it then I confess that God by Christ hath not saved all men but if all shall rise again then he is the Saviour of all men as the Scripture saith and as I from that word of truth have declared But some say T is not Christ but the Father that raiseth them up Others say That they rise by the power of Christ but not as a Mediator These weak Objections and many other silly shifts men have devised to evade the truth and prop up an opinion but being not worth taking notice of referring the reader to what hath been before said I come to answer one Objection with which men fly in the face of God which is this T is true say they God will raise up all men in the great day by Jesus Christ but it were better they were let lye in the grave for ever for he delivers them out of a bad to a worse condition First I deny that the principal end of Gods raising up men from the grave is to damn them but that all ungodly men may see what great salvation they have neglected and that for the neglect thereof they must now be punished Read I beseech you 2 Thes 2. 8 9. Heb. 2. 2. And that all godly men and ungodly too may see the clear impartial righteous judgement and pure justice of Jehovah the one declaring it by their praises of God in their mouths as Revel 16. 5 6 7. the other by their speechless silence when they shall not be able to open their mouth or hold up their faces before him that sitteth upon the throne and in the presence of the Lamb whose love and waies they have despised And lastly that after the righteous sentence is passed every man may receive according to their works 2 Cor. 5. 10. Secondly this Objection is contrary to many maximes of truth which declare that life in it selfe is a blessing and that annihilation or totall deprivation of a being is one of the greatest plagues but especially it vilifies the Principal doctrine of the gospel even the doctrine of the resurrection without which no man could have any sound comfort or incouragement in any service or sufferings for the sake of Christ Thirdly It teacheth men to reproach and upbraid God for his kindness to them They may as well say that God is the Author of their sin in that he through his Son created them as that he is the Author of their damnation in that he raiseth them up by the same Jesus Christ What you might truly say of that Servant who shall murder the onely Son of his Master who redeemed him out of a most miserable slavery and gave him liberty to serve him in the nearest relation that shall upbraid his Lord bringing of him to a just tryal and say it had been better for me to have abode still in slavery then to be tormented for my wickedness or wish that he had not brought him out of his bondage c. we justly say of those men who fancy the forementioned Objection yea the damn'd themselves will not dare to speak such words before the throne of God but shall be convinced by their owne amazed consciences that they shall then suffer for the doing of that wickedness which they should and might have avoided and the not doing of that good which God gave them ability and opportunity to do and not because God made them or raised them But say some God appointed them to be disobedient and to commit those sins for which he will damn them I confess if that were true then the poor damn'd wretches might hope to have something to plead with the great Judge for an excuse but it 's most untrue as it hath been shew'd I confess this is the great objection which the devil and ungodly men ever raised which brings the greatest advantage to Satan the greatest encouragement to sinners the greatest discomfort to the Saints and the greatest dishonour to God of any thing that ever shall or can be uttered by the mouth of any mortal man being contrary to all Scripture which declares against all the unrighteousness of men and appearance of evil shews us that our God is of purer eyes then to behold vanity and reason which will surely tell us that God would never appoint men to do that which he abhors or condemn men for doing what he had appointed them or at least for not doing that which he never gave them either ability or call to perform But say some what if it were the pleasure of God to make a thousand worlds and to destroy them all I answer first That is not nor ever will be the pleasure of God to do that which he hath not revealed for he will do nothing but he will reveal his secrets to his servants c. Secondly These are unlearned questions and it argues that when men are put to such shifts they have nothing to say from the word of truth for their opinions and therefore I shall forbear to follow them in their foolish curiosities when they presume to be wise above what is written Lastly God is so far from taking pleasure in destroying one whole world that he is not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3 9. Neither doth he willingly afflict noâ— grieve the children of men Lam. 3. 33. Yea he hath sworn that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his wicked way and live Ezek. 33. 11. Object Yet the Lord hath made the wicked for the day of evil Prov. 16. 4. I answer first But that doth not say that he hath made any men as they are men for the day of evil neither doth it say that God made men wicked as many say now a dayes But he hath appointed and ordained that wicked men shall be destroyed such as refuse and rebell Isa 1. such as turn the grace of God into wantonness Jude 4. they that believe not Heb. 3. 18 19. neither repent of their wicked deeds Luk. 13. 3. but rejecting the Gospel not considering nor laying to heart the loving kindness of the Lord go on in their whoredome lying swearing stealing drunkenness revilings heresies covetousness and all abominations these shall be turned into Hell with all the Nations that forget God Psal 9. 17. but that God did ever make or appoint men to be whoremongers lyars theeves or hereticks c. that so he might destroy them is most abominable to imagine In a word God is so far from making men wicked or destroying them as they are his creatures that when Adam had destroyed himself and the whole world of men in him by original or the first sin the Lord freely through Christ forgave it and delivered or saved him and in him all his posterity for had Adam at that instant dyed all had perished for ever with him but they are so far saved from that destruction that he giveth life to the world Joh. 7. 33. and though men
but to exhort such to hear to seek or inquire after God hear read and search the Scriptures that so they may come to know believe and repent is suteable to the direction of the Spirit through the whole book of God who hath enabled men and women come to years of discretion so as to discern betweene good and evil thus to do To call them to baptism and so make them members of a visible Church who never heard of God is ridiculous and M. Tro. himself in his Epistle to the Reader confesseth it under his own hand That visible title to and interest in the Covenant of Grace consisting in a sâ—rious profession of the Christian faith accompanied with a suteable conversation is that which constitutes a member of the visible Church of Christ whence two things are considerable 1. That infants are not whilest infants visible Members of the Church of Christ in that they make no profession of the Christian Faith neither is their conversation suteable to the holy precepts of the most high for they speak and act as children neither doth God require that it should be so for he speaks not to children 2. This discovers the folly of Baby-sprinklers who require more of poor creatures then they are able to perform which shews that their Ministery in this as in other things is not of God who never exacts that of any which he of his own free mercy and goodnesse hath not given them ability to bring to passe yea they are contrary to God and palpably contradict themselves After this short digression a sixth use that may be made of this doctrine is this that seeing God hath appointed set apart or chosen all men to serve him and enabled them so to do this should teach Ministers to take heed that they add not to neither diminish from the precepts which God hath given to mankind by laying more or lesse upon persons then they are able to perform which is a usuall thing for they say of infants that they must be baptized and be Church-Members though they have done neither good nor evil nay know not their right hand from their less and tell men that are 20. 40. 50. years of age that they cannot believe nor repent nay that they must not be baptized c. Lastly this may serve for a triall and examination to every man whether he hath done all that good which God enabled him to do and avoided that evill which he by the light manife-fested from God might have shunned that so he may through a certain knowledge of his actings in these things be comforted in his obedience through Christ the strength and arm of the Lord or repent of his non-performance of that which through that light or power he might have performed And now let the judicious Reader judge whether these things being very profitable do not freely flow from that doctrine which men call heresie Thirdly seeing some departed from the faith Hymeneus and Alexander put away faith and a good conscience all they in Asia turned away from Paul others deny the Lord that bought them and some tread under foot the Son of God and count the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified an unholy thing and doing despight to the Spirit of Grace and seeing the Holy Ghost sayes it is impossible to renew them again by repentance who fall away after they are inlightened and are partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come therefore we admonish the Saints in the language of the Lord nay the Lord warns them by us to beware and take heed lest they fall and leâ—t there be in any of the brethren an evill heart of unbelief to depart from the living God and to beware lest any man deceive them and lest any of them fall from the grace of God as some did Gal. 5. 4. to beware of false Prophets and take heed lest they fall away from their own stedâ—astnesse c. which precious words of the eternall God were of no use if the Saints were not in danger even in their best estate here below We exhort them to watch and pray and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free and to beg of God that he would hold up their goâ—ngs in his paths that their footsteps may not slide and to keep them from falling and turning back from him and knit their hearts to him pray one for another to him that is able to build them up that he would preserve them blamelesse in body soul and Spirit to the coming of Jesus Christ all which and thousand such like Petitions were frivolous if there were no danger and all those â—recepts and promises he that endureth be thâ—u faithfull he that overcometh 'T is true we do not exhort any to beware but such as walk in that way as those Saints of old did to whom those words we use were written and spoken that were improper and one means it hath been to deceive the poor â—ouls in this Island and make them think they were all Saints according to the Scripture account when they were exhorted not to fall away from their present sâ—ate whereas it had been happy for many thousand if they had fallen from it so they had fallen down and worshipped God according to his Word We do not exhort the Parish-Ministers of Great Britain much leste those poor blâ—nd creatures who follow them idolize them and are led by an implicite faith to hold fast their profession for it 's very bad and Antichristian or to continue in the way where they are for it is not good nor to take heed that they depart not from the way of God for they are not in it or from the living God for they are not with him But we beseâ—ch them to repent and turn to God that so they may be baptized and added to the Church and enjoy the precious priviledges that pertain to such as worship Gâ—d in spirit and truth i. e. according to his word which is spirit and truth well knowing that men may as well â—e destroyed for resisting the power of God and putting from them the Word of God and eternall life as for deserting the way of righteousnesse add turning from the holy Commandement delivered unto them and therefore they have no just cause to be angry against us as they are for the searcher of hearts is witnesse that we deâ—ire earnestly their conversion and salvation and therefore for my part I shall in love tell them this that if they shall still oppose Christ and call his way heresie take part with the Pope and Prelates in their Nationall Churches Baby-sprinkling forced maintenance c. none of which are according to the testimony of Jesus within few years they will be driven to darknesse but as many of them as imbrace the Gospell and walk in the way of righteousnesse which men call heresie whether they have
Scripture-Redemption freed from Men's Restrictions Being An ANSWER TO A Book lately published by Mr. William Troughton who stiles himself a Minister of the Gospel at Onlep in Leicester-shire INTITULED Scripture-Redemption restrained and limited As also the substance of several Conferences and Disputes had in England Wales and Scotland With Mr. Heath Mr. Bartley Mr. Powel Mr. Sam. Rutherford and Mr. James Wood Two Rectors of the University of S. Andrews and many others About the death of our most dear Redeemer and the Controversies which are the constant concomitants of it Together with a brief Reply to Mr. Troughton's rayling accusations in his Introduction By J. Brown sometimes of Oriel Coll. in Oxford afterwards a Priest of the Church of England and Vicar of Tenbury in Worcester-shire but now through mercy a Preacher of the faith which once he destroyed YE are my witnesses and my servant whom I have chosen that ye MAY know and believe me Isai 43. 10. London Printed by J. C. for Will Larnar at the signe of the Blackmoor neer Fleet-bridge 1653. To all those precious souls who receive the Gospel and follow the Lord Jesus in the way of righteousness to whose view this small Treatise shall by providence be presented Increase of all spiritual riches from the Father of mercies are unfeignedly desired IT is no new thing blessed souls for the God and men of this world to call the sweet saving and most soul refreshing doctrines of the Gospel Heretical opinions and the way of God even that way of Worship which Christ and his Apostles walked in Heresie that so by raising foul though false reports against the Truths of the true and eternal God they and their false Merchandise corrupt Doctrines I mean may seem fair in the eyes of their followers Let it not then seem strange to you neither be discouraged if it be so in our generation but as our God hath imparted to you a great measure of the knowledge of his love in the Lord Jesus let it be your care I beseech you by the mercies of God to walk worthy of the Lords love in all well pleasing and abounding in every good work that you may shine as lights in this world and in the world to come as the sun in the kingdom of our Father for ever and ever You have known and believed the love of God to your souls you know and are assured by the Scriptures that Christ died for you when other poor creatures going about to prove it by their qualifications a most inconstant and crooked rule are oft-times at least very uncertain whether Christ died for them and so through the instability of their sad minds either hurried away by dangerous presumption or hurled into deep despair and other soul-distracting distempers Their condition I much commiserate having my self been somewhat buffeted by Satan under it for at best they are frequently tossed to and fro by doubts and fears whether ever God gave his Son to lay down his life for them and so are kept from the enjoyment of that abiding consolation which you partake of by believing what is plainly written in the Word of Truth and rejecting the dark consequences and deductions of men Oh pity those that are ignorant of that truth which you are acquainted with endeavour to impart it to them but despise them not in that you know Christ died for them Be not weary of well doing The Lord is at hand and if you persist in holiness he will requite your short pains with everlasting pleasures and your work in the day of grace with an eternal and exceeding weight of glory And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up to make you wise unto salvation to make you perfect and throughly furnished to every good work desiring the Lord of glory to preserve you blamless in body soul and spirit till he appears the second time without sin unto salvation that you may be presented faulâ—lest before the throne of his glory with exceeding joy and be made partakers and possessors of that rich and glorious Crown and those precious promises which now by saith and patience we inherit in which most blessed state I trust on the Lords day to meet you and in the mean space whilst the Lord holdeth my soul in life here shall remain Your faithful servant and brother though unworthy in the way and work of Christ J. Brown To all the people in the world who shall peruse this plain Discourse especially such as setting their faces towards Sion have their souls sadned through the uncertainty that is in them about Christs dying for them the Author sincerely wisheth those cordial consolations which which flow from the knowledge and acknowledgment of the Truth in this point according to the Scriptures KNowing by sad experience what a miserable condition they are in who are ignorant of the love of God and how chearfully they are drawn out to serve him who know and are assured that he gave his Son to be a Propitiation for them I have here presented to each impartial Reader a familiar Discourse concerning the death of our Redeemer wherein I shall by the help of Jehovah prove 1. That Jesus Christ did die for all and every man 2. How far this extends to all or what he hath done for all men dying for them and this I shall do by the express Word of the Lord as it is ministred to us by his own Spirit without sophistical Syllogisms dark Deductions Consequences and Inferences the onely proofs of those who assert the contrary 3. I shall also by the assistance of the Lord produce the reasons which I have found in the Scripture confirming this truth 4. I shall as I have met with them answer the Objections brought against it 5. I shall make some Application of the whole wherein I shall take opportunity to shew the soundness and profitableness of this Doctrine the sad consequences and absurdities of the contrary and endeavour to discover some reasons why so few receive it and why there is so great opposition made against it I confess they lie deep but the Lord in time will help us to a more full manifestation The occasion of my undertaking of this work was partly from a nameless Paper received from some Parish Ministers living about Bishops Castle in Shrop-shire to which because I knew not to whom to write I was not careful to return any Reply But especially from the reading of ten printed Arguments set out by one M. Troughton though suckt from others together with several Conferences had providentially with many learned men as they are accounted in England and Scotland about the death of Christ and the controversies which are the constant concomitants of it My resolution is to be plain without Rhetorical flourishes and the wisdom which man teacheth The glory of God is that which I chiefly aim at my conscience bearing me witness and
perceives it will make to his disadvantage and stick to that grand error that Infants are visible Church-members I shall onely add this 1. That they who were such in the Apostles daies gladly received the word and were baptized Act. 2. 41. 2. That to every Church-member every ordinance of Christ doth belong as breaking of Bread Act. 2. 42. preaching of the word Col. 3. 16. reproof Mat. 18. 15 16 17. judging of points of difference among brethren 1 Cor. 6. 4. c. I wonder why Mr. Troughton doth not preach to them break bread with them reprove them and set them to judge at least in the things of this life which are the smallest matters For we would gladly know who dares add to diminish from or alter the practice of Jesus Christ and his Apostles in the constituting of the Church of God or hinder any of his members of their priviledge Secondly He saith but he saith falsly that we hold none to be Saints Disciples or Believers but such as are grown persons and rebaptiz'd Here he misrepresents our expressions For first we are not so silly as to lay down such negative propositions we say indeed that as in the dayes of Christ they that did repent and believe the Gospel were baptiz'd and added to the Church so we are sure they who thus walk now are visible Saints Church-members and Disciples in that they follow the precepts and practice of Christ and his Apostles we account them sheep of Christ or Christians who continue in the word of Christ and keep the Ordinances as they were delivered to the Churches by the Son of God when they may so enjoy them and that they who neglect and despise them when they so may be had and practise Baby-sprinkling are disobedient to Christ and followers of the Pope In a word they which faithfully follow that light which God layes before them are the beloved of his soul and pretious in his sight As for his tearm rebaptize we neither know nor do we practice any such thing neither can he prove his accusation against us except he can prove that the sprinkling of Babes in the face with a little water be the Ordinance of Baptisme appointed for us by the Lord Jesus in his word of truth and then we shall owne it and Mr. Troughton also in it Thirdly He accuseth us for baptizing believers into this Faith that Christ died for all c. To which I answer If the Scriptures say Christ dyed for all I hope Mr. Troughton hath no just cause to finde fault with us for believing it except he can prove it to be a crime to believe as the Scripture saith which kinde of beleiving Christ hath made a pretious promise to Joh. 7. 38 39. And whereas he taxeth us for not joyning with others which he calls in derision Anabaptists I wish Mr. Troughton not to speak evil of what he knows not Mr. Jessey Mr. Kiffin Mr. Patience so far as they practice Gospel-Ordinances do as closely follow Jesus Christ as Mr. Troughton and others in their Baby-sprinkling do Antichrist In a word we are to joyn with the Lord Jesus the head of the body not with men nor follow them further then they follow Christ Fourthly He accuseth us saying that we owne such as Christs Disciples who are baptiz'd into our opinion be they never so ignorant and vain c. This is a meer scandal for first we baptize none but such as in some good measure know their miserable state by sin the love of God by a Saviour c. And as for such as walk in a vain conversation they are cast off if they refuse to hear the Church And whereas he saies we unchurch all that differ from us though never so spiritual heavenly experienced Christians I say first as before that they that walk up to the light which God allows them are his Congregation 2. That they who have the word of God and follow Christ and his Apostles in Gospel-obedience are the Church of Christ his Disciples and experienced Christians according to the Scripture computation see Joh. 8. 31. To the fifth Accusation where he saith we refuse to hear the ablest and most approved Ministers of the Gospel except it be to cavil against them I answer It is not so for those that are approved Ministers of the Gospel I mean such as yeeld obedience to to Jesus Christ in his commands and follow him in life and doctrine we freely hear But we do not judge them who reject the counsel of God and teach otherwise then Christ and his Apostles taught able and approved Ministers of the Gospel though they talk long and loud yea though they could speak with the tongue of Angels As for Tithe-takers Baby-sprinklers and Parish-Ministers their practice declareth them to be at least in some things Popish Levitical Priests acting contrary to the precepts and practice of Jesus Christ and so Antichristian By the word cavil I judge he means reason out of the Scriptures and in this we desire to do as we would be done by for we never deliver any Doctrine publickly but we are willing publickly to give an account of what we declare to them And for the serviceableness of those whom Mr. Troughton counts able Ministers to the state I shall at present be silent onely adding that most of us whom Mr. Troughton traduceth in the margin of his book have adventured our lives in the service of the Commonwealth and shall again when thereunto called Sixthly He accuseth us as overthrowers of Magistracy and for accounting the Parish-Priests Antichristian persecutors when they call for the civil power to punish such as would publickly dispute their Doctrine and Ministery he calls it the keeping of order and peace in the Congregation whilst they are about the worship of God and to prevent cumbustions c. I answer This is a meer fiction they are sure the Magistrates most faithful friends who desire them to wait on that office which God hath called them to and they are enemies to the civil powers who call to them to do that which is not appertaining to their duty Now we desire the Magistrate as a Magistrate to exercise his power in its proper place as for example if any had been at Odeby or are elsewhere stickers or breakers of the peace by any means God hath ordained the powers that are for the punishment of such evil doers But if any do desire to reason out of the Scriptures about the worship of the most high God they that call to the Magistrate to punish such or by the civil Sword to stop their mouths are Antichristian persecutors yea Tyrants over the consciences of their fellow creatures and those Magistrates who shall at the request of such Tyrants exercise their Authority against such as seek to finde out the truth by disputing with the false Ministery if they take not heed betimes will be overthrown by the might of the Lord as they have been before
we quarrel with them for praying before and after Sermon To this I have given satisfaction in my answer to his tenth charge In his thirteenth are many gross slanders together for whereas Mr. Trough chargeth us with an absolute denyal of original sin we teach that Adams offence in the garden was the first sin and that we being all in his loines who sinned became subject to corruption yea judgement came thereby on all men to condemnation And as for Gods absolute decree which he most falsly sayes we scoffe at we hold that God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation such as obey the truth through the Spirit and of old ordained to condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of God into wantonness even all such as by the goodness of God are not led to repentance What he means by free-will I know not But we hold that God hath given to his creatures out of the riches of his free mercy ability and liberty one time or other to performe whatsoever he requires them to believe and do And whereas he sayes we preach for falling away to use Mr. Trough own tearms it is most untrue for we preach for holding fast by Jesus Christ and warn admonish and beseech the Saints to take heed lest any of them fall from the grace of God or by an evil heart of unbelief depart from him Heb. 12. 15. To the fourteenth where he taxeth us for bringing the Saints into bondage by disswading them from frequenting the Parish-assemblies and exercises I answer Most of those whom he in derision calls our followers have heard him and other Parish-preachers till they were weary of their soul-distracting and self-contradicting doctrines Neither is it we but the Lord who commands both us and them to come out from Babel to be separate and to avoid and turn away from them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine delivered by Christ and his Apostles not to receive to house nor bid such God speed yea and though he were an Apostle or an Angel from heaven to hold such accursed as bring any other Gospel or doctrine then what hath been preached by the Lord Jesus And such I am sure are our tithe-taking mercenary Parish-Ministers who teach men to sprinkle babes and to believe that Christ dyed not for all c. Gospel and Doctrine which never came out of the mouth of our blessed Redeemer yet we will hear you if you will but give a reason of what you say to dissatisfied spirits otherwise we should bring our selves into bondage if you will neither answer us nor let us go Blessed be our God we can hear Christ and his Apostles preach search the Scriptures prove their doctrine and receive satisfaction and they are not offended at us The fifteenth Article of Mr. Troughtons charge against us is a meer cavil and groundless surmise upon his own mistake for he using some vilifying and contemptful language to one that had been a souldier and commander in the States service after long silence and bearing his imperious checks the party told him he had shewed his face in the defence of his Country where Mr. Trough durst not appear But if ever I finde Mr. Trough charging an enemy for his Nations just liberty I shall assure him of all submissive satisfaction But upon this he chargeth us of giving out threatning language And by this you may see the weight of Mr. Troughtons complaints His sixteenth accusation is a gross falsity For he saith that we are ready to make insurrection upon them when they fight against our opinions with Scripture-weapons and that some of us have beaten some of their hearers which till Mr. Trough prove and bring the offender to condign punishment I shall only say this that The religion of that man who bridleth not his tongue is but vain Jam. 1. 26. The contrary to Mr. Trough 17 accusation is true for whereas he sayes our design is to pull down the powerful Ministry of Christ our desires and endeavours are and shall be by the Lords assistance to set it up even such Ministers as are obedient to every command of Christ keep the ordinances as they were delivered by him and are enabled by the Spirit of God through the Scriptures to preach the Gospel without stealing the word from their neighbors and scraping and scribling their Sermons out of Popish Postillers ancient Fathers as they call them and commentators but as for all national parochial tithe-taking hireling baby-sprinkling-Ministers we know they are plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted and will be rooted up The Lord is mercy by his word root them up out of the dunghil of their errors that they may be rooted and built up in Jesus Christ In the last place Mr. Trough accuseth us for holding the truth in love though he alter our expressions For t is true we do deny that any can infallibly prove that Christ dyed for him or her in particular but by the testimony of the Spirit of God in the Scriptures if they can let them bring forth their witnesses I am sure that 's an infallible evidence being the witness of God and all other spirits qualifications and witnesses are fallible false without foundation and are built upon the bottomless pit And we do affirme that they who can and do by the Scriptures prove that Christ dyed for them are built upon a sure foundation even the Doctrine of the prophets and Apostles They may by such a Testimony if profane come to be convinced and converted if of a sadned spirit to be comforted some come thus to be delivered out of the bondage of sin others out of the bands of sorrow It puts a check to the presumptuous sinner and lifts up the head of the despairing soul and though Cain Pharaoh Judas and millions of men deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction yet that no whit abateth the comfort of the Saints who know and believe the love that the Father hath to them I'ts but a fleeting inconstant comfort for a man to believ that which he hath no assurance of to believe that Christ dyed for him before he know it beyond the reach of doubting for of necessity it must be that he believes he knows not what When we say that men cannot certainly and comfortably conclude that Christ dyed for them but by the word of the living God which says Christ dyed for all and for want of this proof are in any kinde of bondage and trepidation of spirit we do it not to upbraid them but in love and tenderness of soul to free and refresh them and therefore Mr. Trough did very ill as I judge to bring in this as a crime against us but hatred for goodwill is the portion of such as follow Christ And withall you may see the spirits of men how they seek a knot in a rush any thing to make the persons of men odious Surely they that shew their teeth
Answ Letting alone their godliness and learning I answer That they who hold the truth in righteousness are and ever were the smaller number Secondly some have taken up their judgements on trust without searching the Scriptures others have searched them partially to maintain an opinion before taken up from others And some few searching seriously and sincerely have been mistaken in that they have not rightly divided the word of truth neither distinguished betwixt the first and second man the first and second Testament the offence of Adam and our actual sins the first and second death but affirm that by Adam's one offence the second death came on him and all mankinde they divide not betwixt life and life justification and justification sanctification and sanctification nor have they opened the nature of Election Redemption Reconciliation and Salvation according to the Scriptures I shall therefore by the help of God endeavour as briefly as possibly I can to discover what death came through Adam's offence and to handle these Scripture-terms Election Redemption c. so as that men may come clearly to see the foundation of that darkness ignorance and errour that hath been amongst the sons of men about the death of Christ for most men following the steps of their fellow-creatures have jogged on in the common road of Tradition not weighing well what the Word of Truth speaks concerning these most weighty matters And that I may the more profitably clear up these things and make the way to them the more plain I shall desire the Reader to consider what by all is acknowledged who truely confess the Deity That there is a twofold manifestation of the love of God to and amongst men the one universal and the other particular or special answerable to his general and special presence and providence the former is called the good will of God Sutable to this is that Luk. 2. 14. Good will towards men and that Psal 145. 9. The Lord is good to all c. not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3. 9. The other is that love by which he is said to delight and take pleasure in some as Prov. 11. 20. The upright in their way are his delight and Psal 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him and such as hope in mercy The first is called the good will or his love of good will the later his delight or love of delight The former is every way free and every man and woman as the Scripture and experience shews are partakers of it the latter is conditional and onely they that fear the Lord have interest in it According to the former there is Election Creation Redemption Reconciliation Justification Sanctification Vocation and Salvation of and to every man and woman according to the latter onely of and to a part of the sons and daughters of Adam And let me desire the Reader to forbear rash censures and prejudice till he hath considerately perused and pondered what I shall here present concerning these things But before I come to treat of these precious words I shall endeavour according to that light and strength which the Lord hath lent to me to remove one grand obstruction which doth hinder many from understanding how Christ died for all and that is that conceit and received opinion that for the first offence God condemned Adam and all his posterity to the second death which is the lake of fire and brimstone For the doing whereof I shall lay before you the principal proofs that men produce for their judgement in this point Secondly their mis-interpretations of those proofs contrary to Scripture and sound Reason Thirdly what the Word of the eternal God saith concerning the sin of Adam in eating and the punishment that was inflicted for eating the forbidden fruit The first testimony they bring forth is Eph. 2. 1 2 3. You hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the minde and were by nature children of wrath even as others From whence some conclude as formerly I have done that Adam and all his posterity through his eating of the forbidden tree were condemned to the second death And to confirm this their conclusion they say that by Nature is meant nativity or birth and by wrath the second death not considering that wrath is often taken for the anger of God denounced and inflicted here against sin and sinners as Psal 78. 49. and so 't is used above fourty times in Scripture or that nature is never taken for nativity neither is it mentioned as a thing that is evil vile or sinful of it self but a help to the doing of things contained in the Law Rom. 2. 14. a teacher of good things 1 Cor. 11. 14. I confess men do corrupt and abuse Nature sin against it and transgress her laws so they do the Word of God 2 Cor. 2. 17. yet the Word of God is not therefore evil because it is corrupted by men And truely if Nature had been so vile a wicked thing as some say Christ would never have taken our natures upon him Take briefly what I judge the Scriptures hold forth clearly for the opening of this text which in the least props not up their opinion By wrath I understand Gods anger or displeasure against sin so Heb. 3. 11. And by nature I understand partly the substance or the matter of which God hath made us and the members of which are written in his book which though through Adam's sin they are subject to corruption death or perishing in the grave yet they are not vile and wicked in themselves for even the matter and form of them being from God by way of creation and appointment are good But principally by nature the Scriptures hold forth the light which God hath placed in man as it 's clear from Rom. 1. 26. they did things against nature and Rom. 2. 14. when they do by nature the things contained in the Law that is by that light or law which is written in their hearts And withal considering that the text now under consideration speaks of some dead in trespasses and sins wherein they had walked following the devil and fulfilling their lusts we may conclude that by nature is not meant birth neither can it comprehend all mankinde forasmuch as infants have not so walked But this may be evidently seen in the text that whilst Paul or the Ephesians or any others walked in sins followed the course and counsel of the devil fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the minde they were dead in trespasses and sins children of disobedience and by nature children of wrath even as others Nature
1. and compare it with 1 Chron. 21. 1. you may see the more clearly how to open such texts Lastly I answer If we shall understand this place otherwise then of Gods giving up the perverse man to the perversness of his owne counsel we must say that it's Gods preceptive decree that men should curse which the Objector would seem to shun and yet content to have granted although it be contrary to his owne distinction But if still any shall argue that God did decree his cursing by permitting of it I say he did no otherwise permit it then David did in not cutting him off and that 's far from decreeing it Object One objection more I shall answer which is this Some say that God cannot be denied to be the Author of sin in every sense because it 's say'd Amos 3. 6. Shall there be evill in the City and the Lord hath not done it and Isa 45. 7. I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evill I the Lord do all these things Answ He that will read Ier. 18. 8. chap. 21. 10. and 28. 8. with many other places may easily see that the Evil that God bringeth on a City is War Famine Pestilence c. But if wicked men could bring God to be the Decreer Commander and actor of sin they were then safe enough but all such will be found lyers in the day of the Lord Jesus These Objections are the Pillars of Atheism and Ranterism and if such as say that Christ never dyed for all and that he decreed the disobedience of the creatures follow their principles up to the height they will in time either be reconciled to such or die in despaire These things being seriously considered by humble hearts will let them see that God never ordain'd appointed or chose men to unbeliefe and disobedience nor ever left them to themselves which they call permitting of sin till their perverse hearts resisted his Spirit and departed from him but leaving or passing by the fallen Angels he set his heart upon lost man he chose or appointed that creature to live in the world to serve him in holiness and righteousness and this is that which I call the general election appointment or pre-ordination of God through and in Christ to live here to the means of grace to do well c. But will some say General election is a contradiction Election being a taking a part out of the whole Answ Election is so indeed and that which I affirm in this point is the same for out of the whole of what was fallen he chose a part viz Mankind to stand before him as when a heap of Gold and a heap of silver is before a man and he having power or liberty to make his choise takes one of the heaps chuseth all the gold or the silver as he pleaseth so it was the pleasure of Jehovah Angels and men being fallen and both before him to regard or set his heart upon or chuse poor undone man But I beseech you to consider that I never said that he chose or appointed all men as men to eternal life for there is a special election as well as a special salvation of such as believe That there is a special election or appointment of some to eternal life is agreed on by all and that this election was from the foundation of the world is denyed by none that owne the Gospel and that this election or appointment to eternal happiness is of such men and women who believe and obey him following that holy rule and light which he hath given them is as true for no rational man is so absurd as to say that he chose any others amongst grown persons to everlasting glory Yet some affirm that he chose to salvation a certain number of persons personally considered onely as creatures Of whom I would first demand Whether Election be not according to the foreknowledge of God sutable to Rom. 8. 29. Whom he did foreknow them he did predestinate and that in 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God If it be as without controversie it is then I affirm that God foreknew their obedience as well as their persons or else you maim and bound the infinite and unlimited Foreknowledge of the most High to whom not onely all his own but all our works were known from the beginning But the great question is Whether the creatures obedience foreknown did move God to give him eternal life To which I answer First that eternal life is the gift of God Rom. 6 last Secondly That election to eternal life is onely according to the purpose and counsel of his own will and what that is the Scriptures do evidently Manifest viz. that the purpose and will of God before the world began was to make Christ the Author of eternal salvation to those that obey him that such as believe should not perish but have eternal life Joh. 3. 15 16. and 6. 40. that such as do well and by patient continuing in wel-doing seek for glory honour and immortality should have eternal life read Joh. 5. 29. with Rom. 2. 7. Thirdly Election to eternal life is through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the truth 2 Thes 2. 13. He hath chosen to himself the man that is godly Psal 4. though not for being Godly yet it was his pleasure to chuse such Object But they are Godly and believe by vertue of their election preceding I grant it understanding it of chusing or appointing all men to live here and to live to him as I have before shew'd for had there not been such an election by the free unsought-for mercy of Jehovah no man had ever believed no nor had life or breath Still therefore it will be our wisdome to divide a right the word of truth and to distinguish between election before calling and election after caling the former of all mankinde to live here to hear the call of God and answer it both which priviledges were lost through disobedience the latter of such as live to him whilest they live here to eternal bliss Election before calling every one will grant of the other the Scripture speaks Mat. 20. 19. and 22. 14. many are called but few are chosen see Rev. 17. 14. Object But if any say The order of words prove nothing Answ Search the Scriptures and you shall see exemplary testimonies to confirm this consider Act. 9. 15. After Paul was called and come in the Lord saies to Ananias Go thy waies for he is a chosen vessel to me c. he doth say he was and compare this with the same Apostles saying Rom. 16. 7. Salute Andronicus and Junia my Kinsman who are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me Now every soul that knows any thing knows that there is no election out of Christ and it is a mans being in Christ that entitles him to that eternal life which
truth that so they might be saved but let God be true and every man a lyar all such mouths shall be stopt and God shall be clear when he judgeth Psal 51. 4. Object But all have not the truth held forth to them may some say Answ First Though all men have not the same measure of light or truth manifested to them or in the same manner yet they have so much light of truth as God hath appointed them to follow for not following which they shall be condemn'd Joh. 3. 19. Secondly let us consider that by light which I here speak of I understand the law written in the heart which when men do evil speaks truth to them telling them it is evil and accuseth them for it and again discovereth unto them the goodness of God yea when they do well it assureth their hearts of it praiseth them for it and in this speaketh truth which light or law if men believed shunning that which it shewes to be evil and practising that which it declareth to be good they having no other teachings from God here their consciences would excuse them in the day when God shall judge the secrets of all men by Jesus Christ Rom. 2. 16. Thirdly That every man shall be judged according to what they have and not according to what they have not Object But God is not bound to give to every man sufficient means of grace Answ First He hath done it already the works were finish'd from the foundation of the world yet such as believe not shall never enter into his rest Read and consider Heb. 4. 2 3. Secondly He hath bound it by an oath that he desires not the death of a sinner Ezek. 33. 11. Thus you see how true the Lord my strength is and he never did nor will require any more of his poor creatures but what he of his owne mercy and goodness hath given them ability to perform Object How comes it to pass then that all do not walk up to that light which God hath manifested to them believing and obeying the truth and how comes it to pass that some do believe and obey and others do not Answ To the first part of the objection all will agree that it is because they follow the counsel of the Devil and false Doctors the Pleasures profits and promotions of the world which choke the seed they seek the honour that cometh from men c. Joh 5. 44. and love the praise of men more then the praise of God they are not the sheep of Christ for such hear his voice Joh. 10. 26 27. Let him that readeth consider who are Christs sheep and then he will see the reason why men believe not it is not because they are not elected but because they hearken not to the words of the Lord. Secondly some are rul'd by the counsel of God they receive the word into an honest and good heart for faith comes by hearing and hearkening to the truth he calls and some come he invites and some haste to the feast whilest others frame excuses God sets light before them as he doth before others and they rejoyce in it he presents life and death perswading them to chuse life Deut. 30. 15 16 17 18 19. and some by the Lords perswasions do chuse life and all praise glory and honour is due to his glorious Majesty for his gratious calls his loving invitations and sweet perswasions for he might have left us without all these means they who come do but their duty and no thanks is due to men for doing their duty it is God that furnisheth them with understanding means power and opportunity yea he calleth them to it by the light which maketh all things manifest and shews to man his duty and what it is that is most sutable to him who is goodness it self Thus you have heard concerning the Election or Ordination of God that he chose or appointed fallen man and not the Angels to serve him and how he of his owne free mercy in Christ chose or pre-ordain'd such as faithfully serve him to life eternal through Christ though there be many who would bear the world in hand that we deny Election and Reprobation because we are not so sensless as to say that God from all eternity chose a certain number to life without reference to any obedience to his will and appointed the rest to sin and so to damnation as some say or at least as others hold left the greatest part of men to be damn'd in the second death because of Adams eating the forbidden fruit without any real tender of mercy through Christ Expressions which an holy heart not deluby corrupt doctrine will abhor to meditate Surely the Lord will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the Prophets Amos 3. 7. And if God hath revealed any such thing that hath appointed men to disobedience and unbeliefe left them without any mercy through a crucified Christ and yet without excuse I would intreat those that finde it to shew it to us but in the mean space I beseech you consider what hath been evinced to you that God hath appointed all men to serve honour and obey him as throughout the whole book of God is reveal'd to us and which I shall endeavour further to discover to you in the next word Creation Concerning which also as of the former I shall treat First generally Secondly particularly As touching that which I call general Creation we are to consider who is the Author of it and by whom The Scripture will give answer thereunto thus First That God created all men Secondly That this was through Christ For the first we see what the Apostle saith He that made all things is God See also Act. 17. 24. And that this was through Christ is clear Eph. 3. 9. God who created all things by Jesus c. By whom all things consist Col. 1. 17. Object But not as a mediator sayes one Answ 1. How to distinguish between Christ and the Mediator the Scriptures never yet taught us for he by whom all subsist is the Mediator 2. For the fuller explication of this consider seriously Acts 17. 26 27. where you shall finde who created all things by whom to what end thus And hath made of one blood or blood of one all Nations of men to dwel on the face of the whole earth and hath determined the time before appointed and the bounds of their habitations that they should seek him c. where many things are considerable First That one blood or blood of one there spoken of I think none will deny to be the blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world by whose death we have life John 6. 51. Through him we live move and have our being By that blood Adam had his life granted him after he had transgressed the command of God by the same do all Nations of men consist And I thinke that none
will gainesay this that Adam had his life continued through a crucified Christ or Lamb slain c. Secondly See the end why God created or made all Nations by through or of one blood or blood of one not that they should be disobedient or to damn any as some say but that they should seek him which doth further illustrate what I lately wrote concerning Gods chusing of mankinde when they were all lost in one to serve him so in this case when mankinde might have been banished for ever to the dust he found a ransome to keep him from going down to the pit and by that ransome granted life to Adam and all his posterity 1 John 4. 9. But as there is a special election of such as obey to eternal Salvation so is there a special creation in Christ of such as seek him of which I come next to speak This you may read in many places of Scripture where mention is made of the new creature the new man c. especially 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature c. Now the depth of this point lies in this to finde how a man comes to be a new creature Some hold that a man is meerly passive in this work as he was in the universal creation and some say that there are others who teach that man makes himself a new creature if there be any such I am sure that they are both in extreams and far from the truth of God That which I have found true in the Scripture and by experience is this That God having appointed or chosen and created or made man to seek or serve him when his creatures become able to understand the difference between good and evil and to be cheer'd in the doing of one and checkt in the committing of the other comes to instruct and teach them even when they are dead in sins and trespasses stretcheth forth his hands to them inviteth them beseecheth them and sheweth them his love convinceth them of sin by the light of the Lord manifest in the heart or by his word and they who learn of the Father lay to heart his love consider their misery see the filthiness of sin follow the light hearken to his voice and so receive his Son To these who were his off-spring before in the first or general creation doth he grant power to become the children of God even to such as believe on his name John 1. 12. and so become the workmanship of God created unto Christ Jesus in good works they are begotten and borne againe by the Gospel that immortal seed of the word which liveth and abideth for ever They that hear his voice and hearken to it do live and then Christ gives them life Hear and your soul shall live Isa 55. 2. Such as receive the truth in the love of it the seed into an honest and good heart become thereby quickened and in time to be born again of water and the Spirit and so are ingraffed into Christ or added to the Church old things errors in judgement and life pass away all things become new they being conformed to Christ the new Man in all obedience And thus the new Creature is formed and the new Creation framed and fitly compact to be an habitation of God through the Spirit I confess that these things to a carnal heart and a poor deluded soul will seem strange yet do but consider whether this work of special creation in which only some share hath not alwayes been thus carried on first the Lord called and spake presented light to the soul by which he discovered his love and mans enmity his purity and the creatures iniquity his goodness and sins sinfulness yet still some turned away the ear pull'd away the shoulder despised his reproof set at naught his counsel vexed his holy Spirit believed not his report but delighted in sin and so remained dead in sins and trespasses but such as hearkned and heard rejoyced in the light consider'd the word and entertain'd it though before carnal and so not discerning spiritual things became thereby spiritual as the Apostle Paul cleerly demonstrates Gal. 3. And whereas some have a fond conceit that a man must be spiritual before he can receive the word it 's a gross mistake for there was never yet a spiritual man but before he received the teachings of the Lord was carnal and by receiving the instructions of the Almighty became spiritual But their mistake is grounded upon a worse foundation even their low thoughts of the Scriptures and they reason to this effect The word say such may be preached a thousand times but except God come by the power of his Spirit to over-power our hearts we cannot receive his words not considering that the word is Spirit and life John 6. 63. and the power of God to salvation to them that believe Rom. 1. 16. Secondly Upon a conceit they have that a man is like a stock or a stone in and under the work of the new creation not considering that although God in the first creation did the worke wholly and absolutely himself yet in the second or new creation he comes to a creature that he hath furnished with abilities to do what he requires and then gives it his commands according to that ability requires them to hear know and receive his truth and they that obey him in these things live they are quickened and so the new creation is begun Object If any aske why all do not receive the truth I answer They resist the Spirit of God Act. 7. 51. But lest I should leave this obscure I desire the reader to weigh these things First That the new creation hath not it's compleatness at once Secondly That the Lord doth ever so begin the work and every part of it that what is by us to be done he leaves very plain and easie before us First It is not at once compleated for first the Lord commands to hear Isa 55. 3. Secondly to seek vers 6. Thirdly to know Act. 2. 36. Job 5. ult Fourthly to believe 1 Joh. 3. 23. Fifthly to repent Act. 17. 30. Sixthly to be baptized Act. 2. 38. and so they are planted into Christ Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 6. 3 4. Added to the Church Act. 2. 41. which is Christs body Eph. 1. 22. 23. To the Apostles fellowship Act. 2. 42. Thus souls are joyned to the Lord. And this word or doctrine which was from the beginning remaining in them they remain in the Son and in the Father 1 Joh. 2. 24. and abiding in the doctrine of Christ they have both the Father and the Son Joh. 2 Ep. v. 6. He doth not first command men to enter into Church-fellowship as the Papists Prelates Presbyterians and some others doe for the first thing that these practice is to put all those that are born in their Church as they call it into Church-membership as soon as they are born and sprinkled with
water in the face though they be but a day old Neither doth he command men and women first of all to be baptized nay he doth not expect men to repent till they are warned by his light or word discovering sin to them nor to believe before they know what nor to know any more then he declares but first hear then know after that believe repent and be baptized and by this they come out from Babel are separated and distinguished from the world and made manifest to be professors of truth and members of the body of Christ for men are not fitted for Church-membership according to the primitive pattern and Scripture-account till they are baptizâ—â— consider Acts 2. 41 42. neither are they fit to be buried with Christ in baptisme till they repent i. e. turn to God from errors in judgement and practice yea are dead to them neither will men ever do this rightly till they believe that which is written in the law and in the prophets apply it to their own souls and cast themselves upon God for life and salvation through Christ alone Neither can they ever thus believe till they know by an infallable testimony what God hath done for them by Christ and till men come to search the Scriptures and hear the Spirit there speaking to their souls and give up themselves to that eternal truth and perfect teaching of the Spirit which only is for our learning they will never know that certainly Qu. What shall they do that have not the Scriptures I answer as Christ did to Peter in another case yet much like this Joh. 21. 22. What is that to thee follow thou Christ in the light that is given thee he knows what he laid down and what to require and how to reward every man according to his works Thus as by the steps of Jacobs ladder men ascend to the Lord attaine to the measure of the stature of Christ come to have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus and to walk with God who as I hinted but even now doth begin the work and every part of the work of the new creation leaving man to do nothing but what he hath enabled him to do and so without all excuse in case of neglect yet many do neglect their duty which God hath left them to do which together with the committing of that which God hath declared to be evil is counted sin and shall be the onely cause of mens condemnation in the last day Read Mat. 25. 45. 2 Thes 1. 8 9. Doth God command men to hear which is the first duty required of us in order to the new creation he gives ears Psal 94. 9. Neither doth he call upon little Infants to hear Deut. 11. 2. to 8. Doth he command men to see consider and understand he gives eyes heart and understanding Obj. But is it not said Deut. 29. 4. that God had not give them eyes to see a heart to perceive and ears to hear unto this day It is so said and it is true as it is written onely men consider not where the sound and force of that saying is for most place it in these words the Lord hath not given and I finde by the Scriptures that it is to be placed in these words Vnto this day for once they did see the Lords wonders and sang his praises as you may prove Deut. 11. 5 6 7 8. compared with Exod. 15. Psal 106. 12. But they forgat his works and God withdrew his light they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit so he turned to be their enemy Isa 63. 10. they once knew and understood that it was the Lord that delivered them but for their rebellion he forsook them and continued not that light with them Ye have seen the wonders that God did before their eyes c. Deut. 29. 2 3. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive c. VNTO THIS DAY v. 4. And indeed God hath nowhere promised that he will continue Light and understanding to a people that still disobey him The Lord is with us while we are with him if we forsake him he will forsake us 2 Chron. 15. 2. There have been many in our age who neglecting to follow the light which they saw have been left in darkness and though God did once give them a heart to perceive and eyes to see c. yet he hath not given these to them VNTO THIS DAY By this you may perceive that God is not wanting on his part to carry on the new or special creation but men are wanting to do their duty when the Lord calls them from sin they refuse to come and delight still in their carnal state till the Lord forsakes them and will no longer wait on them nor suffer his Spirit to strive with them You may also see that the Reason why there are no more new creatures is this they hearken not to the teachings of him that gave them their being in the general creation but reject the counsel of God against themselves as the Scribes and Pharisees did Mat. 21. 31. Luk. 7. 30. And by this Lastly you may see that creation is General and special General of all men by Jesus Christ special of such as receive the word and obey it in Jesus Christ In the former is nothing required of the creature in the latter so much is justly expected as the Lord enables him to do Obj. But is it not said 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth or comprehendeth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he knew them because they are spiritually discern'd Answ For the better understanding of the minde of God in this place we must first consider what is meant here by the things of the Spirit of God which the Apostle shews us in the 9 and 10 verses to be those things which God hath prepared for them that love him even the spiritual treasures of grace and glory which shall be brought to the Saints at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 7. 13. Secondly What is meant by the natural man which also the same Apostle explains in the 15 chapter of this same Epistle vers 44 45 46. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as it is written The first Adam was made a living soul the last Adam was made a quickning spirit Howbeit that it is not first that be spiritual but that which is natural c. Adam or man as man by general creation is this natural man beware then lest you affirme that Adam was created a spiritual man Thirdly What God hath prepared and that is a Kingdome Matth. 25. 34. A place or mansion John 14. 3. A city Heb. 11. 16. an inheritance undefiled 1 Pet. 1. 4 c. Fourthly Who they are that love him such as keep his commandments Joh. 14. 21. i. e. such as observe all Christs commands and his commands onely
world began and in some measure of light or other hath been is or shall be manifest to all men Of this justification by faith the Scriptures of truth speak much as Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God from whence I gather that though God be at peace with us in relation to the first transgression yet no man can have peace with him in their own souls in reference to those many sins that themselves have committed but by believing or laying hold of his strength as you may see if you will but considerately weigh Isa 27. 4 5. Of this Justification which believers onely are sharers in mention is also made in many other places as Gal. 2. 16 3. 8. 24 c. As for justification by works as the Papists plead for it the Scriptures own no such thing only as they serve to justifie our saith before men shewing it to be such a faith as worketh by love and is agreeable to the word of the Lord. The next in order to be spoken of is Justification in treating of iâ— I shall first with the aide of God shew you by the Scriptures how all are sanctified and then how onely some are sanctified by the blood of Jesus First there is a sanctification of all men and that is by the blood of the Lambe slain from the foundation of the world poured out or shed for them For the full discovery of this I would desire the reader to consider what sanctification is according to the Scripture and he shall finde that it is either a cleansing purging or a separating somthing to an holy use and this is either by blood or by the word of truth or Spirit of God A word or two of the former of these when all mankinde were polluted and unclean through the offence of one and in him banished from the presence of God and condemn'd to the dust our dear Redeemer by his blood freely purged away that spot or filthiness which would have kept men out of the presence of God for ever that so all men and women are through him separated or sanctified to serve the living God and for proof hereof search the Scriptures and see Heb. 13. 12. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctifie the people with his own â—lood suffered without the gate And if any shall say that the text proves not that he sanctified all men with his blood Answ first There are none excluded Secondly His suffering without the gate argues that his blood was shed to sanctifie both Jews and Gentiles which are all the people that the Scripture makes mention of Thirdly If Christ had not by his blood sanctified whole mankind from the filth of Adams fault they had never had life or liberty to serve God And if any shall say that God hath not through his Son given all men liberty to serve him then it seems that they who shall be damn'd perish because God would not give them liberty or leave to obey him or else because Adam did eat the forbidden fruit either of which is absurd yea horrid to a knowing spiritual heart But more clearly is the evidence given by the same Apostle Heb. 10. 29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath troden under foot the Son of God and counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done dispite to the Spirit of grace Whence without violent wresting of the Scripture a thing that many use to serve their turnes we may clearly conclude that they who trample under foot the Son of God and do despite to the Spirit of grace and count the blood of the Covenant as an unclean or unholy thing were sanctified by that blood which they so lightly regard Now all will grant that they who prize Christ obey the teachings of the Spirit and highly esteem the blood of the Son of God were sanctified by it and the Scripture here evidently testifies as before mention'd that others even the worst of men as I may so say were likewise sanctified who then is excluded or are there any more sorts of men and women but such as obey the Spirit and such as resist it Is it not most evident that all were sanctified by the blood of Christ even they that trod it under foot and flight it and despise the Spirit of grace and Son of God I am not ignorant of the many poor shifts which I and others have had to evade the truth of God so plainly revealed in this pretious place of Scripture but I judge they are not worth the taking notice of Object But some may enquire happily What is my end in endeavouring to prove that ungodly men who tread under foot the Son of God c were sanctified justified reconciled and redeemed by his blood Answ That when I meet with such I may declare unto them the righteousness kindeness and goodwill of God convince them of their ingratitude perswade them to love Christ and believe on him to leave their evil learne to do well demanding of them how they can have the heart to live so wickedly and abuse the mercy of God in Jesus Christ by whose blood they were justified from that one offence and sanctified or set apart to serve God how they can be so unkind to their Saviour and to tread him under foot that bought and sanctified them with his dearest heart-blood That in case they refuse they be left without excuse so as they shall not be able to say in the last day Lord when did we hear of thy love or that thou didst redeem and sanctifie us by thy blood and so it being manifest that their destruction is of themselves the Lord may be clear when he judgeth And whereas it may be demanded How it comes to pass that all serve not God in holiness I answer first negatively It is not because God did appoint them to unholiness and disobedience as some blasphemously say but because they resist the holy Spirit or the teachings of truth or light of Christ shewing good and evil excusing them in doing the of one and accusing them for the other for they who receive the instructions of the holy God and turn at his reproof shall have his Spirit poured out to them Prov. 1. 23. Turn you at my reproof I will pour my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you and so the Lord giving out his word and Spirit and they receiving it become partakers of that special or peculiar sanctification of which I made mention but even now of which a word or two in the last place When the posterity of Adam once sanctified as I have shew'd you by blood or set apart to serve Jehovah which priviledge had all lost in one come to know good and evil to receive vain thoughts to lodge in their hearts and so vain words proceed from their lips and vain traditions from their Teachers and
fellow-creatures with all which their minds and consciences yea their lives and conversations become defiled and as many of these as â—â—ke notice of the goodness of God entertain the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world embrace the counsel of God apply the blood of the Lamb believe on the Lord Jesus and take heed to their waies according to his word these are led to repentance or a change come to see the sinfulness of sin turn from it have their consciences purged from dead works and their waies cleansed so that at length they come to be holy in heart and all manner of conversation and so are partakers of that special sanctification which I am here treating of viz. by the Word and Spirit For the declaring of this more fully I shall lay down this Querie What is the reason that men dye in their sins and are not purged from their filthiness If I should as many do say that it was Gods appointment he so ordain'd it or that God did not shew them his light of truth or that he did not do this really or that he did not give them ability to receive it as it was manifested and so follow it or else for that he gave not his Son to dye for them neither was it his will that they should repent and be sanctified but that they should dye in disobedience and so be damn'd Sure If I should say thus all good men would abhor me for such speeches and well they might yet these are the tenents and sayings of those men against whose opinions I have appeared and surely I judge that as a man said to Joab in another case I may positively conclude in this that themselvs would set themselves against me if I should go about and preach that God did appoint men to disobedience and to sin and not willing that all should come to repentance but that some men even as they are men should despise the riches of his grace and perish These hard speeches I have heard some men to utter Others are more moderate that God did onely leave men to themselves Whereto I say first that God never left any man in that state whereunto Adam brought them for he brought them to the earth and was not able to shew them any means of grace or so much as a resurrection from the grave but God left not any man there but afforded them such manifestations of his love as will leave all inexcuseable before God Secondly I Answer That God did never nor ever will forsake any poor creature till they reject him 2 Chron. 15. 2. But more of this elsewhere onely I add this that when men have and still do refuse God he leaves them and will have nothing to do with them This may suffice for evidence to this truth that it is not because God would have it so that men are still polluted in their conversations and unsanctified in their lives But as you shall hear in the next place it is because they believe not Joh. 8. 24. I said therefore unto you that you shall dye in your sins for if yee believe not that I am he ye shall dye in your sins Secondly Because they will not be purged Ezek. 24. 13. Because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have made my fury to rest upon thee Thirdly Because they receive not the word into their hearts neither take heed to their waies according to it Psal 119. 9 and 11. And if any shall alleadge that when God comes to sanctifie a soul he will do it by an unresistible power I answer There 's neither promise or example of such a thing and they who so affirme make themselves wise above what is written 'T is true there are many works which the Lord doth absolutely of himself without calling for the creatures duty in any respects as in the Creation Redemption and Salvation of mankinde from that misery that Adam brought them so as in and under that free universal and unlimitted consideration which I have spoken of so when God will destroy his enemies none shall deliver out of his hands he will work and none can let it Isa 43. 13. and there are many works which he will bring to pass conditionally as the redemption justification sanctification c. of creatures from their own sins and these he will effect upon receiving and believing the truth as I have also shew'd you in the treating of these things under that special consideration which I have presented to you and as you have heard from Act. 10. 34. Acts 13. 39. and many other places in which you may see that the Lords work and the duty or endeavour of his creatures by him furnished with ability to do what he requires must and ever did go together God purifies the heart by faith see Act. 15. 9. God it is that purifies the creatures duty is to believe The Lord doth and will ever work according to the counsel of his owne will which also he hath revealed in his word and he hath sanctifi'd us from the first offence by his Sons blood which otherwise would have caused our eternal banishment from the Lord yet will not sanctifie us from our vain courses but through belief of the truth which cleanseth the souls that receive it in the love of it for when a poor creature who long hath serv'd sin and Satan comes to know the love of God in Christ and believe it his heart is so purified and his conversation cleansed that he cannot indure sin but hates every false way denies ungodliness and worldly lusts and lives soberly righteously and godly in this present world And thus having treated of Sanctification also under a twofold consideration I shall by the gratious assistance of God next speak something of Vocation which is the call of God or God's calling of his poor creatures to believe in the light which he gives them and leave off their sins it is his inviting or perswading men to do well the stretching out of his hands as it were to beseech men to come to him i. e. to conform to his light or revealed will And this is Universal for as he chose or appointed created deliver'd justified and sanctified mankinde to seek and serve him so he calleth all men everywhere to know him obey him and glorifie him according to that power or ability that he hath given them or the light or commands which he holds forth to them He calleth the Stubborn and rebellious Isa 65. 2. the refusers Prov. 1. 24. them that perish and put from them the word of God and eternal life Act. 13. 41 46. such as spend mony for that which is not bread and their labour for that which satisfieth not who thirst after unprofitable things Isa 55. 1. Hoâ— every one that thirsteth come and the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that
heareth say come and he that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely Rev. 22. 27. And if any shall say that the people who are here called upon are such as thirst after Christ and his righteousness I Answer that it is a gross mistake though by most lookt upon as clear truth for had they thirsted after Christ who is the true bread and his righteousness which filleth and satisfieth the souls of such as seek him they had never been so reproved Isa 55. 2. Why will ye spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not But do not we see dayly some thirst after blood and revenge some after honour some the praise of men others through luxuriant pleasure melt even as to water the very sinews of their strength and some for gain gold and profit adventure estate fame health and life yea body and soul that they may compass their end yet riches profit not in the day of wrath Prov. 11. 4. Who then is excluded from the call of God and to whom hath not his light shined To come to some instances when Adam and all mankinde being yet in him was fallen from God it pleased Jehovah to call him to preach the Gospel that is declare his goodness to him all his posterity being yet in his loines for I thinke every fober man will acknowledge that we were as much in Adam when he was restored as when he fell and were as much partakers of his mercies from God as we were of his sin consider the words of David Psal 90. 3. Thou turnest man to destruction again thou sayest Come againe ye children of men And from that very day wherein the Lord was graciously pleas'd to seek out and call back all mankind lost and fled from him in one to this hour he hath called and cryed out aloud in manifestations of love one way or other to every man and woman See his gracious call to Cain Gen. 4. 7. If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted By Henoch Noah and others his glory and righteousness was revealed and preached to the old world In the Ark there was neither man nor woman but was experimentally acquainted with the love and will of God and that Cain Cham or any others declined the way and truth of God was not because the Lord called them not or left himself without witness towards them but because they came not neither received that testimony of his love which he gave to them And if any shall say that many Nations had not or have not any discovery of the minde of God the Apostle evinceth the contrary and proveth that the obedience of the Heathens or Gentiles did declare the law of God written in their hearts Rom. 2. 15. And the word of truth tells us of Abraham amongst the Caldeans Melchizedek amongst the Jebusites Lot amongst the Sodomites Joseph and Moses amongst the Egyptians Jethro amongst the Ethiopians Job Elihu and others amongst the children the East There was Rahab Ruth Vriah Ittai amongst the Cananites Moabites Hittites and Philistims besides the constant appearances of the grace goodness or love of God which called and should have led them to repentance How evident it is that the Queen of Sheba Nebuchadnezzar Darius Artaxerxes the Ninevites yea all Nations had the word and will of the Lord made known to them by the servants and Prophets of the Lord they that read the Scriptures of the old Testament will quickly perceive When there seemed to be through their rejecting the light an almost universal deluge of darkeness or ignorance over the inhabited parts of the earth the Lord lifted up his Church of the Jews to such an eminent height upon the Pillars of truth and gave them the glory and the Oracles in such an illustrious manner that all Nations had notice of it and some out of every Nation under heaven Proselyted themselves unto it as you may gather out of Act. 2. 5. to 10. Afterward our blessed Saviour sent his Apostles and they by his Order the disciples to Preach the Gospel in all the world that so the goodness of God to and in every Creature might be more fully made known and have not men heard surely the sound is gone out into all the earth and the mercy of the Lord which is over all his works who is good to all hath been declared before the faces of all men and women And God hath so called to every one either by the law in the heart the light of the Lord by Moses the prophets and Christ all demonstrating his rich love that though all have not been led to a change yet they all shall be left without excuse in the great day In a word what Nation was there to whom he sent not his Messengers what man or woman is there to whom he hath not shew'd and offered favour in whom he hath not shin'd with â—â—ght and with whom he hath not strived with his Spirit even in such a fulness or sufficiency as to performance of those works to which they were appointed as faith repentance c. as for example when the wild Indians defile their neighbours wives or daughters or steal any thing c. there 's a light set up by the Lord in their hearts which perswades them of the evil of their wayes as you see by their endeavors to conceal their sins and what I beseech you hinders them from believing that light or dictate of the Spirit and from turning to that which the means is sufficient to effect only they reject the light follow their lust and are rul'd by the divel Obj. But will some say doth God invite all men and offer grace to all men really and in good earnest I answer He doth though there be that affirme the contrary and say that God doth not really and in good earnest or without hypocrisie offer grace to all But this is one of those hard speeches which men have ungodly spoken against God and for which he will one day call them to account as the Apostle Jude intimates to us vers 15. Object But he holds not forth his grace alike to all nor hath he given power alike to all to come to him that is to conform to his will revealed Ans This though it be a frequent yet it 's a frivolous Objection I only say this to it First that all men have not the same measure of discretion understanding or capacity nor the will of God revealed in the same manner and cleerness Yet Secondly Every one hath some portion or talent at least some favour is shewed to the wicked they that slew the Kings servants were invited to the wedding and that really Mat. 22 6 c. neither indeed doth Jehovah expect the same proportion of acting from every one in the world he doth not require every man to act as a General but to what ever he
calls forth any soul he furnisheth that creature with every thing necessary for the doing of what he expects from him For the better understanding of this consider that for the enabling of creatures to act there is a twofold power requisite yet both from God through Christ The first is that he hath given to men and women as they are his creatures for as such they can hear see know understand walk c. And the second comes forth from him to them when they are able to discerne betwixt good and evil and this is the law light or motions of the Spirit of God presenting his goodness love or grace to them by this to lead them towards him forbidding them to do evil and bidding them do well The former fits us to do or act the latter to do well and till this latter I mean the law light or teachings of God come in some dispensation or other the creature cannot neither is it required to act according to the rule of Obedience to God but when this is come and the Lord layes truth before them they may know and believe him cease from evil and learn to do well according to the light law or power appearing as I have before shewed from Isa 43. 9 10. But some perhaps may say that I detract from the free grace of the Creator and attribute something to the creature as if he could contribute somthing towards his coming to God and his eternal happiness I hear there are many that talk much of free grace understanding neither what they say neither what they affirme for though the love grace mercy goodness or kindness of Jehovah being all but one and the same be ever free yet it is not alwayes without a conditian for Gods appointing of creating redeeming justifying sanctifying and calling of all men to live here to seek and serve him be so free that God required nothing of the creature to do these things for him he ask't no price made no bargain no man sought to him in the business but he alone moved by his own love towards a miserable lost creature finished the fore-mentioned works from the foundation of the world for all mankind yet they that believe not shall not enter into rest For the Lords sake read and consider Heb. 4. 1 2 3. so that now if men will injoy further manifestations of the love of God they must fulfill the conditions which God requires of all such as would have such enjoyments for therefore hath the Great Jehovah done all those things for men freely that men through consideration had of his love might love him that loved them first and hereupon he will yet love them and shew more of his kindness to them Weigh the words of our Saviour well Joh. 14. 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and my Father will love him and I will love him and will manifest my self to him It is not to be doubted but the Father and Christ did love those that keep his commands before their Obedience yea before they were born yea so well as to redeem sanctifie and justifie them by the blood of the Lamb from the power or extent of suffering that came by Adams sin or else they had never been born and so could never have been obedient yet here he says My Father will love him and I will love him c. according to that Psal 147. 11. His delight is in them that fear him This further manifestation of love is upon condition and this was the way and purpose of God from the beginning If thou dost well thou shalt be accepted The Lord is with you whilst ye are with him and if seek ye him he will be found of you 2 Chr. 15. 2. He that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall finde mercy Pro. 18. 13. Hear and your soul shall live Isa 55. 3. see vers 7. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open unto me I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3. 20. And if any man doth his will he shall know the doctrine shall be the mother brethren and sisters of Christ God will hear him and he shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Joh. 7. Mark 3. 35. Joh. 9. 31. Mat. 7. 21. But can the grace of God be said to be free when there is a condition of something to be done by us for the obtaining of it I answer Very well it may be free though it be our duty to receive and obey the giver For first God shews man what he would have done Mica 6. 8. and made all the promises of grace freely none moving him thereto nor any as men excluded from them Secondly It is he that gives all the ability by which we do what he layes before us Thirdly He might require us to do more then he hath yet have made no promises of further grace or of eternal life which is the gift of God and if this last were well understood and explained it would overthrow all the Popish doctrines of merits both of condignity and congruity for without controversie all the obedience of the whole race of mankind is not able to conterpoise much less deserve the least of the mercies which we enjoy as to this life and if God had laid more labour upon us and yet given us only what is here below we could not have said he had been a hard master If he had not pleased to have declared unto us by his Spirit the grace that shall be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ we should never have heard or thought of it It must of necessity be then that the mercy of God to eternal life and his continued manifestation of grace in Order thereunto are most free for Fourthly Hearing the word of God faith repentance baptism prayer praising of God and other works of Gospel-obedience which God enables us to do stand us in nothing they are not like the costly and Burdensom ceremonies of the Jews the Lord onely requires that we should worship him in Spirit and in truth that is as the word of Christ which is Spirit and truth and life teacheth us Lastly our receiving or believing of light truth love and mercyes of God is so far from making it not to be a free gift that this makes it to be so to each particular for though God gave his Son the Gospel and eternal life freely yet no man hath either of these to himself as his proper right to his everlasting happiness except he receive it If a man leave as a legacie two hundred pound to be divided equally by his steward between twenty persons by him named the steward sending for those persons declares his Lords love and gift offers it to them and to their benefit who reject what was bequeathed it becomes a free gift
lye down in the grave and sleep in the dust yet they shall all live again in the day of the Lord. But may some say is he so the Saviour of all men that none shall be damn'd in the second death I answer No for though he be the Saviour of all men as I have proved yet especially of them that believe as I shall now also briefly shew you by the Scriptures Prov. 3. 35. The wise shall inherit glory Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise shall 〈◊〉 as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousâ—â—ss as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 13. 43. Then shall the righteous shine 〈◊〉 as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father Mat. 26. 46. But the righteous 〈…〉 Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good pleasure to givâ— you thâ— Kingdome Whosoever believeth on him shall not perish but 〈…〉 Joh. 3. 15 16 18 36. My sheep hear my voice and I know 〈◊〉 and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall not 〈◊〉 Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Joh. 10. 27 28. See Joh. 5. 28 29 All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the resurrection of life c. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth and 〈◊〉 baptized shall be saved Rom. 2. 7. 10. Glory honour peace and eternal life to every man that patiently continues in well doing Mat. 10. 22. He that indureth to the end shall be saved Rev. 2. 23. Be thou faithful unto the death and I give thee the crown of life See vers the 11 17 26 27 28. Rev. 3. 5 12 21. He is made the Author of eternal salvation to those that obey him Heb. 5. 9. If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2. 12. But the wicked shall be as stubble Mal. 4. 1. He that calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. Blessed are all they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and enter in by the gates into the holy City Rev. 22. 14. with many other pertinent texts of Scripture whereby we may demonstratively evidence that there is a special salvation for some viz. such as hear know believe and obey God and that as all men are and shall surely be saved from the first death and all that came on them through the offence of Adam yet they only who receive the truth in the love of it shall be saved from the second death and they who are contentious and do not obey the truth through their neglect of so great salvation as was purchased by his blood and preached in the word or light of Jesus though they shall be raised up at the last day from the first death yet for their wickedness they shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death All the Objections and Queries that usually men bring in here about the creatures believing and acting in all kind of obedience I have handled in the precedent part of this treatise where I have proved that God never requires any duty of any of his creatures but at some time or other he furnisheth them with ability to fulfill his commands And all our obedience merits not eternal life in the least seeing God might justly have deprived us of a being or have given no more but this life and yet have laid upon us much more work then he hath but it was the good pleasure of his will to give eternal life through his Son to all such as serve him in their generations according to the light manifested to them For which free mercy all praise honour service and obedience is due to Jehovah for evermore Amen THE REASONS OR ARGUMENTS Which illustrate The truth of Christs dying for all men together with the grand absurdities which unavoidably follow the contrary Doctrine with the answer to the Objections or Arguments of M. Trough M. Wood and others HAving thus by the Scriptures proved that Christ died for all men and what he hath done for all or what benefit all men have by him I come in the next place in the strength of the Lord to illustrate the truth of this assertion by Reasons or Arguments drawn from the Scriptures which may easily evince to sober spirits and convince the gain-sayers of this soul-establishing Fundamentall Doctrine of the Gospell and they are these First the coming of our Saviour into the world is glad tidings of great joy to all people Luk. 2. 11. which could never be if Christ had done nothing for the greatest part of mankind but it would have been sad tidings to most men who must therefore die eternally because there was no Saviour for them or at least because they obey not him who never paid a price for them Secondly the Word that is to be preach'â— is the Gospell to every creature Mark 16. 15. the Ministers of the Lord Jesus are to declare peace unto every house where they come Luk. 10. 5. and that can never be done if they are not able by the Scriptures to preach a Saviour to them without leaving any doubts upon their spirits Thirdly God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. 4. and is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Now if Christ died not for all then God would have more men to be saved then Christ died for as some have said which is absurd to imagine or what good will repentance do those for whom Christ-never died Fourthly they that are damn'd Jo. 3. 18. with ver 36. are damn'd because they believe not in the only begotten Son of God therefore the only begotten Son of God died for those or else how shall they be damn'd because they believe not in him except men shall be damned for not believing on him that never died for them Fifthly they that shall be damn'd might have been saved if they had received the truth in the love of it 2. Thes 2. 10 11 12 13. therefore Christ died for them or else they had no probability of salvation seeing there is no name given unto men under heaven whereby they must be saved but only the name of Jesus Christ Acts 4. 12. Sixthly they for whom Christ died may perish and be destroyed see 1 Cor. 8. 11. with Rom. 14. 15. Seventhly some deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves destruction 2 Pet. 2. 1. so that if Christ died for those that shall be saved and those that shall be destroyed he died for all Eighthly the Apostle commands that prayers and supplications shall be made for all men 1 Tim. 2. 1. surely prayers will do but 〈◊〉 good to those for whom Christ never died or how can we pray in faith for all men if Christ
will see that he prefers mercy before Sacrifice the Gospell before the Law faith before works the believers or children of the promise before the natural seed that he regardeth not but hateth such as seek for righteousnesse by the Law as the Jews did and loveth or chooseth such as seek for the righteousness of the Gospell of Jesus Christ as the Gentiles did Isa 1. 14. saith the Lord thus your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my soul hateth yet once these were appointed by God all things that were written of old concerning Ismael Isaac Esau Jacob Pharoah c. were directly as they are written but the Apostle we see draws out the Allegory and shews what they did typifie to us as you may see if you diligently search this nineth to the Romanes and resoâ—ve and roll up all that is here written as the Apostle doth in the 30. and 31. verses but the time will not give me leave to treat largely of these things in this place if God give oportunity I shall declare more of this matter in my Generation as the great God shall give opportunity and utterance either by preaching conference or writing in the mean space every sober man will see that it is not proper to draw positive conclusions from allegoricall expressions and so these words I have hated Esau i.e. refus'd righteousness by the Law or Covenant of works doth not at all prove that Christ did not die for all and withall I desire the Reader to consider that M. Tro. hath not yet produced one Scripture that says he died only for a small number but some few consequences which are too weak ever to overthrow the faith of Gods Elect. But saith M. Trough Christ did not die for all because he did not satisfie his Fathers wrath and justice for the sins of every man and woman in the world for the reprobates go down to hell but he made a plenary satisfaction for the sins of those for whom he died and the Holy God saith he cannot nor will not exact double payment for the same debt or punish twice for the same sin Answer first That which he speaks last is true and it is from this that I conclude that Infants shall not be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death for if they should then they must be punisht twice for one fault viz. Adams offence as some call it originall sin and that Rebrobates that is wicked men shall be cast into hell is as true Psa 9. 17. but what he means by plenary satisfaction to the Fathers justice given for some I know nor in that I find no such terms in the holy Scriptures if there be why did not M. Tro. produce them did he think that his bare word is a sufficient warrant for us to believe by surely it is not and the word of truth testifies that false teachers who bring in damnable heresies deny Christ and bring upon themselves destruction were bought by the Lord whom they deny and that others trample under foot the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified Heb. 10. 29. Answer secondly if M. Tro. means that Christ did so satisfie for the sins of some that none of the punishment due for that sin shall come upon them but that it is wholly by the powring or offering of the bloud of Christ prevented I shall desire him to prove it in the mean space I shall desire the impartiâ—ll Reader to remember first that the Elect the choicest 〈◊〉 must diâ— I mean go to the dust the wise man as well as the fool by reason of Adams transgression so that the punishment which came through that fault is not plenarily satisfied for if it had been so indeed God requires double payment which he will never by M. Tro. own confession do for if by the death of the Lamb this debt had been fully paid the Elect should never have gone to the grave and thus you see how M. Tro. is contrary to himself his light is darknesse and he wearieth himself to bring others to the same condition with himself Secondly consider that amongst all the sons of Adam none shall receive remission of their sins I mean which themselves have acted but believers Mark 16. 16. Act. 10. 43. so that he did not so satisfie as to take away mens actuall sins whether they believe or no. Thirdly consider that if any draw back from the Lord he will take no pleaâ—ure in them Heb. 10. 38. and the best of Saints if they sin must confesse and forsake their sins if they will find mercy and pardon Prov. 28. 13. Joh. 1. 9. but I pray read the whole verse for M. Tro. leaves out in his book the former viz. if we confess our sins as Apocriphal pag. 21. and so deals with us as the Devil did with Christ Luk. 4. 10. 11. conceal that which would make against him Lastly consider and call to mind what I have in this preceding discourse manifested that Christ hath so died that all do live by him and injoy light by him Jo. 1. 9. Jo. 6. 33. and that whosoever believeth on him should not perish Jo. 3. 15. 16. and that all men through him might believe Jo. 1. 7. and that as sin hath raigned unto death even so might grace raign through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord Christ hath so died that all shall â—ise again by him Jo. 5. 28 29. I beseech you read and consider that the just and unjust shall all be called out of the grave by the Lord Jesus he died and rose and revived that he might be Lord of quick and dead Rom. 14. 9. that they which live should live to him 2 Cor. 5. 15. But we never read that Christ died to satisfie for sin whilest men continue in them without repentance but to manifest his love to all mankind thereby to perswade them to leave sin and love him who loved them first he was set forth to be a propâ—tiation through faith in his bloud Rom. 3. 2â— 26. and that the world through him might be saved Io. 3. 17. not by the works of the Law but the words of Jesus Christ God never appointed that righteousness and salvation should be by the Law for then Christ had died in vain Thus you see what the form of sound words speak concerning the death of Christ who took or bare away the sin of the world viz. the sin of Adam in whom the whole world of men were involv'd that so lost mankind through him might have liberty to serve the living God and through believing on the light be delivered from their actuall sins committed before conversion and by confessing and craving pardon might be cleansed from their infirmities after their coming into Christ by the intercession mediation and eternall Priesthood of him whose bloud speaketh better things then that of Abel But he laid down his life or the sheep Jo. 10.
14 15. but all and every man and woman in the world are not the Sheep of Christ therefore he died only for the Sheep I besâ—ech the Reader to behold the fallacy of this sophisticall fillogism by a parallell thus out of Gal. 2. 20. Christ loved the Apostle Paul aâ—d gave himselfe for him but every man and woman in the world is not the Apostle Paul therefore he gave himself only for the Apostle Paul whether this be good Logick let the godly Reader judge yet this is as good as M. Troughtons as any man that is not byassed by partiality may easily discern and of this Nature all his Arguments are if you search them to the bottom But he thinks to help himself by saying that though Christ says not his Seeep only yet he means so and he endeavours to prove his conception by saying that though the Scripture sayes not we are justified only by faith yet it means so I answer the Scripture neither â—ays so nor means so for then all infants must be damn'd which I think M. Tro. will not affirm though I confesse he is very positive in matters of the greatest improbability for all those infants that shall be saved were never justified â—y faith yet justified by the bloud of the Lamb or they shall never enter into life and here let the wise and godly judge whether M. Troughton leaning to his own wisdome and the wisdome which is from above hath not brought in an evidence to provâ— his cause that speaks directly against him and for the truth of God and besides I have before shewâ—d how all are justified sanctified and redeemed and therefore shall here spend the lesse time to answer these reasons which he thinks impregnable though others see they are but ropes of sand But sayes he those that Christ died for shall live eternall life and shall never perish but all men have not eternall life but many shall perish eternally therefore he died not for all I answer first this Sophistry is like all the rest of M. Troughtons reasons and though it be finely span and cunningly woven yet it 's but a spiders web and truth will tear it in pieces for the Scriptures say that they deny the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves destruction and so thy weak brother perish for whom Christ died 1 Cor. 8. 11. with many other places I know that Christ layed down his life for his sheep and for the Apostle Paul and all the Saints but not as sheep or Saints for no Scripture sayes so but for sinners for the ungodly for the world which are in opposition to sheep and Saints And again as it 's true that he died for the sheep so it is as true that he bought those that do deny him if the Scripture may decide the controversie Secondly I answer such fallacious consequences as these do even strike at the root of the Gospell of Grace and free love of God and quits the divell and all ungodly men of bringing destruction upon themselves and implies that men shall be condemn'd for want of a Redeemer neither will that thred-bare shift that men shall be damned because they fell in Adam serve any mans turn especially M. Tro. who hath acknowledged in his sixth Argument as he calls it that God will not take double payment for the same sin now all must once die by reason of that offence and if after they shall be raised again they shall be damn'd for it again then there is a double punishment inflicted for one offence which God will never do but if it be because Christ never died for them as M. Tro. and thousands of deceived souls seem to say let them produce a text of Scripture or els we shall not believe them if they say for unbelief and disobedience which is most true and sometimes these men will say so then there is a Christ to be believed in and obeyed by them But says M. Tro. There is a higher cause why men believe not to salvation and have not eternall life then the stubbornesse of mens hearts but shews not what only adds ye believe not because ye are not my sheep i. e. saith he in another place because ye are not elected if that be his meaning he hath made the remedy worse then the disease and andeavour'd to help himselfe by a text that speaks truth against errors for Christ doth not say ye believe not because ye are not elected Ioh. 10. 26. but because ye are not my sheep i. e. because ye hear not my voice as you may see in the next verse and I desire to know how men can believe if they hear not his words as they are laid before them seeing as the Apostle sayes faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. but if he mean the cause is Gods decreeing of their unbelief as many hold I have through the Lords assistance disproved such opinions before and only here pray that the thoughts of his heart may be forgiven him if his day of mercy be not past But he subjoyns another text which he thinks also makes for his purpose Deut 29. 2 3 4. ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eys in the Land of Aegypt unto Pharoah and to all his servants and to all his Land the great temptations which thine eys have seen the signs and those miracles yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive and eys to see and ears to hear unto this day from whence as I perceive he would perswade men to believe that there are some men to whom God did never afford ability to perceive see and hear his words and wonders and this viz. Gods not giving these things is a higher cause of their unbelief then the stubbornnesse of their own hearts and so the dirt must still be flung at Gods door but such thoughts are all vain and abhominable for the spirit speaks expresly twice in the second and third verses that their eys had seen all that the Lord did the great temptations signs and miracles c. I desire to know who gave them those eys if it was not the Lord who made the seeing eye and hearing ear but it 's true he continued not light to them unto that day viz. the time that Moses spake these words to them but took away their wisdome their light their understanding their counsell as a man may do many courtesies for his friend or servant if they prove false and rebellious he discontinues his courtesies so the Lord dealt with the Israelites he bare them as on Eagles wings and carried them in the daies of old and said surely they are my people c. but they rebelled and vexed his spirit so he was their enemy and fought against them Isa 63. 9. 10. see a further reason of their Lords withdrawing his light from them and leaving them to their own counsells Psal 81. where the Lord recounts his
mercies verse 6. and 7. layes before them his Law 8 9 and 10. but my people would not hearken to me Israel would none of me so I gave them to their own hearts lusts they walked in their own counsells ver 11 12. to this purpose read heedfully Psal 78. 10. to 54 and Psal 106. throughout who so curseth his father his light shall be put out in obscure darknesse Pro. 20. 20. how much more they that despise the counsell of God and murmure against him the candle of the wicked shall be put out Pro. 24. 20. see also Job 17. 5. 6. ch 21. 17. the spirit of man is the Lords candle searching the innermost parts of the belly Pro. 20. 27. did not the Lord take away this candle light or lamp from Saul Nebuchaduâ—zzar â—ea the famous Asian Churches and left them who had rejected the light in obscure darknesse and hath not given them eys to see ears to hear or an heart to perceive unto this day and here there are many in this Island which once saw the great wonders of Iebovab and believed his words and sung his praise as Israel did Psal 106. 12. who rejecting further manifestations of light and forgetting the rich mercies of the Lord will have their light obscur'd their wisdome turned to foolishnesse and be laid aside as unprofitable uselesse plants rememeber what one of your Prophets hath said Men may be saved wanting many truths but rejecting any they cannot What then they shall be cast one day into utter darknesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth But may some say if this be so God is changeable if he takes away the light he once gave I answer it is no such thing but clearly the contrary for the Lord hath every where in his word declared that he will be with us whilest we are with him if we forsake him he will forsake us if any draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10. 38. Ezek. 10. 24. 2 Chron. 15. 2. with many other places Now when men rebell against God reject his commands and turn from righteousnesse and the Lord casts them off it shews his great constancy to his own Councell and Decrees whereas if God should still continue light and delight to Apostates and such as still gain-say the truth presented to them this would argue God variable from himself in that he declares that he will desert back-sliders and yet continues his favour and liking towards them continuing in sin without repentance as some would fain flatter themselves and others and this also leads to the tenets of the Ranters and is of all other doctrines the greatest enemy to godlinesse and encouragement to wickednesse that can be but men will find it otherwise the Potter hath power over the clay to do as he pleaseth with it and what that is he hath shew'd us Jer. 18. 9 10. At what time I speak concerning a Nation to build and plant it if it do evill in my sight that it obey not my voice then will I repent of the good wherewith I said I will benefit them so he can do with the Inhabitants of this Island and so he will do if they repent not and thus you see how fully this text witnesseth against M. Tro. conceit that Gods not giving men grace or light is the highest cause of their unbelief yea so fully that it shews they did once see his great signs c. but their sins hid these things from them and removed their lights that it was not continued with them so it is said of the Jews they once saw Christ and his miracles and had the things belonging to their peace revealed to them but now says Christ they are hid from thine eys it is just with God when men will be wise in their own eys to hide from them the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven and reveal them to Babes turning their wisdome into foolishnesse 't is just with God to leave M. Tro. to himself even to limit and restrain Scripture-Redemption he having fiercely set himself to oppose it the great and gracious God yet grant him time and space to repent but though he hath never a Scripture yet he hath another argument against Scripture Redemption which is this All those for whom Christ died are redeemed from the wrath to come But all men are not redeem'd from that wrath to come Therefore he died not for all First I desire the Reader to consider whether there be any difference between this argument and the former and what there is between this they shall never perish but have eternall life and this they are delivered from the wrath to come Secondly I answer his first Proposition is a meer fallacy and falsity for there is not one Scripture to prove it and the consequence that he would draw from it is that if Christ died for all then all shall be saved which doth not follow and I have answer'd this objection fully already and shew'd by the Scriptures that though Christ died for all yet many perish because they will not come to Christ Io. 5. 40. because they believe not and if you would know how they who were bought by Christ come to perish or fall under wrath to come it is for denying the Lord that bought them and treading under foot the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified as I have shew'd from Heb. 10. 24. 2 Pet. 2. 1. it is for their holding the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1. 18. for their uncleannesse foolish talking covetousnesse idolatry whoredome lying and all manner of disobedience as the Apostle plainly shews Ephes 5. 3 4. 5 6. and therefore M. Tro. might have spar'd this Logick except he hath a mind still to make God the Author both of the creatures sin and suffering and turn that truth of God which sayes thy destruction is of thy self into a lye and say oh Israel thy destruction is of me and indeed he may as well charge the Scriptures expressions as limit and restraine the Scriptures redemption But he objects further Christ did not die for all because he did not pray for all and in this he doth so confidently triumph calling it his strong argument as if it were impossible to answer the fallacious deductions which he draws from the pure word for he concludes that because Christ did not at the same time Jo. 17. 9. or in the same terms pray for all therefore he did not die for all to which answer first if it should be granted that Christ did not pray for all yet it doth not of necessity follow that he did not die for all for there is no Scripture that sayes these words Christ did not die for those for whom he did not pray and M. Tro. bare word is no sufficient proof yet he is very bold this way and sayes in 34. page of his book that Christ sayes thus to his Father there is a world that I pray
they who shall be damn'd might have been saved had they received the love of the truth if the Apostle may be believed 2 Thes 2 11 12. Ob. But saith M. Tro. many dangerous consequences will follow if we should grant that Christ died for all as first it riseth up against the power of God as M. Tro. says that he should give his Son to die for the salvation of thousands and yet all not be saved Ans 1. To which I answer first by waâ— of the distinction used by the Apostle 1 Tim. 4. 10. he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe and from hence observe that God who gave his Son and Christ who gave himself a ransome for all hath saved or delivered every man from the power of the grave but God never gave his Son to save or deliver any from the wrath to come or to bring any to eternall glory but such as believe and obey as I have often proved Ans 2. Secondly it doth not impeach the power of God in that we maintain that what God did intend to bring to passe by his own sole soveraign power through the death of his Son is effected viz. the breaking of the Serpents head the continuance of life to mankind here making way for light and salvation and the raising up all men from the grave but that God did ever purpose to bring men to eternall life whether they believe or no by an absolute power we deny for the Saints themselves are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Ob. But says M. Tro. it makes the salvation of the creature to depend on the contingency of his own will and naturall ability Ans 1. Answer first that salvation I mean everlasting glory with God or eternall life is Gods gift as I have formerly proved by the Scriptures Ans 2. Secondly that none shall enjoy this gift of his but such as walk as he hath injoyned them in that Law which he manifested to them is the eternall infringeable and unresistable Decree of God and M. Tro. page 45. confesseth that though the precepts of God do not shew what God hath done for us yet they determine mans duty and the rule of his obedience what God approves as good in it self and what is our duty to do there being a sweet harmony and connexion between the end and the means which is fully as much as I hold in this point viz. that they who would be saved which is the end they must believe and obey as God hath enabled them which is the means or at least one means But says M. Tro. it s contrary to the wisdom justice and love of God that he should give his Son to die for all and not give them faith and repentance c. Ans 1. To which I answer as before that indeed if God had given his Son to die for all with an intent to save all that is give eternall life to all or any without faith and obedience then if any had come short of it it might have seemed to reflect on the wisdom justice and mercy of Jehovah but the Scriptures never reveal any such purpose in God as you may see by Joh. 3. 16. Hâ—b 5. 9. with many other places Ans 2. Secondly so far as God did intend by his Sons death to save or deliver men he did doth and will fully effect â—t and whether men believe it or no they shall one day be saved from the grave by him that died and rose again Ans 3. Thirdly that God so put men in a savâ—â—ble condition that if any come short of eternal life their destruction is of themselves their rejecting light and loving darknesse will be their condemnation Ans 4. God doth not give faith and repentance as M. Tro. dreams viz. make men to believe by an irresistable power for I have shew'd before that God is said to give faith and repentance when by his Word or Spirit he perswadeth men to believe and repent or depart from evill when he gives the Gospell which is the Word of Faith and frequently in the Scriptures is called faith thus Faith is the gift of God and so when by the Gospel or goodnesse of God any soul is led to repentance God is said to give repentance yet the act or duty of believing and repenting is never call'd Gods gift work or act for then they that shall be damn'd for unbelief and impenitency shall perish because God gave them not the means yea because God did not perform his act or work in the creatures contrary to all the revealed will of God so that it appears to me and thousands besides that M. Tro. doctrine doth highly scandalize and impeach and restrain the power wisdom justice and love of God For if Christ did not die for all or redeem all from the power of the grave at least which is that I hold and which M. Tro. cries down under the name of universall redemption it was either because he could not or because he would not I am certain it is not the later for he will raise up all men at the last day 1 Cor. 15. 20 21 if M. Tro. says it is because he could not wise men will aâ—hor such savings both therefore are true he is willing and able and also will do it all mankind are and shall be freed in due time from whatsoever Adam brought on them and whosoever affirms the contrary debaseth the power of the omnipotent God seen â—spâ—cially in raising up Iesus from the dead Eph. 1. 20. that so he might be Lord of the quick and dead as hath before been manifelled of which domâ—nion Lordship or power M. Iro and others though I hope not knowingly have endeavoured to devest Jesus Christ except they will say that our Lord will exercise authority over those whom he never purchased the very thought whereof is abominable to every knowing sincere hâ—aits seeing the Scriptures â—re so pâ—ain that to this 〈◊〉 Christ both died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living they that oppose this disparage the power of Christ scandalize his Scepter which is a Scepter of righteousness and make Christ an arbitrary usurper the name whereof 〈◊〉 amongst all and at least in words exploded by us in this Island And as for the wisdome of the Lord which is infinite Mr. Troughtons Doctrine detracts from it for he confesseth that the tenders of mercy by the Lords commands are and must be to all where the Gospel comes though not really and in good earnest as one saith yet Christ dyed not for all saith Mr. Troughton Now I beseech thee O impartiall soul that readest this judge what is right and see whether it suits with the wisdome of God to invite perswade beseech and stretch out his hands unto stubborn gain-saying wretches having never given Christ for them nor Christ any right to
of universal salvation viz. that none shall be punished or perish in the lake of fire my soul abhors as also Mr Troughtons Doctrine that any shall be punished or perish there meerly because it is the pleasure of the Lord so to have it or because they were by Jehovah appointed to be disobedient and to be damned or because there was never a Saviour that dyed for them or because Adam eat of the forbidden tree my soul also abominates and it is the griefe of thousands to heare that God is dishonoured by such Declarations Though once I confeffe it was my judgement but the Lord hath had mercy upon my soul and now I see that every mans destruction is of himselfe and that the vengeance of eternall fire comes on men through their omitting some good that they might have done or their committing some evill that they might have avoided for rejecting some light that they might have received or turning from what they had received for trampllng under foot the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified and denying the Lord that bought them c. Object But saies Mr. Troughton if it we should preach that Christ dyed for all this would bolster up men in a prophane course or at best in a generall dead faith Answ The contrary to which is true for one constant use that we make of this Doctrine is to diswade deter and dehort sinners from prophanenesse and all manner of sinne and to perswade them therefore to hate that which is evill to die to sinne to live to righteousnesse to love and live to the Lord Jesus because he dyed for them and rose againe and we declare unto all men that if they do not leave sinne repent and live to Christ but deny his word despise his Spirit and slight his blood they shall be sure to be damned for ever because they live not to him that dyed for them and rose againe and that although Christ bought them or layed down a sufficient price for them yea though they professe that truth yet if in their works they deny him and follow not those further manifestations of light which he appeares to them in but refuse his words and so receive him not they shall be destroyed at the last day Secondly This Doctrine cannot be the Nurse of a dead faith if truly preached and received for this teaches men to know first by the Scriptures that Christ dyed for them and what a man knows infallibly he may believe comfortably undoubtedly and without wavering yea all faith that is not groundupon knowledge is but a meere fancy and very uncertaine when men believe they know not what But one the contrary Mr. Troughtons Doctrine is the nursery of prophanesse and deadness of faith or at least of sadness of soul yea dispaire of mercy How many poore wretches hearing that God did appoint a certain number of persons onely to believe and so to be saved and the rest to disobedience and so to be damned have desperately concluded if I am appointed to believe and be saved I shall be saved live how I will and others when they commit sinne sooth up themselves with this conceit it is Gods will that they should commit such sinnes God did decree and appoint them to be disobedient and it could not be avoided with many such devillish conclusions tending to all lewdness loosnesse and prophaneness that can be imagined And hence it is there is so much bitternesse wrath hatred revenge and strife amongst men for did they but know and seriously lay to heart that Christ shed his blood for those poore Creatures that injure them and which they so maligne their heart would melt towards them they would not hate their persons nor seeke to ruine their Estates onely abhor their vices and seek to draw them out of the sinck of their sins It must of necessity also be the root of a dead faith for what life can that faith have which is grounded upon our own qualifications For thus Mr. Troughton teaches men to Argue Christ dyed for beleevers sheep saints but I am a beleever a sheep a saint therefore Christ dyed for me but the Scripture proves neither of his propositions but teaches us better Logick thus Christ dyed for sinners for the ungodly for all for the whole world and those that deny him therefore for me and this shews gracious humility the other vaine ostentations this gives sweet and certaine assurance of Gods love to any poore soul the other when his qualifications are absent as often they are leaves the Creature in a doubtfull dispaire whether God loved it at all this engageth the soul to love God who loved him first and gave his Sonne to dye for him the other saddens the heart with feare shakes the foundation causing a distressed soul to question whether ever Christ dyed for him or her If a faithfull Gospel preacher should perswade a prophane wretch to repent and turn to God and the sinner should aske What should move him to change his life The messenger of the Lord must answer That the goodnesse of the Lord should lead them to repentance if the other should reply Wherein God shewed his goodness towards him The Embassador of the Lord must rejoyne in that he gave his Sonne to dye for him a miserable wretched sinner and that there is a doore of salvation open for him upon his repentance through the blood of Jesus or he sayes nothing for if he should onely tell him of the goodness of God as to this life or tell him of some wild uncertain hopes of mercy without assuring him that Christ was Curcified for him it would leave but a slender impression upon his spirits and to perswade exhort require and beseech a company of exorbitant sinners to amend their lives and love the Lord Jesus is but a lost labour if we declare not unto them the certainty of his kindness and love to them first according to the Scriptures for a soul will never truly love Christ except he be assured that the Lord Christ first loved him or at best if by a preaching of the Gospel at randome as many do any poor soules are fallen in love with Christ yet their spirits are full of feare and perplexing anxieties till they know and are assured of his love to them and wherein that consists the Apostle Paul shews us Rom. 5. 8. 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10 19. Herein is love not that we loved God but he loved us first and sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for us You would blame that man exceedingly who should use his utmost endeavour by all means to perswade his Neighbour being but a mean man to set his affections upon some great Lady admired for vertue beauty birth and riches being not able to assure his friend first that she loves him and desires to bestow her selfe upon him but if he heare it from her mouth or have it made under her hand that she loves such
was but for my part I think such Doctrine is most horrid and dismall the sinck of sinne and the enemy to all close walking with God the decay and ruine of the power of godlinesse and a little will reconcile the brochers of it to the Ranters I am of Christ's mind Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Luk. 13. 3. And of the Prophet Ezekiel's When a righteous man tnrneth away from his righteousnesse and committeth iniquity c. all his righteousnesse which he hath done shall not be mentioned in his trespâ—sse that he hath trespassed and his sin which he hath sinned in them shall he die Ezek. 18. 24. And of Pauls mind If any man draw back the Lord will have no pleasure in them Heb. 10. 38. Lastly I do not say that Mr. Troughton may fall from a state of grace but I pray with all my soul that he may come up to it and continue in it therefore he need not be offended and I am certaine no soule that truly feares God will dislike that Doctrine which perswades to perseverance and disswades from carelessenesse and Apostacy Object Lastly sayes Mr. Troughton if we hold that Christ dyed for all this may be an occasion to vilifie and debase the Scriptures for they that so hold do affirme that the Sun Moon and Stars and fruitfull seasons reveale Christ as a mediator savingly c. Ans 1. God hath given unto men three principall wayes of Teaching nature teacheth 1 Cor. 11. The heavens declare or preach Psal 19. 1. and his written Word declared by Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles Now there are no men upon the face of the earth but have the two former and where the Lord affords those onely he expects obedience accordingly these leave men without excuse for mans eternall wel-fare stands not upon how much light or truth is manifested but how that which is manifested is obeyed and followed Ans 2. Where these are if the word of truth and peace preached by Jesus Christ may be enjoyed and is rejected then the others will not suffice Ans 3. As under the Law there was a dark discovery of Jesus yet sufficient as to that dispensation so in the teachings of nature and the creatures there is some discoveries of mercy and goodnesse in and from God which is not without Christ and will be found sufficient to those who have no other means For God accepts where there is a willing mind not according to what men have not but acâ—rding to what they have 2 Cor. 8. 12. and will require according to what he gives if Christ may be judge Luk. 12. 43. I see some very inquisitive what shall become of Heathens Turks and Jewes c. others insulting over them judging and censuring them as a people of whom God hath no regard but who art thou that judgest another mans Servant look not how little they have and what shall become of them but how much thou hast and what is required of thee and know that God will expect of thee a suitable improvement taking this withall for the debellation of thy haughty thoughts of thy riches that as he that hid his one Talent is condemned and he that imployed well his ten Talents commended so whoever makes his own Talent two shall be rewarded when thou that boastest with thy great light and many Talents if not improved according to the Doners will and bounty maist be receive the greater condemnation it shall be easier for Tyre Sidon Sodom and Gomerrha at the great day of the Lord then for Chorazin Bethsayda and Capernaum Neither let any man think that anothers improvement will excuse him or that he may build his faith or what men have written in these things of which I have treated but on the Rock of ages and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles whose pure rule and perfect prophesies discover to us the truth of these things wherein men differ Mr Troughton would perswade men that it s but a fiction to say that Christ dyed for all because it is not said in the Scripture that Christ dyed by name for thee John Thomas Robert c. their is no such particular Scripture revelation I grant there is no such particular revelation and therefore we affirme with the Scripture that Christ dyed for all that to John Thomas Robert or any other man may have a ground to believe that Christ dyed for every one of them 't is true if Christ did not dye for all then no man can certainly know that Christ layed down his life for him except he could finde both his names written in the Scpriptures And I appeal to every wise and impartial man whether Mr. Troughtons Argument doth not evidently conclude against himselfe for what need is there that every mans name should be recorded in Scripture seeing Christ gave himselfe a ransome for all But if that were true that Christ bought only a small number then its requisite that their names should be expressed or else no man can positively conclude that Christ dyed for him as for example If a pardon should be sent to all the prisoners in a prison there is no need of nominating them but if it be onely for two or three amongst many their names being not mentioned in the pardon the bringer of the pardon cannot tell who to call for nor the Keeper of the Prison whom to release nor the prisoners to whom it relates for if a man should come to a place where a thousand prisoners lay bound and should pretend that he comes with joyfull tydings to them and then at last tell them that two or three of them are onely redeemed though every one of them may have some hopes yet no man can know who it is till their names are manifested but if the act of Grace be sealed to them all every one hath a certaine ground of serious rejoycing by this you that love the truth and peace may see the bottome of Mr. Troughtous errors and depth of his wisdome Who teacheth men in the next place to argue thus Whosoever beleeveth on Christ shall be saved But I beleeve in Christ therefore I shall be saved For Answer hereto Consider how improper it is for men to tell men they must beleeve in Christ before they know who he is and what he hath done for their soules except you would have men beleeve they know not what and to walk by an implicit faith as Mr. Trovghton doth and then you will soon be reconciled to Rome The Scriptures teach us another Doctrine Ye may know and believe Isai 43. 10. They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Psal 9. 10. we have knowne and believed the love that the Father hath to us Jo. 4. 16. Let all the house of Israel know assuredly c. Act. 2. 36. after they have escaped the pullutiont of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 2 Pet. 2 20. I know
whom I have believed I know that my Redeemer liveth c. Men will hardly give credit to much lesse rely upon him they never knew and therefore when Christ askt the blind man whether he did believe on the Sonne of God he answered and â—aid Who is he that I might believe on him Jo. 9. 35. 36. He must know him before he could believe on him Object But sayes Mr. Troughton 'T is the will of Gods purpose who Christ dyed for in particular and therefore thou canst not fetch the ground of thy faith from thence but looke to the generality of the offer of grace and command to believe Ans 1. I grant it and its that which I ever say that no man hath a ground to believe that Christ dyed for him if he dyed for some particular persons only Ans 2. It seems then there is a generall offer of grace and a precept of God commanding and encouraging to believe I intreat the discreet Reader to consider what clear truth Mr. Tronghton professeth and how he hath with one hand ruined that great building of the Doctrine of restrained Redemption which he and many more with all their hands heads and hearts have labouâ—ed almost these two hundred years to raise up for seeing there is a Generall tender of Grace and manifestation of goodnesse from the most high God that offer is reall or not Mr. Troughton I thinke dare not say that it is not reall though I feare dares say any thing or else would never have restrained and limited Scripture Redemption for then he makes God like the worst of men If it be reall then I have ail that granted which largue for as fully as my soul can desire For if there be a generall and reall offer of Grace from God as most certainly there is surely then Christ dyed for all or else God offers grace to them and commandeth and encourageth them to believe for whom his Sonne never dyed and consequently to whom that grace could never have done any good Object But God fore-knew they would not receive it Ans But he fore-knew as well that by those abilities by him given them they could and might have received it and therefore he offers it that they may be left without excuse which could not have beene if the tender had never been made and that in good earnest too though Mr. Sympson in halfe sayes the contrary And wherein is the first act of Grace manifested but in Gods giving of Christ to be a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world That then which is the first and principall manifestation of grace or love which are all one is Gods giving his Sonne to dye for sinners and doubtlesse is first and principally to be made knowne to the world that they may know and believe the love of God and so come to turn from Idols to serve him that so loved them or else we shall make a preposterous preaching of the Gospel What Mr. Troughton sayes That we are not to looke at Christs dying for us but to the precept of God for our encouragement to believe is utterly false and meerly legal for all obedience that is not grounded upon love to him whom we obey is little worth But selfe contradictions breake no square in Mr. Troughtons Doctrine as you shall see in the next place where he saith The command to believe and come to Christ is open and revealed but who Christ dyed for is secret and hid neither is Gods call and command that thou shouldst repent and believe grounded upon Christs dying for thee in particular I Answer 1. This last clause is in part true for it s grounded upon his dying for all in Generall see Joh. 3. 16. and so is the fâ—rst viz that the command to believe is open and revâ—aled but that it is a secret thing who Christ dyed for is untrue for there is not any one thing in all the Scriptures morefully and plainly revealed then this as I have clearly proved But if it be a secret how came Mr. Troughton to know any thing of its in reference to himselfe or others Ans 2. If a man have a conceit at large that Christ dyed for him or a certain knowledge that he dyed for all yet if a man apply it not to his own souls in particular his faith wil be but ill founded For if certaine knowledge of every truth be the sure ground of every act of saving faith how can I beléeve that Christ dyed for me in particular except I fâ—rst know that he dyed for me in particuler and how any man can know that but by confessing that he dyed for all let any soul judge But many that would be thought Christians are growne just like the Jews yea the Pharisees that have high thoughts of themselves and despise others and that Christ never bought wicked men and Hereticks but onely seemed so to doe If I could see the man that hath not been a wicked man or a Heretick I should it may be say so too but there is not that man on the face of the earth that hath not beene one or both of these as every humble heart will ingenuously confesse and that it was the knowledge of the love of God in Christ that drew them out of the sinck of sinne superstition and error led them to repentance and obedience and so to peace of conscience and joy in the Lord the spirit of God in the Word and their owne experience can and will testifie with many thousands Obj. But sayes Mr. Troughton There are many thousands of precious Saints some yet alive and other at rest with the Lord who had true faith and peace of conscience and yet were stranger to the Doctrine of Christs dying for all men I Answer first So there are that never knew that Christ suffered at Jerusalem yea many thousands that never heard of Christ as Infants and others who dye before they have done or known good or evill and others that were ignorant of many pure divine truths in all ages and places of the world Answer 2. Suppose it be so doth that argue that when we may have more and clearer light and knowledge in the love of God and matters of salvation that we should neglect and oppose it though they who are invincibly and inevitably ignorant of many heavenly truths may be happy yet they who resist them cannot be so Answer 3. If they had true faith and joy in the Holy Ghost who did not certainly know whether Christ dyed for them or no they living under such Ministers onely that held that Christ dyed onely for some what strength of faith peace of conscience and rejoycing in the Lord may they have who know and can prove by many plaine text of Scriptute that Christ dyed for them How may such souls exult and leap for joy through the love of God who know and believe the love of God to them A man who desires such a one
never dyed for them That God decreed both the sinne and suffering of the Creature yet their destruction is of themselves With a hundred more of such contradictions which may be found in his and other mens Books which maintaine his Opinion which leaves many poore soules in the darke many in despaire more in prophanness and builds up the rest as I have shewed upon an uncertaine sandy foundation This he calls his or their Ministery and well he may for it 's not the Ministery of Christ or ministration of the Spirit for where doth the Spirit of God say Christ died for all and every man that accepts of him this Doctrine sets a soul to accept of Christ before they know what he hath done for them The ministration of the Spirit speaks thus that he diâ—d for all for every man for the whole world sinners heretikes which deny him and they that receive accept or believe on him shall not perish c. and this is the doctrine which we teach which the Lord hath blest blessed be his name to the conversion and consolation of mine and many thousand souls within these seven years Thus you see the conclusion of M. Troughtons little Tract put forth to lesse purpose which though some may judge legitimate yet such as have seen what men have formerly writ on this subject will discerne that it 's but borrowed out of other mens works of this kind yet he begs a blessing on his Babe but if ever his wisdome returne to him and his eyes are opened to see the deformity of the self contradiction and soul-distraction that is in it he will fly from it as Moses from his changed Rod and rather curse the day that this mishapen Monster came to light to restrain and limit Scripture Redemption I wonder what use M. Tro. can put his Doctrine to it affords no encouragement to the rebellious to come in for if they should be of that number which Christ died not for which is far the greater if M. Tro. doctrine were true it will not benefit them at ill as to their eternall state it can yeeld no solid or certain comfort to a drooping heart for if Christ did not die for all still he doubts whether he died for him And if God appointed men to be disobedient how dares M. Tro. reprove them for being so no sound exhortation to repent and believe arises from his tenets for he sayes God hath not enabled his creatures to do either but it must be done in them by an irresistable power he can never convince a soul of the riches of the grace and love of God to him for nothing will do that but the unerring evidence of the Spiâ—it in the Word of God and where that sayes Christ died for all he denies it and sayes the Scripture means no such thing it sends forth no dehortations from vice for he sayes that they who are partakers of the Grace the state to use his expression can never fall finally from it nor they that Christ died not for shall never come to it and what need M. Tro. disswade any man from an evill way be this doctrine And how can he inform any poor soul of the great kindnesse of God and Christ to him or her when he cannot clearly prove by expresse texts of Scripture that Christ died for them Hâ— may say thus seeing Christ did not die for all which is his doctrine then this serves to reprove them that say he did and that is â—saiah Christ Paul Peter and John and seeing God hath appointed most men to be disobedient this may encourage and comfort them in their disobedience in that they do what God appointed them to do and seeing God commands all to believe and accept of Christ yet hath not given power or ability to any so to do as he says it shewes what a hard Master God is who requires of his creatures that which they can never yea that which at least he never intended the greatest part should perform And seeing those that he calls Saints can never fall away from that state this may incourage men to go on in sin and cry peace and safety till suddain destruction hurles them into endlesse misery And though M. Tro. will not in words make such uses of his Doctrine yet Satan hath and doth prevail upon thousands the more 's the pity to make such uses of it they so naturally arising form those positions which he maintains I know that such uses are wicked much more is the doctrine that yeelds them if such fruit be to be abhor'd as sure it is much more the tree that bears it a good tree cannot yeeld such corrupt fruit the great God lay his Axe to the root of it and pluck up every plant that his hand hath not planted not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. But if Mr. Tro. hath better uses which clearly come from his doctrine I wonder he did not produce them for my part I shall as briefly as I can shew you that read these things what uses the Lord hath taught me by his Spirit in the Word to make of the Doctrine that I hold forth and which M. Tro. calls hereticall erroneous and corrupt opinions A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit search therefore courteous Reader and see whether the uses I am by the strength of the Lord about to lay down be good and then whether they be not the naturall and genuine issue of those doctrines which men call hereticall 1. If Christ died for all which is Pauls Doctrine and mine for the world for the whole world for every man as the Scriptures say c. it may serve to convince M. Tro. and every man and woman that he died for him and her that hears this glad tidings and that there is good news or Gospell for them and also to convince them of sin who believe not on him which could not be if he died not for them 2. It serves to reprove them that continue in sin and act contrary to him that gave his only Son to die for them 3. It informs us of the great and infinite love of the Father that gave his only Son he his dearest hearts bloud first virtually in the promise then actually in person rather then lost man should want a Redeemer and withall to inform men of the horrid and odious nature of sin which nothing can fully take away without the bloud of the Son of God 4. This may serve to perswade yea constrain sinners who do all live through Jesus Christ to love him that loved them first and gave his Son to be a propitiation for them and to keep his Commandements that is to live to him that died for them and rose again 5. This may encourage the greatest sinner that groaneth under sin to forsake sin and come to Christ who seeing he lov'd him so well as to die for him will in no wise cast
him out when by the word or teachings of God which are his drawings he comes to him 6. To reprove obstinate proud Rebells who deny the Lord that bought and dare sin against such grace and kindnesse as is seen by the Fathers giving his Son for them 7. This serves to leave all men without excuse they cannot say that God hath not commended his love to them seeing he hath written it in legible Characters of his Sons bloud 8. Here is consolation for the Saints who through the knowledge of such love have been drawn to obey God they know whom and in whom they have believed and are as sure that Christ died for them as if he had told them with his own mouth in that they believe the Scriptures affirming that he ransomed all 9. This may serve to them as an antidote against sin and errors in that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures 10. It may serve to incite us to love every creature with the love of good will or pity at least when we remember that Christ died for them as well as for us oh if this doctrine were fully known it would so increase love and quench hatred discord and debate peace justice and mercy would florish and wars oppression and cruelty would be banished some beams of this universall love of God beginning to shine forth upon the hearts of our Commanders Rulers Judges c. have inclin'd them to more clemency righteousnesse and pity then some former timeâ— have afforded and as it is more manifested we shall doubtlesse see more of God who is love and lov'd us when enemies appearings 'T is true a man that truly fears God cannot delight in an ungodly person neither can our heavenly Father yet he doth them good and the Saints desire the conversion of their enemies and will do good unto all according to their ability and their fellow creatures capacity and though they hate the vices of men yet they love their persons so as that they will exhort intreat and admonish them to come in to the Lord that bought them and not seek the ruine of their bodies states reputations and souls as I fear too many who deny the death of Christ for all would if it were in their power and could wish that there were something in force like that Popish Statute de Haereticis comburendis as appears by their continuall appeals to the civill yea and military powers their complaints and petitions against such as hold the truth in love by all means labouring to perswade the Magistrates to unsheath their swords to cut off banish or silence by might of men those who are full of might by the Spirit of the Lord to declare against their corrupt principles and practise they have a zeal but not according to knowledge for did they know what love the Father hath shewed those whom they maligne and what sweet communion they have with God and that God lov'd those whom they hate so as to give his Son to die for them they would never suffer that cursed root that beareth gall and wormwood to spring up in their hearts but would endeavour to instruct them with meeknesse or contend against them at least with the sword of the spirit But this they do not but by all meanes seek their impoverishment and ruine and will not speak to them though they bring the same doctrine which Christ and his Apostles taught they shun disputing with them under pretext that they are Heretiques and reject them not knowing that that advise is proper to those that are members together of the Church of Christ and not those that are of different Churches for what authority hath any Church to cast out or reject one that is not immembred with them but the truth is these men are afraid of the light and have no love to such as are of Pauls opinion that Christ died for all and therefore they incense authority gnash their teeth against them But we know that Christ died for them and desire that they also may know it and by that goodnesse be led to repent of all their evills and in particular of their envy and consultations against the Saints of the most high who believe as the Scripture saith and will not receive the corrupt glosses which men put on them or the sad and dark conclusions and consequences which they draw from them In a word if Christ died for all this may serve to keep the poor sin-sick sinner from despair and the proud transgressor from presumption to reprove such as give the Scripture yea the Spirit of God the lye who in so many placeâ— hath clearly evidenced it yet they deny what is there written and would have us rather adhere to their expositions which are all darker then the text Again if God hath of his free mercy in Christ appointed and ordain'd all men to serve him and furnished them with every thing necessary for so doing so that all Nations may know and believe him through that light which lighteth every man which cometh into the world according to that manifestation of it which shines forth to them as undoubtedly he hath then this serves to reprove such as say God did appoint some men as men to be disobedient that is to serve sin and Satan 2. Such as teach that God hath not enabled all his creatures to do what he requires of them but that he exacts more of his creatures then he hath given ability to perform and so make God is an austere man as the wicked servant did yea as bad as Pharoah 3. This may serve fully to convince every sober spiâ—iâ— of the reall truth of those sayings thy destruction is of thy self aâ—d that the damned bring upon themselves swift destruction 4. It serves to clear the pure justice of God and leave all without excuse when they hear that God through his Sons blood hath made all Nations of the earth to seek him and in order thereto hath done what could be done for his Vineyard 5. This may serve to stir up poor creatures to be thankfull and admire the riches of grace and speak good of the name of the Lord so mercifull and bountifull and to incite them to arise and be doing 1 Chron. 22. 16. and God will be with them some to hear search read inquire that they may know and believe the Lord and them that come to know and apply his love to repent and be baptized to separate from the world and such again to continue in the grace of God in the fellowship and doctrine of the Apostles in breaking of bread and prayers in praising of God in holinesse of life watching against sin and for the coming of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ 't is true all are not capable of the same exhortation for to exhort a wicked man that never yet believ'd the Gospel to pray and break bread with the Saints wait for the day of Christ is preposterous
according to their demands for to expound them by their corrupt glosses and theâ— also great would be the company of the publishers of the Gospell for the love of God would so fill their hearts as with new wine that they could not but declare what God hath done for their souls and this would make false teachers fill'd with the wisdome of this world fret when the mysteries of the love of God should be revealed to and by Babes in the Gospell 3. Self is much an enemy to it for most men yea all those many thousands which now own this truth of Christs dying for all do well know that not only Satan and false Teachers did secretly and openly incite them against it but their own heart corrupt through custome in fin did rise against it and that for this reason If they should acknowledge that Christ died for all and that God through him hath appointed and enabled them to do his will then they should have no liberty or leisure to linger and loiter in fin but they must appear in love to Jesus Christ to be doing his work which he calls them to there must be no sleeping nor slumbring nor folding their hands to sleep but up and be doing and as in the bodily so in this spirituall labour the creature deluded by Satan cannot endure to do his duty which the Gospell calls for and this self I mean self-love self-will self-interests and ends c. till it be subdued by the appearing and receiving the light from the Lord cannot endure to hear that there is any possibility of falling from the favour of God for this would be a mighty check to their pleasure profit and delight they have in sin fain would self even the fleshly mind root out all such thoughts that it may feed it self with lusts and take its ful swindge in sin without controule And whatever specious pretences men may cover their conceits with and cry out against this Doctrine as uncomfortable c. yet the Serpents head lies hid beneath them who prompts them to decry it that so he may keep them from that godly feare and trembling with which they ought to work our their owne salvation I know we must serve God without fear of displeasing men by obeying him and without fear of his deceiving of us of any thing he haâ—â— promised yet continually fearing to offend him who loved us and fearing lest we should come short of what is promised through our own unbelief The Apostle Paul was as eminent a Saint as most yet he kept his body in subjection lest by any means when he had preached to others he himself should be a east-away In a word if this Doctrine should be faithfully published it would wonderfully draw out mens soules after Christ drive out the power of sin carry forth mens Spirits to propagate the Gospell hurle down the Kingdome of Satan and Antichrist by the mighty increase of knowledge faith and love advance holinesse sobriety and righteousnesse stir up men to diligence godly fear and watchfullnesse at least leave men without any encouragement to live in sin one moment take away all those Cob-web cloaks with which men palliate their impieties remove all excuses and even force men to confesse their destruction is of themselves and therefore is it oppos'd by Satan selfe and false teachers who would all suffer losse by the fire of Gods Word if their deceits and doctrines come to be discovered by the glorious light of these truths which men call heresie and erroneous opinions I am not unacquainted with the tossings and torments of mind which they are subject to that hold the doctrines contrary to these in the foregoing treatise insisted on their dejections of spirit and dubiousnesse of heart one while even drownes them in black despair another while their foundationlesse faith and groundlesse confidence through the exceeding subtilty of Satan makes them to dare to adventure upon a sin upon this score that if they are elected they cannot hereby fall finally and if they are not it will not be any impairing of their irrecoverable hopelesse condition I know Satan will provoke men to fret exceedingly against these things with the highest risings and liftings up of spirit But it being my owne experience in former times and of hundreds who have communicated theirs with mine since the daies of their conversion I cannot neither will I conceal the counsells and cunning of so great an enemy but speak truth to his yea to my own shame neither am I ignorant of the strong consolation in obedience the strength against temptations the heedfull diligence care and watchfullnesse against sin which they are possest with who knowingly and cordially hold and lay to heart that Christ died for all for thereby they are so sure that he died for them that it 's a hard matter for the devill and world to drive his love out of their hearts and draw them into disobedience but they that hold the contrary call the truth of many and so at length of all the Scriptures into question as the Shropshire Ministers confesse pagâ— 1. of their namelesse paper And I am confident that as the Lord hath so he will blesse this Doctrine with those that professe it and practise that holinesse righteousnesse and sobriety which that grace of God which â—ringeth salvation to all men teacheth and by his owne Spirit not the word and arme of flesh will signally appeare to the overturning of that great mountain of false doctrine that hath kept poore creatures from beholding the face of the Son of righteousnesse in the truth of the Gospell and that they who say Christ did not die for all so giving the lye to the Spirit of God and that God did absolutely appoint the greatest part of men to be disobedient not giving them ability to do what he requires and yet will damne them for not doing it that God commands men to do that which he will work in them by an irresistable power and to make as though God contradicts himselfe that the Lord that bought false Teachers was not Christ c. shall be convinced or covered with the cloak of confusion For my part if any maligne me for the puâ—â—ishing of this plaine downe-right discourse I desire the Lord to forgive them and turne their hearts and yet graciously wait to manifest to them that precâ—ous â—râ—th which they oppose that by it they may be comfoâ—ted and established in their minds encouraged to take up the Crosse of Jesus and follow him in all Gospell-obedience I desire no lesse for the greatest of my Adversaries then that they may come out of Babilon the false Church and worship one God in spirit and truth amongst such as keep the commands of Jesus as he hath given them out to us by his Spirit in the word of truth that so we may walk in the light of the Lord whilest we are here and being accounted worthy to escape all those things which shall come upon this Generation may hereafter sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the everlasting Kingdome of God our Saviour Amen FINIS * Master Trough p. 1. Isa 28. 21. Isa 29. 14. Job 38. 2 13 7. * Cap. Ever Sam. Oates Benj. Morley Mr. Prior Wil. Kendal Re. Fâ—ilding c. Mr. Troug in his Introduct pag. 1. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. James Wood. M. Powel M. Wood others M. Powel Ma. Butler of Col Berye's Regim Mr. Rutherford Mr. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford M. Prideaux Mr. Rutherford Mr. Resbury M. Wood. Mr. Tro. Mr. Wood. Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood Mr. J. T. Mr. Wood M. Grant M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Jam. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Tro. and M. Ia. Wood. M. Syd Simpson A. M. M. Tro. M. Tro. M. Wood. M. Batty c. The Shropshire Ministers M. John Symson Simil. Mr. Deiamain Mr. Powel Simil. M. Trough Argument M. Trough Simil. M. Trough Conclusion M. Resbâ—ry M. Owen M. Rutherford M. Staltham Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3.