and hearts and words and writings and lives according to the sense of it and not prostitute the sacred word to our spurious fancies and inventions and profanely and sacrilegiously alledge the same for maintaining the beggerly brats of our owne braines The Lord pardon this evill and vindicate and rescue his own blessed word from all corrupt glosses and misinterpretations and make it to shine forth in its owne beauty lustre and brightness that it may dazle and silence those that abuse it to their own fleshly ends The Scripture is a sealed book Rev. 5.1 c. It is sealed with seven seales and till the blessed slain Lambe by the seven spirits open it to us we cannot spiritually comprehend the mind of God therein by all our endeavours and abilities Hence it is that so many in our age err from the truth going forth in the confidence of their own strength and walking or rather wandring in their own light and not humbly waiting on God for his teachings nor comparing spiritual things with spirituall for what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him 1 Cor. 2.10 11. Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God who searcheth all things yea the deep things of God But to come to the Scriptures and Arguments against Universal Redemption ARGUMENT I. MY first Argument or Reason is taken from Rev. 5.9 compared with Rev. 14.3 4. The words are these And they sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the Seals thereof For thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred Tongue People and Nation And no man could learn that Song but the hundred and forty four thousand which were redeemed from the earth These are they which were not defiled with women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed or bought from among men c. If the Lord Jesus Christ by his death and blood-shedding did redeem a number out of every kindred tongue people and nation then there is a number of men which is not redeemed by the blood of Christ Suppose a whole Nation were in slavery and bondage to the Turks and some victorious Prince or Captain should by his Valour or Treasure redeem some of the Inhabitants out of this Nation in which they are enslaved will it not then follow that there is a certain number of Inhabitants in this Nation which are not redeemed but are still in bondage Here is plain Scripture against Universal Redemption oh that the Lord would give poor deluded souls to see it in the light of his Spirit and to submit to it by the power of the same Spirit Not every Individual of the sex nation kindred and tongue is bought and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb but some out of every nation sex kindred and tongue These Scriptures will afford another Reason or Argument against Universal Redemption ARGUMENT II. IF they who are redeemed and bought by the blood of Christ be redeemed and bought to God to be his peculiar people zealous of good works so that they do or shall sing a new song they are or shall be virgins and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth They are such as are redeemed from the earth and from among men to God Then is not every man and woman in the world redeemed and bought by the blood of Christ Because every man and woman no not one of an hundred doth or shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth This Proposition is further confirmed by several plain Scriptures Ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are God's Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 14. being made a curse for us that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for us Tit. 2.14 that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church Eph. 5.25 26 27. and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and clense it with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish The Redeemed of the Lord shall return Isa 51.11 and come with singing unto Sion and everlasting joy shall be upon their head They shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Do not we find here the Lord give us hearts to embrace Truth when it is so clearly held forth that those whom Christ redeemed by his blood he redeemed and bought them to God that they might be a holy and peculiar people which must and shall be accomplished in due time through the vertue and efficacy of his Blood on all them whom he shed his blood for Nor doth that ungrounded contradistinction used by a great stickler for the contrary opinion take place here T. MoorVniversality of God's free grace to Mankind namely of reconciliation which Christ hath wrought by his Blood which as our Adversaries hold extends to every man in the world and that reconciliation which he works by his Spirit in men which is peculiar This distinction I say will not be admitted here for we see that this Redemption which the Text speaks of is a redemption by blood and it is a peculiar Redemption and so held forth in this and other Scriptures Christ as he comes to his people by blood for their Justification so by water namely his Spirit for their Sanctification This is he that came by water and blood 1 John 5.6 even Jesus Christ not by water only but by water and blood and that is the Spirit that beareth witness because the Spirit is Truth ARGUMENT III. MY third Argument or reason is taken from Rev. 13.8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship the Beast whose names are not written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Or thus it may be rendred Whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb slain If there be many upon earth that worship the Antichristian Beast whore names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain then did not the Lord Jesus shed his blood or give himself a ransome for every man and woman in the world There are some to whom Christ will say in the last day Matth. 7.23 Depart from me I know ye not ye are not written in my book of love and gracious remembrance Shall we think that the Lord Christ in the immenseness
But if the Covenant of grace I say should externally belong to all to whom the Gospel is preached yet this will not extend to every man and woman in the world for God doth not afford the outward dispensation of his Gospel much less the estectual powerful operation of his Spirit to every one Psal 76.1 2. In Jud his God known his name is great in Israel In Salem also is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion Psal 147.19 20. Ier. 10.25 Eph. 2.11 Mar. 11.52 26. Acts 14.16 Acts 16.6 7. He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation At that time ye were without Christ aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel strangers from the Covenants of promise without hope without God in the world In times past he suffered all Nations to walk in their own ways Paul was forbidden of the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia and estaying to go into Bythinta the Spirit suffered him not The Lord God according to the pleasure of his own will sends the Ministry of the Gospel to one place and people and with-holds it from another makes known his Covenant of grace to some and hides and conceals it from others I might further argue thus that all those whom Christ dyed for he dyed in their stead as their surety and representative personating and representing them in his death and sufferings and if so how can the Lord God in justice and wisdom cast them of and reject them for whom his dear Son was a surety and undertaker and that by his own eternal decree counsel and appointment The Lord Jesus saveth his people from their sins Matth. 1.21 and then who can lay any thing to their charge It is Christ that dyed It is the son of God that shed his blood Rom. 8.31 34. who can condemn If Christ the eternal God be for us who can be against us If God spared not his Son but delivered him to death for us How shall he not with him also freely give us all things I shall not insist upon the nature of Redemption reconciliation atonement and propitiation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tit. 2.14 Rev. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.3 4. Col. 1.21 22. 2 Cor. 5.18 19. and the import and signification thereof in scripture phrase which comprehends and takes in not onely merit and impetration but also particuler application as to the persons so redeemed and reconciled by Christs blood I could also argue against universal redemption from the analogy and proportion between the type and the antitype doubtless the typical sacrifice was not slain and offered for every individual person nor did the antitype the substance of those shaddowes lay down his life for every man and woman in the world And lastly I would commend this to the consideration of the Christian reader that they to whom Christ is a redeemer and Savior Iohn 1 5. 1. Eph. 1.22 23. he is also a spiritual Root a spiritual head and principle of life to communicate the spirit of grace and holiness to them Redemption by Christ's blood and adoption by the spirit of grace though they may and ought to be distinguished yet they cannot be so divided and separated but that the same persons that are capable of the one are also capable of the other and shall partake thereof Gal. 4.4 5 6. God sent forth his Son to redeeme them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons and because ye are Sons namly by election and redemption God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father Psal 68.18 Christ as he suffered for the fins of men so he received spiritual gifts for them yea for the rebellious Iohn 3.34 Iohn 1.16 Heb. 8.10 Zac. 12. Iohn 12.32 33. Phil. 1.29 Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.1 Acts 5.31 Heb 12.2 that the Lord God might dwel among them that they might have communion and fellowship with God He received the spirit without measure as head and mediator that of his fulness we might receive grace for grace If God have given his Son to die for us he will also give us faith repentance holyness newness of heart and life If he so loved all men as to part with this pretious Jewell and Pearle of great price out of his bosome for them he will then give all men a hand to take it with and a casket to keep it in But for these and other argument which might be alledged against the General redemption they are managed by other godly and reverend men in their printed books to whom God hath given more skill and ability advantageously to handle spiritual weapons then I have only I cast in my poor mite into the Lords treasury desiring the Reader humbly and seriously to weigh and examine the scriptures in the margent 1 Tim. 2.6 1 Iohn 2.1 2. Iohn 3.16 Heb. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After I had propounded my arguments against universal redemption I did briefly as the Lord enabled me answer the most considerable objections of the adversarie Taken from those general and indefinite expressions and phrases of Scripture all every the world the whole world for as for these words i.e. Christ dyed for all men or for every man they are not to be found in the original Text of Scripture but are supplyed in the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an challaâ—…e of the number for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for all sons heirs For all and every one that shall believe not only Jews but Gentiles So 1 Tim. 2.6 Iohn 12.32 Translation which hath given occasion to the venting of this erroneous opinion But if these words were sound in scripture yet there is no necessity for us to expound them of every individual person but with restriction and limitation as is usual in Scripture for not only these words a Col. 1.28 1 Cor. 12.7 Rom. 5.18 Ier. 29.31 Gan. 3.8 1 Cor. 4.5 Iohn 1.9 1 Cor. 7.2 20 Rom. 1.5 Rev. 18.3.23 Psal 118.10 1 Chron. 14.17 Iohn 8.26 Iohn 12.19 Luke 2.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 5.19 Rom. 4.13.16 Ioh. 3.17 Ioh. 6.33 Ioh. 16.8 17.21 Heb. 2.5 Psal 22.27 Ioh. 1.29 1 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated by See Mar. 5 34 35. 1 Iohn 5.19 Rev. 13.3 Rom. 1.8 Luke 2.1 Rev. 12.9 all men every man all Nations but also these words the world the whole world are in more places then one limited and restrained to a part of the world and a certain number of men and women Such general phrases are therefore used by the Spirit of God in much wisdom because the proud Jews were so apt ever after the breaking down of the pactition wall to appropriate the benefits of the Messiah and the priviledges of the Church of God to themselves and to exclude the world of the elect Gentiles as dogs and aliens
excells the Princes and Captains of the world who cannot make their prisoners willing to accept of a pardon they cannot put a new will a new principle and disposition into their prisoners But as for Christ the great Captain of our salvation he makes his redeemed ones to accept of pardon he opens the prison dores by his word and spirit and makes the poor prisoners to come forth Isa 61.1 being given for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blinde eye Isa 42. to bring out the prisoners from the prâ—… and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house To his sheep for whom he dyed he gives eternal life He doth not only merit and impetrate it for them as a Priest but reveals it as a Prophet and applies it to them as a King causing them to accept thereof Iohn 17.2 7 8. Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him ARGUMENT X. ANother argument may be taken from John 17.9.10 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine and all mine are thine and thine are mine These words are so obvious plain against Universal Redemption that I cannot but wonder that any man who pretends to tenderness of conscience and to the love of the Scriptures should dare to Cavill against them If plaine Scripture proof will not satisfie men how can we expect they should be satisfied Behold here is a world which Christ prayed not for the words are laid down both affirmatively and negatively and therefore the argument deduced therefrom must needs be more convincing and concluding They are laid down affirmatively I pray for them which thou hast given me and he backs this with a strong reason for they are thine and all thine are mine Such as are thine by election are mine by Redemption Union and Intercession Negatively I pray not for the world There is a world that I pray not for because there is a world that is not thine a world which thou didst not give me to dy for and therefore a world that I must not pray for The Argument is this If there be a world which Christ prayed not for then there is a world which he dyed not for unless men will say that the Lord Jesus poured out his precious hearts blood for them he would not pour out a prayer for of whom he saith I pray not for them but for others whom thou hast given me and who are both thine and mine for we have a joynt Interest in them As for the Objections against this strong Argument drawn from so plain a Scripture truly they are so frivolous and nugatory that they deserve not an answer Let it be considered 1. That Christ's death and intercession being the two parts of his Priesthood which is an unchangeable and everlasting Priesthood Heb. 7.24 in respect of all those who have an interest therein they are conjoyned and put together in Scripture * Rom. 8.34 1 Iohn 2.1 2. being extended to the same persons such as Christ dyed for he intercedes for such as he poured out his blood for he pours out his prayers for But here is a world you see that Christ prays not for and therefore we may well conclude that there is a world which he died not for 2. The Lord Jesus is heard in the things he prayed for yea our salvation to the uttermost is put upon his intercession * Heb. 7.25 which therefore cannot be rightly applyed to any but such as shall be saved for it is certain that all those for whom he begun his prayers on earth he continues to pray for them now in heaven for as Arminius himself rightly observes The prayer of Christ in Job 17. is the copie and pattern of his intercession in heaven 3. They for whom Christ prayed as contradistinguished from a world which he prayed not for are those for whose sake he sanctified himself i.e. set himself a part to be a Priest and Mediator to dy for them that they also might be sanctified through the truth and they are such as he communicates grace and glory to Iohn 17.19 20 21 22 23 c. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one in us and the glory which thou gavest me have I given them that they may be one even as we are one But it is not said nor should we entertain such a dream that Christ sanctified or set apart himself for every man and woman in the world many of which shall never believe on him nor be sanctified by him through the truth nor doth he communicate grace and glory to every individual man and woman whereas we may plainly see here that all those for whom Christ prayed he gives that glory to them which the Father gave him What Scripture can be so clear and convincing but men may evade it if they be disposed to cavil I might add many more Arguments against Universal Redemption Heb. 9.15 16. Heb. 7.22 Heb. 8.6 as namely that the Covenant of grace whereof Christ is Sponsor surety and mediator for all them which shall be saved and which is sealed and confirmed in and by his blood and therefore called the blood of the new Testament or Covenant Matth. 26.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 42.6 Heb. 8.9 10 11. Gen. 17.21 Rom. 9.8 Rom. 11.5 7 8. Gal 3.13 14 16. Gal. 4.23 24. c. which was shed for many for remission of sins Yea Christ is said to be given for a Covenant This Covenant I say is not made with nor confirmed to no nor so much as propounded and published to every man in the world much less is every man in the world taken by God into this Covenant If the Covenant may be said to belong to all and every one to whom the Gospel is preached as some learned and godly men hold * Ball on the Covenant Baxter's Aphoris Appendix to Aphor. of Justif which for my part I shall find no fault with so they mean only in respect of external oeconomy and administration indeed I cannot see a cleer ground for that which an acute man seems to hold forth * Ball on the Covenant Baxter's Aphoris Appendix to Aphor. of justif viz that there are two Covenants of grace now in the days of the new Testament the one absolute the other conditional the one made to all the men in the world the other only to the elect Certainly there is but one Covenant of grace in substance although it ought to be dissinctly considered by us in respect of special and saving grace and external administration And this Covenant is absolute in respect of election and redemption thing it be conditionally propounded in the external ministry of the Word