Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	faith_n	work_n	2,131	5	5.9364	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93680	Gods ordinance, the saints priviledge. Discovered and proved in two treatises. The first, the saints interest by Christ in all the priviledges of grace: wherein their right to the use of baptisme, and the Lords supper, even now during the reign of Antichrist, is cleared; and the objections of those that oppose the same, are answered. The second, the peculiar interest of the elect in Christ, and his saving grace: wherein it is proved that Christ hath not presented to his fathers justice a satisfaction for the sinnes of all men; but onely for the sinnes of those that doe, or shall believe in him; which are his elect onely: and the objections of those that maintaine the contrary, are also answered. / Both written by John Spilsberie. And the last transcribed, and somewhat enlarged, by Benjamin Coxe. Licensed, entred, and printed according to order.	J. S. (John Spilsbery); Cox, Benjamin, fl. 1646.	1646 (1646)	Wing S4975; Thomason E335_17; ESTC R200803	75,307	89

injoying of our Ordinances for want of a Ministery but to hold fast our true possession and inheritance once delivered into the hand of faith in all our captivitie as Israel of old did Believers now have lost the possession of all Administrations Object 10. for there hath been a cessation for these many yeares both of Ministery Church and Ordinances according to the first Rule and institution of Christ and therefore men are to waite upon God for him to restore the same againe in power and not to take up wayes and ordinances of themselves Believers never lost their right to any truth Answ or ordinance of Christ for they by faith doe or ought to possesse all truth once given unto them 1 Cor. 3.21 22 23. 2 Cor. 6.10 Jude 3. And if any depart and forsake their own mercies through unbeliefe they are to returne againe to the same by faith and God prohibits none that believe in his Son the use of his Ordinances ordained by him for their comfort and confirmation of their faith but helpes them on to the same by giving his Spirit for their guide his Word for their rule and himselfe for their warrant who commands them to obey him in all truth that he shall make knowne unto them Men are indeed to waite upon the God of truth for him to discover truth But when he hath not onely made it knowne to them but also revealed truth in them and by the power of it made the heart one with it then men take not up truth of themselves but are taken up by truth into the nature of truth and shall stand by the power of it when such as take up truth of themselves and for their own ends shall lay it downe againe to their own destruction Object 11. God ordained a Ministery in the Gospel which ever was in order first namely Apostles Prophets and Evangelists by whom Churches were planted and other Officers ordained for those Churches well-being This Ministery I confesse and own and therefore I say still Answ that men must come from God with truth and with abilitie to deliver the same for the converting of men to the faith Now when God shall assist his Word with power to bring over mens hearts to believe and obey the same such the Scriptures hold out to be true Messengers sent of Christ declared by their worke as it answers to the Rule And this way men were convinced and Churches planted that now stand under the profession of christ And thus came Churches to be planted and other Officers ordained by those that God made the first instruments to bring on the worke in communion with the rest as to direct and assist them in the same Tit. 1.5 Act. 14.23 The Ministery aforesaid to bring men to the faith Object 12. was attended with the power of miracles as raising the dead healing the sicke casting out devills and the like to confirme their testimony to be of God none of which appeares now whereas there is as much need to confirme the truth of God as ever among so much confusion as now is The like miracles are assigned by Christ ever to attend his Ministery Mark 16.17 and confirmed by the Apostle as an Ordinance of God in his Church Jam. 5.14 15. and the first Principles of Christ Heb. 6.1 2. All which are now wanting that should confirme a true Ministery from God to us Answ That the working of miracles did attend the Ministery of Christ at the first and that to confirme the truth then held forth to be of God this I confesse to be true But that the working of those miracles should be so essentiall to the Ministery that there can be no true Ministery of Christ neither in whole nor in part without working of the said miracles that I deny 1. John the Eaptist was a true Minister and sent of God who did no miracle Joh. 10.41 and yet he was more then a Propher Mat. 11.9 And so was Apollos a true Minister of the new Testament who knew onely the Baptisme of John and no more untill that Aquila and Priscilla had further informed him in Gods way but was never knowne to worke any miracle Act. 18.25 26 28. with a Cor. 3.5 And likewise the scattered Disciples that gathered the Church at Antioch Act. 11.19 20 21. All which were true Ministers of Christ and yet not attended with the foresaid power of working miracles in their Administrations It is a Herods hope to see a miracle Luk. 22.8 And a Pharaohs sign Exod. 7.9 2. Miracles can be no true note of Ministery nor Minister sent of Christ because the working of miracles is that by which false Prophets shall deceive the people Mark 13.22 Rev. 16.14 Rev. 19.20 3. The same miracles that confirmed the truth at the first to be of God stand in equall authoritie together with the same truth as witnesses together for God and against all that oppose untill the coming of Christ without adding more miracles to them any more then of truth to what is written Heb. 2.4 Nothing more is now to be expected then the holy Spirit for to open the Scriptures and inable men to unfold the minde of God in the same and the same Spirit working faith in the hearts of the Elect to believe his own testimony of they mystery of the Fathers love in the Sonne through the word without any other miracle So that if Christ inableth men to understand and to open the Word and God opens the heart and the Spirit workes faith here will need no miracle to bring such to believe Lastly As great miracles are done now as ever to cast out Devills out of mens soules to open the eyes spiritually blind to raise the dead from the death of sinne In a word to bring forth a new creature and offer up the same to God These are the substance of all miracles to such as by experience know them and greater then all as Christ saith Joh. 14.12 And for Christs words Mark 16.17 These signes shall follow them that believe c. These signes are there said to follow such as believe and not such as are sent of Christ to preach the Gospel The words are to be taken either literally or mystically If mystically then all those signes are to be taken in a spirituall sense as to cast out devills by converting of foules to God in preaching of Christ as afore said and to speake with new tongues is in reference to the new creature which being of a new nature he speaks with a new tongue so a new language as he never did before 2 Cor. 5.17 according to these Scriptures Zeph. 3.9 Isai 19.18 35.5 6. And to take up Serpents that is in respect of the great worke of the Gospel by which God will alter and change the Serpent-like nature of men unto a Lamb-like temper of spirit Isai 11.6 9. and the sweet peace God will make for his people with

Whether such as believe in Jesus Christ for salvation may injoy the Ordinances of the new Testament namely Baptisme and the Lords Supper now under the reigne of Antichrist And seeing that all the true and right administrations according to the first order and patterne have been lost through the mystery of confusion in the world How wee shall now come by a true and orderly administration of Ordinances according to the first institution if not by the same Ministery with the same calling and gifts of the holy Spirit that the first Ministery had The second Question is How farre the death of Christ extended to the taking away the sin of man whether he dyed for the sinnes of all men without exception or for the sinnes of some onely Unto the first Question I shall by the help of God now addresse my selfe to an answer And first I say that such as believe in Jesus Christ in the Scripture-sense may and ought to enjoy the Ordinances of Christs new Testament as their own free Priviledges by Grace and part of their inheritance as they are heires of glory and that even during the reigne of Antichrist for then have they most need of them as being Christs their Generalls colours and part of that spirituall armour by which they are to fight against the Beast and all false wayes Rev. 12. Eph. 6.12 13. They are the memorialls of Christs love unto all that believe in him and look for him in his absence Luk. 22.19 With 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. And the Ordinances of Christs Testament are given to such as believe for the helps and confirmation of their faith and the declaration thereof and thereby God separates them from the world and owns them for his people And for the same Ministery with the same calling and gifts of the holy Spirit that the first had I own no other Ministery But for the better understanding of this truth I desire that wee may consider well of an answer to some inquiries thus 1. What worke God had for the first Ministery above what he hath for any now 2. Whether Christ hath left in his New Testament an absolute rule to know such as are sent of God to the work of the Ministery and what the same is 3. If there be salvation now for men and meanes thereunto approved and appointed of God then what that is 4. Whether there be any time in which man is freed from obedience to the Scriptures since the New Testament came in force and if not then what part of truth stands now in force to be obeyed and what not 5. Whether the New Testament be not of equall Authoritie with the Old to command obedience and holds not forth a rule for the same as the old Testament did 6. Whether Christ requires not a publick confession of him by all that believe in him and if he doe then what the same is and the rule for it Now to each of these particulars And first what worke God had for the first ministery or workmen to doe above others either then or now Where in generall minde The worke God had for the first workmen was first to be eye-witnesses of Christs doings and sufferings death and resurrection and so to testifie him to be the Son of God come in the flesh and exalted to be Lord over all Acts 1.1 2 3 4. Acts 10.39 42. Acts 4.33 1 Joh. 1.1 2. 2. They were to disanull and make voyd that typicall way of worship standing under types and shadows instituted by God and confirmed to the people by signes and wonders Exod. 19.9 And to set up and establish another way of worship in the place thereof that was never knowne before and therefore to be confirmed by signes and wonders at the first founding of it as that before was Which signes and wonders stand for ever together with the same truth as witnesses for the truth and against all that shall oppose or condemne the same to the end of the world And whereas many look and expect for some to come from God working miracles signes and wonders let such take heed they be not deceived by the man of sinne who is set out by God in his Word to come that way and deceive many Mat. 24.24 Mark 13.22 2 Thes 2.9 Rev. 16.14 Rev. 19.20 But where is one word in all the new Testament that any man shall come from God in this manner of working miracles signes and wonders 3. They were to the people then the unerring Oracles of God and the infallible mouth of Christ for all to have recourse unto for the minde and counsell of God whose testimony was unquestionable being that by which all things must be tryed Mat. 28.19 20. Gal. 1.8 9. 1 Joh. 1.1 7. 4. They were the layers of the foundation and the ministeriall instituters of the whole state and order of Christs Church to be observed of all to the end of the world 1 Cor. 3.10 11. Ephes 2.20 Rev. 21.14 Lastly They were the pen-men of the holy Scriptures of the new Testament in which Christ is held forth or set up as an ensigne among all Nations for the obedience of faith Mat. 24.14 Luk. 2.31 Isai 52.10 By which all both persons and actions shall be tryed and judged 2 Pet. 3.15 1 Cor. 14.37 Rom. 2.16 2 Thes 1.8 This worke God had for the first workmen or ministery to doe who bare witnesse to the same by signes wonders and miracles from heaven for the convincing of the world that the same was of God Heb. 2.4 Mark 16.20 Joh. 16.8 9 10 11. Joh. 17.20 21. There are now no more instituters or beginners of any such work All that men have to doe now is onely to learn their way and to walke in the same and so to believe and receive their testimony Joh. 3.11 Rom. 10.16 2 Thes 1.10 And to build upon the same foundation laid by them 1 Cor. 3.10 11 12. The rule and warrant for the same being their word and writings aforesaid Yet let this be minded that some of the worke in the hands of the first workmen namely the Apostles was then and is now as proper and common unto others as to them As to preach the Gospel and gather the Elect of God into the fellowship of Christs body to beare witnesse to the truth and to suffer for the same and the like All which as well belongs to preaching Disciples now as to them then Joh. 17.20 21. 2 Tim. 2.2 4.2 If it be said Object 1. where the same worke is to be done there the same workmen are required for the doing of it both in respect of Ministery and Gifts because the Scriptures hold forth but onely one Ministery appointed and given by Christ for the work of the Ministery which is to continue to the end of the world where and when the said worke is to be done Eph. 4. Mat. 28. This I confesse and affirme to be true Answ but let us minde in a

now for substance appeare the same in his Ministeriall operations as ever he did formerly Though there be much imperfection and weaknesse in the creature this causeth not truth to cease from being truth Otherwise there can be no salvation for any man which is the next thing to be examined Having discovered the way how to know such as come from God to the worke of the Ministery in Christs new Testament which is by their worke as it answers to the word of God which is the Rule of truth I come now to the third particular namely Whether there be salvation now for man and a way or meanes thereunto approved and appointed of God and if there be then what the same is This being the third inquiry about the Saints enjoying the Ordinances of Christs new Testament I answer directly that to me it is out of question there is salvation now for man and meanes to it appointed by God or else none can be sav'd and so every person in the world must perish But in a word note what I meane by salvation and that is for one to be in such an estate here in Grace that the word of God justifies to be attended with glory hereafter as follows 1. To believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God ordained of the Father to be the Saviour of man 1 Joh. 2.22 Mat. 16.16 Act. 8.37 1 Pet. 1.20 2. And that Christ is come and hath suffered in the flesh dyed and risen againe by the power of God and is exalted to be Lord over all 1 Joh. 4.2 Rom. 10.9 Act. 2.32 33.36 Rom. 14.9 3. And that Christ by one offering hath made a free and open way into the presence of his Fathers love the most holy place for all that believe to have free accesse unto the Father by him Heb. 9.12.24 Heb. 10.19 20. Eph. 2.18 3.12 4. And that by his own bloud he hath washed away all the sinnes of his people and presents them to the Father in his own perfection in whom they are all compleat and perfected for ever Rev. 1.5 Joh. 17.21 22 23. Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 10.10 5. That Christ hath not onely by his bloud redeemed a people from death condemnation and the curse for sinne and so the guilt of sinne but also hath redeemed them from among men and from a vaine conversation and traditions of men to an holy confession of him according to that rule and order instituted by him in his last will and Testament sealed with his bloud Rev. 5.9 10. Rev. 14.1 2 3 4. 1 Pet. 1.18 2.9 Eph. 2.13 22. Gal. 1.4 Tit. 2.14 Lastly This truth believed of us is not onely by the Scriptures presented to us and from thence onely learned by us but also made good upon us and revealed in us by the holy Spirit given unto us who hath given us an understanding to know him that is true Rom. 5.5 1 Joh. 5.20 Which Spirit of truth as he brings light and reveales love so by the power of love he subdues sinne mortifying the flesh and brings up the new creature to God and draws forth the heart in love to man And thus in briefe of salvation that is now for man which is a being in the sweet possession of the Fathers love through Christ by faith unto eternall glory Now the meanes approved and appointed of God for this great worke of salvation is also manifest which in generall is the Ministeriall power and operation of the Spirit of God in what instruments soever he pleaseth to appeare and to use them for that work who is limited to none but commonly doth great things by weake and despised meanes that the crowne and glory might rest on his own head as 1 Cor. 1.27 28 29. And yet there is the same meanes now to bring men to God in truth and for substance which hath been formerly 1. For wee have now the holy Scriptures of God which are to us in the place and stead of the personall presence both of Moses and the Prophets Luk. 16.31 and Christ and his Apostles if God please to speake to us by them as he did to his people of old by the other Who being dead yet speaketh Heb. 11.4 2. Wee heaving this blessed word of truth to reade search and studie and Gods blessing being the same to us as to his people formerly he being the same God still and Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13.8 wee may therefore expect and doe enjoy the same effect with them which is to understand the minde of Christ concerning us in the same 3. We have the same Spirit who enables men to preach Christ crucified which though to some a stumbling blocke and to others foolishnesse yet to many appeares to be the power of God by which they are brought to believe in Jesus Christ for eternall life and glory And thus we have the same Gospel the same faith the same Christ and so the same way to salvation as they formerly had and these meanes doth God appoint and approve and blesse for the effecting of this great worke of salvation to us now as well as unto others before us that we together with them may be provoked to praise and magnisie the great Name of so gracious a God that hath done such great things for us to keepe himselfe a Name and witnesse in the earth But some demand of us Quest Whether that the Ordinance of preaching the Gospel be now afoot for to bring men to life according to Christs Commission Mat. 28.19 20. There be some that strive against the Ordinances of God Answ by putting nice distinctions in the word Preaching to beare the simple hearted in hand of some great matter therein to be minded and that in the Originall thinking that every one is not able to deale with them there But if we were minded to cavill wee might demand of them how they know that to be the Originall or the some copie Christ and his Apostles did speak or write But we seriously demand whether we may not as well depend upon that translation in our own tongue by the helpe of the Spirit of God to know the minde of Christ in things absolutely necessary for faith and life as they upon the Originall seeing that their Originall and our translation hold forth the same Gospel of Jesus Christ They make as if none could ever preach the Gospel but only such as had and have the same measure of the gifts of the Spirit that the Apostles themselves had and yet they are at a stand about Philip Act. 8. and confesse that he did preach in the proper signification of the word But for my part I freely grant them thus much that no man can truly preach the Gospel but he that hath the same Spirit of God that the Apostles had And so I come to answer their demand briefly thus 1. As preaching is to deliver a Message received of the Lord as

such Joh. 5.23 And for drinking any deadly thing it shall not hurt such as believe that is if they drinke in at any time false doctrine or errour which in it selfe is poyson and deadly but God of his grace will so provide that it shall not hurt them so as to destroy them but he will recover and preserve them by some way or other Mat. 24.24 Jam. 5.19 20. 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Pet. 2.9 But if the words be to be taken literally then consider whether the faith may not be the same with the signes viz. the faith of miracles which men might have and yet perish Mat. 7.22 23. But grant the faith there spoken of to be faith unto salvation spoken of in the verse aforegoing and the words to be taken literally yet Christ there onely shews how the truth of the Gospel should then be confirmed by signes and miracles but doth not meane that in every age or in that age none should be accounted believers but such as could doe such miracles or shew such signes see 1 Cor. 12.28 29 30. As touching James 5.14 15. the direction there given is still to be observed according as God gives in faith into mens hearts to depend upon the promise there made and such observation of that direction in the exercise of faith will surely be accompanied with the promised successe Neither was it any more in the Apostles dayes for even in that age Saints might and did dye as well as in succeeding ages And for Heb. 6.1 2. there is nothing at all of any miracles but onely of laying on of hands All therefore that hath been objected makes nothing to prove the working of miracles a note to declare a true Ministery of Christ either in whole or in part but rather the contrary now in our dayes And againe it is not to the point in hand what power any persons were attended with but to what power or qualified persons Christ hath confined the dispensing of his Ordinances absolutely so that none but onely such must meddle with the administring of them Either let such as condemne our practise hold us out and confine us to an absolute Rule from the mouth of Christ or else cease to oppose us lest they oppose Christ himselfe and his Saints portion and so at his coming be found in stead of feeding to be smiting of the flocke Luk. 12. As of old at the peoples returne out of temporall Babylon in the type was onely the simple call of God without any miracle even so in the antitype the peoples coming out of spirituall Babylon is onely by the simple call of God without any miracle as Rev. 18.4 The Apostles having a Commission to preach unto all Nations Object 13. Mat. 28.19 yet they were afterwards commanded to stay at Jerusalem untill they had received power from God to execute the same Acts 1. Which power they received Acts 2. Which shews that none can preach the Gospel nor are any to attempt the same without the like power of the holy Ghost for if any might then the Apostles who had their Commission but they must stay for power from God and so must men now This is but the same in effect that I have ever said Answ that if any man goes before he hath a Message from God and power to deliver the same such a one goeth of himselfe unsent but one who hath a Message and abilitie to deliver it God assisting the same with power to effect the worke this now is one truly sent as aforesaid But in a word briefly let us a little minde what this power here is which the Apostles were to waite for as Jerusalem this power was the holy Spirit the comforter the Spirit of truth the promise of the Father as the Scriptures manifest Acts 1.4.8 Luk. 24.49 Act. 2.4.33 Joh. 14.16 17.26 Joh. 7.39 The holy Spirit in respect of his sanctifying power and gifts the comforter in respect of his evidence in the mystery of the Fathers love in which sense he was to supply the place of Christ and was not to come untill Christ was ascended Joh. 14.16 17.26 Joh. 16.7 Joh. 7.39 This holy Spirit and comforter was the promise of the Father received of Christ and is given to all that believe through Grace Joh. 7.38 39. Rom. 8.9.11.14 15 16. Gal. 4.6 Being the holy regenerating Spirit of Grace Joh. 3.5 6. Joh. 1.12 13. 1 Joh. 3.9 The comforter that brings the Fathers love through his Sonnes death to a cold heart Joh. 14.16 Rom. 5.5 The witnesse of all our happinesse and the holy Spirit of promise that seals us up in the Fathers love enabling of us to cry Abba Father 1 Joh. 3.24 5.10 Rom. 8.15 16. Eph. 1.13 14. Gal. 4.6 All which is onely one and the same Spirit not many but onely one and no more 1 Cor. 12.4.11 Eph. 4.4 Whose Ministeriall abilides I shall reduce unto two heads 1. Light and knowledge in the mystery of Christ in the Gospel Eph. 3.3 4 5.6 2. Power or abilitie of utterance to preach and teach the same Act. 2.4 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 Let men strive while they will here is the substance of the Ministeriall power of Christ and according to every mans talent and abilitie he is to labour in this worke Mat. 25.14 15. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man none excepted to profit withall 1 Cor. 12.7 So that the Message of the holy Spirit is holy and sound doctrine such as tends to bring persons to one unitie of faith and conformitie to the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ 1 Joh. 1.1 2 3. Col. 2.2 Eph. 4. And the Messengers are such as the same Spirit stirres up and enableth to deliver the same as aforesaid Such are as it were the eyes and hands and feet of the holy Spirit to call and guide and to goe before and lead on others And as God in Christ hath received these so he doth others brought to him by their Ministery This was the power or promise of the Father that they were to waite for the Spirit to inable them to lay out Christ dead and risen for a foundation to beare up the spirituall house of God and as Lord and King of that Kingdome preached before to be at hand and now exalted at Gods right hand and advanced to the throne of his Father David and to hold him forth among all Nations as the way to life by faith in his death All which could not be preached untill Christ was ascended and the holy Spirit given that must teach the same And this in briefe was the power the Apostles were to waite at Jerusalem for and so is every man now Though the holy Spirit appeared then more fully and richer in his gifts then now he doth yet for the essentialls of truth both for salvation by believing in Jesus Christ and professing him under those honourable titles assigned him by his Father the holy Spirit doth

note also Joh. 6.38 39 40. and Joh. 17.2 Therefore Christ did certainly effect what he was sent for 2. Mind that the salvation here spoken of frees men from all condemnatory judgement This appeares by the antithesis or opposition in this verse 3. So mind that the world is said to be saved in that believers are saved who are part of the world of mankind and were chosen out of the rest of the world to be saved by Christ see also 1 Joh. 4.14 compared with the verses there aforegoing viz. vers 9. 13. of that Chapter Our adversarles not receiving this truth doe sometimes say hat though all the world be not saved eternally because they believe not yet Christ for his part did for them all whatsoever he was to doe for the salvation of a●● But if this were true then all must needs be saved See Jerem. 17.1 For our salvation is fully from Jesus Christ Wee cannot save our selves neither doth the Father worke our salvation or any thing that concernes the same any other wayes then in and by his Sonne Christ If then Christ as a Saviour have done for us whatsoever he is to doe for the salvation of any how can wee misse of salvation It follows herein vers 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed c. The believer is delivered from the condemnation of the Law As for the unbeliever because he believeth not he is left to the sentence of the Law and is already condemned thereby All this is with us It follows in vers 19. And this is the condemnation that is the cause of condemnation as being a grosse evill for which men are to be condemned and a maine cause of that unbeliefe by which men are left to condemnation That light is come into the world c. that is that light being come into the world men loved darknesse rather then light The light come into the world is Jesus Christ held forth in his Gospel And all this opposeth us not but confirmes the truth that we hold Thus at the appearing of the light of truth the objection from this place is vanished away A fourth objection is drawne from 1 Tim. 2.4.6 4. Object From 1 Tim. 2.4.6 answered which to our adversaries seemes to be of speciall strength In the answering or rather proventing whereof we will throughly search that place also beginning at the beginning of that Chapter and weighing every thing diligently that may seeme to have any relation to the present Question 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thankes be made for all men By all men in this place we may not understand all persons or every person without any exception or limitation For under supplications prayers and intercessions are here comprehended all petitions for all good and needfull gifts and blessings for the persons to be prayed for put up unto God with all earnestnesse and fervency in which the Petitioners will and must still continue suing unto God with a holy and humble importunitie for those things that they crave such Petitions cannot be made in faith for all persons without exception in as much as we know that there are many vessells of wrath ordained of old unto condemnation Rom. 9.22 Jude 4. And there is a sin unto death for which we are not to pray 1 Joh. 5.16 Therefore by all men we are here to understand all orders and degrees of men And so the thing to be craved is that God according to his purpose and gracious promises would shew mercy and extend the fruits of his love too all orders and degrees of men that is to all those whom he hath chosen to himselfe out of every nation and kindred and out of every order and degree of men and women in the world This is further confirmed by that specification or exemplification which followes in vers 2. For Kings Though these were before comprehended under all men yet are they here more particularly expressed 1. Lest the Saints should have been discouraged from praying for them by their wickednesse 2. Because God hath given Magistrates to be his own Ministers to us for good Rom. 13.4 And for all that are in authoritie that is to say 1. Magistrates or Governours in those Common-wealths that were not ruled by Kings 2. The severall orders and degrees of inferiour Magistrates That wee may leade a quiet and peaceable life c. Not that this is the onely thing that we are to crave or aime at but because this should in a speciall manner stirre us up to earnest prayer for Magistrates viz. that God hath given them their authoritie to this end that by meanes of this authoritie rightly used we might leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Vers 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour viz. That we should thus pray and give thankes for all orders and degrees of men and namely for Kings and for all that are in authoritie And note how the Apostle proves this in the words following in vers 4. Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth In as much as it is the Apostles scope here to prove that it is acceptable to God not onely that we should pray but also that we should give thankes for all men viz. in that sense in which the words all men are used in vers 1. I therefore conceive that he here speakes of Gods effectuall will And so God willeth not that all persons or every person in the world should be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth as appeares in 1. Pet. 2.8 Jude 4. Isai 6.9 10. Rom. 11.7 8. Here therefore by all men wee must of necessitie understand onely all orders and degrees of men that is some of all orders and degrees viz. those whom God hath chosen to himselfe out of every order and degree among men Thus the great objection from this verse is fully taken off It follows in vers 5. For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Jesus Not one God of Kings and another of subjects one God of Merchants another of husbandmen but one and the same God is the God of all that saveth all that are heires of salvation of what order or degree soever they be And as the same God hath appointed and constituted the severall orders and degrees among men so he hath his Elect whom he will save among all those orders and degrees So also there is not one Mediatour between God and great men and another between God and meane men but the same Christ Jesus is the Mediatour between God and all the Elect of whatsoever order or degree among men they are Vers 6. Who gave himselfe a ransome for all The word All must here be understood as