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A77642 Scripture-redemption freed from men's restrictions: being an answer to a book lately published by Mr. William Troughton (who stiles himself a minister of the gospel at Onlep in Leicester-shire) intituled, scripture-redemption restrained and limited: as also the substance of several conferences and disputes had in England, Wales, and Scotland, with Mr. Heath, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Powel, Mr. Sam. Rutherford, and Mr. James Wood, two rectors of the university of S. Andrews, and many others, about the death of our most dear redeemer, and the controversies which are the constant concomitants of it. Together with a brief reply to Mr. Troughton's rayling accusations in his introduction. By J. Brown, sometimes of Orial Coll. in Oxford, afterwards a priest of the Church of England, and vicar of Tenbury in Worcester-shire; but now through mercy a preacher of the faith which once he destroyed. Browne, James, 1616-1685. 1653 (1653) Wing B5022B; ESTC R230501 118,497 139

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against those that love them would if they had power bite yea devour such as they hate and count enemies for telling them the truth And if Mr. Trough did not hate us he would never cry out so to the Magistrates and bring railing accusations against us and shun conference with us but would endeavour to debate soberly the points in difference render a reason of his hope and hear ours But I leave this to the Lord and the impartial readers consideration because I hasten to the work only I shall add a saying of Solomons He that is first in his own cause seemeth just but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him Prov. 18. 17. Pag. 41. through a mistake called pag. 40. lin 7. for Justification read Sanctification The literal or figural faults I desire the Readers to pass by or correct with their pens SCRIPTURE-REDEMPTION freed from Restraint I Have heard and read some Conferences and Controversies concerning the death of Christ and the effects of it but remaining dis-satisfied in part with what men have said and written on both sides I have put forth this to publike view that so they who have any thing to say for or against what I have held forth may publish also their approbation or dislike in order to the investigation of the clear and soul-establishing truth in this point For my part I am satisfied that we shall be judged at the last day by the Word that Christ hath spoken which some call the Letter of the Scriptures and which I say are able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. and not according to the Comments and Glosses which men have put upon them I know also that Christ died for our sins according to be Scriptures 1 Cor. 15. 3. and therefore by the conduct of that Spirit which gave them to us shall begin to prove by these That Christ died or tasted death for all and every man and after give my Reasons why I so judge Yet before I come to lay down these I shall shew you how I hold this point and what Christ dying hath done for every man The first Scripture which I shall present to your consideration is Isai 53. 6. All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Now indeed if there be any that have not gone astray or any that have not turned to their own way then Christ bare not their iniquity But if the contrary be true and all men yea all mankinde have gone out of the way it will undoubtedly follow that the burden of their iniquity was laid on Jesus Christ A second text of Scripture is Joh. 1. 29. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the sin of the world By iniquity of us all and sin of the world in these two texts mentioned I understand the sins against the first Testament sins of ignorance sins committed before conversion or before we knew good or evil the one or first offence of Adam which some call Original Sin as I shall in this ensuing Discourse by the Lords assistance endeavour to make plain to each impartial and humble soul Another text for the proof of this is Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life Compare this with Acts 10. 34. A fourth plain and positive proof of this truth is Joh. 6. 51. latter part And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Sutable to this is that 1 Joh. 4. 9. The next place of Scripture to be considered is 2 Cor. 5. 14. 15. The love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that if one died for all then were all dead and that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but to him that died for them and rose again Where it is evident that the great love of Jesus Christ constrained the Apostle to judge two things viz. that All were dead and that he died for all The Apostle Paul 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. says thus There is one God and one Mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome for all to be testified in due time The seventh place of Scripture plainly proving the truth of this glad tidings is Tit. 2. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared A clear proof of this we have also Heb. 2. 9. later part That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man or every one In the ninth place you have an evident testimony to this truth 1 Joh. 2. 2. Who is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours onely but for the sins of the whole world The tenth and last positive proof of this great love of God in Christ lies in two texts viz. Joh. 10. 15. I lay down my life for the sheep and 2. Pet. 2. 1. But there were false prophets among the people as there shall be false teachers among you who shall privily bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And thus in stead of fallible Arguments which men make by mis-understanding the Scriptures I have produced ten positive Proofs which we finde written in the Word of Truth in express terms declaring that Christ died laid down his life tasted death for and bought all and every man the world the whole world the sheep and those that deny him and shall be destroyed And whether you that read these things will believe Mr. Troughton's ten Arguments or the express Word of the eternal God chuse ye But perchance some may say Though these Scriptures say that Christ died for all c. yet they mean otherwise I answer first by a Querie Whether we shall be judged by the Word as it speaks or as men say it means Secondly if the Word in this means otherwise then it speaks we make God like the worst of men which God forbid and withal men are to blame for reading it to us otherwise then it means Object But all and every man do not always signifie every individual Answ Although the words all and every man do not everywhere intend every individual yet in many places it doth and that it so signifies when the death of Christ is treated of I shall hereafter by the assistance of Jehovah prove by undeniable Reasons Secondly although all and every and the word world are sometimes taken for a part of the whole yet the whole world is never taken but for all sinners as 1 Joh. 2. 2. and 1 Joh. 5. 19. But how comes it to pass may some say if this be so clear a truth that so many godly learned men are of another opinion and maintain that Christ did not die for all
return When a Judge shall condemn a man to be burnt in the hand for some offence if the standers by shall go away and report that he condemned him to be burnt at a stake to ashes it would be both bold and ridiculous yea perhaps punishable and if so to mis-report the judgement of a man that must die how much more to mis-interpret or mis-represent the Sentence of a righteous and immortal God Thirdly we read Rom. 14. 12. Every man shall give an account of himself to God and 2 Cor. 5. 10. All must appear before the judgement-seat of Christ and receive according to the things done in their own body according to what they have done whether good or bad Read and consider Joh. 5. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Rev. 20. 12 13. Fourthly the Lord hath sworn that the childe shall not die for the iniquity of the father Jer. 31. 29. 30. Ezek. 18. 4. In the resurrection we all believe that infants even dying a day old shall have their part who cannot be said by any sober spirit to have any sin to answer for but what was through Adam imputed to them and if they shall then die the second time or second death for that sin then the Lords oath is in vain which God forbid I had rather believe the Lords oath then mans vain words yea let God be true and every man a lyer who by their ignorance hold forth as if God doth condemn infants twice for Adam's sin first to the grave then to the second death Fifthly from the second death there is no redemption or deliverance see Luke 16. 26. Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot neither can they pass to us that would come from thence which quite crosseth that fond opinion of some who think that at the day of judgement men shall come out of the place of torments to stand in the presence of God to receive their doom I know that hell i. e. the grave shall then give up her dead and the dead shall rise and stand before the throne but it 's not said they shall come out of the second death to be judged Sixthly if Adam and all his posterity were for the first offence by some called Original sin condemned to the second death then to redeem him from it Christ must die the second death or by his death prevent something that Adam brought upon himself and his posterity The one he could not the other he did not and I challenge the whole world to prove either of them by Scripture though I know there be that boldly affirm such things viz. That Christ to save the world endured the torments which the damned shall for ever endure in hell Lastly the Scripture doth nowhere make mention of any other death for eating of the prohibited tree but the first death and therefore the second death comes not for that transgression That which is written is for our learning but men not content with this have sought out many Arguments to prove their judgements and so have clouded up the truth from themselves and others and have affirmed that Adam was a spiritual man his paradise spiritual his state spiritual and a state of salvation the tree spiritual and many such unwritten things contrary to the Scriptures which affirm that the first man was natural or earthly 1 Cor. 15. 46 47. and that there is no salvation in any other but Christ Acts 4. 14. who was not promised when Adam fell with many other places directly opposing their fancies However some that would fain be wise above what is written have raised so much dust and darkness that they cannot see how it 's possible that Christ should die for all men seeing all receive not spiritual life and eternal salvation by his death which they think Adam lost And indeed I see not how they can until they see what Adam was a natural man and what he lost a precious pleasant garden and whither he was condemned viz. to the dust And if they would but open their eyes to see these things they might easily discern the truth of the other although spiritual life and eternal glory be not enjoyed by all Adam's posterity And for the further clearing up of this I proceed by the help of God to shew you as before resolved what the Word of Truth holds forth concerning Election Creation c. under a twofold consideration Universal and Special Cast not away these things because strange but prove them whether they be true I begin first with Election which is God's loving regarding or setting his heart upon lost mankinde and ordaining or appointing them to serve him and such as serve him to be saved and is General or Particular General thus When Angels and Men were fallen from their first estate he chose neither the disobedient Angels in whom folly was found nor any other creature but he set his heart upon man Job 7. 17. and Psal 144. 3. What is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him Now what account did he make of man Why thus he so regarded that poor lost creature that he chose or appointed him to live in this world to stand in his sight and serve him but withal mark this that the affection he bare to him and the account he made of him was by and through Christ the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world in or by whom he chose man to be holy and without blame before him in love If any shall say that that 's spoken of the Apostle Paul and the Saints at Ephesus I grant it but withal I would willingly know whether he hath chosen appointed or ordained any man to be unholy and blameable c. or whether there be a middle choice or appointment of God If there be shew it Sure I think there is no man that hath not parted with his Reason that will so far dishonour him that gave it to him as to say that God hath fore-ordained chosen or appointed any to be unholy or unclean as they were men and women onely when they reject his counsel he gives them up to their own hearts lusts and leaves them many times to themselves having waited long to be gracious yea upon some a very long time But some have I heard affirm most confidently that God did appoint men to be disobedient that as he appointed some to the means of salvation so he appointed others to the means of damnation which is sin and that all the unbelief and disobedience of men is committed by the decree and appointment of God as well as foreknown to him To whom I answer Surely these are some of those hard speeches and ungodly words spoken of Jude vers 15. which God will one day come to convince men of and punish for if they repent not For first I querie Whether unbelief and disobedience
will see that he prefers mercy before Sacrifice the Gospell before the Law faith before works the believers or children of the promise before the natural seed that he regardeth not but hateth such as seek for righteousnesse by the Law as the Jews did and loveth or chooseth such as seek for the righteousness of the Gospell of Jesus Christ as the Gentiles did Isa 1. 14. saith the Lord thus your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my soul hateth yet once these were appointed by God all things that were written of old concerning Ismael Isaac Esau Jacob Pharoah c. were directly as they are written but the Apostle we see draws out the Allegory and shews what they did typifie to us as you may see if you diligently search this nineth to the Romanes and reso●ve and roll up all that is here written as the Apostle doth in the 30. and 31. verses but the time will not give me leave to treat largely of these things in this place if God give oportunity I shall declare more of this matter in my Generation as the great God shall give opportunity and utterance either by preaching conference or writing in the mean space every sober man will see that it is not proper to draw positive conclusions from allegoricall expressions and so these words I have hated Esau i.e. refus'd righteousness by the Law or Covenant of works doth not at all prove that Christ did not die for all and withall I desire the Reader to consider that M. Tro. hath not yet produced one Scripture that says he died only for a small number but some few consequences which are too weak ever to overthrow the faith of Gods Elect. But saith M. Trough Christ did not die for all because he did not satisfie his Fathers wrath and justice for the sins of every man and woman in the world for the reprobates go down to hell but he made a plenary satisfaction for the sins of those for whom he died and the Holy God saith he cannot nor will not exact double payment for the same debt or punish twice for the same sin Answer first That which he speaks last is true and it is from this that I conclude that Infants shall not be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death for if they should then they must be punisht twice for one fault viz. Adams offence as some call it originall sin and that Rebrobates that is wicked men shall be cast into hell is as true Psa 9. 17. but what he means by plenary satisfaction to the Fathers justice given for some I know nor in that I find no such terms in the holy Scriptures if there be why did not M. Tro. produce them did he think that his bare word is a sufficient warrant for us to believe by surely it is not and the word of truth testifies that false teachers who bring in damnable heresies deny Christ and bring upon themselves destruction were bought by the Lord whom they deny and that others trample under foot the bloud of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified Heb. 10. 29. Answer secondly if M. Tro. means that Christ did so satisfie for the sins of some that none of the punishment due for that sin shall come upon them but that it is wholly by the powring or offering of the bloud of Christ prevented I shall desire him to prove it in the mean space I shall desire the imparti●ll Reader to remember first that the Elect the choicest 〈◊〉 must di● I mean go to the dust the wise man as well as the fool by reason of Adams transgression so that the punishment which came through that fault is not plenarily satisfied for if it had been so indeed God requires double payment which he will never by M. Tro. own confession do for if by the death of the Lamb this debt had been fully paid the Elect should never have gone to the grave and thus you see how M. Tro. is contrary to himself his light is darknesse and he wearieth himself to bring others to the same condition with himself Secondly consider that amongst all the sons of Adam none shall receive remission of their sins I mean which themselves have acted but believers Mark 16. 16. Act. 10. 43. so that he did not so satisfie as to take away mens actuall sins whether they believe or no. Thirdly consider that if any draw back from the Lord he will take no plea●ure in them Heb. 10. 38. and the best of Saints if they sin must confesse and forsake their sins if they will find mercy and pardon Prov. 28. 13. Joh. 1. 9. but I pray read the whole verse for M. Tro. leaves out in his book the former viz. if we confess our sins as Apocriphal pag. 21. and so deals with us as the Devil did with Christ Luk. 4. 10. 11. conceal that which would make against him Lastly consider and call to mind what I have in this preceding discourse manifested that Christ hath so died that all do live by him and injoy light by him Jo. 1. 9. Jo. 6. 33. and that whosoever believeth on him should not perish Jo. 3. 15. 16. and that all men through him might believe Jo. 1. 7. and that as sin hath raigned unto death even so might grace raign through righteousnesse unto eternall life by Jesus Christ our Lord Christ hath so died that all shall ●ise again by him Jo. 5. 28 29. I beseech you read and consider that the just and unjust shall all be called out of the grave by the Lord Jesus he died and rose and revived that he might be Lord of quick and dead Rom. 14. 9. that they which live should live to him 2 Cor. 5. 15. But we never read that Christ died to satisfie for sin whilest men continue in them without repentance but to manifest his love to all mankind thereby to perswade them to leave sin and love him who loved them first he was set forth to be a prop●tiation through faith in his bloud Rom. 3. 2● 26. and that the world through him might be saved Io. 3. 17. not by the works of the Law but the words of Jesus Christ God never appointed that righteousness and salvation should be by the Law for then Christ had died in vain Thus you see what the form of sound words speak concerning the death of Christ who took or bare away the sin of the world viz. the sin of Adam in whom the whole world of men were involv'd that so lost mankind through him might have liberty to serve the living God and through believing on the light be delivered from their actuall sins committed before conversion and by confessing and craving pardon might be cleansed from their infirmities after their coming into Christ by the intercession mediation and eternall Priesthood of him whose bloud speaketh better things then that of Abel But he laid down his life or the sheep Jo. 10.
the intrinsicall merit of it was sufficient for ten thousand Worlds but it was not the intention of the Father that all should have any benefit by it we are very unlikely then to be reconciled to Rome in this point although Mr. Troughton who closes much more with them in this point then we about originall sinne and sprinkling Infants c. would so perswade people that he might render the truth of God odious And as for conditionall Election I know not what the Papists maintain but as before manifested we hold that God did appoint or choose all men to be holy and those that are so to happy But that the naturall man hath power of himself without spirituall grace to believe in Christ to eternall life as Mr. Troughton sayes we hold is most notoriously false nay weare so farre from thinking any such thing that we know and teach every where that the best of men have not power of themselves to make one haire white or black But that we have all our sufficiencie of God and that of his own free mercy through Christ he hath given power to every man and woman to do what he requires of them and that every good and perfect gift is from God Jam. 1. 17. c. as I have before shewed Neither doe we say there is no original sinne for Adams sinne was the originall or first sinne but we are not so silly as to think there are two originall sinnes neither are we so foolish as with the Papists Mr. Troughton and all false Teachers in the world as to say that Children bring so much sinne with them into the World as will or at least may damne them eternally in the second death or that Baptisme doth cleanse away originall sinne as some besides the Papists Prelates hold or that men shall be damned eternally after the Resurrection for Adams ●inne but we say that through originall sinne all dye or returne to the dust as is before declared at large And although we thus hold ●hat Infants bring not with them into the World so much sin as will or may cast them into the second death yet this is no way inconsistent with the Antipaedobaptists neither doth it follow that because children may and shall be saved therefore they may and must be baptized for God hath declared that unto little Infants belongs the Kingdom of God Mat. 19. 14. but he hath no where commanded or declared that they may or ought to be sprinkled with water for they having done neither good nor evill have no need of repentance faith and baptisme or any other externally or internally-purifying Ordinances until they sinne against light and so their consciences are defiled which without applying the blood of Jesus and obedience to his precepts will never be purged againe when men come to know what 's good yet commit that which is evill There is no peace of conscience to be had without conformity to the will of God revealed to Men and Women But doubtless its the greatest piece of folly in the world to sprinkle little Babes under a colour of a promise belonging to them Baptisme is a precept that followes repentance and is of equal duration with it even till the comming of our Lord so that the sanctification of Infants by the blood of Christ doth neither help the Paedobaptists nor hurt the Antipaedobaptists for whatsoever God hath done for little ones yet we must do no more for them then the Lord who gives the fruit of the womb requires of us It s very improbable then that ever we shall be reconciled to Rome as Mr. Troughhton sayes whilst we disavow the infalibility of men the sprinkling of Babes the taking of Tythes or a forced maintenance and national Churches in all which being the foundation and main building of the Papacy Mr. Troughton and the Parish Ministers are already reconciled to Rome Object But sayes Mr. Troughton If Christ dyed for all then some men may fall away from a state of grace and salvation Ans It followes not any way but rather it argues they may not but may and ought to hold fast that state of grace and salvation which Christ hath brought them to Secondly We never say that men may fall away from Grace but that many have so done and therefore admonish the Saints who are in a state of grace to take heed lest they fall from the grace of God Heb. 12. 15. and lest there be in any of them an evill heart of unbeliefe to depart from the living God and we are sure that taking heed never made any man to fall But we remember how Adam being in the favour of God and a good state fell how the Israelites fell Row 11. 22. How Hymeneus and Alexander put away and make ship-wrack of faith and a good conscience 1 Tim. 1. 19. And how all they in Asia were turned away from Paul 2 Tim. 1. 15. yea all the famous Churches of Rome Corinth Galatia Colosse Thessalonia with the seven Churches of Asia long since fell from the faith once given to the Saints and are buried in oblivion Ans 3. By Grace I mean the Gospell we are not under the Law but under Grace Rom. 6. 14. Now many have profest the Gospel or Grace of God and have fallen from it whereas had they continued in it they had beene safe even our enemies themselves being judger But they did but seem to professe the truth I answer Then they did well to fall from a seeming profession which is hypocrisie t is a vertue to forsake an evill way but many have forsaken the right way 2 Pet. 2. 15. and concerning the faith have erred and put away a good conscience Object Oh but that was but seeming faith and a bad conscience to which I answer Answ 1. Then Paul bids Tim. hold fast seeming faith and a good conscience for the Apostle bids him hold fast that which some had put away 1 Tim. 1. 19. Ans 2. It seems also that Hymeneus and Alexander were delivered to Satan for putting away seeming faith and a bad conscience whereas they should rather have been commended and highly praised Ans 3. The Scriptures say faith and a good conscience men ●y it was seeming faith and a seeming good other say a ●ad conscience believe the Scriptures or men which you ●●ease But men cannot endure to heare that there is any possibility of falling from the favour of God for this would check them in their full career of sinning but they would fain have pillowes sown under their Arm-holes and heare that whatever sinnes they commit yet God is not displeased with them and that whatsoever they do God is not angry with them contrary to Mal. 2. 17. of whom I demand what they think if David had dyed in the act of Adultery or before his repentance I know what some have said that David was as fully in the favour of God in the time of his sinning as ever he
for them and they not obeying him but Antichrist are condemn'd in that they gave the honor due to him to his enemy none I think will doubt but these men ought to have worshipped God but what good would that have done them if Christ had never died for them judge ye but if any do say that God did appoint them to serve and worship the Beast I refer to Acts 17. 26 27. and leave them to the Lord who will take a strict account one day of all such sayings Ans 2. That the words may be read whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain as M. Troughton● sayes is utterly false and a great corruption of Scripture yet that Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world is clear from this text which is that which M. Tro. and others study by all subtilty to evade Lastly he that sinneth against God shall have his name blotted out of the book of Life Exod. 33. 32. with Rev. 22. 19. But God loves some with a speciall love Christ loved the Church and gave ●imself for it It is by none that speak the truth in love denied and it 's that which I have in this whole Treatise endeavour'd to clear up that there is a universall and speciall manifestation of love from the Lord the Lord is good to all and he so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son but his delight is 〈◊〉 them that fear him Psal 147. 11. Pro. 21. 20. and as for M. Tro. saying that husbands love their wives with a speciall love it 's true but we ought asso to love our enemies and every creature with the love of good will desirous still to do them any good we can so though Christ delights only in his Church that is such as obey him yet he died for his enemies and when the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world we were all enemies alike neither is any one man better then another as he is a man but as grace is manifested and received neither is it the act of receiving which makes some men better then others but the grace which appeareth to them from the Lord from whom every good gift comes and to whom all the glory is due But is it not said that God did hate Esau and loved Jacob before they had done either good or evill Search the Scriptures diligently and see if there be any such text the Apostle never said any such thing Rom. 9. for that which was said was not concerning two children as some have falsly suggested but two Nations as you may see Gen. 25. 23. compared with Rom. 9. 12. and afterwards v. 13. he shews that God hated Esan as it is written Mal. 1. 2. 3. I have hated Esau and laid his mountains and heritage wast for the Dragons of the Wilderness certainly this was not before he was born for he had no mountains nor heritage to be laid wast again it 's very considerable that the person of Esau was never subservient to Jacob but Jacob bow'd down to him and call'd him his Lord Gen. 33. and by this it will be clear that this text speaks not of infants but men and not of single persons personally considered but of a Nation of evill doers especially if you impartially consider what is written by Obadiah in the 10 11 12 13 14. verses of his Prophecy where the Edomites are called Esau and the Jews Jacob. Secondly I answer that they who are spirituall and impartiall will e're long discern that these things are an Allegory which the Apostle Paul brings in to illustrate what he had before asserted viz. that it is not the pleasure purpose of God that men shall be justified by the Law but by grace not by works but by him that calleth and though the Jews judge it an unequal thing yet God having chosen this to be the way of justification his choise or election shall stand and this you may easily and evidently see if you will seriously weigh what follows Ro. 9. 30. 31. as the Apostles collection and the result of all which he had spoken in the precedent part of the chapter what shall we say then c. That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousnesse have attain'd to righteousnesse even the righteousnesse which is of faith But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse have not attained to the Law of righteousnesse wherefore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at the stumbling stone so in all the writings of the New Testament the righteousness of faith though not so antient is prefer'd before the righteousness of the Law and thus the elder serves the younger righteousness by the Law as a servant or handmaid doth and must follow the righteousness of faith or the Gospell for we are to perswade men first to repent believe and be baptiz'd which things the Law mention'd not and then to live righteously soberly chastly and lovingly as becomes such as professe the righteousness of Christ in the Gospell so shewing their faith by their works as it behoveth such as are wise unto salvation Ja. 2. 18. and 3. 13. Moses was faithfull as a servant but Christ in all thi●gs hath the preheminence as a son Ismael and Esau were elder then Isaac and Jacob and Pharaoh and the Egyptians more mighty and puissant then Moses and the Israelites out the Lord pull'd down the mighty and exalted the meek the Law of works bare date before the faith of the Gospell but God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the Kingdome Ja. 2. 5. and this is Gods purpose according to election which shall stand for ever in Isaac shall thy seed be called and that this which I have here hinted as the scope of the Apostle and the mind of the Holy Ghost will be more apparent if you look into Gal. 4. from 21. to 31. where the Apostle speaking of two sons one by Hagar the other by Sarah affirms v. 24. these things are an Allegory for these saith he are the two Covenants c. thence look back to Rom. 9. 7 8 9. where he speaks of the two sons and shews who are the true seed even believers as Abraham was they that are of the promise then to shew that the Apostle intends the very same thing by the ensuing discourse concerning Esau and Jacob he goes on thus and not only this as if he had said not this of Ismael and Isaac shew that the believers are blessed with faithfull Abraham and counted for the seed but the two sons of Rebecca as in an Allegory demonstrate the same and if any shall yet say but how is it said Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer take but these two as Ismael and Isaac for the two Covenants and then you
in the worship of God And from all these things I conclude that Adam with all his knowledge before his fall and all his posterity as they are living souls do not neither can they perceive with the eye or contain in their understandings the nature glory and excellency of that Kingdome Mansion City and inheritance which is prepared for such as obey God Nay there are many pretious Saints in our generation that apprehend little or nothing of them The Corinthians were very ignorant of these insomuch that there were some among them said there was no Resurrection Paul prays for the Ephesians that they might know this Eph. 1. 18 19 20. Nay Paul himself did not fully apprehend or receive it Phil. 3. 12 13 14. But there is a time when this natural man shall be raised up a spiritual man 1 Cor. 15. 43. and then shall we know as we are known and see him as he is 1 John 3. 2. Tell the most of men of the reign of Christ the restitution of all things the Kingdome of the Saints the paradise of God the Tree of life the new heavens and earth the new Jerusalem with its height bredth length and glory c. they will either turne it to a hidden mystery and an empty Allegory or look on it as a foolish carnal conceit though God by his Spirit in the word hath revealed these things to us for our comfort Secondly I answer that by the things of the Spirit are not here intended the duties of faith and repentance for these have been and still are received by natural men who by the receiving of them become spiritual for unnatural men are far from them and enemies to them a natural man may hear the word and come to believe and obey and yet not perceive the Kingdome and City which God hath prepared Thirdly Neither by the natural man is here meant simply a wicked man except you will say that every natural man is a wicked man which God forbid for Adam even as he was created by Jehovah was a natural man as hath been proved Again if it should be imagined that it is impossible to hear know and believe the word which is spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. then men will conclude that God commands things impossible which is also most absurd for he commands both Job 5. and last Mark 1. 9. Rev. 2. 7. He that hath an ear let him hear c. And I would further desire any sober spirited man to consider whether it shall be reckon'd to any man as his sin that he did not perceive that which was impossible for him to perceive Lastly you may see that the scope of the Apostle is to prove the Corinthians for though he had in the power of the Spirit declared to them the riches of the grace and glory of God the Resurrection of the dead and the eternal Judgement yet they were gone but very little above their natural light in these things were but babes in Christ and in some respect carnal and so could not perceive the things which God had prepared for them although by the Spirit manifested in the Gospel and to that purpose writes Epistles to them to raise them higher in spiritual light and learning that being by the truth in Christ become more spiritual they might receive and comprehend the great things which God had prepared for such as love him Thus after some little digression I come to conclude this point of Creation which is general through one blood even of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world or special of such as believe on his name and so receive priviledge to become the Children of God by adoption or the new creation as before shew'd I come now to treat of redemption or buying again which is also general or special general of all lost mankind by the pouring out of the blood of the Lamb slain from the beginning or special of such as believe on him who was slain for them For the unfolding of the truth of this point I intreat the Reader to consider First from what state with what price and to what end Christ bought or redeemed all mankind For the first they are redeemed from the suffering that came by Adams sin I mean the first death as I have before shew'd so that that punishment did not presently seize upon all mankinde and send them to the grave in one who had sinned neither shall it for ever keep any one of Adams posterity under its power but all do live by Jesus Christ here and see the goodness of the Lord and all shall live hereafter I mean rise from the dust and see his glory onely here 's the difference they who saw his goodness here yet did not imbrace it shall see his glory hereafter but shall not injoy it and this will be a never-dying worm to their accusing consciences not that they were not redeemed but that they despised the riches of his grace when they might have had it but would not and now are shut out of glory when they would have it but cannot Secondly Consider the price by which we were ransomed bought or redeemed is onely the blood of Christ though some through over-hastiness affirm the contrary and by this there was a reconciliation made for the whole race of Adam thus far that whereas they were all reputed offenders in one and justly out of favour the Lord for the sake of Christ was at one with them in reference to that sin of the world which the Lamb of God took away by whom God was so appeased that fury is not in him Isa 27. 4. except men set the thornes and bryers against him c. vers 5. according with that 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Objection But say some that 's meant of the Elect onely It s true if you mean of mankinde in opposition to the fallen Angels chosen appointed and ordain'd to live here and seek God which is the first acceptation of Election But if you mean of the Elect i. e. such as were chosen to eternal life then it seems these were once out of favour or else what need a reconciliation Though it be granted to be of the Elect yet it doth not follow that it is of the Elect onely for if God will judge men according to their works and not punish the child for the father as he hath sworn he will not then surely he is reconcil'd to more then such as you call the Elect in reference to the first sin or one offence of Adam See how incongruous it is to say that this is meant onely of the Elect or such as shall be eternally saved First in it self for if God be reconcil'd to them in respect to Adams offence then some shall not onely in the first death but also in the second death be sufferers for that one offence and how contrary that is to all the reveal'd
will yea Oath of God I have already shew'd Secondly all rational and unbyassed men that fear God know that the world in Scripture-phrase is opposite to the Lords chosen ones as John 15. 19. John 17. 9. Thirdly It is inconsistent with the Tenents of Mr. Tro. and others with him for they say the Lord chose a certain number of men to everlasting life without reference to any faith and obedience from which Election they could never fall and if so what need of reconciliation therefore it must needs be of some that were not in favour for it 's very improper to say that God was in Christ reconciling the beloved of his soul to himself which never did nor ever could lose his favour But this will be more plain when we consider into what state mankind was bought and brought by the blood of Christ and that is not to eternal life for he did not buy all men or any man that by the pouring out of his blood only without faith repentance they or any one of them being come to yeers of discretion should be saved for if redemption and reconciliation had been such and so fully absolute as to this what need the Apostle have besought the Corinthians so earnestly that they would be reconcil'd to God 2 Cor. 5. 20. And if some men shall be saved in glory onely and alone because Christ dyed for them then those many melting invitations tender intreatings with all the exhortations admonitions reprehensions instructions and other teachings of the Lord might have been spared But therefore I hold that men even all men were delivered redeemed or bought out of the hands of their enemies that they might live through Christ here in this world Secondly that they might live to him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 15. i. e. through him believe Joh. 1. 7. and serve God in holiness and righteousness before c. Thirdly That they who for nought had sold themselves to death and the devil might rise again from the dead In a word as God through Christ chose or appointed all men to serve him and by Christ created or made all Nations of men to seek him as the Scriptures say so by the blood of his Son he bought again or redeem'd lost mankinde And if it be true that all men without a Christ were once dead and now living by him are bound in duty to live to him it 's as true that he dyed for or bought all And that these things are true you may clearly see if you read and seriously consider 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. where the Apostle being proving that all were dead a thing it seems somewhat strange to the Corinthians doth it thus If one dyed for all they were all dead And that he dyed for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but to him that dyed for them and rose againe It seems that they onely are bound to live to Christ for whom he dyed and rose againe That all are bound to live to him none dare deny that all men shall be rais'd by Jesus at the last day is true as I have before shew'd And that Christ bought or redeemed all men See John 10. 15. and 2 Pet. 2. 1. Now none will deny that he bought the sheep that is such as confess him hear his voyce and follow him and Peter saies There shall be false teachers c. denying the Lord that bought them so that he bought them also who deny him and are destroyed Object But the Lord that bought them is not the Lord Jesus say some Answ They that shall say so and teach men to say so are in this some of those false teachers who deny the onely Lord even our Lord Jesus Christ If they shall say 't is the Father Answ Christ and his Father are one shew another Lord. Object But saith the Objector The price wherewith they were bought was some other price then the blood of Christ Answ 1. When he shall shew me what that other price is with which false teachers are bought I shall believe him and not before for it 's not exprest in Scripture 2. He may as well say that the Saints at Corinth were not redeem'd or bought by the blood of Christ because it s not mentioned 1 Cor. 6. 20. and 7. 23. Object But the word in the Original signifies to buy without a price or acquire men into the Profession of Gods service I Answer first This is utterly false and though it be not alwaies meant to buy or acquire with blood yet whatsoever men purchase buy or acquire they lay out study labour industry health friends strength mony or some other means or price by which they get or compass their desires Object But is it not sayd Come buy c. without money and without price Isa 55. 1. Answ First we cannot buy spiritual things with mony or silver as some Translations render it But Secondly He that comes to the Lord to obtain any mercy if he come without the blood of Christ upon his soul be sure he will acquire or get none And whereas it hath been said that Christ doth acquire men into the profession of his service I demand whether he doth acquire them to serve him or profess his service really or seemingly If really then it 's the same that I say Christ did really buy men that they might really serve him and because some serve Satan and others serve God in hypocrisie they shall together have their portion with their Father and Master the Devil in the lake of fire If seemingly then Christ by their doctrine acquires or gets men to be Hypocrites for seeming service or the profession of service which is not real is all one and both abhor'd Hypocrisie The Lord in mercy yet grant men space to repent of these their hard sayings Object It s true say some that Christ dyed for all and bought all in a sense but dyed not for all alike I Answer The question is not in what sense Christ dyed for all or bought all but whether the thing be true and if he dyed for all in any sense as you call it it is true that he ransomeed all But say others All were bought by Christ to live by him and shall rise by him But not as a Mediator These poor cavils and senseless shifts are not worth answering I shall onely say this to them That when the Objectors can prove what they say by the Scriptures viz. that Christ dyed two waies I shall heed their sayings in the mean space such expressions are so far from the form of sound words that I fear they flow rather from a critical then conscientious spirit that seeketh truth in the love of it I have shew'd you what the Scriptures say and how according to them Christ dyed for all so that all live by him and ought to live to him I desire not to be wise above what is written I come