forgiven whose sin is covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile which latter expression not mentioned by Paul two other are put in for it namely Imputeth righteousnesse and will not impute sin Rom. 4.6 7 8. All the same saith Mr. Garner with that 2 Cor. 5.19 in pages 116 117. But on what ground Is it any where said The world beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly or that God imputeth righteousnesse to the world or that there is no guile in the spirit of the world or that God will not impute sin to the world or blessed is the world c. All which is affirmed of those mentioned Psal 32.1 2. Rom. 4 4-8 Sure hee that could treate so of the time of which this was spoken might also have seene it spoken of the first Judgement that was to come on mankind in which God went to Judgement with his Sonne and was imputing to and charging on him and not on the world their trespasses and on that gound will impute sin to the world for not beleeving on and submitting to him John 3.17 18. But enough of this and remaining yet unanswered in the opposed Treatise Chap. 13. page 66 67. as also in shewing his forced sense on the words Taketh away sin in John 1.29 yea and what will Mr. Garner say of such as have their sins freely forgiven and yet afterwards both charged with sinne and condemned for it Matth. 18.23 to 35. I hope he will not say It was such a forgivenesse as is mentioned Psal 32.1 2. Rom. 4.5 6 7. 11 The word Love in John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne This saith he is the everlasting powerfull quickning pardoning and saving love of God in his Sonne pag. 78. and had he gone no farther I would have endevoured to take it but he addes Drawing everlasting love of God to them yea he makes it the same with that he had said before that the world should be accounted the people of God and obtaine remission of sins and salvation by the death of Christ to which hee abusively quoteth many places of Scripture not one of them saying for page 75. For answer to him first let the Text be read Joh. 3.16 where the words are not That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that the world should not perish but have everlasting life This is Mr. Garners doctrine not Christ his Doctrine or saying but Christ his saying is God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him where is a Distribution sure Whosoever of the world beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life And then it followes vers 17. For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world but that the world through him might bee saved now his first being sent and comming into the world was not only to dye and rise and offer sacrifice but also to beare witnesse of the truth to preach the Gospell of peace and that to this end that all through him might beleeve and be saved yea even those who for not believing were not eternally saved John 14-7 10.11 5 34-40 12.46 47 48-50 And those that through beleeving on him partake of this special salvation were chosen out of the world and not reckoned of the world John 1.12 13. 15-19 17.14 And the residue remaining in unbeliefe were reckoned the world still and so it followes here in the Distribution vers 18. Hee that believeth on him is not condemned as the world is 1 Joh. 5.19 But he that beleeveth not is condemned already because he believed not on the Name of the only begotten Sonne of God now marke the explication of the condemnation of the unbeleevers who are still reckoned The world vers 19. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and is not this Christ and the Gospell and love light and mercy held forth there through as vers 14 15. chap 1457. 9.10.11 And men loved darknesse rather then light c. Now let Mr. Garner view his charge on others page 76 77. and say Who wrangles with God and questions the wisdom of the Holy Ghost for speaking to us after another manner Doth not he that chargeth his sayings and expressions with errour absurdities and falshood and presumes to put independant senses on his words and after his phrases and teach him how to speake And why should any of us so do But secondly let this also be noted that though God be love it selfe and so love in him is infinite glorious c. yet no love proceeds from him to nor can be said to love any of fallen mankind but in the gift of his Son and through his Son And whom in that gift of his Sonne and through him God is said so to love as to doe them good and that set forth for our example we may see Matth. 5 44. to 48. Whence when men by his goodnesse shewne and meanes used by Christ doe not come in to beleeve and submit to him but take offence and stumble at and rebell against him They are said to fight against him without a cause for his love to be his adversaries to reward him evill for good and hatred for his love Psal 109 3.4 5. And when for contempt of and rebelling against his love in the fruits thereof he saith where their wickednesse is found there I hated them and I will love them no more Hosea 9 15. Oh how crosse is this to Mr. Garners sense And yet thirdly we might note the Distinction and difference in the streamings of Gods love betweene his love of the world of mankind and his love of his only begotten Sonne that hath done his will for mankind and how of those that believe in Christ that he loveth them as he loveth his Son But hee is no where said to love the world as he loves his Sonne but enough that remaineth yet unanswered by Mr. Garner and may discover his forced sense upon this place and cleare all his quotations from siding with him is already shewne in the opposed Treatise chap. 15. pag. 89 to 94. Though Mr. Garner plead never so much for wicked men to make them beleeve their sins are not against much lesse ill requitals of such love ☞ 1. 12 The word Reconciliation or Propitation or Atonement and the like of pardon or purgation 2 Cor. 5.19 Reconciliation here in these words where it is said God was in Christ reconciling c. Is saith Mr. Garner no lesse then Remission of all their sinnes through faith in Christ then making them the righteousnesse of God by Iesus Christ page 116. giving them remission of sinnes and putting them in a condition of perfect righteousnesse and true blessednesse through faith in Christ wrought in them by the power of God in the ministry of reconciliation No
for the Sonnes of men And being made perfect 2. For the second he was made the author of eternall salvation is not that cleare also to be a further and distinct businesse are not the words plain And being made made perfect he became or was made the author of eternall salvation to them that obey him As he is the procurer He. 2.12 so he is the doner and giver of it John 1.12 and 6.14 and 17.2 And this saying eternall salvation unto all them that obey him doth impart that which Scriptures else where sheweth some salvation fore-wrought and vouchsafed that men might obey him in receite and exceptation whereof men doe obey him and in neglect and refusall or disobedience to him wherein also will appeare a distinction of salvation it selfe considerable if the sayings of the Scripture it selfe be heeded and believed which sheweth us 1. That Jesus Christ himselfe in his own body as the second publick man having in the nature of all mankind and for them dyed for our sinnes and risen for our justification and in the same nature being ascended exalted and filled with all fulnesse of grace 1 Pet. 2.24 Rom. 4.25 Hath so saved out nature in himselfe that all or any of that nature comming to him may and in union with him shall partake thereof Rom. 5.18 1 John 5.11 12. And he using meanes to that end that men might seek and come to him John 1.4 5 7 10.11 Pro. 8 4 9. Hee indeed is and truly so called The salvation and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Acts 13 26. Isay 40.6 Gods salvation which he hath prepared before the face of all people A light to lighten c. Luke 2 30 31 32. A horne of salvation Luke 1.69 And I believe this is a true and a reall salvation and eternall and compleat in him before it be made known and the making known of him is the making known of salvation and that for remission of sinnes also though many receive it not Luke 1.77 79. Acts 13.38 39 And is not here a salvation a prepared salvation a salvation made known and set before men larger and farre more then have enjoyed it 2. The word that sets forth Jesus Christ the Sonne of God and saviour of the world and what he is hath done and doth in Heaven for us and is ready to bestow one all that doe believe and so calleth them and tendereth grace to them on believing It is called the word of salvation Acts 13.23 26 30 And they that neglect it are said to neglect great salvation Heb. 2.3 And is not here salvation even in the tender before and larger then the receipt and enjoyment 3. The extention and reaching forth of mercies to men Psal 145.8 9. as the persecution of their lives and so giving space for repentance Acts 17 27 28. 2 Pet. 3.9 Rev. 3.21 the preservation of the other creatures that they might serve for the good of mankind Mat. 5.45 Psal 36 5 6 7. and blessing these to men for the good and welfare of men in this life Acts 14.17 and all this extended through the Propitiation Christ hath made and ransome he hath given for men in which mercy and truth are so met that God without violation of truth and justice may shew mercy to sinners Psal 85.10.11 And he is not only good to all in that his mercy is over all his workes but also he is righteous in all his waies Psal 145.17 and so all these mercies are testimonies of his goodnesse Psal 19.1.6 Rom. 10.18 Acts 14.17 and that to lead to repentance and seeking of him Acts 17.27 28. Rom. 2.4 much more the word and Gospell where it comes discovering Christ which also is that all to whom it comes might believe Iohn 1.4 7 still further where his spirit comes in thâ— meanes striving with men Gen. 6.3 these with all the preservations and deliverances inlightenings and motions leading from any evill towards God as they come from and through a salvation effected in our nature by and in Christ and as they are witnesses of that salvation and come to lead to it that in receiving of it men might be saved so they are indeed and that truly called salvation or saving Exod. 14 13. Psal 144.10 and 36.6 7. Yea the Holy Ghost wils us to account that the long suffering of God is salvation 2 Pet 3.15 and thus in these respects he is the Saviour of al men 1 Tim. 4.10 Yea the salvation in Christ and love of God there-through appearing in all these fore mensioning mercies or saving or salvations doth come to men to call to reprove and so to allure to come to Christ The salvation of God and such as for love of other things doe refuse and come nor in are said truly to forsake their own mercies Iona 2.8 loose their own soules Mat. 16.24 Deny their right and lawfull Lord that bought them refusing his counsell and so bring upon themselve swift distruction 2 Pet 1.2 and are even for that cause given over to Satan and distruction not because he had not bought them but because they denyed him that bought them not because he had not loved them nor shewed love in doing good for them and to them but because they have been adversaries to him for his love and rewarded him evill for good and hatred for his love Psal 209.4 5. not because God sent not his Sonne that they might be saved and that Christ shed no blood for them nor extended meanes there through to them not any motions of spirit therein but because they have troden under foot the Sonne of God and counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctifyed an unholy thing and have done despite to the spirit of grace Heb. 10.29 not because there were no truth in Christ for them nor love of the truth to them nor willingnesse and power in that love to save them nor it extended to them but because they received not the love of his truth that they might be saved 2 Thes 2.10 12. But held the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 Not because their was no propitiation made for them nor meanes used to purge them But because he purged them and they were not purged Ezek. 24.13 Not because he would not nor sought there returne But because they would not harken to his councell they would none of him Ezek. 33.11 Psal 18.11 Prov. 1.24 30. John 5.40 Mat. 23.37 no nor simply and absolutly in the first place because they could not But because when light came and power removing the yoake of the Jewes They regarded not his light and power that would have enabled them But loved darknesse rather and so were given up and then could not Hos 11.3 4. John 3.19 Rom. 1.18 28. now can any say he had no salvation in himselfe for them nor extended any to them and was no Saviour of them surely none can say so truly But they were rebellious and disobedient to him and
beleevers every one of us shall give an account of himselfe to God Rom. 14.11 12. and wee must all appoare before the judgement seate of Christ 2 Cor. 5.10 And is not this a most dangerous and perrillous way of expounding Scripture As it is more largely shown both in the Epistle and Book of the opposed Treatise which if he could not answer he might have taken warning not to have run into such snares XI He plainly and in expresse termes denyeth the Gospell and word of God to be the Gospell and word of God in that he denyeth that doctrine and Gospell and those sayings to be there which are expresly there intimating as if he had some other un written verity or Gospell which with him is the Gospell and it is not there and all in this written Gospell must be brought to that 1. Whereas the Apostle speaking of those men that must all appear before the judgement seate of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done in his body whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5 10. sutable to that John 5 19. and of his knowledge of the terrour of the Lord which will in that judgement be against them that would not submit to but deny the Lord that bought them and on that ground did perswade men Though his heart and spirit was manifested unto God and in beleevers verse 11. yet he preached to others also that judged evill of him and then tels them what constrained him even the love of Christ and on what ground even because we thus judge that if one dyed for all then all dyed or were dead and then affirmes it possitively with one end of his death and that he dyed for all that c. verse 14 15. and after an exposition how to take the word All when God speakes of Christ and his workes in and through Christ he saith that he by the grace of God might tast death for every man Heb. 2 9. and speaking even of unbeleevers also he saith he gave himselfe a ransome for all 2 Tim. 2.1 6. And another Apostle in an opposition between beleevers and unbeleevers saith He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 Joh. 2 2. yet this man saith that to affirme of Christ that he hath wrought a peace or reconciliation in himselfe with God for all men that it might be declared for them to beleeve and to affirme Christ dyed for all men he finds no where in the Gospell nay that is more moderate then that which followes for he goeth further page 188. It is not agreeable to the Scriptures and to preach it is not to preach the Gospell of Christ but somthing which men sure he must mean such as the Carpenter the Sonne of Mary Peter the fisher Paul the Tent-maker have added to the Gospel of Jesus Christ p. 177 he saith determinatively that this doctrin of Christ suffering for al men his phrase is persons is not the doctrin of Jesus Christ nor the subject matter of the Gospel nor is there such a thing found in the Gospell nor in any part of the word of God and then he addes rightly understood And must not that understāding be according to some unwritten Gospell to cloath this with to be adored which in its own cloathing is denied and made vile by him page 176. 2. Whereas the Gospell is glad tydings of a redemption and peace and life and so good will to be declared that in beleeving men might receive it and glad tidings and a word of truth it can be to none for whom there is nothing in truth prepared And the Gospell our Saviour so preaching John 3 16 17. and 12 47 45. commanded his disciples to preach to every creature speaking of the world of mankind as Iohn 1.3 4 5 7 9. Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 and they so preached the Gospell 2 Cor. 5.19 and him the Sonne of God the Saviour of the world 1 Iohn 4 14 and many have so beleeved and confessed Iohn 4.42 He plainly denyeth all this and sayeth expresly page 133. That neither Christ nor the Apostles did so teach nor that he required them so to teach and though they declared peace to whatsoever house they came that was but ministeriall as if in ministry they told lyes page 136. nor saith he did any of the Saints so beleeve So that the written Gospell with him is no Gospell no word of God understood according to its own sayings but according to some unwritten verity of his which he calls the right understanding of it 3. Whereas the Scripture in the Gospell setteth forth God to be the Saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 and that his mercies are over all his workes Psalme 145.8 9. and that it is through Christ that these mercies are extended Psalme 75.3 Iohn 1.3 4 5 9. Col. 1.18 and that these mercies are witnesses of his goodnesse Acts 14.17 and fruites of love kindnesse and mercy Mat. 5.44 48. Luke 6.32 to 36. and come to lead men to repentance Rom. 2.4 and to the Gospell that they might beleeve and when men harden their hearts and will not be brought to submit to and beleeve on him he chargeth them to hold the truth in unrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 To be adversaries to him for his love to have rewarded him evill for good and hatred for his love Psalme 109.4.5 and that which was for their wel-fare to be turned into a trap Psalme 69.22 beside that said Psal 36.5 6 7. Yet would he have assaid to deny the enjoyment of any mercies any benefit yea as a benefit though outward by any unbeleever through Christ page 148 149. but because he is in this moderate and saith it is not cleare to him which I beleeve because he beleeveth not that for them through which it is procured and saith if he mistake in this or any other thing he is willing to be informed The Lord preserve in him and me such a heart and then wee shall not deny the sayings of Scripture XII But that he may not be said wholly and altogether to deny all the sayings of the Gospell he doth acknowledge some parts and sayings of truth and presse the same to hide and deny other parts of truth as the worke Jesus Christ worketh in men by spirituall application of his blood to deny the compleatnesse of that he hath wrought in himselfe with God for men His reconciling men to God by spirituall application of his blood to deny his reconciliation wrought with God in presenting the vertue of his blood in sacrifice offered to God his redeeming men out of the world to God to deny his purchasing men of God the eternall life given in Christ to deny the life of the world given by Christ as is seen throughout his Treatise And usuall waies of such as are witty and subtil not only in points of faith that they may the more fairely deny one for that
this Scripture in it self then mark his causion and being wrightly understood is most holy spirituall and precious but having so said he will give you a reason why they cannot be true as they are spoken then be proceeds to wrest and glâ—sâ—e them as if in themselves full of equivocation and absurdities but in his glosse which he cals the mind of God page 165. line last there is a precious truth thus dealing with the Scripture as if he were expounding and applying suffer the rudenesse of this expression Jsops fables for a wise man and a friend would hardly interpret the serious sayings of a wise prudent judicious and faithfull man so as he doth the words of the Holy Ghost and if this appear so is it not a degree of their sinne that crowned him with Thornes and then bowed the knee said hai King of the Jewes but spit upon him smote him also Mat. 27.29 30 though mockingly they adored him in the garments they had put upon him yet they led him in his own garments to be crucified verse 31. and what is it lesse to magnifie his sayings adorned with our glosses and senses framed for and put on them but to lead them in their own sense the sense which the words themselves import and wherewith they are naturally cloathed to be crucified and made to appear as vile as is in the drift of the greatest part of Mr. Garners discourse But I will note here only 2 Peter 2.1 and judge 2 Peter 2.1 There were false Prophets among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction Are these the words of man or God Did Peter speak or write them according to his own imagination conception and supposall in a charitable judgement or did he speak and write them according to the inspiration and motion of the Holy Ghost If wee take them the former way wee make them the words of a man that may be failing and need helpe if wee take them the latter way as they are indeed verrily to be taken 1 Cor. 2.13 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 3.2 then wee take them as they are indeed the words of God and so full of truth and certainty and opperation in them that beleeve and so of themselves if they may be beleeved they doe instruct us in divers things 1 About the true Prophets and the false in former times in this word But there were false Prophets the true Prophets did not study or invent that which they prophesied nor speak or write by their own will but they waited attended diligently what the spirit did signifie and so speake and write as they were inspired moved by the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 1.11 12. 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and so the Apostles 1 Cor. 2.2 13. 2 Pet. 1.18 2 Tim. 3.16 But the false Prophets lifted up their own understandings and exercised their own reasons and finding as they conceived absurdities and impossibilities in what the true Prophets by inspiration had said they according to their conceptions vented their own dreames Jer. 23.26 27.30 32. 2. About the Teachers in times since the Apostles the true Teachers take heed to the words and sayings of the Gospel uttered by the Prophets Apostles 2 Pet. 1.19 2 9 Gal. 1 8 9. Ephes 2.20 and so speak according to light and grace received and faith given Rom. 12.3 even that Gospell and those words faithfully without vailing wresting or corrupting it 2 Cor. 2.17 3 12 13. 4 1 2. Tit. 1.7 8. But the false Teachers lifting up their own understandings conceit impossibilities follies absurdities in words sayings yet pretending to teach them do vaile corrupt and glosse them make them appear right to maintain that which they hold forth to 2 Cor. 2.17 and 11.3 4. 3. The doctrine that these false teachers bring is full of heresies oppinions swarving from and contrary to the truth and sayings of the Gospell Gal. 1.6 8. 4. The manner how they bring in these heresies and that is not by an open and plain rejection of the Scripture but privily as the false prophets of old came pretending the name of the Lord and thus saith the Lord so to steal away the word of the Lord from the people Jer. 23. and 29. so they pretend the words and sayings and spirit of the Apostles 2 Thes 2.2 and then pervert and wrest and mangle those words and colour them with their glosses that so they may steale the plain sayings of Christ and the sense his words import from their hearers and fasten on them their own opinions and glosses 2 Cor. 11.3 4 15. Gal. 1.7 5. Both the worke of these false teachers in venting their heresies and also the event of these heresies received which is twofold even 1. Denying the Lord that bought them here is the greatnesse of the evill a fearfull sinne to deny his right of Lordship that had so dearly purchased it Rom. 14.9 12. to deny the goodnesse of his Lordship that had brought them out of the darknesse of this world into so much light and fellowship with his people John 3.19 to deny him the truth goodnesse and righteousnesse of his sayings Ier. 8.9 to deny the motions and teachings of his spirit and grace vouchsafed Rom. 2.4 Acts 7. What so great so good a Lord that hath so bought and loved them to be adversaries to him and refuse to have him raigne over them and to reward him evill for good and hatred for his love this is marked out for the inexcusable abomminable great and fearfull sinne indeed to which is threatned the grievious curse Psal 109.2 3 4 5 to 20. Luke 19.27 2. And bring upon themselves swift destruction Is not this the just punishment of so great a sinne and are not they said by this their sinne to bring it yea to bring it swiftly upon themselves and heavy is the prophecie to some that many follow their pernicious waies by whom the way of truth is evill spoken of now say did not the Holy Ghost know whether they were bought or not and whether Christ by vertue of that purchase was their right and lawfull Lord or no and whether these did deny him or no Or where will Mr. Garner find the deceite to make it but a seeming was it in them did they but seeme to deny or was it in the Lord that he had but seemingly bought them in both is the voice of Mr. Garners writing they were not bought saith he in truth and really as though it were indeed so pa. 162. they did but deny him he saith in point of profession they did but professe themselves to be bought page 158. to 165. so that in their continuance in their profession they it seems by him thought themselves bought but then they were in an error for they were never so much beholding to him and