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
hear and obey the voice of Christ Why then is it said Rev. 3.6 Rev. 2.19 He that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit of God speaks intimating that there are not many that have a hearing ear so as to hear spiritually and savingly why doth Christ thank the Father Mat. 11.25 26. because he hath hid these things from the wise and prudent and hath revealed them to babes for so it seemed good in his sight Why is it said that the stone which the Builders refused 1 Per. 2.7 8. is made the head of the corner and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed Oh the blindness of the heart of man Is it not plain from this Scripture if men would not shut their eys against the light that Christ so laid down his life for his sheep as that he excludes the goats If he laid down his life for them as sheep surely then that which belongs to them as such belongs only to such If for sheep as sheep then not for goats If for the elect as the elect then not for reprobates Those for whom Christ died he died for them as for their Shepherd as himself saith Iohn 10. verse 11. Now will the shepherd lay down his life for wolves who will ever remain of a wolvish nature and persecute the lambs I lay down my life saith he for my sheep He makes you see a plain division and contradistinction between his sheep and such as are not his sheep Ye believe not verse 26. because ye are not of my sheep as I told you And this is in effect as if he had said I lay down my life for my sheep only These sheep whom he laid down his life for are all his elect whether called or uncalled for there is but one shepherd and one sheepfold Other sheep I have them I must also bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd The distinction here is not between believers and unbelievers as a great corrupter of Scripture would perswade us but between sheep and goats T. Moor in his Vniversality for they are called sheep who did not then actually believe nor were not actually gathered into Christ's fold verse 16. They are such as the Father gave Christ from eternity who must and shall come to Christ being drawn to him by the cords of his fathers love nor will Christ cast out them that come to him but will give them eternal life Now if these properties and priviledges appropriated to Christ's sheep can with any colour of truth be applyed to those souls that shall be damned to eternity let the godly and sober Reader judge For my own part I must profess that if there were no other Scripture besides this against Universal Redemption it should through the grace of God fortifie me against that error I come now to another Argument ARGUMENT VIII MY eighth Argument against Universal Redemption shall be taken from John 10.27 28 29. compared with John 6.39 the words be these My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of the Fathers hand And this is the Father's will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again the last day Hence I may further argue thus Those whom the Father gave to the Son and for whom Christ died to them he gives eternal life none shall be able to pluck them out of his hands he must not lose one But now all the posterity of the first Adam every man and woman in the world have not eternal life they have not everlasting union and fellowship with the Son of God they have not eternal glory communicated to them And therefore it is plain that Christ did not by the counsel and appointment of God lay down his life nor give himself a ransome for every man and woman in the world Do but observe the reason why many believe not why is it Iohn 10.26 but because they are not of the number of Christ's sheep Behold here is a higher cause why men believe not to salvation and so have not eternal life then the stubbornness of man's heart though that be the only faulty cause and the only meritorious cause of damnation Deut. 29.3 4. Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eys in the land of Egypt the signes and the miracles yet hath not the Lord given you a heart to perceive and eys to see and ears to hear unto this day And as many as are ordained unto life and no more shall believe to salvation Acts 13.48 Murmur not among your selves let it not seem strange that so few believe and come to Christ no man can come to me Ioh. 6.43 44 45. except the Father draw him every man that hath learned of the Father cometh unto me ARGUMENT IX ANother Argument or Reason against Vniversal Redemption may be grounded upon Heb. 9.12 Neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood he entred once into the holy place having obtained eternal Redemption for us compared with 2 Thes 5.9 10. Those whom Christ hath redeemed and bought by his death and blood shed 1 Thes 1.10 Luke 1.74 75. he hath redeemed and delivered them for ever from the wrath to come That they being delivered out of the hands of their enemies might serve God without fear in righteousness and holiness all the days of their life The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Iohn 8.35 36. If Christ make you free you shall be free indeed If he purchase a liberty and freedom for you by his death it is and will be a real spititual and everlasting freedom and we being put into possession of this freedom which Christ hath undertaken to do for all them whom he dyed for shall never be brought into a state of bondage and wrath again Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 but the spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba father But now all the men and women in the world are not thus everlastingly redeemed Christ hath not obtained eternal Redemption for every one for out of hell there is no redemption as Cain and Judas and the damned spirits can certainly relate Shall we say that those poor miserable souls are everlastingly redeemed who shall remain in hellish prison and bondage to eternity Oh Object But there be many who will not accept of Redemption by Christ though it be wrought for them Yea Answer but herein Christ
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
as for God's command to thee to use the means that thou mayst believe and repent it is not grounded upon Christ's dying for thee in particular but on the connexion and harmony which is between the mean and the end faith and salvation Thirdly there are thousands of precious Saints some alive and some at rest with the Lord who have and had true faith and peace of Conscience and joy in the holy Ghost and yet were meer strangers to the Doctrine of Vntversal Redemption Fourthly I would gladly be resolved in this what more ground of believing to salvation there is from the universality of Redemption then from the universality of the offer of Christ in the minstry of the word unless men will hold an Vniversal Salvation for seeing Christ died for many thousands that shall be damned may not I question whether I be not one of that number and whether Christ died for me so as that I should in the event believe to salvation The Unive salists will not acknowledge that Christ hath merited and procured faith for all them whom he died for This must needs be uncomfortable to a poor soul that finds it impossible to believe from creature strength and ability but blessed be the Lord who puts it out of doubt in his word that Christ hath merited faith for us and that we have faith through him and for his sake 2 Pet. 1.1 To them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Christ To you it is given for Christ's sake Phil. 1.29 Rom. 8.32 not only to believe on him but to suffer for him He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shal he not with him freely give us all things Faith and repentance and a new heart I hope are good things here we have an argument from the greater to the lesser If God hath given Christ which is the great gift for poor sinners he will then freely give to them a spirit of faith and repentance Let me ask our adversaries this question what men are bound to believe for the peace of their Consciences when they take it for granted already that Christ died for them being comprehended in the world of mankinde To conclude this smal Tract which I desire the good Lord to bless to the Reader we declare unto you in our Ministry that Christ died for all for the world for every man and woman that shall believe on him and accept him and close with him upon the terms of the Gospel and is not here incouragement to poor sinners be their sins never so great Thou art not excluded by name why shouldst thou exclude thy self through unbelief Suppose a company of passengers be ready to sink and a rope is let down from the ship will they stand to question whether the rope was let down with a purpose to save them from drowning wil they not rather strive who shal be most forward to take hold of it and come up by it If a pardon be published that whoever will accept of it be his rebellion and treason never so hainous he shall find mercy is not here incouragement to the worst of rebels to come in and accept of pardon and not question the secret intention of the magistrate whether he propound the pardon in general terms only for tryal conviction or for their actual deliverance There is not any one sin except the sin against the holy Ghost which is therefore unpardonable because they that commit it have not grace to repent but some that have been guilty of that sin and have committed it have found mercy Paul Mary Magdalen Peter Manasseh Sampson Solomon Zacheus c. are now glorious Saints in heaven And is not here ground and incouragement for thee to believe If the Lord give thee a heart to believe for it is his gift By grace are ye saved through faith Eph. 2.8 and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Doubtless there are many precious saints that can witness to this Truth tell you by experience that God gives true faith peace of conscience in such a ministry as this breathing by his spirit thereon for the Spirit breaths where it pleaseth as the wind bloweth where it listeth and thou knowest not whence it cometh nor whither it goeth So is every one that is born of the Spirit Now the Lord lead his people into truth and by the light of his Countenance and the brightness of his glorious appearance let error and darkness be dispelled and all Antichristian Doctrines and opinions suppressed certainly as the glorious God hath in a great measure already so he will much more ere it be long vindicate his own spirit his Sons Blood his Truth his Ministry his Ordinances his Saintes his own great and glorious Name and testifie more clearly and convincingly against the mysterie of Antichrist which now worketh in this Nation under another vizard and by other Instruments then formerly it hath wrought but shall have no better success then it formerly had FINIS