after some considerations for all men and do all meet in the root of them and spring from one and the same foundation The plentious redemption wrought in Christ for all men and the love of God to manward in and through him p. 46 5 The ground or account upon which Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made for all men That shewed to be the truth and verity of that which is the bottome-cause and occasion of giving thanks to God in the Name of Christ for all men And that first by a brief opening the following verses to the Text. p 50 And then by propounding these particular Instructions from the consideration of those verses 1 That Jesus Christ by the will and appointment of the Father hath given himself and is accepted a ransome for all men so as therein he hath redeemed them in and by himself from the curse of the Law being made a curse for them and obtained and received into himself for them that in coming in to him any of them might enjoy it a perfect restoration of all their losse yea eternal redemption and life p. 53 2 That he is by vertue thereof become a standing and powerful Mediator between God and men p. 61 3 That by vertue of his Ransome accepted and by means of his mediation continually made for them he is of the Father to them a testimony in due time 1. In affording to all as they come to capacity and need of it opportunity space and means to repentance p. 66 2 In sending forth his good Spirit in the supernatural light and power of it in and with those mercies and means to bring the light and understanding of his goodnesse to the heart and thereby to reprove their evils and turn them to God p. 69 And that in all this God is light and in him is no darknesse at all p. 75 3 From the last and particular part of the Exhortation as considered in it self comparing the second with the first verse and with relation to the occasion and end of the Exhortation foreshewed Thence this Instruction That in pursuance of that great Design for the good of all men and particularly as mainly tending to the furtherance of the same That Believers may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made as in general for all men so particularly for Kings and for all that are in Authority This opened in these branches 1 That it tends very much to the good of all men That Beleevers lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty among them And in this first branch 1 What it is to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty p. 78 And therein what is godlinesse and how the beleever to be exercised therein p. 79 And what is honesty in the beleever and how he to lead his life therein p. 83 And how these two answer to those two great Commands of the Law Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. and thy Neighbour as thy self and are found in those two great Commands of the Gospel To beleeve on the Name of him whom God hath sent and love one another as he hath given us Commandement p. 87 And then what is that quiet and peaceable life which the grace of God instructs the beleever to lead
doth spare any time in this naturall life such vessels of wrath as are wholly fitted and given over to destruction though sometimes some he may for wise and holy ends as Rom. 9. 22. yet it is generally true The forbearance of the Lord is salvation and it is better to be A living Dog than a dead Lion Secondly The beginnings or first comings forth of his judgements of that nature have alwayes a merciful tendency to warne and admonish to jealousie of themselves and turning to him that so the full coming forth of them may be prevented Hos 5. 15. Amos 4. 12. Rom. 11. 11. And further to instruct us to this see the frame of spirit found in those holy men of God that well knew his mind when God bad Moses let him alone that his wrath might waxe hot against that people to consume them yet he besought the Lord again for them and the Lord was intreated of him and repented of the evill he thought to do unto them Exod. 32. 9 10 11 14. So in those instances in Jeremy after he was forbidden to pray for the people Chap. 7. 16. yet see how he makes supplication for them Chap. 10. 23 24. yea after he is forbidden again Chap. 11. 14. yet see with what earnestnesse and affection he makes his prayer again for them Chap. 14. 7 8 9. yea God himselfe after he had forbidden him the third time Chap. 14. 11. yet instructs him to teach them to humble themselves before him and acknowledge their iniquity and turne to the Lord in the latter end of that Chapter with whom they might finde mercy and healing of their backslidings in turning according to the movings and leadings of his grace as Chap. 3. 12. 14. 22. Though persisting in their stubbornnesse his minde could not be turned towards them Chap. 15. 1 2. Prayers then are to be made for all men in a time when God may be found as is shewed We come secondly to consider by whom they are to be made this is not expresly answered or spoken to in this verse but in verse 8. it is which gives us occasion here to consider it And it is there answered in an indefinite and generall terme That men pray every where And that may be understood First either with relation to the foregoing verse for the understanding the word Men There Paul tells us he was appointed a Herauld or Cryer a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity and here he wills therefore that men every where pray c. And so by men we may understand all men every where even among the Gentiles to whom he was sent as Act. 17. 30. God now by his Gospel commandeth all men every where to repent Yea to seek the Lord verse 27. So here Paul proclaims liberty and therefore also admonisheth and calls upon them all and every where to make prayers to God by Jesus Christ to seek him while he may be found and call upon him while he is neer as Isa 55. 6. That so they receive not this grace of God in sending the Gospel among them in vain as 2 Cor. 6. 1 2. Or secondly it may be understood with relation to the following verses for understanding the word Men. In those following verses 9 10. He addes this exhortation to the women also that they demean themselves as women professing godlinesse and not onely amongst or towards all men but also in the Church or Generall Assemblies of Beleevers of which he signifies they were whom he so requireth or exhorteth Understand men in the 8. verse equivalently and as opposed to women verse 9. And then it is all men indefinitly and generally unto whom these instructions and exhortations were primely and especially dedicated to prepare instruct and furnish them to seek the good of others that is men professing godlinesse the whole Church the Assemblies or Fellowships of Beleevers they all and every one of them men and women are to joyn together in both Prayers and Prophesyings for the good of all But in the publick Assemblies of them together in one place that men only speak as the mouth of the whole in presenting Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanksgivings for all men as well as in crying or proclaiming Gospel to them or teaching them in such general Assemblies verse 10 11. with 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. yet women also are to be teachers of good things to others especially the aged women and that as their greatest ornament Tit. 2. 3 4. yea they may and it s commendable in them not onely joyne with men but be fellow-helpers and labourers with them in the Gospel in both instructing and helping forward with their prayers for the good of all men and that with and among even in some private Societies and meetings of their brethren though not every where as may be seen in comparing Phil. 4. 3. with Act. 1. 13 14. However then they are of the number by whom Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks are to be made for all men though not by them as the mouth of the rest in every place not in such general or publick Assemblies where the Church or whole Congregation is met together in any one place yet they with the rest as before and so all Beleevers not Timothy or some prime ones amongst them only but all indefinitely and together yea one and other of them that have knowne and beleeved the great love of God in Christ to manward are especially required and called upon to pray for others even for all men and according to this two-fold reading of vers 8. this we shal finde plentifully in other Scriptures That all men every where and in all Ages have an effectual doore opened for their liberty or allowance afforded them and are exhorted and called upon to seek and pray unto God and that more especially now since the full coming forth of the Gospel in the name of Christ but that it is especially required and expected of Beleevers who only are and are therefore furnished with knowledge and tasts of his graciousnesse to manward the love of Christ instructing and constraining them to make their prayers unto God in the name of Christ for others also even for all men To the first part of this Proposition see Act. 17. 27 with Isa 55. 1-4-6 7. God furnishes with all the mercies of this natural life that men in and by them might be led to seek him c. and by his Gospel more strongly obligeth and calleth them with the Declaration of his Sonne by whom the way is made for them and who is given for a witnesse to the people to seek the Lord while he may be found to call upon him while he is near even such as are walking in their wicked wayes harbouring their unrighteous thoughts labouring for that which is not Bread are there graciously invited and admonished thereto upon such good ground so equivalent to this that men pray every where without wrath
and furnished yee that are the Lords remembrancers give him not rest pray without ceasing aske him concerning the workes of his hands even all the ends of the earth and instruct and invite them also whosoever will to look to him with you and be saved to seek him in a time of finding assuring them that his House his dwelling-place in his Sonne and with his people is a House of Prayer for all people and God shal make you and them together joyful therein and for your further instruction and direction herein minde wel that which followes 3 What are those Supplications Prayers and Intercessions that are to be made for all men we may say in some sense and after divers considerations All manner of prayers and supplications are to be made for all men according to the signification of the severall expressions or termes in which we are instructed to it Supplications Prayers and Intercessions though also the severall termes doe signifie the same things and are oft put one for another and oft put together and the same expressions doubled for more vehement urging the matter exhorted to as Ephes 5. 18. yet there may also be considered some distinct signification in the termes for directing us what and in what manner prayers are to be made for all men and so first by Supplications and Prayers may be signified generally all those petitions for good things for them or in the behalfe of them that may tend to their greatest good and those to be made with humility and being abased before him in the sight and acknowledgement of our owne vilenesse and the sinfulnesse and iniquity of our selves and others for whom good things are desired and yet with earnestnesse and boldnesse in review and acknowledgement of Gods great goodnesse and readinesse to pardon and doe us good and especially such humble and earnest petitioning of good things for them or in the behalfe of them as are in order of Nature to be the first things in our prayers for them and distinct from and before those signified distinctly by Intercessions which properly and distinctly note to us an appearing as a Third or middle Person for an offending Person to the party offended and so direct us unto prayers or entreaties to be made not onely in their behalfe and for good things for them but also more directly for some present favour sparing or mercy in pardoning Iniquity or reversing judgement that might tend to their destruction or cutting off to be at present conferred on them according to their needs and capacities The need of which Intercessions or stepping in between God and men and for the obtaining forbearance and mercies of that nature directly for them or to them is occasioned by their abuse of the goodnesse of God in answering the forementioned Supplications and Prayers in providing so well and doing things for them about them and in behalfe of them that had such reall tendencie to their good for some more particular opening these distinct sorts of praying and the manner of their being for all men we may put them into these two heads First The petitioning of good things in the behalfe of them that are not directly for them or for mercies and blessings to be conferred on them but for them in respect of their end or tendencie Secondly The intreating supplicating or making intercession directly for them and for mercies and good things to be given to them or conferred on them according to their needs and capacities 1 The petitioning of good things in the behalfe of them that in respect of their end and tendency may be for the good of them that yet are not directly for them or for blessings to be personally conferred on them that prayers of this sort may be called prayers made for them because the end and tendencie of the things desired are for the good of them and so also the doing those things desired are as testimonies of respect and love towards them is like to that language of the Scripture where Gods giving to Solomon great furniture of Wisdome and Blessing and strengthning him to the building an house to his name is called Great things done for David his servant and for Israel his people 1 King 8. 66. And when Pauls sufferings are said to be for them by whom or for whom they were not directly occasioned Col. 1. 24. for they had never seen his face in the flesh Col. 2. 1. because the end and tendencie of his Ministration which occasioned his sufferings and so the issue and fruit of them was for their good and where the great works God did directly for his people Israel and to them in gathering them out of the lands and preserving and delivering them out of their distresses in the Wildernesse and leading them to a City of habitation is called Gods great goodnesse and wonderful works towards or for the children of men in general because the end and tendencie of his blessing and causing the light of his countenance to shine upon them herein was for the good of other people and Nations That his way might be known upon earth and his saving health among all Nations Psal 107. 2. 8. with 67 1-3 and so also all the Gentiles have cause to glorifie God for his great goodnesse towards them and wonderfull works for them in sending Jesus Christ a Minister of the Circumcision to confirm the promises of God made unto the Fathers Rom. 15. 8 9 10. So those Supplications and Prayers for good things or for things that may have a good end and tendencie towards them may be truly said to be for them in respect of that their end and tendencie though not directly or in the first place for them or for blessings to be given to or conferred on them Such are First Those Prayers that are directly made for others that live among them and yet are distinguished from the generality of all men even all Saints that are not of the world but a people chosen out of the world for their peculiar blessing sanctifying and furniture to and in all their service of Christ and suffering for him in the world which are such blessings as they onely are capable of The end of these things desired directly for them according to their capacity being for the preserving and furnishing them to do good to others That they may shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life Phil. 2. 15 16. That men seeing their good works may glorifie their Father Mat. 5. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 12. These prayers are in the sense first mentioned for all men Though the things directly petitioned for are not desired so for them as to be conferred upon them they being not yet capable subjects thereof Yet for as much as one main and great end of their being desired to be conferred on the Saints as they are capable of receiving them is for the good of others these prayers I say in respect of their end and
and tendencie even for those against whom directly they are made and for the good of all men generally such prayers as in which Gods Judgements to the blasting of them and confounding them in their evil wayes his breaking and crossing them therein his wrath or the testimonies of his displeasure to be testified against them are earnestly desired are yet in respect of their end and tendency for their good and the good of all for as much as the end of the Judgements and breakings desired against them and so consequently of such desires of them is the sealing home admonition and instruction to them that they may bee ashamed and turne from the evils reproved and that others also may by Gods Judgements on them and crossing of them learne to beware of such evils Of this nature those prayers and heavie imprecations against the Families of Edom in the first place Moab Ishmael c. and against all that joyned with them in their consultations against his people Psal 83. Doe to them as to the Midianites as to Jabin and Sisera Persecute them with thy Tempests make them afraid with thy Storme fill their faces with shame ver 16. that they even those very people while thy hand is lifted up and thy Judgements on them and the survivors of them in all the opportunities given them may seek thy name O Lord Let them be confounded and troubled for evâ—r yea let them be put to shame and perish that is in their consultations and enterprises against his people mentioned in the former part of the Psalm to what end are these sad imprecations that men they and all others in whose sight Gods Judgements are may know that thou whose name alone is Jehovah art the most high over all the earth compare 1 King 8. 60. with Joh. 17. 21-23 that so the inhabitants of the world may learne righteousnesse when his Judgements are upon the earth yet that the particular Persons Families or Nations on whom his hand is lifted up may see and pour out their Prayer when his chastening is upon them according to the desire and expectation of God whence it is a note stil of greater wickednesse if they wil not doe so Isa 26. 8 9-11-16 Doubtlesse if we diligently consider and compare that Psal 83. as also compared with the Scriptures fore-cited with Rom. 9. 13. and that with Mal. 1. 2 3 4 5. and Obadiah and Ezek. 35. 36. 1-7 where the execution of those Judgements desired against them in their evil purposes and wayes in that 83 Psalme is denounced and threatned in Ezek. Obadi and declared as done in Mal. 1. Rom. 9. we shal see clearly that that hatred testified against the whole Family of Esau or Edom in such their evil wayes in respect of the first end and tendency of it in either the imprecations or executions of it was not tending to their eternal destruction though to their perishing for ever in those enterprises and that there might be none remaining of that Family or Kingdome in that state and posture in which they had some power and opportunity for accomplishing their enterprises as Psal 83. 17. with Ezek. 35. 9. Obad. 18. Mal. 1. 4. But on the other hand that they and the residue of the Heathen might be ashamed and seek the Lord c. compare Psal 83. 16-18 with Ezek. 35. 9-12 36. 7. And to the same end also after God had thus testified his displeasure and executed his hatred against them in their evil wayes he so raised up Saviours on Mount Sion sent Ambassadours with termes of Peace by the Gospel as coming from Christ exalted to Edom and all the Heathen that now they might be judged in righteousnesse according to that Gospel by which therefore he first admonished them all and in every place to repentance Obad. 21. with Act. 17 30 31. and therefore did he raise up the tabernacles of David in the Dispensation of Christ in and by his Apostles that they might possâ—sse the remnant of Edom that before-hated people and of all the other Heathen Nations against whom those imprecations and Judgements Psal 83. Ezek. 35. 36. upon whom by the grace of the Gospel his name is called and out of whom a people gathered and preserved or set amongst them for his Name that the residue of men even all the Gentiles might seek the Lord. Compare Amos 9. 11 12. with Act. 15. 14 15 16 17. Likewise those more grievous imprecations prayers for and threatning of Judgements of a higher and worse nature upon the house of Israel the beloved people as considered in their evil purposes and wayes against the more plentiful meanes and grace afforded them that were executed in the beginnings of them in and at the time of the Babylonian Captivity and more fully when their sinne was grown ful in the rejecting of the Gospel in and at the time of the destruction of their place and Nation by the Romans which was prayed for and threatned against them they persisting in and going on farther to contract and commit those iniquities against which they were denounced Psal 69. 22 23 24 25. Isa 6. 9-11 13. 29. 10. In which God is said for their great ungodlinesse as before concerning Edom so in these Judgements on his peculiar people to hate his heritage Jer. 12. 8. to abhor the excellency of Jacob and hate his Palaces Amos 6. 8. concerning this the Apostle propounds the question Rom. 11. 11. telling us That now the generality of that people or Nation before so peculiarly loved even all that were not chosen and pulled out from having fellowship with the rest in that rejection of Christ at so high a rate through the grace of God proclaimed and extended unto them all to that purpose they even all the residue were now given up to that fearful blindnesse and Judgement according to those Prophesies and to those Prayers or Imprecations of David fore-cited to which he alludes his Question concerning them upon this Declaration is Have they stumbled hath God given them over to this in part for it was not yet in full as vers 25. then indeed there wil be no remedy but hath God done this even in these beginnings of Judgements of Reprobation and that accotding to those imprecations in David hath God done it to this end and so consequently was this the first end or intention of David in making such intercession against Israel that they should fall Did God intend in these beginnings of such fearefull Judgements or did David intend in praying for them or therein desire their eternal and everlasting destruction by them And in answer to this question he saith God forbid farre be it from us to entertaine such a thought but on the other hand God hath suffered them in part to fall and through their fall occasioned the bringing Salvation to the Gentiles the end of both is to provoke them to jealousie to admonish them to be jealous of
36. Act. 14. 17. Rom. 2. 4. These considerations of what the prayers are and in what manner all prayers are to be made for all men may afford us some direction in our prayers to pray as we ought which the holy Spirit teacheth as he doth all other things by opening the Testimony of Jesus and shewing the things of him Rom. 8. 26. with Joh. 16. 13 14. As therein he presents us with good ground and foundation of Prayer as we shall after shew so thereby he instructeth us what to pray for and in what manner for all men and how to pray as we ought for every man in teaching us to pray according to his will as declared in that declaration of his name in his Son for such things as the Father hath appointed him to give unto men by vertue of his Sacrifice and Mediation to each according to his need and capacity and so as according to the wisdome of God may be for his good and so we are here directed not to pray for those peculiar blessings which men become capable and meet subjects to partake of onely in beleeving and comming to Christ as Col. 1. 9-13 1 Pet. 2. 3 4. such as sanctifying and furniture to and blessing in the ministration of the Gospel and the like for any that is yet in the state fellowship and way of the world and so of it yet to pray for these things for all Saints that the world may be the better for them as to the best good Job 17. 9-21 23. neither may we pray for Gods prospering any man in his evill way or for special National protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to any people or Nation openly set in opposition to him or to any people that are called by his name and especially if for his names sake called upon them But we are to suffer the grace of God to teach and lead us as it certainly will to pray against their evill works and inventions and so against them as abiding in the said wayes and for special protections ownings and salvations to be afforded to that people or Nation upon whom his name is called or that do more rightly worship and acknowledge him and that for his names sake and both these intentionally for the good not only of those people for whom the prayers are directly made but of their enemies also and so of all men Our Saviours Admonition and Instruction to his Disciples when upon some peoples unthankfulnesse and not receiving him they would have prayed for fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did may here seasonably be considered by us Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of for the Son of man came not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9. 55 56. And therefore also Though we are not nor is it according to his will to pray for forgivenesse peace and joy in a full and proper sense to be given to any man abiding in his evill way or in his natural state and condition yet we may and are taught by his grace to pray for such pardon forbearance and renewing of goodnesse to be conferred on them and in due time as may give them opportunity and have tendency and efficacy in it to lead them to repentance That so they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance with those that are sanctified by saith that is in Christ And so the end of all prayers for all men is that they might be saved We come next to consider Fourthly What are those thanksgivings joyned with prayers to be made for all men This the Scripture plentifully sets before us That al manner of right prayer is joyned with Thanksgiving Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God So Psal 50. 14 15. and 95. 2. Come into his presence with Thanksgiving offer sacrifice of Thanksgiving and call upon him Yea all men are invited so to do Now what this Thanksgiving is that is so inseparably joyned with all right praying we shall also finde in those Scriptures that speak to this matter that it is such a commemoration and thankful acknowledgement of and blessing God for his great love and mercy testified in what he hath already done for us as in which Gods goodnesse is only commended and glorified and not ours with it as in that of the Pharisee God I thank thee that I am not c. Luk. 18. 11. and that so as in the minding and consideration thereof we have incouragement presented to expect and pray in faith for those further streamings forth of mercy and good things according to our needs and capacity which through the knowledge of his name we are lead to desire and ask accordingly to his wil. So our Savior teacheth us in that doctrine of Prayer Mat. 6. 9. to acknowledge and commemorate the honor and praise due to his name for what he hath done in and by his Son in the forefront of all the Petitions we ask of him that therein we may glorifie him and yeeld him the praise of his grace who also for his names sake meeteth with him that rejoyceth in acknowledging it Though to us belong nothing but shame that therein also we may be minded of that which may inlarge and draw out our hearts with encouragement in God though abasement in our selves further to pray according to his will And so the holy Spirit for the helping of our infirmities teaching us how to pray as we ought as he takes of the things of Jesus and sheweth as is shewed before so therein he glorifies him in and according to the Gospel minding us what cause of Thanksgiving we have to God continually by and in the name of Jesus Christ and how that serves for our instruction and encouragement further to pray see examples and instructions to this And first in those Thanksgivings that are joyned with Prayers made for all Saints and for such peculiar blessings to be conferred on them as of which they only are capable subjects though in respect of their end and tendencie these are also for all men as afore is shewed In all these Thanksgivings there is not only an acknowledgement of that true in Christ for men as the bottom cause of all thanksgivings and of the great love goodnesse of God to manward as manifested therein but with this there is alwayes an acknowledgement and commemoration of Gods great goodnesse in those special streamings forth of the issues and verâ—ues of that Redemption and grace of God in Christ to manward which they have met with and through his grace have had efficacie in them to the saving them and making them meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints in those peculiar blessings desired and prayed for for them See our Saviours Prayer Joh. 17. 7 8. Now they have known saith he that all things what soever thou hast given me are of
thee for I have given them the words thou gavest me and they have known surely that I came out from thee I pray for them saith he namely that the peculiar blessings of which they through the prevalency of the grace of God are made capable subjects may be conferred on them I pray not namely this Prayer these Petitions and in this manner for the world for whom yet he was sent a Saviour 1 Joh. 4. 14. and that not to condemn them but that through him they might be saved He doth not make this Prayer and in this manner for all for whom he dyed and gave himselfe a ransome nor for any of them until by the prevalency of the grace of God upon them they be given him out of the world and so there is that as a peculiar matter of thanksgiving also to be made for them So Col. 1. 8-12 Since the day saith the Apostle that we heard of your love in the Spirit wee cease not to pray that yee might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding c. Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance which knowing we make our requests for the conferring of such peculiar blessings as therein you are made capable subjects of with joy as Phil. 1. 3 4-9 10. 1 Thes 2. 4 5. This gives us occasion to consider as the ground and reason of it that it was not the end or intention of God in sending his Son into the world the Saviour of the world appointing him by the grace of God to tast Death for every man and exalting him by vertue of his sufferings a Prince and a Saviour nor is it his mind or wil according to which all Prayers are to be made that having done that in and by his Son for them his Son should therefore necessarily give eternal Life to all of them for whom he dyed and is become such a Saviour or to any of them in their particulars while remaining in their Natural state and condition but only to those that through grace according to the discoveries of him vouchsafed beleeve in him 'T is true he was made sin for us that we might bee made the righteousness of God in him not that all for whom he was made sin must necessarily be thereupon made the righteousness of God but that they might be made so in and through him and so those only of all for whom he was made sin that by faith of the opperation of God come in to him are therein and so in him to be made the righteousness of God 2 Cor. 5. 21. our Saviour therefore as the reason of his praying in such manner Joh. 17. namely for such peculiar blessings to be conferred only on such persons as for whom there was such peculiar matter of Thanksgiving to be made as before he first layes down this Doctrin ver 2. That the Father hath given him power over all flesh not only over all Creatures for administation of the Government of God amongst men Mat. 28. 18. but also over all Mankind as a Prince and Saviour for them That he should give eternal Life he saith not to all Flesh or to all Men who are given to him and committed to his dispose and judgement by vertue of his sufferings but to as many as the Father hath given him where the Fathers giving is evidently to be understood in a sense peculiar and distinct from that sense of his giving after which it is said That in giving him power over all flesh or committing the whole dispose and judgement of all men to him as Joh. 5. 22. he hath therein given and delivered over all men even all the ends of the earth and all things into his hands as his proper inheritance by vertue of his sufferings Psal 2. 6. 8. Maâ— 11. 27. Joh. 13. 3. with Phil. 2. 8 9-11 and that also in respect of the first end towards All not to condemn but to save the world of Mankinde and that through him they might be saved and brought back to God The Fathers giving all men to him in this sense and to this end as the first end towards All is evidently signified in the first part of the verse The Father hath given him power over all flesh as is seen by comparing it with other Scriptures therefore seeing he distinguisheth from these some persons that the Father hath given him he must needs mean in a peculiar sense of giving so as all given him and into his dispose by vertue of his suffering for them that through him they might be saved yet are not so given him even a giving by an actual Election or choyse out from the residue of all Flesh into his special charge and protection and so explicated ver 9. with Joh. 15. 19. Given him out of the world of which sometime they were but now are actually chosen out of it redeemed from among men in respect of their condition way fellowship c. through the prevailing force of the grace of God in Christ to Man-ward discerned and believed by them It is the will of the Father concerning Christ and the ends and vertues of his coming down from heaven and now being invested with all power That he should give eternal life to such according to that Joh. 6. 39. 40. It is the will of him that sent him that he might be impowred to accomplish which he first came down from heaven That of all that he hath given him not out of others Joh. 17. 2. 9. but in a general and large sense without distinguishing or opposing them to other things or persons All whatsoever the Father hath given him he should lose nothing but raise it up at the last day Now when he speaks in such a ful sense without limitation or distinguishing from opposing to other things or other senses of giving we can by no means exclude any thing that is in any sense given him according to the Apostles reasoning Heb. 2. 8. with 1 Cor. 15. 27. Now all persons and things being given and delivered to him as we shewed before It s the Fathers will he should lose nothing but in the issue bring all to him Raising it up at the last day The Glory Kingdome Dominion though now men detract much of it from him and by reason of sin the creature is yet subject to the bondage of corruption yet it shall all arrive at him and be shall raise it up at the last day when every knee shall bow of things in heaven and things in earth and every tongue confesse c. And so neither shall he lose any of those persons redeemed by him though many of them lose and bring destruction upon themselves by denying him that bought them yet they shall not be lost to him But he shall raise them up at the last day and bring them to his judgement seat as verse 37. All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me even such as now will not come to him that they might have life though graciously drawn by the Father as vers 35 36. Them will he bring to be slain for ever before his face because they would not that he should reign over them who is their lawfull Lord and unto whom they were all given that through him they might have been saved But then it follows as another part of the Fathers will concerning him That whosoever seeth the Son and believeth in him or as v. 37. he that cometh to him speaking in the present tense for as the same verse saith All shall come either here or hereafter but he that now in this day of Gods grace and patience cometh in the Fathers drawings which answers the Fathers giving to Christ Joh. 17. 2. or at least is that in which they are made capable subjects of such giving It is the will of the Father concerning Christ that he should give unto such eternal life For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son the Saviour of it 1 Joh. 4. 14. That whosoever of the world so loved by him and to whom love is so testified in and through the Son doth through this grace beleeve in him implying that all so loved by him do not so answer his love again that they should not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. And this is the reason that such prayers for the peculiar blessings of eternal life to be conferred on persons are only to be prayed for for those on the behalf of whom there is also such peculiar matter of Thanksgivings to be made And such and of like nature are those Thanksgivings to be joyned with prayers of the first sort as already mentioned and is to be seen in the Scriptures quoted and although in them there be many things acknowledged and commemorated to Gods glory and for our encouragement to pray those prayers unto him which are peculiar priviledges of the Saints for whom such further things are directly desired as they only are capable of yet for as much as those peculiar mercies acknowledged as well as those desired are in respect of their end and tendency for the good of all men as we see in that example of our Saviour Joh. 17. 18 21 23. and those of like nature Psal 4. 1 2. c. 56. 9-13 116. 16-18 even these Thanksgivings also in a like sense as the prayers of this sort forementioned may be truly said to be made for all men According to that of our Saviour Joh. 11. 41 42. Father I thanke thee that thou hast heard me And I know that thou hearest me alwayes but because of the people that stand by I said it That they may believe that thou hast sent me Therefore his praise is of him in the great Congregation because of Gods furnishing and upholding and hearing him for their good Psal 22. 22 25. And for this cause he will confesse to him among the Gentiles and sing unto his name Again he saith Rejoyce yee Gentiles with his people and laud him all ye Nations Rom. 15. 8 9 10. there also is further to be considered That the bottome matter of all Thanksgivings the foundation and root of all those things for which thanks is to be given to the Father by Jesus Christ That from which all the other springs is nothing else but that which is true in Christ for all men namely Gods so loving the world as not to spare his only begotten Son But to deliver him to death for us all That he by the grace of God should taste of death for every man and give himselfe a ransome for All A Testimony in due time This being true and cordially done and the ends and vertues of this with the Father is the only cause and reason That with him in and through him he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse Rom. 8. 32. with 2 Pet. 1. 1 3. So as whosoever believeth in him and so receiveth and closeth with him in the knowledge and faith of what he hath done and is become for all men and the love of God in him to Man-ward doth therein receive and is made capable of further receiving that eternall life in him by faith of it in him for them and with him to be given them and so in a first fruits of spirituall enjoyment Joh. 3. 16. and 1. 12. 1 Joh. 5. 11 12. Rom. 5. 6-11 Therefore this is made the bottome matter of all the Thanksgiving and acknowledgement as being the foundation root and cause of all the rest Col. 1. 14. In whom we have redemption through his bloud even the forgivenesse of sins So Eph. 1. 7. Psal 130. yea this the bottome of the rejoycing song to Eternity Thou wast slain and out of the bowels and vertues of this and of the love of God to Man-ward and that was so to us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses through Christ Jesus it issued And in the discoveries and presentation of this was effected That they were redeemed from among men c. Rev. 5. 9. with 1 Pet. 1. 18. Eph. 2. 4 5 8. Joh. 3. 16. Tit. 3. 4 5. And for this namely That done and perfect in Christ and that cordially to this end That the other might be done in them as 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 21. And the furniture and faithfulnesse of Christ in the name of the Father for being a testimony to men in due time affording means and therein inlightning reproving teaching according to mens needs and capacity for the bringing them back to God All men have cause to praise the Lord for his goodnesse and for his wonderfull works to the children of men And if they will not yet let the Redeemed of the Lord whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy do it for themselves and them Psal 107. 1 2 8 15 16. c. For he hath broken the Gates of brasse in peeces and cut the Bars of Iron asunder slaine the enmity in himselfe that was between God and mankind that he might reconcile man to God Eph. 2. 16. So that There is great Thanksgiving to be made directly for all men to the glory and praise of God and the incouragement of his people to pray in faith for those good things in their behalf and for the good of them and for good things to be directly bestowed on them according to their needs and capacities that may tend to the furtherance of the great Designe of God for the good of all men And that not onely for the great love of God in the gift of his Son and the redemption wrought in him for them But also for all those mercies and accommodations of the naturall life means leading to repentance and forbearance hitherto extended and his good Spirit accompanying the same inlightning reproving c. And all to bring men to God That they might seek him and live as
Job 33. 29 30. Rom. 2. 2. 4. Act. 17. 27. And such is that great acknowledgement and Thanksgiving to God by Jesus Christ or in the name of Jesus Psal 68. 18 19 20. Thou hast ascended on high namely the Lord Jesus Eph. 4. 8. He who first descended into the lower parts of the earth Thou hast lead Captivity captive destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devill That he might deliver those who through fear of Death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14. And received gifts in the man and for men as we may take it in both readings even for the Rebellious yea for such as persisting in their Rebellions against this grace of God That brings salvation to all men denying him that bought them Do after bring upon themselves swift destruction as appears by comparing these 18. and 19. verses with verse 21. yet for them the present and first end of his working Redemption destroying Satans works and receiving gifts in himself for them is That now they might dwell with the Lord and so that misery and destruction which they after bring on themselves might in time be prevented to them And therefore it follows farther in the Thanksgiving or acknowledgement of what God hath further done to that end and of that as issuing out of the bowels of the former and being nothing else but a streaming forth of the ends and vertues thereof Blessed be the Lord God in Christ That now on the account of his having ascended and received gifts daily loadeth us The God of our salvations Selah He that is thus our God and a God of such salvations to us in and through his Son he is the God of salvation in a more generall latitude The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe And therefore we are instructed to give thanks alwayes and for all things in the name of Jesus Christ Eph. 5. 20. yea the Apostle exhorting us to follow that which is good both among our selves and towards all men directs us in pursuance hereof to Rejoyce evermore to pray without ceasing and in every thing give thanks For this saith he is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 1 Thess 5. 15 16-18 And so here in pursuance of the great Design forementioned To pray with Thanksgiving for all men There is not a man to be prayed for for whom there is not Thanksgiving to be made to God in his behalf and that in the name of Christ nor any thing to be prayed for for any man for our encouragement to which we have not somthing suitable in and by Christ for and towards that man to give thanks for And this leads us to consider Fifthly The ground or account upon which Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made for all men And that is no other but the truth and verity of that which we have already mentioned as the bottome cause and occasion of Thanksgiving which we have to God in and by Christ for them See for this the following verses as joyned with this first and so the word therefore verse 1. though as it refers to the end of the exhortation and thing exhorted to it points to the foregoing Chapter as we have seen yet as it hath reference to the ground of the exhortation or things exhorted to so it leads us to the following verses for finding out and understanding it as will appear by considering them I exhort therefore that Prayers and Thanksgivings be made for all men c. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth For one God or God is one as Gal. 3. 20. And there is one Mediator between God and men The Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a Ransome for All a Testimony or to be testified in due time whereunto I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity I will therefore that men pray every where c. The ground of praying for all men is here cleerly rendred by the Apostle To be The verity and certainty of the love and good will of God to Manward to all men as manifested in that great Witnesse and Testimony thereof in that done in and by Christ for them As it is a general ground and rule of all right prayer that is according to his will 1 Joh. 5. 14. For our better understanding this and how it gives good ground of Prayers and Thanksgivings to be made for all men and that without wrath or doubting Let us take a briefe view of the words See verse 4. God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth Some understand this as a Declaration of Gods absolute will concerning Christ and what should certainly be accomplished by him First That he should save all men with such salvation as foreruns the knowledge of the truth yea in respect of the greatest work of it such as foreruns their being called to it as 2 Tim. 1. 9. He hath saved us and called us That is first Work salvation in himself for them and so save or recover the whole nature in himself as the publick Person And secondly that in the Administration of Gods Government by vertue of what he hath done and is perfect in him for them he should save them and so they should be preserved by him as they came to have beings given and continued here to the comfortable enjoyment of the naturall life the mercies and accommodations thereof and so from perishing in or under the shadows of the first Death Thirdly That he should procure and extend forbearance of sins committed against the light and grace of Redemption and fruits thereof save or keep from Judgements that being speedily executed might cut off for ever That so they may yet enjoy him a Testimony in due time to them And so he is the Saviour of All men according to the will of his Father concerning him And Secondly That he should bring them all to the knowledge of the truth either now in this day while it might be to their everlasting comfort or else hereafter if here they wilfully reject till they be rejected of him when it will be to their everlasting terror Isa 45. 23. Phil 2. 8 9. with Psal 2. 5 6 c. And so the will of God concerning what he was to do that men might be saved affording good and large ground to pray for them and the terror appearing in that which shal after be accomplished to their wo if now his grace be rejected affording motive to presse to earnestness in praying and beseeching both them and God for them while it is an accepted time Now all these instructions arising from such a reading of the words are true and suitable to those which appear fully in the following words But here this verse seems more
and is an accepted ransome for all And that by vertue of this he is become a standing Mediator between God and men appearing in the presence of God for them And by means of both these that he is in the name and majesty of the Father a testimony in due time to them onely here let me adde In all this and this is the summing up of the message God is light and in him is no darkness at all he is perfectly one and the same according to this manifestation of his good will that men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth in and through the Mediator There is not two divided and contrary wills in God one revealed and another secret he is one in his will as well as in his Essence and in all his holy and glorious Attributes and that one will of God is a good perfect and acceptable will for men to know Rom. 12. 2. and revealed that it may be understood Eph. 5. 17. Therefore they shall be beaten that did not know it according to the manifestations given them because though of themselves they could not yet by his grace bringing salvation to all men they might have known it Luke 12. 48. Tit. 2. 11. And though there be many distinct things in that will of God as John 6. 39 40. see the opening of that before in the Explication of the Thanksgivings to be joyned with Prayers made for all men yet no clashings or contradictions for if his Kingdom be divided against it self it cannot stand according to our Saviours Argument And therefore though many things in it not before so revealed as now they are Deut. 29. 29. with Eph. 3. 3 9. By the appearing of Christ who hath brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 10. and many things not yet so revealed as they shall be at the second appearing of Christ 1 John 3. 2. yet there is nothing in those Revelations we have contrary to those before but more full Declarations and openings of that life that was from the beginning and of the love of God to manward as appearing in the face of Christ 1 John 1. 1 5. Rom. 16. 25 26. with Acts 26. 22. And so neither is there any thing not revealed contrary to that which is already revealed but the truth and goodness of that as revealed shall more fully and brightly be manifested for God is one and there is one Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all men a Testimony in due time These things considered afford plentiful ground to make Prayers and Thanksgivings for all men 1. For the end of all Prayers for them that Gods way may be known upon Earth and his saving health among all Nations that mens eyes might be opened to see it that so they might be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God c. that they might be saved there is good ground for Prayers to be made with Thanksgivings to this end For first There is certainly and truth in the grace of God to manward as manifested in and through Christ and secondly That is and is to be manifested to all men by one means or other and in due time so as and to that end that it might be known that through him they might be saved God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth Men not believing this must needs pray such Prayers doubtingly 2. For those particulars of forgiveness or forbearance of sins and renewed patience and goodness to be extended so as may conduce to the great end of all Prayers for them good ground to make our Prayers with Thansgiving and without wrath and doubting for Jesus Christ by vertue of his ransome given for all is the great Mediator between God and them that he may be testified in due time The Apostle wills therefore that men pray everywhere and that therein Supplication Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all men It follows For Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty We shall hence note a third general Instruction which is fully contained in this verse as compared with the former and with the occasion of the exhortation before shewed and in the opening of which we may meet with the understanding and usefulness of what is set before us in this part of the Apostles exhortation and instruction Namely 3. That in pursuance of this great designe for the good of all men and more particularly as mainly tending to the furtherance of the same that believers may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Prayers and Thanksgivings are to be made as in general for all men so particularly for Kings and for all that are in Authority We shall open it in these branches 1. That it tends very much to the good of all men that believers lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty among them 2. That therefore God likes it well and requires it that those whom he sets in Authority or eminent place places of Government should all of them have a special eye at this that his people that worship him and would live quietly in the land that they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty under their protection and Government 3. We shall consider what those things are in general that will tend to this and which are required of Governours that believers may lead such a life 4. What that is that will especially furnish them to these things and so is especially to be desired for them 1. That it tends very much to the good of all men that believers lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty among them We shall here 1. Consider what it is to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty 2. See how this tends so much to the good of all men to be desired by us 1. For the first what it is to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Note That it is not every or any kinde of leading the life quietly or peaceably that is commendable in the believer and will be profitable unto others but the leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty like that Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord holiness and so here godliness and honesty is the main thing to be pursued and in which the believer is alwayes to continue and be exercised and holding fast and exercising himself therein he is to follow peace with all men to study to be quiet as much as is possible to live peaceably with all men Rom. 12. 17 18. He is not to wave swerve nor shrink from his continuance in and exercise
shall have good cause to say Let us abide here for this is our rest to which we were called by the Gospel yea and we shall be ever together with the Lord. Such I say is the excellency in the things themselves as well as also there is every way so much suitable instruction to instruct us and give us reason to the matter of the exhortation of which we may not here particularly treat that the consideration thereof may and will frame us to willingness to wait till then patiently for our sitting down and for the accomplishment of the Prophesies and Promises as to the reward of all our service and suffering for him yea not to part with that hope for any fancy or shadow or whatever we are capable of enjoying in this day Therefore comfort one another with these words saith this Apostle 1 Thess 4. 14 17. and here by these things he thus earnestly admonisheth and beseecheth them as before and for further instruction about it as well as especially to give us a reason why he so earnestly beseecheth them he further saith Let no man deceive you by any means for there shall be a great falling away first and the man of sin revealed c. as if he should say as our Saviour doth Therefore I so earnestly admonish you to take heed that no man by any means deceive you because the latter dayes will be so perilous through the abounding of the mystery of iniquity under high forms and pretences of godliness that verily there will many be deceived by them yea such will be the tribulations of divers sorts though that the most eminent trying and dangerous that if those evil dayes which will be by most pretending godliness accounted glorious dayes should not be shortened no flesh could be saved but for the elects sake they shall and this understanding of the latter instruction as a reason of the Apostles earnestness in pressing the admonition as aforesaid is suitable not onely to that of our Saviour forementioned but likewise to other Scriptures which to mention the sum of many do therefore exhort and beseech us with much earnestness to redeem the time and improve all present opportunities and advantages for being well furnished with wisdom in the knowledge of him and so with the Armour of God on the right hand and on the left to be therefore sober and vigilant and watch unto prayer because the dayes are evil and like to be perilous still as they grow nigher the end in temptations tending to the deceiving and corrupting the believer from the simplicity that is in Jesus and patient waiting for his coming and because Satans rage is greater as his time waxeth shorther Eph. 5. 14 16 18. and 6. 10 16. 1 Pet. 5. 8. with Rev. 12. 12. 2 Tim. 3. and 4. 2 Pet. 1. 12 16. and 2 1 2. If any do think that we have not a great or the greatest part of that defection or the overspreading of the spirit of Antichrist the mystery of iniquity there especially spoken of yet behinde though it doth now already begin to reveal it self and not onely secretly to work as then yet in respect of the more full revelation of him and overspreading of abomination by him even to the further making desolate the holy place as before in his body or grosser part to the desolating the outward Court as among us Gentiles to be more abundantly and fully verified If any I say to this do think or say Not so I could be glad to say Amen if I could finde it suitable to the instructions and fore-warnings of the Gospel however we may pray the Lord in mercy to cut short those dayes for methinks the beginnings of them begin shrewdly to make desolate what will be the issue especially if Christ ans will not minde timely admonitions but put far away the evil day certainly these warnings are given that we may take heed that no man deceive us And were the premises considered as it would be profitable to all Christians so particularly to Christian Magistrates for their help and direction in observing the forementioned counsels in every part of them for were not the heart haughty or the eyes lofty lifted up and transported with the apprehensions and desires of setting Christ on his Throne which is a thing done already by the Father or of laying the whole administration of Government upon his shoulders which is a thing they are wholly uncapable of neither is it required of them or like things they would then be contented and better qualified to exercise themselves in things within their compass and might do many things for the good of the Nation and People under their Authority which either they slight and neglect as things too mean or too much beneath their spirits and apprehensions as to the work they aim at and propose to themselves or else they do refuse whatever appearance of legality and justice might be in it because it seems to cross or clash against such their apprehensions and proposals to themselves of what they have to do I shall say no more to this nor to this point In which we have shewed what those things are in general that being equally observed and done by those in Authority will tend much to the believers enlargement and futherance in leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty 4. We come now to the fourth and last consideration What that is that will especially furnish them to these things and so is especially to be desired for them and that is wisdom in the knowledge of God in Christ as declared in the Gospel as now come forth to us to have the heart well seasoned with the believing apprehension and tastes of the sweetness of the infinite graciousness of God to man-ward as revealed in the face of Christ bringing salvation to all men according to the manifestation and capacity afforded us This is that one thing of absolute necessity to us all without which our souls cannot be good or reconciled to God Prov. 19. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 22. nor can we rightly worship God or serve him acceptably and profitably in our generation Wherefore let us hold fast grace Heb. 12. 28. whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Hence the Apostle to Titus exhorting all believers and in the last place servants to minde as the main end of their whole conversation The adorning the doctrine of our God and Saviour in all things he propounds to them to be diligently heeded for their instruction and direction hereto The grace of God that brings salvation to all men as it hath now appeared teaching us more fully and plainly then ever in any former appearance which is suitable to that Heb. 12. 17 18 22 25 28. that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present wâ—orld looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the mighty God our Saviour
or doubting the Psalmist invites all the people to trust in him at all times and with trust or confidence to pour out their hearts before him and that on this account God is a refuge for us Psal 62. 8. suitable to which is that acknowledgement and magnifying the riches of Gods grace thorow the plenteousnesse of the redemption with him Psal 65. 2. O God that hearest prayer to thee shall all flesh come and those invitations and admonitions Psal 65. 1-6 96. 7 8. 100. and that Jam. 1. 5. If any man lack wisdome let him ask it of God who giveth liberally to all men and upbraideth none yea let him aske in faith according as the goodnesse of God manifested moveth and encourageth him and if he bee in darknesse and see no light yet let him look come unto the name of God as declared in his Son Let him come without mony and price and seek unto God for those waters the Lord will hear them the God of Israel will not for sake them but will open rivers in dry places and fountaines in the desarts Isa 41. 17 18. 50. 10. 55. 1 True it is The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord by how much the more he cometh with a wicked minde Prov. 15. 8. 21. 27. 28. 9. But this is not to put a barre against wicked and sinfull men that they should not seek the Lord or call upon him as they are exhorted Isa 55. 6 7. but to instruct and direct them and all others to seek him indeed and with the whole heart not feignedly for even righteous men may offer the sacrifices of the wicked and then shal not be therein heard and it is for their good they are not If I saith David regard iniquity in my heart the Lord wil not heare me Psa 66. 18. Every one that sets up the Idol of his iniquity in his heart and puts the stumbling-block of it before his face sets that in his eye and designe to reserve his owne purpose and makes that the end of his prayer the Lord will set his face against him for they seek not him but themselves Ezek. 14. 3. 7. Isa 58. Zech. 7. 5 6 7. They refuse to heare the Law or receive his instruction or reproofe hide their evil deeds from the light and yet for a pretence seek him and are zealous in multiplying sacrifices as Prov. 28. 9. Zech. 7. 5-7 and on the other hand sinfuland evil men through his goodnesse in mercies or chastisements may be humbled before him and heartily seek help and mercy of him shal be therein accepted as Ahab 1 King 21. 29. This is generally true Every one that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened let that grace of God therefore that bringeth Salvation to all men move encourage and provoke every man to seek the Lord while he may be found c Look unto me and be yee saved all the ends of the earth To the second part of the Proposition and so for more direct answer to the query Who those are by whom especially prayers are to be made for others even for all men of whom it is required and expected they are all those that by faith in Jesus Christ have such enjoyment and usefulnesse of him as their Advocate with the Father If any man sinne we have an Advocate wee that have beleeved is him have through faith such usefulnesse of him with the Father as to present and make out and manage our matters we have through his grace according to his will to present to him for others as wel as for our selves even for any man therefore if any of us that have beleeved on the name of the Son of God for so we have good reason to understand the word any man 1 Joh. 5. 16. from the fore-going Verses where he is speaking of Beleevers seeking and confidence of acceptance and from thence here encourageth them all and so any of them to ask it is not as 1 Joh. 2. 1 2. where any man and the whole world is evidently opposed to us and we as 1 Joh. 5. 19. but here the word Any man is only joyned with or added to us and we in such a case or businesse as in which the same is affirmed concerning the us or we fore-mentioned and in the same manner here only he enlargeth his instruction and exhortation to every particular of them If any man of you that thorow grace beleeve and are therein Spiritualized to discerne other men and things in their right colours see his Brother or any man with whom we live as all men are our Brethren after some considerations sinne a sinne that is not unto death he shall aske and God shal give him life they that through the tasts of his graciousnesse come to him are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ are therein being built on him made a company of Spiritual Priests to offer up Spiritual sacrifices even for others acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 3. Therefore the Lord speaking unto Abimelech concerning Abraham tels him He is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live Gen. 20. 7. The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5. 16. The prayer of the upright is his delight Prov. 15. 8. T is comely for them to have their hearts desire and prayer to God for all men in an acceptable time and that without ceasing and therefore also especially required and expected of them because they are acquainted with the good will of God concerning men as manifested in Christ shewing them good reason ground and foundation for it from thence moving and constraining them to it Of them to whom much is given shall much be required Let me then say to such Seeing yee are appointed and furnished to such excellent service with God for the good of others and it is of so continual and general concernment Be ye clean yee that beare the vessels of the Lord touch not the uncleane thing suffer the grace of God to separate you more and more from the pollutions intanglements and snares of this world and to instruct and lead you to deny your selves and take heed also of being unequally yoaked Beleevers with unbeleevers such as with whom you cannot have fellowship together in drawing on this maine designe or who being joyned with you may pull you back and tend to the streightning of you 2 Cor. 6 13 14. and that you dwel and walk together and one towards another and towards all according to knowledge as the understanding of the grace of God in Christ as declared in the Gospel instructeth you that so you be not streightened in your owne bowels nor your prayers hindred Isa 52. 10 11. with 2 Cor. 6. 12-16 1 Pet. 3. 7. And further let me adde according to the instructions of the grace of God continue instant in prayer seeing yee are thereunto appointed