efficacie in Christs blood for thee to comfort pacifie and save thy soul then for others that are damned That which a flords real comfort and peace is distinguishing grace and love and I pray you what distinguishing grace is there to one more then another according to the doctrine of Universal Grace and Redemption What peace joy comfort What ground of assurance can a poor soul draw from this Doctrine Herein I shall appeal to a wounded spirit a broken heart that will with meekness hearken to good counsel but as for such as go on in a way of pride and carnal presumption as I cannot but pity them so I shall not wonder though they scoff at the Doctrine of special and effectual grace and redemption special grace will not be prized by men that are full of self confidence but by the self denying soul Lastly The vigorous promoting this doctrine of universal redemption in City Country Army is a ready way to reconcile us to Rome oh what an introduction it makes what an inlet it opens to the worst of popish opinions as conditional elections See Eph. 1.4 5 9 11. 2 Tim. 1 9 Rom 9.11 1 Cor 2.14 Eph 2.1 Phil 2.13 Eph 1.18 19 Ioh 5.25 Rom 8.7 Iohn 7.44 45. Ioh 3.6 Rom 5.12 14 Psal 5.5 that somthing in the creature or done by the creature in time is the cause or condition of Gods decree in predestination That the natural man hath free will and power of himself without spiritual grace to believe in Christ to eternal life if the word of faith be morally propounded to him in the external ministry That there is no such thing as original sin and that all infants dying in infancy are saved not only the infants of believers but of Jews Turks Heathens Atheists How inconsistent this is with Antipaedo-baptisme I shall not now dispute but I suppose the most sober and rational of that judgement will easily apprehend that these two cannot hang together namely that all infants are in a covenant of grace and in a state of salvation and yet that the outward visible seale belongs not to them This opinion of universal redemption is accompanyed with that sad black See Rom 8 38 39 Ier 31.3 Ioh 13.1 Heb 8 12 Iohn 10 27 1 Iohn 5 12 1 Ioh 3 9 dismal and uncomfortable doctrine that a man may finally apostatise and fall away from a state of grace and salvation he may be a true believer a member of Christ in a state of grace and justification to day and yet a limbe of Satan and in a state of wrath and condemnation to morrow Oh how sad and uncomfortable is this to a poor soul what sad discouragements an dispondencies of spirit may this expose a broken heart unto Hence also it is that the Scriptures are debased and vilified For if Christ as mediator be savingly revealed in and by the inanimal creatures the Sun Moon Stars and fruitful seasons as one of the ablest and most daring of that way publikely affirmed in a dispute in London Mr John Goodwin in a dispute with Mr Sym now printed Is not this a ready way to render the glorious word of the Gospel contemptible and may it not well harden the Jews Turkes and Heathens and keep them off from hearing the Gospel preached to tell them that Christ dyed for every man and that salvation through Christ is revealed by Sun Moon and Stars though they have not the written words Here is a doctrine indeed that will please the papist well and therefore we need not wonder that the late innovators a As Dr Laud Mountag Cozens Pockling Heyling did contend so furiously for universal redemption freewill apostacy from grace and other points of Arminianisme and that they preserred such as incline thereunto discountenancing the most faithful and Orthodox ministers of the contrary judgement for they knew that these points would be as so many fit expedients to bring us over and reconcile us to the papacy But as this doctrine was promoted and propagated by formall superstitious men who were enemies to the power and spirit and life of godliness and the preachers and professors thereof so it was much opposed and the contrary asserted by the most reverend ministers of Christ * Preston Sibbs Bayne Hooker Twisse Pemble Ames Cotten Who have left behind them a sweet savor many of them being at rest with the Lord and for whom the whole Church of Christ have and will ever have cause to bless his name But if Christ did not dy for every man and woman in the world Object then I have no ground to believe that he dyed for me This is but a meer fiction Answer for first It is no where said in Scripture that Christ dyed for thee by name John Thomas Robert c. there is no such particular personall scripture revelation and therefore that cannot be the ground of thy faith but that which thou art bound to believe and to rest upon is that Christ dyed for all those sinners that shall truly believe on him whether Jews or Gentiles and if thou believe on him and accept him for thy Saviour Husband Lord and King and resigne up thy seif to him thou mayst then conclude to the comfort of thy soule that Christ dyed for thee and that thou shalt be saved The argument lies thus whosoever believeth on Christ shall be saved But I believe in Christ therefore I shall be saved God so loved the world Ioh. 3.16 18. that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life 1 Tim. 1.15 He that believeth on him is not condemned he that hath the Son hath life This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners By him all that believe are justified from all things Acts 13.39 from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses Secondly It belongs to the Will of God's purpose and good pleasure and is a secret voluntas propositi aut beneplaciti whom Christ dyed for in particular neither canst thou comfortably know it as to thy owne soule till thou hast a particular faith of assurance and therefore you are not to fetch the ground of your faith from thence but you are to look to the will of Gods precept commanding and incouraging you to believe they are to obey the command of God to have a respect to the generality of the offer of Grace and to this call and invitation of God in the ministry of the word Come unto me all ye that are weary and I will give you rest Mat. 11.28 Rev. 22.27 Whoever will let him take of the water of life freely This is open and revealed the other is secret and hid nor caâ—t thou have a particular evidence of Christ dying for thee til the spirit of God come work special faith in thy heart and
SCRIPTURE Redemption Restrayned and Limitted OR An Antidote against Vniversal Redemption in ten Reasons or Arguments deduced from plain SCRIPTURE Briefly propounded in a Sermon at the Lecture in Mountsorrel in Leicestershire March 3. 1651 2. Now contracted and published for strengthning the weak and reducing misled souls who attend not the publike Ministry in those parts Whereunto is added The Saints Declining State under Gospel Administrations c. Worthy the reading and study of all Christians By William Troughton Minister of the Gospel at Onlepp in Leicestershire Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth Gal. 4.16 LONDON Printed by J. M. for L. Chapman at the Crown in Popes head Alley 1652. The EPISTLE To the READER ALL that I desire of thee Christian Reader is that thou wouldest diligently weigh the Arguments and Scriptures alledged in this little Treatise which are more fully handled in greater Books on this Subject together with the ensuing Catalogue and withal consider with me how derogatory the Doctrine of general Redemption is to the free Grace and Love of God yea I may truly say to all his glorious Attributes The sad concomitants and effects of this Doctrine in this divided distracted Nation as not long since in the Low Countries whence it was transferred hither How inconsistent it is with God's free and absolute Election with special Adoption and Justification with peculiar effectual grace in Conversion Sanctification Union and Perseverance Truth is but one and harmonious but Error is a Hydra with many heads It is the property of Errors to jar and be at variance but as for down Truth all the parts and branches thereof do mutually accord and convay mutual light and assistance to each other Alas What sad times are we fallen upon when manifest errors long since confuted and suppressed shall be revived and carried on with a high hand when the faithful Ministers of Christ who open the covenant of Grace to the people and the special Priviledges flowing from Redemption by Christ's blood shall be openly reviled and oppugned and that in their publike Exercises by men of Jesuitical and Antichristian Principles and Practises who boldly and daringly tell the people that we delude them and are open enemies to God and godliness yea that we preach Blasphemy in asserting that Christ shed his blood only for his Sheep That it lies not in the power of the creature to believe That the Spirit of God works irresistably upon the Elect in their conversion That such as are one Spirit with Christ cannot finally apostatize from him and lastly That visible Title to and interest in the Covenant of Grace consisting in a serious profession of the Christian faith accompanied with a sutable conversation is that which constitutes a member of the visible Church of Christ Surely though men should be silent and Christ should have but a few to contend for his Truth yet the Lord God will not long suffer these things Mal. 3.2 3. 1 Cor. 3.13 c. but will shortly come as Refiners fire and burn up this dross and stubble which cannot stand before the Jealous God In the mean while let us believe and wait and pray and tremble in the flesh Yet a little while He that hath promised to come Heb. 10.37 will come and will not tarry Blessed are they that love his appearance and shall have their garments pure and unspotted in that day W. T. The Introduction I Shall here present the Reader with a brief Catalogue of the Principles and Practises of those men whom I chiefly oppose in this Treatise whereof I my self have had some experience in my converse with them Let any godly sober Christian judge upon reading what follows if it be not high time for us to appear against this Mysterie of Antichrist which diffuseth and spreadeth it self in City Army and Country I held my peace till God made me deeply sensible of the evil and danger that surroundeth us But then I could no longer refrain with a good Conscience but must give my publique Testimony against these Doctrines and works of darkness 1. They cry down Infant-Baptisme as an Antichristian Idol and exclude all our little ones from visible Interest in the Covenant of Grace and membership of Christ's visible Church 2. They hold none to be visible Saints Disciples or Believers but only grown persons that are rebaptised at yeers 3. They baptise people into this faith namely that Christ died for all the sons and daughters of the first Adam and are not free to joyn in Worship with any sober Anabaptist who is not of this opinion witness their separating themselves not only from us but from the Churches and Societies where M. Jessey M. Kiffin M. Patience c. are Teachers 4. They own such as Christ's Disciples who are baptized into their opinion though never so ignorant formal and vain unchurching all such as differ from them though never so spiritual heavenly experienced Christians 5. They refuse to hear the ablest and most approved Ministers of the Gospel unless it be to cavil against them not only rayling against such as were ordained by the Prelates and promiscuously administer the Sacraments but also against others that go in a stricter way and are reputed by godly souls to be the most spiritual laborious and conscientious Preachers whom they shamelesly Nickname Antichristian Priests and Persecutors Witness the sermons and discourses of Master Oats M. James Brown Everard Prior c. and open enemies to the Lord Jesus yea they do with open mouth revile these faithful Ministers of Christ who are really affected and exceeding serviceable in their places to the present Government incomparably more then the worst of scandalous Ministers 6. They declare us Antichristian Persecutors of the Saints if we humbly desire the Civil Magistrate but to keep outward order and peace in the Congregation M. Marloe M. Brown and their tumultuous followers at Odeby neer I eicester while we are exercised in the publike worship of God and to prevent tumults and combustions and so by this means they utterly overthrow the office and power of the Magistrate who must neither meddle with matters of Religion relating to the Conscience or inward man nor with external order and Civil Government 7. They hold and accordingly it is practised that any of their fellow Disciples if he can but multiply words though God knows he be ignorant of the first Principles and rudiments of Christian Religion may both publikely preach and administer the Seals Witness their approbation of Rob Fielding Kendall and other their ignorant Teachers and Administrators in Leicestershire Docent priusquam discant and that these poor ignorant souls are rather Christ's faithful Ministers then our most reverend Brethren that are in Office either in the Classical or Congregational way 8. They hold that there is no true and lawful Minister of Christ in England gifted and called according to the rule of the New
excells the Princes and Captains of the world who cannot make their prisoners willing to accept of a pardon they cannot put a new will a new principle and disposition into their prisoners But as for Christ the great Captain of our salvation he makes his redeemed ones to accept of pardon he opens the prison dores by his word and spirit and makes the poor prisoners to come forth Isa 61.1 being given for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blinde eye Isa 42. to bring out the prisoners from the prâ—… and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house To his sheep for whom he dyed he gives eternal life He doth not only merit and impetrate it for them as a Priest but reveals it as a Prophet and applies it to them as a King causing them to accept thereof Iohn 17.2 7 8. Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him ARGUMENT X. ANother argument may be taken from John 17.9.10 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine These words are so obvious plain against Universal Redemption that I cannot but wonder that any man who pretends to tenderness of conscience and to the love of the Scriptures should dare to Cavill against them If plaine Scripture proof will not satisfie men how can we expect they should be satisfied Behold here is a world which Christ prayed not for the words are laid down both affirmatively and negatively and therefore the argument deduced therefrom must needs be more convincing and concluding They are laid down affirmatively I pray for them which thou hast given me and he backs this with a strong reason for they are thine and all thine are mine Such as are thine by election are mine by Redemption Union and Intercession Negatively I pray not for the world There is a world that I pray not for because there is a world that is not thine a world which thou didst not give me to dy for and therefore a world that I must not pray for The Argument is this If there be a world which Christ prayed not for then there is a world which he dyed not for unless men will say that the Lord Jesus poured out his precious hearts blood for them he would not pour out a prayer for of whom he saith I pray not for them but for others whom thou hast given me and who are both thine and mine for we have a joynt Interest in them As for the Objections against this strong Argument drawn from so plain a Scripture truly they are so frivolous and nugatory that they deserve not an answer Let it be considered 1. That Christ's death and intercession being the two parts of his Priesthood which is an unchangeable and everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7.24 in respect of all those who have an interest therein they are conjoyned and put together in Scripture * Rom. 8.34 1 Iohn 2.1 2. being extended to the same persons such as Christ dyed for he intercedes for such as he poured out his blood for he pours out his prayers for But here is a world you see that Christ prays not for and therefore we may well conclude that there is a world which he died not for 2. The Lord Jesus is heard in the things he prayed for yea our salvation to the uttermost is put upon his intercession * Heb. 7.25 which therefore cannot be rightly applyed to any but such as shall be saved for it is certain that all those for whom he begun his prayers on earth he continues to pray for them now in heaven for as Arminius himself rightly observes The prayer of Christ in Job 17. is the copie and pattern of his intercession in heaven 3. They for whom Christ prayed as contradistinguished from a world which he prayed not for are those for whose sake he sanctified himself i.e. set himself a part to be a Priest and Mediator to dy for them that they also might be sanctified through the truth and they are such as he communicates grace and glory to Iohn 17.19 20 21 22 23 c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one in us and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one But it is not said nor should we entertain such a dream that Christ sanctified or set apart himself for every man and woman in the world many of which shall never believe on him nor be sanctified by him through the truth nor doth he communicate grace and glory to every individual man and woman whereas we may plainly see here that all those for whom Christ prayed he gives that glory to them which the Father gave him What Scripture can be so clear and convincing but men may evade it if they be disposed to cavil I might add many more Arguments against Universal Redemption Heb. 9.15 16. Heb. 7.22 Heb. 8.6 as namely that the Covenant of grace whereof Christ is Sponsor surety and mediator for all them which shall be saved and which is sealed and confirmed in and by his blood and therefore called the blood of the new Testament or Covenant Matth. 26.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 42.6 Heb. 8.9 10 11. Gen. 17.21 Rom. 9.8 Rom. 11.5 7 8. Gal 3.13 14 16. Gal. 4.23 24. c. which was shed for many for remission of sins Yea Christ is said to be given for a Covenant This Covenant I say is not made with nor confirmed to no nor so much as propounded and published to every man in the world much less is every man in the world taken by God into this Covenant If the Covenant may be said to belong to all and every one to whom the Gospel is preached as some learned and godly men hold * Ball on the Covenant Baxter's Aphoris Appendix to Aphor. of Justif which for my part I shall find no fault with so they mean only in respect of external oeconomy and administration indeed I cannot see a cleer ground for that which an acute man seems to hold forth * Ball on the Covenant Baxter's Aphoris Appendix to Aphor. of justif viz that there are two Covenants of grace now in the days of the new Testament the one absolute the other conditional the one made to all the men in the world the other only to the elect Certainly there is but one Covenant of grace in substance although it ought to be dissinctly considered by us in respect of special and saving grace and external administration And this Covenant is absolute in respect of election and redemption thing it be conditionally propounded in the external ministry of the Word
But if the Covenant of grace I say should externally belong to all to whom the Gospel is preached yet this will not extend to every man and woman in the world for God doth not afford the outward dispensation of his Gospel much less the estectual powerful operation of his Spirit to every one Psal 76.1 2. In Jud his God known his name is great in Israel In Salem also is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion Psal 147.19 20. Ier. 10.25 Eph. 2.11 Mar. 11.52 26. Acts 14.16 Acts 16.6 7. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation At that time ye were without Christ aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel strangers from the Covenants of promise without hope without God in the world In times past he suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways Paul was forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia and estaying to go into Bythinta the Spirit suffered him not The Lord God according to the pleasure of his own will sends the Ministry of the Gospel to one place and people and with-holds it from another makes known his Covenant of grace to some and hides and conceals it from others I might further argue thus that all those whom Christ dyed for he dyed in their stead as their surety and representative personating and representing them in his death and sufferings and if so how can the Lord God in justice and wisdom cast them of and reject them for whom his dear Son was a surety and undertaker and that by his own eternal decree counsel and appointment The Lord Jesus saveth his people from their sins Matth. 1.21 and then who can lay any thing to their charge It is Christ that dyed It is the son of God that shed his blood Rom. 8.31 34. who can condemn If Christ the eternal God be for us who can be against us If God spared not his Son but delivered him to death for us How shall he not with him also freely give us all things I shall not insist upon the nature of Redemption reconciliation atonement and propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 2.14 Rev. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.3 4. Col. 1.21 22. 2 Cor. 5.18 19. and the import and signification thereof in scripture phrase which comprehends and takes in not onely merit and impetration but also particuler application as to the persons so redeemed and reconciled by Christs blood I could also argue against universal redemption from the analogy and proportion between the type and the antitype doubtless the typical sacrifice was not slain and offered for every individual person nor did the antitype the substance of those shaddowes lay down his life for every man and woman in the world And lastly I would commend this to the consideration of the Christian reader that they to whom Christ is a redeemer and Savior Iohn 1 5. 1. Eph. 1.22 23. he is also a spiritual Root a spiritual head and principle of life to communicate the spirit of grace and holiness to them Redemption by Christ's blood and adoption by the spirit of grace though they may and ought to be distinguished yet they cannot be so divided and separated but that the same persons that are capable of the one are also capable of the other and shall partake thereof Gal. 4.4 5 6. God sent forth his Son to redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons and because ye are Sons namly by election and redemption God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Psal 68.18 Christ as he suffered for the fins of men so he received spiritual gifts for them yea for the rebellious Iohn 3.34 Iohn 1.16 Heb. 8.10 Zac. 12. Iohn 12.32 33. Phil. 1.29 Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.1 Acts 5.31 Heb 12.2 that the Lord God might dwel among them that they might have communion and fellowship with God He received the spirit without measure as head and mediator that of his fulness we might receive grace for grace If God have given his Son to die for us he will also give us faith repentance holyness newness of heart and life If he so loved all men as to part with this pretious Jewell and Pearle of great price out of his bosome for them he will then give all men a hand to take it with and a casket to keep it in But for these and other argument which might be alledged against the General redemption they are managed by other godly and reverend men in their printed books to whom God hath given more skill and ability advantageously to handle spiritual weapons then I have only I cast in my poor mite into the Lords treasury desiring the Reader humbly and seriously to weigh and examine the scriptures in the margent 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Iohn 2.1 2. Iohn 3.16 Heb. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After I had propounded my arguments against universal redemption I did briefly as the Lord enabled me answer the most considerable objections of the adversarie Taken from those general and indefinite expressions and phrases of Scripture all every the world the whole world for as for these words i.e. Christ dyed for all men or for every man they are not to be found in the original Text of Scripture but are supplyed in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an challaâ—…e of the number for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all sons heirs For all and every one that shall believe not only Jews but Gentiles So 1 Tim. 2.6 Iohn 12.32 Translation which hath given occasion to the venting of this erroneous opinion But if these words were sound in scripture yet there is no necessity for us to expound them of every individual person but with restriction and limitation as is usual in Scripture for not only these words a Col. 1.28 1 Cor. 12.7 Rom. 5.18 Ier. 29.31 Gan. 3.8 1 Cor. 4.5 Iohn 1.9 1 Cor. 7.2 20 Rom. 1.5 Rev. 18.3.23 Psal 118.10 1 Chron. 14.17 Iohn 8.26 Iohn 12.19 Luke 2.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 4.13.16 Ioh. 3.17 Ioh. 6.33 Ioh. 16.8 17.21 Heb. 2.5 Psal 22.27 Ioh. 1.29 1 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated by See Mar. 5 34 35. 1 Iohn 5.19 Rev. 13.3 Rom. 1.8 Luke 2.1 Rev. 12.9 all men every man all Nations but also these words the world the whole world are in more places then one limited and restrained to a part of the world and a certain number of men and women Such general phrases are therefore used by the Spirit of God in much wisdom because the proud Jews were so apt ever after the breaking down of the pactition wall to appropriate the benefits of the Messiah and the priviledges of the Church of God to themselves and to exclude the world of the elect Gentiles as dogs and aliens
and strangers from the covenant and promises of grace the Jews being the only political visible church of God under the old Testament administration the Gentiles as opposite to them were counted the world See Exo. 12.19 Deut. 23.2 Lev. 26.33 Pl. 79.1 dogs aliens heathen And indeed the call and conversion of the Gentiles and adding them to the church of Christ was such a great and glorious mysterie a Eph. 3.8 Rom. 11. cap. that many of the Christian Jews yea some of the Apostles themselves b Acts 10 cap. Acts 11. cap. could not at first comprehend it there being in this such a great and manifest alteration in the administrations of the old and new Testament I did also answer the objections which are raised from the generality of the ofter of Christ in the Ministry of the Gospel from the obligation that lies on every man and woman to believe in Christ and to apply his death and lastly from those pathetical expostulations and affectionate invitations in Scripture directed indefinitely to all sinners without exception which passages being spoken after the manner of men and in condescension to our capacity for properly there are no such affections Voluntas signi precepti approhationis passions or workings of spirit in God are to be referred to the signifying preceptive and approving Will of God for so it may be called not so properly as his eternal decree and purpose which shall be accomplished and cannot be resisted for who hath resisted his Will The commands Rom. 9.19 exhortations invitations expostulations which we find in Scripture do not determine for whom Christ dyed in particular by his Fathers appointment nor what shall be the event and shall unavoidably come to pass touching the eternal condition of poor sinners in respect of predestination and redemption Quoad debitum not quoad eventum but they determine man's duty and the rule of his obedience and what God approves as good in it self not what Christ hath done or God will do for us and in us in particular The learned Dr Twiss Mr Ball on the Covenant Mr Rutherford Mr Whitfield Mr Owen Mr How against T. M Universality of Free Grace but what it is our duty to do there being a sweet harmony and connexion between the end and the means It would be too tedious to recite all the particulars which I laid down in answer to these objections and besides they are already more largely and sully answered by divers godly learned men in their elaborate treatises to which I must referr the studious and dilligent reader for in this writing I do affect and intend brevity that so the poore deluded soules in the country whom I pitty with all my heart may have something before them to read and peruse which by God's blessing may undeceive them and settle them in the truth I am perswaded that the Lord in his infinite wisdom suflers this and other erroneous and corrupt opinions to be broched touching the Decrees of God Redemption Reconciliation Justification Vnion with God the new Birth Conversion perseverance the Divinity of Christ the nature operation and evidence of the spirit biprisme and other Church administrations that so we may with more diligence seriousness humllity and selfe denyal search the Scriptures and through the teachings of the spirit of God and the assistance of divine grace a taine to a right and setled and spiritual knowledge of these Gospel mysteries whereof our apprehensions hitherto have been but shallow and wide That which I have said concerning the promises and doubtles others have said far more may helpe to convince you that the doctrine of general redemption as it is comonly held forth is very corrupt and unsound fighting directly against the tenour scope and sense of the word of God rightly understood Let the promoters of this doctrine pretend what they will I am very confident that it will appeare in the great day of Christ to be no better then dross and chasfe and combustible matter which must and shall suffer loss though some that hold that it may be saved so as by fire we shall one day find it to be a doctrine that comes from earth and not from heaven 1 Cor. 3 15. from the flesh and not from the spirit for under the notion and pretence of universal grace it destroyes the efficacy and power of grace under the notion of universall redemption it enervates the verue undermines the benefit that flows from Redemption by Christ's blood And that I may make this evident unto you I shall breifly acquaint you with some sad and dangerous Concomitants and consequences of this opinion which may serve now as so many antidotes against it and preservatives from it And first universal redemption of all and every individual man rises up with a high hand against the glorious attributes of the great and wise and just and holy God and namely against his absolute power soveraignty and wisdom what shall the great and wise God give his Son to dy for the salvation of thousands that shall never be saved as if mans stubbornness could frustrate the designe of God and as if sin and corruption were more powerfull to ruine and destroy the soul then the grace of God and the blood of Christ to save it * Rom. 5.20 21. It makes the powerful and gracious God to suspend the salvation of the creature upon the natural man's ability and the contingency of his Will and not upon his own irresistable decree the efficacy of his sons blood and the powerful and irresistable operation of his spirit in conversion which is directly contrary to the word of Truth * Isa 48.6 Isa 46.10 Psal 33.11 Prov. 21.30 Prov. 19.21 Rom. 9.19 Eph. 1.4 5 6. 1 Cor. 5. ult 1 Ioh. 1.7 Gal. 3.13 14. Again it is an opinion that undermines the glorious wisdom of God Eph. 1.8 1 Cor. 2.7 8. wherein he abounded in the mysterie of our Redemption by the blood of Christ as if the wise God had designed and appointed Christ by his death to put all men into a saveable condition and the end or effect of his death and blood shed may be fully accomplished though in the end there be not one man actually saved and brought to eternal life and glory Doth this suit with the infinite wisdom of God that he should propound to himself in the death of his Son the salvation of every individual man and yet not ordain effectual means for their conversion and for bringing them to salvation And oh how doth this doctrine of general Redemption and reconciliation reflect upon the justice and righteousness of the great God What shall the just God receive full satisfaction in the price of the precious blood of his Son for every man in the world Ps 9.8 Gen. 18.25 Rom. 3.4.25 26 1 Iohn 1.9 and yet thousands perish Now though men be unjust yet let the Judge of the whole earth be
just and righteous let God be true though every man be a lyar And as it reflects upon the justice of God so it impeacheth his highest love shall God so love every man as to give his Sonnor them And Christ so love every man as to lay down his life for them for herein God manifests and commends his love Rom. 5.8 1 Iohn 4.9 10. not that we first loved him but he first loved us and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins and yet withhold from them faith repentance and newness of heart without which they cannot be saved Hath God loved every man so as to give his Son to the death of the Cross for them and hath the Lord Jesus sweat dropps and clodds of blood for their sins treading the wine press of the wrath of God and crying out in the agony of his soul my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Rev. 19.15 Mat. 27.46 and yet shall most of them for whom he suffered so much rot and perish in final unbeleef and impenitency certainly this doth exceedingly derogate from the power of divine love and grace Secondly the doctrine of Universal Redemption puts men upon loose and ungrounded contradistrnctions that they may vindicate and maintain it and what is this else but to take the Lord's name in vain and to dally with his Word and Truth Some say that Christ died not in the stead of all but for the good of all a Non loco vice omnium sed bono tantum Remonst at the Hague confer That Christ impetrated and merited life for all and every individual man but applies it only to Believers whereas the Scriptures which I formerly cited do evince and prove that these two though they ought to be distinguished yet they are inseparable acts of Christ's mediatorship and are extended to the same persons Those for whom he impetrated life shall have it applyed to them Some say * Camero Amerald Teslad that Christ hath obtained by his death remission of all sins against the Covenant of works for every man but pardon of sins against the Gospel or new Covenant only for the elect 1 John 1.7 whereas Christ's blood clensech them from all sin for whom it is shed forasmuch as through Gods grace and the Spirit 's operation the blood of Christ hath an effectual influence upon all their hearts and consciences and conversations to purge and pacifie and clense them And lastly some learned men who are more sober and moderate then those whom I oppose do say but without ground from Scripture as I humbly conceive that Christ dyed for every man and woman in the world in respect of the sufficiency of his merit but not in respect of efficacy That we should extend the sufficiency and merit of Christ's death and bloodshed beyond the purpose decree and intention of the Father and the Son for my part I cannot see any clear ground 't is true the death and bloodshed of Christ may be said to be sufficient for every man in respect of the intrinsecal vertue thereof it being the blood of God Acts 20.28 the blood of that person who is the infinite God But I conceive that it cannot properly be said to be a sufficient ransom for every man and why but because it is not properly a ransom or price paid for every man nor never was so intended So then the sufficiency and efficacy of Christ's death are to be joyntly limitted to them for whom he dyed and payed the price of redemption nor did Christ shed one drop or dram of blood in vain it was by the counsel and appointment of God that Christ should lay down his life only for them whom the Father gave him and none of them that shall be lost I remember the popish Schoolmen have such a distinction of grace sufficient Hales 3. Summ. 9.69 Thom. m. 1 2 9 109. and grace effectual God say they affords grace sufficient to every one but not grace effectual Sufficient grace as they hold is that by which a man may be saved if he will not be wanting to himself effectual grace is that which saves a man indeed But this is groundless 2 Cor. 12.9 Where God tells Paul that his grace is sufficient for him This sufficiency is not to be abstracted and separated from the efficacy of grace Thirdly let me further add that this opinion of Vniversal Redemption renders Christ but half a Saviour an imperfect Saviour and his blood shed ineffectual as if he did only thereby put all men into a saveable condition and man himself must strike the greatest stroke and actually save his own soul It is a doctrine that puts men upon that gress absurdity that Christ died for thousands shed his blood for milliors of souls that never heard the voice of the Gospel which is the word of faith Rom. 10.14 15. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent And will it not introduce that other gross and carnal conceit that in the end all and every one shall be saved the falien Angels as well as reprobate men as if there could be any deliverance out of hell If we hold an Vnive sal Redemption and Reconciliation I can see no reason to the contrary but that an universal salvation may be thence gathered by genuine and necessary consequence Fourthly Vniversal Redemption as it is by many held forth and maintained bolsters up people in a profane course or at the best in a general dead saith or rather a sancie insteed of faith may not a profane wretch reason thus There be those who say that Christ shed his blood for every man in the world well I am a man and therefore Christ shed his blood for me Now the Scripture is clear and full for this namely that Redemption by Christ's blood and remission of sins go together Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood shall not have their sins imputed to them and where there is non-imputation of sin Eph. 1.7 2 Cor. 5.19 Ps 32.2 there is also imputation of Christ's righteousness blessedness and salvation Blessed is the man to whom the Lord doth not impute Iniquity If it be so may this wicked man say I will go on and enjoy my lusts according to this doctrine I shall not perish if Christ dyed for me and if he dyed for every man then he dyed for me And as this opinion may have yea I fear it hath such an operation upon many poor souls so it may be a means to bring others to despair and to make desparate and sad conclusions upon themselves in reference to their eternal estate to hold that thousands shall be damned that Christ dyed for may not Satan easily prevail upon an awakened soul by this temptation suited to the doctrine of the general Ransome that there is no more