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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65924	A vindication of the doctrine of Gods absolute decree and of Christs absolute and special redemption. In way of answer to those objections that are brought against them by Mr. Tho: Pierce, in his treatise, entituled, The divine philanthropy. By Tho: Whitfeld, minister of the gospel.	Whitfield, Thomas, Minister of the Gospel.	1657 (1657)	Wing W2011A; ESTC R222306	60,986	90

blinde man sits he can see never the more for the help of these so let Evangelical Truths be propounded never so perspicuously and clearly to one that is spiritually blinde yet he is not able to see them in a spiritual maner to see them so as to be affected with them As the bodily eye cannot apprehend rational things so the rational eye cannot apprehend spiritual things for there must be a sutable proportion betwixt the faculty and the object the light that comes by the spirit to those who are spiritually enlightned is as specifically different from the light of natural reason as the light of reason in man is differing from light of sense in brutes 2. It supposeth that a natural man hath free will to good which is contrary to Scripture which telleth that God worketh in us both to will and to do Phil. 2.13 It is true indeed that a natural man hath a remota potentia a remote power of understanding and believing spiritually because he is a subject capable of saving knowledge and faith but this is no more then the power that a blinde man hath to see and a lame hath to walk which they are never the better for till the blindness of the one and lameness of the other be removed and they be enabled to act according to those faculties and organs wherewith mans nature is furnished Thus we have seen that the Doctrine of a Conditional and General Redemption is such as cannot agree with Scripture it follows now to give answer to such Objections as are brought against an Absolute and a Particular Redemption AN ANSVVER TO THE OBJECTIONS That are brought against the DOCTRINE OF Particular Redemption AGainst the Doctrine of Particular or Special Redemption Mr. P. thus objects Cap. 3. page 84. Object Vniversal redemption is exhibited to us in Scripture by all expressions of Vniversality by Vniversal Collective Christ is said to be the Savior of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 By Vniversal Distributive he tasted death for every man Heb. 2.9 By Vniversal Indefinite he is the Savior of the world John 4.42 Vniversal Objective he made propitiation for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2.2 Vniversal Negative not willing that any should perish 2 Pet. 3.9 by an universal Command to all to believe Now if these places be not taken in the proper signification of the words then the plainest places will be made most obscure then how shall we be able out of Scripture to prove the Sunday Sabbath Baptism yea or the Trinity of persons for which there cannot be brought so many direct Affirmations of Scripture as may be brought for Vniversal Redemption Answ 1. It is a very weak way of arguing to argue from the signification of words especially such words as have various significations as these have which are brought to express the Universality of Redemption as all men every man world whole world and the rest which are oft-times used not to signifie every particular man and woman living in the world but a part of them onely as when it is said that all flesh shall be saved Joel 2.28 Luke 3.6 That Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about Jordan were baptized of John Mat. 3.5 6. That all that were in the synagogue were filled with wrath against Christ Luke 4.28 That if he were let alone all men would believe in him John 11.48 That if he were lift up from the earth he would draw all men unto him John 12.32 That all that came before him were thieves and robbers Cap. 10.8 That every one saith I am of Paul I am of Apollos 1 Cor. 3.4 That every man shall have praise of God 1 Cor. 4 5. That all the world wondred after the beast Rev. 13.5 That the devil deceived the whole World cap. 12.9 That the whole world lyes in wickedness 1 Joh. 5.19 to which many other might be added that sound in the same maner and yet signifie no Universality 2. Scripture must be interpreted by Scripture and though we are not to recede from the literal sense when it will agree with other Scriptures and with the Analogy of Faith yet when it is defective both these ways we are not bound to adhere to the letter Now for those Scriptures that carry with them a sound of Universality and Generally we are enforced if we will understand them aright to take them in a limited and restrained sense because else they will clash with other Scriptures which tell us that Christ laid down his life for his sheep John 10.11 That he died to gather in one the sons of God that were scattered cap. 11.53 That he gave himself for his Church Eph. 5.25 That he will not pray for the world but for those whom the Father had given him out of the world John 17.9 That for their sakes he sanctified himself verse 19. That he hath redeemed us out of every people kinred and nation Rev. 5.9 That there are some to whom he will say at the last day he never knew them Mat. 7.23 Now all are not Christs sheep all are not the sons of God all Nations in the world are not his Church he will not pray for all and therefore did not die for all for Redemption and Intercession are of equal extent if he hath redeemed us out of every people and nation then he hath not redeemed all people and nations If there be some to whom he will say that he never knew them then he never died for them for he did more then know those for whom he died he loved them and that with a peculiar love 1 John 3.16 therefore we must take those Scriptures which speak in a general way in a restrained sense else they will not agree with these neither will they agree with the Analogy of Faith For if Christ hath died for all then he hath paid a perfect price for all if he hath paid a perfect price for all then he hath made perfect satisfaction for all if he hath made perfect satisfaction then perfect justice requires it should be accepted if perfect satisfaction be made and accepted then perfect justice cannot require a double payment of the same debt therefore by this Doctrine all Sinners should be discharged and no man should suffer in hell for his own sin for his debt is paid by that perfect satisfaction which is both made and accepted Besides it cannot stand with Christs wisdom and the infinite worth of his precious blood that he should die in vain and suffer that blood to be spilt to no purpose for when he gave himself to death he certainly knew that thousands and ten thousands to whom he should be offered would reject him and persevere to the end in doing so and therefore that his death would do them no good But if the former Scriptures be taken in a limited sense they will very well agree both with other Scriptures and with the grounds of Faith as 1. When it is said that God

A VINDICATION Of the Doctrine Of Gods Absolute Decree AND Of Christs Absolute and Special Redemption In way of ANSWER To those Objections that are brought against them by Mr. THO PIERCE in his Treatise Entituled The Divine Philanthropy By THO WHITFELD Minister of the Gospel ROM 11.33 O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Ways past finding out LONDON Printed by Henry Hills and John Field Printers to His Highness 1657. The Epistle to the Reader IT may be some may marvel why I should deal in this Argument which is sufficiently handled and the Adversary sufficiently answered by another hand I shall therefore give an Account of the Grounds that moved me to this undertaking which are these 1. I am abundantly convinced that the Truth which I endeavor to maintain what ever others conceive of it is of that consequence that too much cannot be said for the defence thereof for what Truths are more needful to be contended for then those which tend to preserve the perfections of Gods holy Nature some of which by the Doctrine of the Conditional Decree are too much violated Doth not this Doctrine by clear and direct consequence as hereafter shall be more fully shewed make the Creator to depend upon the creature and the everlasting and unchangeable Counsels of his Will to be subordinate to the mutable motions of mans will so as he can do nor determine nothing absolutely and certainly touching mans eternal Salvation or Damnation till man himself hath ultim●tely determined what he will do and if the foresight of Sin must go before the Decree of Reprobation because Sin goes before Damnation upon the very same ground the foresight of Faith and Repentance must go before the Decree of Election because these necessarily go before Salvation which Doctrine cannot well agree with the glory of Gods ●ree Grace 2. I know well that the more hands any Argument passeth through in writing of it the more hands it is likely to come into for reading of it for some that will not look into a Treatise for the sake of the matter or subject of it yet may perhaps do it for the sake of the Author with whom they have some acquaintance or to whom they have some relation 3. I have endeavored to apply my self so far as the subject will bear to the apprehension of every understanding Christian though not furnished with the help of any Literature whereas Mr Barly being to follow his Adversary step by step is forced to follow him in the same way that he went and to carry on things sometimes in a higher strain then lower Capacities can reach unto Besides he is forced that his Answer may not swell in too big a bulk to refer the answer of some things to a former Answer which if the Reader hath not by him as all have not he cannot so readily receive satisfaction as he desires These Considerations together with the desire of some Friends put me on to the publishing of what now follows I shall say nothing of those Aspersions which Mr P. in his Answer to Mr B. did both unjustly and untruly cast upon me because as I have heard they are already wiped off by another hand as also because I well know that those Readers who are most eager in their pursuit after Truth love not to be retarded in their way by any Impertinencies any thing that doth not directly concern the business in hand I have endeavored to compact things as close together as I can that I may not tyre the Reader with too many lines All that I shall desire of him is that he would not suffer himself to be preponderated with the weight of words strong lines or pleasing language which he may wish in the Opposer but onely attend to the strength of Arguments and incline his Judgement that way where he shall finde the weight of these to sway the ballance That this Piece came forth so soon was besides my intention for leaving it in the hands of some Friends at London it was put to the Press before I knew of it and it was expected that Mr Barly's Answer would have come forth before this time it being sent to the Press above a Quarter of a Year since Farewel A VINDICATION Of the Doctrine of Gods Absolute Decree AND Christs Special Redemption THe Doctrine of Gods Absolute Decree being such a Doctrine as is somewhat removed above the reach of mans natural Apprehension and very little agreeing with his corrupt Will and Affections hath been much quarrel'd at in all Ages It began to be so in that great Apostles time who was the principal Propagator of it as appears Rom. 9.19 In succeeding Ages Pelagius and his Followers strongly maintained this Quarrel In later times to speak nothing of the Jesuits and Arminians who have kindly closed their hands in opposing this Doctrine Castellio against Beza Mr. Hoard in his PHILANTHROPY but especially the Author of Fur Praedestinatus have taken much pains to render this Doctrine to the world as odious and abominable as may be To these Mr. Thomas Pierce hath of late largely contributed his help in his Treatises which he hath put forth especially in that which he calls The Divine Philanthropy defended I hope he will not take it ill if we shall in a calm and quiet way without touching upon his person examine his Arguments to see whether they be as strong as his Words and whether their Evidence be answerable to his Confidence As also speak something in way of Defence of that Innocent Doctrine of Gods Absolute Decree which he chargeth with that great Crime of making God the Author of Sin and other foul Consequences and therefore treads it under his feet with much indignation and detestation And because the Asserting and Confirming of a positive Truth makes way for the Overthrow of that Error which is contrary to it we shall begin with this and in the first place endeavor to prove That no conditional Decrees can agree to the Nature of God and therefore that they must needs be Absolute and then come to answer the Objections that are brought against the Doctrine of the Absolute Decree In doing of both these it cannot be avoided but we must again make use of those Considerations prefixed before Mr. Barly's Answer to Mr. Pierce which the● were briefly propounded but now shall be more largely insisted on because they most properly and intimately concern the Question in hand as also because he hath no● given any Answer at all unto them but onely put them off with a jeer which whether they have deserved or no we leave to the indifferent Reader to judge Arguments against Conditional Decrees in God BY Conditional Decrees we understand such as wherein the Condition doth not onely go before the execution or effecting of the things decreed but before the Decree it self before the internal act of Gods will and that