there is a Redemption Reconciliation and Salvation wrought by Jesus Christ in his owne body with God for men is evident In that he is called the Christ The Saviour of the World Joh. 4.42 And the Propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but for the sinnes of the whole world 1 Joh. 2.2 Whence it is said God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not importing their trespasses unto them 2 Cor. 5.19 and so this is called the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 3.24 Who his own selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree 1 Pet. 2.24 and so by the grace of God tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 and gave himself a ransome for all men 1 Tim. 2.6 and through the eternall Spirit offered himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 being the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world Joh. 1.29 for effecting of which Redemption Reconciliation and Salvation Jesus Christ 1. Appeared was Manifested was sent and came into the world to take away our sinnes 1 Joh. 3.5 To put away sinne by the sacrifice of himself Heb. 9.26 The sinne of the world Joh. 2.29 to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Not to destroy mens lives but to save them Luk. 9.56 to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 To save the world Joh. 12.47 and not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saved Joh. 3.17 And this busines his first comming into the world was to effect for which he was furnished for 2. In this his appearing and manifestation he was made flesh Joh. 1.14 of the seed of David according to the flesh Rom. 1.3 made of a woman Gal. 4.4 and so was very man The man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 and in the likenesse of men Phil. 2.7 having the nature of all mankind even subject to the infirmities thereof though altogether without sinne yet subject to feele afflictions in sorrow sadnesse yea Agonies of soul and paine in hunger wearinesse and death of body such infirmities as had never befallen the Nature of man but for sinne and so was in the likenesse of sinfull flesh Rom. 8.3 and so fit to be in the stead of man-kind Heb. 10.5 3. Being thus in the Nature of mankind he was set and stood a publick Person in the Nature and room of all mankind while hee was about this worke as the first Adam did who was the figure or Type of him that was to come and now hath come Rom. 5.14.18 19. 1 Cor. 15.21 22.45.46 4. Being such a publike person in the roome and Nature of all mankind he also became for them under the same Law and Obligation in which they were which charged them with sinne and bound them over-to punishment By vertue of which his comming under that Law All the sinne and punishment The whole debt of mankind by order of Justice became his whence it is said hee was made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law Gal. 4.4 5. We know that what things soever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God Ro. 3.19 And he becomming under this Law for us might be rightly challenged with and arrested for our debt whence he is said to have taken upon him the forme of a servant Phil. 2.7 5. Being thus in the nature and stead of mankind under the law for them God was pleased to challenge the whole debt of him and to impute all the sinnes the Law could charge mankind withall unto him and to arrest and call him to account and enter into judgement with him for all Whence it is said God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them 2 Cor. 5.19 He laid on him the iniquity of us all Esai 53.6 and made him to be sinne for us 2 Cor. 5.21 which imputation hee accepted whence it is said he himself bare our sinnes 1 Pet. 2.24 So that himself calls them his and said Innunerable evills have compassed me about mine iniquities have taken hold upon me so that I am not able to look up they are more then the haires on my head Psal 40.12 6. Having on him our sinnes God laid on him the punishment and curse that was due to us for those sinnes and hee did suffer the same curse and so died as the sinner for our sinnes in the room of us all He was wounded for our transgressions Esai 53.5 Hee was made a curse for us Gal. 3.13 Christ dyed for our sinnes according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.4 hee suffered for our sinnes the just for the unjust 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5 6. hee died for all 2 Cor. 5.15 and so by the grace of God tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 which is in account with God and those that are taught it of him as if all had died 2 Cor. 5.14 7. Having thus suffered and dyed for our sinnes he even the same that dyed rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures 1 Cor. 15.4 and so rose justified and acquit of all our sinnes imputed to him and a Triumphant Victorer over curse and death and all the enemies of our Salvation Declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holinesse by the resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 was raised for our justification Rom. 4.25 put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit 1 Pet. 3.18 Justified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 the Just One. 1 Joh. 2.1 having spoiled Principallities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Col. 2.15 and so gave himself a ransome and a propitiatory sacrifice to God his Father for all men 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Joh. 2.2 8. All this his Oblation and Sacrifice of himself to God did hee sanctifie and dignifie through the onenesse of his will with the will of his Father he having one and the same will minde and purpose with his Father in all this Hebr. 10.5.10 And by vertue of his divine Nature and Aeternall Spirit through which he offered up himself without spot to God Heb. 9.14 He that hath offered himself being God Rom. 9.5 and man 1 Tim. 2.5 yea God man in one Person Joh. 1.14 Matth. 1.23 So that by reason of this personall union of the divine and humane nature in one Person the blood that was shed and with which he is entred the heavens to appeare before God for us is called Gods own blood Act. 20.28 Which is more then if all and every man in the world had suffered all that was due to their sinnes and is accepted of God at the hands of Christ as if all had died 2 Cor. 5.14 So as this redemption is in Christ perfect the worke accomplished and done and the Father with him and in him is well pleased Matth. 3.17 he having
sinnes and is He not without sinne even the just One 1 Joh. 3.5 and 2.1 2. and hath not God accepted him and his Sacrifice and Ransome given Matth. 17 5. Heb. 7.8 9 10. even for all that for which hee gave it and is not God Righteous to give his Sonne even all that which by vertue of his Ransome onely belonged to Jesus Christ Surely God is Righteous but that were injustice not onely to require the whole Debt againe but even any part thereof either of him or of any other that are discharged by him or to detaine from him or any of his any thing that by vertue of that Ransome onely is due to be conferred on them Isa 53.10 11. Yet Gods owne Children have complained and cryed out by reason of trouble with the law of sinne in their members Rom. 7.15.24 Gal. 5.17 and God saith of his owne Children that are the members of Christ Psal 89.32 I will visite their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with stripes and saith expresly They suffer for the punishment of their sinne Lam. 3.22 39. and in their Repentance will have them accept the punishment of their iniquity Levit. 26.41 Mich. 7.9 Now to say the punishments upon Gods Children are not punishments for sinne but onely corrections for amendment they being both is too weak an evasion and contradictory to the Scripture Hos 5.15 and 6.1 2. and 12.1 Now is God unrighteous that punisheth God forbid Rom. 3.4 5. Psal 51.4 But how will the urgers of this Reason for justifying the two Propositions justify God and get out of this snare they have laid for others I hope they will not say with the * See the Postscript Papists that Jesus Christ onely paid the greatest part of the debt to his Father wholly in respect of eternall punishments and left a part of the debt in respect of Temporall punishments for his people to pay in bearing the same here in sufferings and Penitentiall Satisfactions and making up what is wanting thereof in Purgatory for this will exceedingly derogate from the Sufferings and Satisfaction made by Christ to his Father and flying this as they have good cause to doe they have by joyning this Reason with the two former Propositions charged God with unjustice and left no way to justify him in punishing any of his Elect for whom Christ dyed and paid the price they being already justifyed and to be saved from wrath through him as the Proposition affirmeth and what presumptuous rashnesse was this so to Reason and affirme for the maintenance of two falshods Neither doth Rom. 5.9 say That all that Christ dyed and paid the price for shall be saved from wrath through him But speaking of Beleevers that had experimented justification through his blood and it declares the more abundance of their confidence That they should now much rather be saved by his life and from wrath through him 2. Here appeareth gross ignorance about the End of the Death of Christ as the price Satisfaction for sinne and Ransome which hee gave himself to God for mankind which was not that by that Act of his with God men should without any more done by him See Postscript be presently possessed of all that Justification freedome from deaths and enjoyment of life that is in him or which he hath wrought or purchased No no there was something else to be done by him from heaven in application of the former to effect that it was not that by that Act dâ—ne by himself and in his owne body onely any of the Sonnes of men should receive either justification from sinne in their Consciences or purgation of sinne out of their Natures which is to be effected by his Spirit in application of that blood speaking Peace and purging and renewing Heb. 12.24 9.14 Tit. 3.4.5 7. or Redemption of their bodies in a through and perfect Freedome from all misery and Death and trouble and sorrow of Soul mortallity weaknesse affliction and Death of body which is to be affected at his pleasure through his Divine Power by vertue of his resurrection from the Dead 1 Cor. 15. tot or the bringing them to and possessing them of all the life Righteousnesse and Inheritance that he hath obtained which is to be effected through the vertue of his blood by his life Spirit and Divine Power Rom. 5.10 1 Pet. 1.5 Heb. 7.25 But the End of His Death in respect of the Ransome only as perfected in and by himself in his owne body was That he might be Lord of all men and have them in his dispose That hee might have all released to him and have the pardon in his hands and Spirit and Life and inheritance to give freely as hee should thinke fit who is of one minde with his Father That hee might have Power and Authority to ease them of as much trouble exercise as much patience and shew them as much mercy and bounty as might be meet to lead them to Repentance And also to use such meanes as hee pleaseth to Call and bring them to Repentance and Faith and to send forth his Spirit to move at their Hearts that they might Repent and Beleeve That by Spirituall Application of his Blood and exercise of his Divine Power hee might justifie purifie and bring to eternall life those that in submission to his Spirit in the meanes doe Repent and come in to beleeve on him To harden and give up the rest in his Season To raise all out of their graves at the last and to bring all before his Judgement-seat and then to possesse of the Inheritance all that in the day of grace have beleeved on him and to sentence to a second death all that throughout the day of grace have rebelled against him and for those ends hee gave the ransome and paid the whole debt himself alone and without requiring it againe or any part of it of Christ or any other God hath given all this over into the hands of Christ and will not neither doth deprive him of any part nor any other of any part of that which by the dispensation of Christ appertaines to them And all this is already shewn in Chap. 1. in the Reconciliation wrought by Christ with God for men and the common Salvation extended to men and in Chap. 2. in the first end of the death of Christ in the three respects thereof and in Chap. 3. the second head therof and in the latter end of the 6. Chapter in stating the Question and in Chap. 9. Now then that any mercy in patience and bounty is vouchsafed to men that any means is used and any motion of Spirit afforded is the fruit of the Ransome of Christ to lead to Repentance That any misery yet that lies on them it is from the Wisedome and Justice of Christ whose season is not yet come to free them But that which holdeth any under finne and wrath and condemnation and deprives them of the benefit of
it 3. The Word or Doctrine that these did heare and in hearing were glad of and did glorify and praise it in their hearts for the truth and goodnesse of it and for the love of God and the Salvation in Christ manifested therein It was not that part of the Gospel which sets forth Gods Election of some to Life and his peculiar Love to them as this doubt pretends But even that part of the Gospel whereof the doubt is made it being the same Prophecyed in Isai 49.6 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles That thou mayst be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth Where all the ends of the Earth called to look to him and be saved Isa 45.22 which is evident to be all men Prov. 8.45 In all the ends of the Earth Isai 4.28 Joh. 1.3 4 5 9. and so as large as 1 Tim. 2.6 Hebr. 2.9 So that this place well considered would have prevented or removed the doubt CHAP. XXIII Of some mention of the Benefit of this Doctrine held forth SOme not being able to gainsay the truth so plainly affirmed in Scripture but that it is plainly recorded That Jesus Christ did by the grace of God taste death for Every Man and gave himself a Ransome for All Men came into the World to be the Saviour of the World and is the Propitiation for the sinnes of the whole World yet are pleased to demand What profit is there in maintaining this so Plainly and in such a generall and large Sense as the Scripture expresseth it in To which this Answer might be given that as man beleeveth with the heart unto Righteousness So with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation and so I might say it is one part of the service of our Lord Jesus To hold forth the Word of life and to confesse him and not to be ashamed of his Words before men Rom. 10.9 10. Phil. 2.16 Matt. 10.27 Mar. 8.38 But farre be it that any of us should say What is the Almmighty that wee should serve him and what profit shall wee have Job 21.15 But hoping that this Question is moved with a more Christian mind I Answer to it ANSWER I. This is that Doctrine which our Saviour Jesus Christ in such generall words did himself Preach unto men to bring them to Repentance and faith Ioh. 3.16 17. 6.51 12.46 47 48. And which his Forerunner had also to that end declared Joh. 1.3 4 7 9 29. 2. The same doctrine in the same largenesse did hee put in the hearts of the Apostles and committed the ministration thereof to them to declare 2 Cor. 3.16.12 Acts. 13.47 48. Tit. 3.4 5. 3. The Confession of this Gospel in such generall words hath been an approved Confession of Beleevers Joh. 4.42 It is therefore unquestionable very profitable and if we should reject this Word of the Lord as unprofitable what wisedome would be in us Jere. 8.8 9. yea would not that heavie sentence be verified in us Isai 29.10 11. 28.12 13. 4. This Doctrine so held forth is very profitable for all men And that both first to convince them of the vilenesse of their sinne in which they have been the Crucifiers of Christ the emptinesse of their Righteousnesse the greatnesse of Gods love to them the horriblenesse of their Rebellion against so loving a God as is shewne in nine Particulars Chap. 17. in Answer of Objection 4. Secondly to allure and move them to Repentance of their sinnes and from dead Workes to belief of the Gospel and Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and so to attend his Sayings and receive his reproofs and Councell as that which indeed appertaines to them So as his Death applyed to these ends may be said to be for All for us for you for me for thee and so left to every mans Conscience without peradventure Act. 2.3 Heb. 6.1 2. 2 Cor. 3. and 4.1.6 5.10 14 15 19. And one doubt put in about the truth of Christ's death and Ransome for all men layes a barre to keep them from being convinced indeed of the vilenesse of their sinnes and shuts the doore against them for comming in to Repentance and faith leaving them in the darke to muse upon Election or driving them with the Pharisee to seek some fleshly righteousnesse in which they may be better then others to claime Christ by 5. This Doctrine so beleeved is Profitable for Beleevers to keep them humble and Patient Rom. 3.9 Tit. 3.3 4. to move them with Love and Pitty towards others 2 Cor. 5.14 15. To preserve their Confidence in God for speciall favours Rom. 5.1 5 6 11. yea it teacheth to denie all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present Life Titus 2.11 12. 6. It is Profitable to the servants of Christ in respect of themselves and others in preserving a good estimate of Scripture and freeing from those fleshly reasonings and those false affirmations That all Christ dyed for shall be eternally saved and that hee shall justify by his knowledge as many as he dyed for And those rash Furies of confounding what the Scripture makes distinct yea it is profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteousnesse 2 Tim. 3.16 But desiring it rather may be found Profitable then said so to be I intreat all that will vouchsafe the reading hereof to minde the Application in a few Uses in which especially in the Last this Question will be further answered And so give me leave to speake to thee Reader whosoever thou maist be as to one who I am sure Christ did indeed die and give himself a Ransome to God for CHAP. XXIV Of Vses of the Affirmation in 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 As the Proposition at first affirmed USE I. IF thou be one that as thou hast heard of the Death of JESUS CHRIST for All men so thou hast neither opposed the Doctrine nor yet set thy heart seriously to attend what grace is offered thee therein and what is required of thee but still livest in and allowest thy self to goe on in and serve divers lusts and Pleasures in Profanation of Gods holy Word Worship Name Sabbath or in abuse of thy members to cruelty uncleannesse fraud or of the Creatures of God to gluttony drunkennes wantonnes pride or any such like known sinnes surely in these days and this Nation thou canst not but know that these such like evills are the breaches of the holy and righteous law of God which even from thy Creation thou art bound to keep and so great is every sinne in the breach of that Law That all the Creatures in the World are insufficient to satisfy for So that if Jesus Christ had not in thy Nature and Place become under the Law and so borne thy sinnes and suffered the Curse for them Thou must have perished for ever but this hath Jesus Christ done to Redeem and Ransome thee Now I pray thee consider Was sinne so
toward a conclusion who ever thou be I pray thee let us take notice of the goodnesse excellency and Preciousnesse of this Gospel in this Declaration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the great love of God to Mankind in giving his Sonne to die for our Sinnes and the fulnesse and fitnesse of the Propitiation he made thereby and the life he is filled with at his Fathers right hand and the Spirit be hath received to send forth to the Sonnes of men and all still by vertue of the Precious blood of his once shed be not weary but take it well though I speake a word or two freely of this Declaration of the Gospel when it is spiritually enlightned to any heart and the heart enabled to perceive and beleeve 1. It is a true glasse in and through which the Beleevers looking may see First The hainousness of our sinnes which wee the chief whips Thornes Speare Nailes Crosse and malady that put the Sonne of God in our Nature to so much grievous sorrow shame paine agony and Death Esay 53.3.9 2 Cor. 5.19.21 Rom. 4.24 and the haynousness thereof appeares in this that nothing else nothing lesse then so great suffering and blood-shedding of the Sonne of God could satisfy for and take away sinne Heb. 9.9.12.22 24. 10.1.10 Mat. 26.29 and also in this that now they are against so good a God and so great goodnesse manifested not onely by Creation but now much more by and through a Redemption with such Precious blood Rom. 2.4 Acts. 17.14 2. The vanity worthlesness and inabilitie of all the Sonnes of Adam and of all their righteousness and best workings and of all Creatures with all their excellencies either to doe away sinne or to make man righteous or Procure life with God which if any or all of them could Then Gods onely begotten Sonne should have been spared Esai 59.16 and 50.2 and 63.5 Job 28.1.19 Hebr. 1.10 Gal. 2.21 Luk. 22.42 3. The woefull and unconceivable heavy condition of every man that commeth to hear the punishment of sinne in his own Person for when the first curse and death as the punishment of sinne borne by him for sinners who never did sinne did for a few houres Suffering put this strong Captaine to such an agony so to groane and cry out What will it doe to such when all their sinnes themselves have committed come to be agravated by dispising so great Patience and goodnesse procured by such a Redeemer and therein despising the Redemption it self and refusing to come in to their Lord that hath so dearly bought them and for all their contempt with all their sinnes therethrough abiding on them be cast into a Second death and suffer therein for ever and ever Luk. 22.44 23.30 31. 2 Pet. 2. 4. The holy nature and attributes of God as his exceeding hatred and indignation against sinne his wonderfull justice in fulfilling the Curse on all Transgressours of the Law and his truth in causing the sinner to dye all seen in this that he would not forbeare nor abate his owne Sonne that was but set in sinners Place for them any part of the debt but required it all of him Isai 53. and also his infinite mercy and compassionate love even to mankind fallen into sinne and enmity against him in providing and giving such a Ransome for them Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. his infinite wisedome in making Mercy and Truth Righteousnesse and Peace to meet in one for recovery of sinners Truth fulfilled and Justice satisfyed in the Curse imposed and death inflicted on his Sonne the Man Christ Jesus and so on all in him in the room of all and so mercy and Peace procured and ready for Mankind yea his Mercy and Truth in sending him forth to doe all this Psal 85.10 11. 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19 21. his infinite Power in raysing Christ from the death that dyed as the sinner in the room of all free from all those sinnes imputed to him and a Victorer over the Curse and Death imposed on him and over the Devills that conflicted with him Rom. 1.4 4.25 15.3 4.20.5 7. Col. 2.14 15. And so his Infinite Power Mercy Love Truth Justice Faithfulness in Calling to his Sonne Isai 33.3 Joh. 6.44 45. and dispencing Pardon Spirit and Life to those that in his Call are submitted too and brought to beleeve on his Sonne Isai 33.10 11. Joh. 7.9 5. The Three Persons in one God the Father that gave his Son Ioh. 3.16 1 Ioh. 4.14 and calleth to his Son Joh. 6.44 45. Matt. 16.16 2 Tim. 1.4 The Sonne that came forth from the Father and gave himself a Ransome for All Men and went againe to the Father Joh. 16.28 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 11.1 19. and receiveth those that in the heavenly Call are given him by the Father and maketh known his Father and his Fathers words to them and presenting them spotlesse in himself and giveth them the Priviledges of sonnes Joh. 6.37.8.17.4 9. Col. 1.21 22. Joh. 1.12 13 18. The holy Spirit that commeth from the Father and the Sonne with super-naturall and divine light and Power and teacheth and giveth in the words of Christ beareth witnesse of him and affecteth faith and a new heart and witnesseth Sonship and leadeth the Sonnes of God Joh. 14.2 6. 15.26 16.13 14 15. Joh. 5.6 7. Rom. 8.14 15 16. 6. The glorious Love Goodnesse Excellency beauty and Authority in Christ Iesus who is set forth herein to be God Isa 9.6 the Son of God Mat. 3.17 God made man Gal. 4.4 God man in one Person Joh. 1.1.14 God with us Mat. 1.25 whose Ransome given and Propitiation made is full and fit for us and effectuall with the Father 1 Tim. 2.4 6. 1 Joh. 2.2 Hebr. 10 1.10 who is the rightfull Lord of All. Act. 10.36 and Wisedome and Power of God and the Wisedome Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption unto all that beleeve on him 1 Cor. 1.24 30. the High-Priest Prophet and King Heb. 5.7 9. the Fountain of Life and Spirit ps 36.8 9. 7. The ground and certainty of the Resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. tot and of the equity and certainty of Christs Judging All. Rom. 14.9.11 12. 2 Cor. 5.10 and of the equity and severity of the second Death Joh. 3.19 Lu. 19.27 2 Pet. 1.2 8. The certaine sure and unspeakable happy and blessed Estate of all those that in beleeving are made one with Christ who are therein one with God in him and with Brethren in him having the same Spirit and Priviledges now in first fruits and in due season of harvest Ioh. 1.12.16 17.20 in respect of all which and such discoveries by the Spirit in the Gospel beleeved I. The Gospel is rightly called a Glass 1 Co. 13.12 2 Co. 3 3.18 Ja. 1.2 3. II. It is a sweet Prevailing motive and powerfull load-stone to draw a man 1. To judge condemne and deny himselfe and his owne wisedome parts righteousnesse 2.