V 'W., ^^-i^. 'm^:'w i^^ % -: ^ \ /j^ ^ LIBRA.RY OF THE Theological Seminary PRINCETON, N.J. case, S CC.. Division SnelA )j03 Sectic- Book, N^, .^y'^ <^ '^-^'-^^ ^5v^^^^ ^ \' - H^^t. THE DEATH of DEATH IN THE DEATH of CHRIST. BEING A TREATISE OF the REDEMPTION and RECONCILI ATldi\x\. only thole perfons {o eleBed,—-\\\2Lt they deny. Cui bono now ? to w\i2X purpofe ferves ih^ gene- ral ranfomf but only to affert,— that Almighty God would have the precious blood of \i\^ dear Son poured out, for in- numerable fouls whom he will not have to fhare in any drop thereof; and fo, in refpe6l of them, to be fpilt in vain; or elfe to be (hed for them, only that they might be the deeper damned. T\i\^ fountain \S\q.w of free-grace, \\\\^ foundation of the new covenant, this bottom of all gofpel-difpenfations, this \x\i\\.{\iX womb o\ all eternally diftinguifhing mercies, the purpofe of God according to eleBion, muft be oppofed, iQighied, blafphemed ; that the figment of the fons of men may not appear to be tr uncus ficulnus, inutile lignum^ an un- jprofitable ftock; — and all the thoughts of the moll High, 'differencing between man and man, muft be made to take, occafion, hyfonie, to be caujed, fay others, by their holyfelf^ fpiritual endeavours: gratum opus agricolis, a favory facri- iice to the Ro?nan Belus ; a facred orgie to the long-bewailed htanes of St. Pelagins, ' And here, [idly f Free-will, amor et delicia humani generis ^ corrupted nature's deformed darling, the F alias or beloved felf'Conceplion of darkened minds,— finds open hearts and arms, iov lii adulierous cxnhvdiCtsi yea, xht dye being caft, and Rubico paffed over, — eo devenere fata ecclefict, that having oppofed the free diftinguifliing grace of God, as the fole fworn the general ranfom, that it cannot live a day without it. Should it pafs tor /rw^ what the Scripture affiims, viz. that we are by nature dead in trefpajfes and fins ; there would not be left of the general ranfom, ajherd to take fire from the hearth: like the wood of the vine, it would not yie'da pin to hang a garment upon : all which you ftiall find lully declared, in the enfuing treatife. But here, as though all the undertakings diuA BabyloniJJi attempts ot ihe o\di Pelagians, with their var- niflied offspring the late Armiyiians, were flight and eafy ; I fhall {\it\^ y OMg^QdiiQX abominations than thefe, and further difcoveries of the imagery of the hearts of the Tons of men. In purfuance of this perfuafionof univerfal redemption, not a few have arrived (whither it naturally leads them) to deny ihefatisfaclion and tnerit of Chrift. Witnefs P. H. who not being able to untie, ventured boldly to cut this Gardian knot ; but fo as to make both ends of the chain ufeiefs. To thequeflion^ Whether Chrift died for all men or not ? he anfwers, — that he died neither tor all, nor any, fo as to pur- chafe life and falvation for them. tan, poion fe epos phugev, hercos odonton? fhall curfed Socinianifn be worded into a glorious difcovery oi free-grace ? Afk now for proofs of this affertion,— as you might juftly expe£t Achillean argu- ments from thofe who delight akineta kinein, to throw down {\ich foundations, (as (hall put all the righteous in the world to a lofs thereby ;) Projicit ampuUas et fefquipedalia verba ; hyperonka mataiotetos, great fwelling words of vanity, drummy expreflions, a noife from emptinefs, (the ufual language of men, who know not what they fpeak, nor whereof they do afinnj is all that is produced : fuch con- te'mptible products, have our tympanous mountains. Poor creatures, whofcy^w/i are merchandized by the painted hces of novehy and vanity ; whil ft thefe ^^^j^j falute you with the ki/fes of tree grace, you fee not the fword that is in their hands ; whereby they fmile you under the fiftf'i rib, in the very heart blood q^ faith and all Chriftian confolation. It feeiDis yi PREFACE. feems our blefled Redeemer's deep humiliation, in bearing the chajiiftment of our peace and the puniJJiment of our tranf- greflions, being made a curfe d^nA/in, defer ted under wrath and the power of death, — procuring redemption and the re- raiflion of fms through the effufion of his blood, offering himfelf up a facrifice to God to make reconciliation and pur- chafe an atonement ; his purfuing this undertaking with con- tinued interceflion in the holuj}. of holies^ with all the benefits of his mediator jhip \ — do no v^-di-^ procure either life and falva- tion, o\ remiffion o\ fins; but only ferve to declare^ that we are not indeed what his word affirms we are^ viz. cvrfed, guilty, defiled, and only not aftually call into hell. Judas^ betrayefl thou the Son oj man with a kijs ? See this at large confuted, Book 3. Now this laft ajfertion throughly fancied, hath opened a door and given an inlet to all thofe pretended heights, and new-named glorious attainments, — which have metamorphofed the perfon and mediation of Chrift, into an imaginary diffuf- ed goodnefs and love communicated from the Creator unto the new creation : — than which familiflical fables, * Cerdons two principles were not more ahfurd ; the Platonic numbers, nor the Valentinian jEones, (flowing from the teeming wombs of Pleroma, Aion, Teleios, Sige, Bythos, and the refi, vented for high, and glorious attainments in Chriftian religion near 1500 years ago) were not lefs intelligible. Neither did the cor- roding of Scriptures by that Pontic vermin Maraow, equalize the contempt and fcorn call upon them by thefe impotent im- poflors; exempting their whifpered difcoveries from \ht\v trials and exaking their revelations above their authority. Neither do fome flay here ; but, his gradibus itiir in ccelum. Heaven it- lelf is broke open for all; from univerfal redemption, through unwevh] jufiification, in a general covenant, they have arrived (haudignota loquor) at univerfal falvation; neither can an^f forfeiture be made oi the purchased inheritance. Ergo agite Sjuvenes, tantarum in munere (audum i, Cingite Jrondz comas, et pocula porgite dextris : Communemquc vocatt deum, et date vina volentes, March on brave youths, i'th' praife of fuch free grace ; Surround your locks with bays, and full cups place In your right hands; drink freely on ; then call, O'lh* common hope, the ranfom general. Thefe * Iren. I. 2. c. 6, 7. 14, 15; kc. Clcoj. i^iova, 3. Ep. H:3rcf, 3T. Tercul. ad. Y-len. PREFACE. x\i Thefe and the like perfuafions I no way dlfllke, becaufe •\vhoiiy new to the men ot ihis generaiion: That I may add this by the way ; every age hath its employment in the Jif- covery of truth. We are not come to the bottom of vice or virtue ; the whole world hath been employed in the praftice of iniquity 5000 years and upwards ; and yet Afpice hoc no- vum, may be fet on many villanics ; behold daily new in- ventions. No wonder then it all truth be not yet difcovered. Something may be revealed to them, who as yet fit by. Ad- mire not it Saul alfo be among the prophets; for who is their father ? Is he not free in his dfpenjations ? Are all the depths of Scripture, where the elephants may fwim, juft fathomed to the bottom ? let any man obferve the progrefs ot the laft century in unfolding the truths of God ; and he will Icarce be obfiinate, that no more is left — as yet undifcovered. Only the itching ot corrupted fancies, ihe boldnefs of darkened minds and lafcivious wanton wits, in venting new created no- things, infignificant vanities, with an intermixed dafli of blaf- phemy— is that which I defire to oppofc. And that cfpecial- ly confidering the genius (if I may fo fpeak) oi the days wherein we live ; in which what by one means, what by ano- ther, there is almoft a general deflexion after novelty grown amongfl us; ^^ fome are credulous, feme negligent, fomt fall into errors, fome feek them. A great fufpicion almoil every day, grows upon me, which, I would thank any one, upon foiid grounds, ^.o free me from ; that pride of fpirit, with an Heroflratus-\\k& defirc to grow big in the mouths of men — hath afted many, in the conception and publication of feme eafly invented falfe opinions. Is it not to be thought alfo, that it is from the faine humour poflefhng many, that every one of them almoft ftrives to put on beyond his companions, in framing fome y$;7^z//(2r artifice ? To be 2l follower of others, (hough in defperate engagements, is too mean an undertaking. Aude aliquid brevihus gyaris vel carcere dignum. Si vis efje aliquid; probitas laudatur, et alget, Juv. And let it be no fmall \ peccadillo, no underling opinion, friends; if in thefe bufy times, you would have it taken notice of; of ordinary errors you may cry • quis leget haec ? nemo hercule, nemo ; Aut duo^ aut nemo. They * Ouidam creduli, quidamnegligentcs funt, quibifdam men- claciu?n ohrepit, quibufdam placet. t In tarn occupata civitate, fah.ulas vulgaris nequitia non invenit. Sen. Ep. 120. Viii PREFACE They muft be glorious atlaimntnts, beyond the underfland^ ing ot men, and above the wifdom of the word, which at- tra6l the eyes of poor deluded fouls. The great Shepherd of the fheep, oui Lord Jefus Chrifl, recover his poor wander- ers to his own fold. But to return thither from whence we have digrelTed. This IS ihdii J at al Helena— 2in ufelefs, barren, ivuxiX^ia Jancy ; for whofe enthroning, fuch irkfome tedious contentions have been caufed to the churches of God — a mere Rome, a defolate dirty place ot cottages^ until all the world be robbed ztxA fpoiled to adorn it. Suppofe Chrift died for all ; vet if God, in his free purpofe, have chofen foine to obtain life and falvation, pafTing by others— 'w'lW it be profitable only to ihQ former, or unto all? furely \\\e purpofe of God muft ftand, and he will do all his pkafure ; wheieiort ek^ion, either with Huberus, by a wild contradiBion, muft be made univerfal, or the thoughts o\ the Moft High fujpended on the free will of man. Add this borrow ed feather to the general ranfom, that at leaft it riiay have fome colour of pompous oftentation ; yet if the free grace of God work efftSually in fome, not in others, can thole others pafled by in its powerful operation, have any be* nefthy unwerfal redemption? no more than the Egyptians had, in the angel's pafling over tho/e houfes whofe doors were not f prink led with blood, leaving fome dead behind him. . Almighty powerful free grace then muft ftrike its fail, that free will, like the Alexandrian fliips to the Roman havens^ may come in with top and top-gallant ; for without it, the whole territory of univerfal redemption will certainly be fa- mifhed ; but let thefe do6i;rines, of God's eternal eleSion, the free grace of converfion, perfeverance, and their neceffary con- fequents, be afTerted ; movet cornicula rifum, furtivis nudata eoloribus ; it has not the leaft appearance of profit or confo- lation, but what it robs from the fovereignty and grace of God ; but of thefe things m.ore afterwards. Some ^Qwn'^mg pretences are ufually held out by the abet- tors of \\\^ general ranfom; which by thy patience, courteous Reader, we will a little view in the entrance, to remove fome prejudice that may lie in the way of truth. 1. T\\^ glory of God, they fay, is exceedingly exalted by jt ; his good-will and kindnefs towards men, abundantly mani- fefted, in this enlargement of vs extent ; and his free grace, by others reft rained, fet out with a powerful endearment. — This they fay ; which is in effctl — all things will be well, wherL God is contented with that portion of glory which is of our af PREFACE, r4. Jt'gning, Tlie prl Toners of the earth account it their greatefi: wifdom^ to vaniifh over \\\^w favours, and to fet out with a full mouth, what they have done with half a hand; but will it be acceptable to lie. for Gor], bv extending his bcunty be- yond the marks and eternal hounds fixed to it in his word ? change fiift a hair of your own heads, or add a cubit to your own Matures, before you come in with an addition of glory, not owned by him, to the Almighty. But fo for the moft part is it with corrupted nature, in all fuch inyflerious things; difcovering ihe bafenefs and mlr.zfs thereof. If God be ap- prehended to be as large \\\ grace, as that is in offence. (I mean in refpe6l of particular offenders, for in refpcct of his people he is larger) though it be free, and he hath p'-oclaimed to all, that he may do what he will with his own, giving no account of his matters; ^Z/fhali be well, he is gracious, merciful, 8cc, But if once the Scripture is conceived, to hold out his /bve^ reignty and fiee di/li/igu?flii??g gn^ce, fulled in its di/pe?i/atio?i to his own pnrpofe accoiding to f/6'/zVf?.v, he is immams, tru- fAilentus, diabolo, Tiherio^ tetrior, (horrefo refere.ns.) The learned know well where to find this language, and I will not be inprumental to propagate their biafphemies to others. Si deus honnni non placucrit, deus non erit, faid Tertultian of the heathen deitier. ; and iliall it be To with us ? God forbid. This pride is inbred ;* it is a pait of our corruption to defend it. If we maintain then the glory of God, let us (peak in his own language, or be for ever filent. That is glorious in him which he afcribes unto himielf. Our inventions, though never fo rpiendid in our own eyes, are unto him an abomination ; a jiriving to pull him down from his eternal excellency, to tnakc hnn altogether like unto us, God would never allow, that the xcill of the creatu'"e iliouid be the meafare of his ho- nour. The obedience of Parachfc was to have been regulated^ God's prefcription hath been the bottom of his acceptation of any duty, ever fmcc he had a creature to worfhip him ; the very heathen knew, that that fervice alone Vv^as welcome to God, which himfell rrquired, and that glory owned, which himfclf had revealed that he would appear glorious in it. Hence, as t Epimenides advifed the Athenians, in a time of danger, to facrifice Theo prcjtkordi, to him to zvhom it TV as meet and due ; which gave occafion \o ihe altar, which Paul fav/ bearing the fuperfcription of Agnofto Theo, to the E unknozon ^ Jsatura fic apparet viliata, ut hoc majoris zitiift non t'idere. ' ' - Au^. t Licrt, in vV. Epinif.nv X PREFACE; unknown Cod ; fo Socrates telis us in Plato*, that every god will be woilhipped, To malifla auto arefconti tropo, in that way which pUaJeth bejl his own 7nind ; and in chriftianity, hieromt Jets it down for a rule, that honos prater mandatum (LJi dedecus ; God is dijlionourcd by that honour^ which is alcribed to him beyond his own prefcription ; and one wittiJy on the Jecond commandment — non imago non jimulacrum damnaiur^ fed non fades tibi ; affigning to God any things by him not aflumed, is a making to ourfdves, a deifying of oar own imaginations. Let all men then ceafe Jquaring the glory of God, by their own corrupted principles, and more cox^ vu'^icd perjuafions ; the word zXono. is to be arbitrator in the things of God ; which alfo I hope will appear by the follow- ing tieaiife, to hold out nothing in the matter in hand, con- trary to thofe natural notions o\ God and his goodnels, which in the fad ruins of innocency have been retamed. On thefe grounds we affirm, that all that glory of God which is pre- tended to be alTerted by the general ranfom, however it .may {ttm ^onous> io purblind nature^ is indeed a finjul Jlourijh, for the obfcuring of that glory wherein God is delighted. 2. It is ^vou^ly pretended, that the worth and value of the fatisfaBian of Chrifl, by the oppofue opinion limited to a Jew, are exceedingly magnified in this extending of it to all ; Virhen, behdes which was faid belore, (about an human ex- tending of the things of God, beyond the bounds by himfelf Jixed unto ihemj the merit of the death of Chrift, confifting in its own internal zuorth ■i.ndi fiifficiency, with that obligation which, by his obedience unto death, was put upon xhc jujlicc of God for its application unto them for whom he died, is quite enervated and overthrown by it, made of no account, and fuch as never produced o\ itfelf abffdutely the Xtdi^ good to an\ part-.cular Um\ ; which is fo fully raanilefted in the follov ing ircatije, as I cannot but defire the Reader s fincere confidtiaiion ot it ; it bemg a matter of no fmall importance. Q. A feerring Jmile call upon the opinion of univer/al re- demption, by jrany texis ot Scripture, with the ambiguity of fomc words vvh.ch, though in ihemfelves txih&v Jigurative or indefinite, yet fi em to he of an univerfal extent, maketh the abettois ot it exceedingly rejoice. N(»w concerning this, I ftial) only defiie the Reader not to be llartled at the multitude of places ot Scripture, which he may hndheapedu^ by fome of late about this bufinefs, (efpeciaiiy by Thomas More, in his Univerjality oj Tree Grace) as though they proved and coniirmecl f Plato de legib, lib. 7. PREFACE. XI confirmed that, for which they are produced, but rather pre- pare himfelf to admire at that conf.dcncK of men, particularly of him now named, to make fuch a flour ITh with colours and drums, having indeed no y^/JzWi at all ; for notwiihiianding all their ^r^/^«6ej, it will appear, ihdl \\\ty hang the whole weight of their building on three or four texts of Scripture, viz. 1 Tim. ii. ^, 6. John iii 16, 17. Heb. ii. 9. 1 John ii. 3. with fome few others; ^nAihc ambiguity o'i two or three words, which thcmfelves cannot deny to be of exceeding various acceptations. All which are at lar^e dlfcuffed in the cnfuing trtatife ; no one place that hath, with the leaff fhew or colour, been brought forth by any of our adver Janes in their own defence, or for the oppofmg of the cffcBual re- demption oj the deEl only, being omitted ; the book ol Thomas More being in all the flrength thereof fully met withal and enervated. 4. Some men have, by I know not what inifprifion, enter- tained a perfuaHon, tha^ the opinion of the Univerfalijls ferves exceedingly to fet forth the love and free grace of God ; yea they make free grace, that glorious exprefTion, to he that alone which is couched in their perjaafion^ viz. that God loves all alike, gave Chriji to die for all, and is ready to fave all, if they will lay hold on him ; under which notion, how greedily the hook, as well as the bait, is iwallowed by many, we have daily experience; when the truth is, it is utterly dellruftive to \.\it free diflinguifhing grace of God, in all the dlfpenfations and workings thereof. Jt evidently oppofeth God's free grace of eletlion, as hath been declared ; and therein, that very love from which God fent his Son ; his free diflinguifhing grace alfo of effe&ual calling, mud be made by it to give place to nature's darling, free will ; yea and the whole covenant of grace made void ; by holding it out no otherwife, but as a general removing cf the wrath, which was due to the breach of i\\^ covenant of works; for what elfe can be imagined (though this certainly they have not, John iii. 36.) to be granted to the mofl of thole all, with whom they affirm this covenant to be made. Yea, notwithftanding their tlourifh of free grace, as themfelves are forced to giant, that after all that was effeSled by the death of Chrifl, it was poITible that none fhould be faved ; fo I hope I have clearly proved, that if he accomplifhed by his death no more than they afcribe unto it, it is iitterly impoffble that any one fhould be faved. Ojiid dignum tanto ? 5. The opinion of univcrfal redemption is not a little ad- vantaged ^ %n PREFACE. vantage^, by prefentlng to convinced men a feeniing ready way to extricate themfelves out ol:' all their doubts and perplexities, and to give them all the comfort tiie death of Chrift can af- ford, before they feel any power of that death zuorking within them, or find any ejicacy of free grace drawing their hearts to the embracing of Chrift in the promife, or obtaimn^ a par- ticular intereft in him ; which are tedious things to flefii and blood to attend unto, and wait upon ; fome boaft, that by this ferfuafioa, that hath been efFe8ed in an hour, which they waited tor before j/^i^ifw years without fuccefs. To dilpel this poor empty flouiiih, I Iha'.l fhew in the progrefs, that it is very ready and apt to deceive multitudes with a plaufible dt' lujion^ but really undermines the vqvj Joundations of that ilrong unfailing confclation, which God hath Ihewed himfelf abundantly willing that the heirs of promife JJiuuld receive, Thefe and the like are the general pretences^ wherewith the abettors of a general ranfom do leek to commend themfelves and their opinion to the affztlions of credulous fouls; thiough them making an open and eafy pajfage into their belief, tor the fwallowing and digefting that bitter potion which lurks in the bottom of their cup ; of thefe, I thought meet to give the Reader a brief view in the entrance, to take off bis mind from empty generals, that he might be the better prepared to weigh all things carefully in an equal balance; when he fhall come to confider thofe particulars afterwards infiifed on, wherein the great pretended llrength of our adverfaries lies. — It re- maineth only, that I give the Chriftian Reader a brief account of my call unto and undertaking in this work ; and fo clofe this prelace. Then, 1. I will offare thee, it is not the Icaft thirjl in my afTeftions, to be drinking of the waters of Menbah, nor the ieaft de/ire to have a (hare in Ifhrnatl's portion, to have my hand agdnnH others, and theirs againft me, that put me upon this lafk. I never like my felt zoof/e than when taced with a vizard of dif- puting in controverfies. The complexion of my foul is mucl; more pleafant unto me in the water ot Skiloah, Nuper me in littore vidi. Cum placidum ventis Jiaret 7tiare. What invitation there can be in itfelf for any one to lodge^ much lefs abide in this quarrel fom.e fcamblmg territory, where, as Tertullian * fays of Pontus, omne quod flat Aquilo eft, no wind blows but what \s Jliarp and keen, I know not. Small pica furs * Ad Mar* r R E F A C K xiu pkafure in thofe walks, which are attended with dangerous praipic.es and unpleafing difficulties on every Tide. Utque viam ttntas^ nulloque trrore traharis ; Per tamzn advcrji gradiendum cornua Tauri, /Emomefqufi Arcus, vioUntique or a Leonis. Cvid. No quiet nor peace in thefe things and ways, but continual brawls aiid dliTeniions. Non hojpcs ab ho/pite tutus^ Non Jocer a genero ; Jrlatrum quo que gratia rara tfl, Tise ilrongeft boi^.ds ot neareft relations are too commonlv broken by them. Were it not for that precept, Jude verfe 3. and the like, oF contending earneftiy for the Jaitk once deliver- ed unto the Jaints^ with the founding of my bowels for the lofs of poor feduced y<7z//j, I could willingly engage myfelf into an unchangeable refoliition, to fly all wordy battles and paper combats, for the refidue of my few and evil days. It is not then (that I may return) any Salamandrian com- plexion, that was the motive to this undertaking. Neither, 2. Was any conceit of my own abilities for this work, as though I were the fittejl among many to undertake it ; I know that as in all things, I am lej's than the leaji of ail faints ^ fo in thefe I r.m Ute tritos, ute tetartos, Ute duodecatos^ ud 'enlogo ud 'en aritkmo. Abler ^" pens have had, within thefe fezu years, the dif- cufling and ventilating of fome of thefe queftions, in our own language ; fome have come to my hands ; but none of weight, beiore I had well nigh finiflied this heap of mine own ; which was lome twelve months fmce and upwards. In fo7ne of thefe, at leaft in ,^7/ of them, I had reffed fully fatis- fied; but that I obferved they had all tied up themfelves to fome certain parts ot the controverfv, efpeciallv the re- moving of objeftions, neither compafjing nor methodizing the whole; whereby I difcerned, that the nature of the things under debate, viz. fatisfadion, reconciliation, redemption, and the like, was left exceedingly in the dark; and the flrong foundation of the whole building, not fo much as once dif covered. Therefore, 3. It was always upon my defires, that fome one would un- dertake the main ; and unfold out of the word from the bot- tom, the whole difpenfation of the love of God to his eleft in * Vindic. Rederapf. h'j my revcend and learned bro'.hcr Mr, John Stalfas::: ; Mr. Rutherf ufd*i Cfarift dying and drawing liu- aeri. xiv PREFACE. in Jefus Chrift, with the conveyance of it through the pro- mifes of the gofpel ; being in all the Jruiis thereof, pur- chafed and procured by the oblation and interceflion ol Jefus Chnll ; by which it could not but be made apparent, what was the great defign ot the bleffed Trinity in this great work of ^redemption ; with how vain an attempt and fruitlefs endeavour, it muft needs be, to extend it beyond the bounds and limits affigned unto it by the principal agents therein. That argu- ^nents alfo might be produced, for the conjirmaiion of the truth we afTert, in oppofition to the error oppofed, and fo the ^eak eflablifhed, and dijfenters convinced, was much in my woijhes. The doftrine ot ihe fatisfaBion of Chrift, his merits and the reconciliation wrought thereby, (underftood aright by few, and of late oppugned by fomej being fo nearly related to the point of redemption^ I defired alfo to have feen cleared, «infoldedf vindicated, by fome able pen. But now after long (waiting, finding none to anftuer my expe£lation, (although of myfelj 1 can truly fay, with him in the Comaedian, Ego me ne- que tarn aftutum ^?, neque ita per/pic acem id fcio, that 1 fhould be fit for fuch an undertaking ; the counfel of the Foet alfa running much in my mind, Sumite materiam vejlris qui fcribitis cnquam Vinbus ; et verfate diu quid ferre recujant^ Quid valeant humeii. Horat.) Yet at the lajl laying afide all fuch thoughts, by looking up to htm who fupplieth J^tf^ to the fower and doth all our works for us, I fuffered myfelf to be overcome unto the work ; with that oi another, ah alio quovis hoc fieri mallem qudm a me, Jed a me tamen potius qudm a nemine ; I had rather it fhould have been done by any than myjelf—hy myfdj oxAy, rather than by none ; efpecially confidering the induilrious diligence. X>i the oppofers of truth, in thcfe days. Scribunt indoSli, dodique ; Utjugulent homines furgunt de noEle latrones, Ut teipfum ferves non expergifcerisf Hor. Add unto the former defire^ a confideration of the fre- quent conferences 1 had been invited unto, about thefe things ; the daily fpreading of the opinions here oppofed, about the farts where I live; and a greater noife concerning their pre- vailing in oihtr places, with the advantage they hid obtained by fome military abettors ; moreover, the flirring up of di- vers eminent and learned friends ; and you have the Ju?n of what I dehre to hold J or th, as the caufe of my undertaking •tliis uik. What the Lord hath enabled me to perform there- in, PREFACE. 3fv in, muft be left to ihe judgment of others ; altogether hopdefs o\ Juccefs I am not ; but fully refolvtd^ that 1 {hall not li-m to fee a folid anfwer given unto it. If any fhail undertake to velhcate and pluck fome of the branches, rent from the root* and pnnapUs of the whole difcourfe, I fhall freely give them leave to enjoy their own wifdom and imaginary conquert : If any (hall Jaioufly undertake to debate the whole caufe^ if I live to fee it effected, I engage myfelt, by the Lord's alTift- ance, to be their humble convert or fair antagomft. In thac which is already accomplifhed, by the go(3d hand of the Lord, I hope the learned may find fomething for their con^ tentment^ and the weak for their flrengthening 2X\^ fatisfaElion ; that in j//, fome glory may redound to him whofe it is, and whofe truth is here unfolded, by the unwonhieft Labourer in his vineyard, J. OWEN. THE asi^ The Death of Death, &c^ BOOK I. CHAP. I. in general of the end of ike death of Chrift^ as it is in thi' Scripture propofid. 1. T) Y the end of the death of Chrift, wp mean In general, JD both firft, that which his Father and himfelf inienrled in it; 'and lecondly, that which was efFe6lually fulfilled and accomplifhed by it. Concerning either, we may take a brie£ ▼iew of the expreflions ufed by the Holy Ghoft, iji. For the firft: Will you know the : of the work it- lelt, or what is accompliihed and fulfilled by the death, blood- Ihedding, or oblation of Jelus Chrift, is no iefs clearly ma- il i Felled ; but is as fully, and very oiien more diiiinBly expreffed. As. 1. Reconciliation with God, by removing and flaying the enmity that was between him and us ; for whe n we were ene- mies, zve zuere reconciled U7ito God by the death of his Son, Rom. V. 10. God was in him reco?iciling the world unto himfelf, not imputing their trefpaffes unto them, 2 Cor. v. 19. yea he hatk reconciled us to hirnfef by Jefus Chrift, verfe 18. And if you would know hdw this reconciliation was eiTe61ed, the Apoftic v»'ill tell vou ; ihat He aboHfhed in Jus ffn, the enmity, the law of commandnienis confjling in ordinances, Jor to make in him^ ftlf of twain one new 7nan, fo making peace ; and that he mi^ht reconcile both unto God, in one body by the ci ofs j having Jlain the enmity thereby, Eph. ii. 15, 16. fo iha: he is our pcace^ veric 14. 2. Jufification; by taking away the guilt ol fins, procuring remilfion and pardon of them, icdeeming us fiom iheir pow- er, with the curfe and wrath iiiXX't unto us for them ; for by his own blood he is entered into the holy place, having obtained eter- 7ml redemption for us, Heb. ix. 12. He redeemed us from the curfe, being made a curfe for us. Gal. iii. 13. His own Jelj bare our fins in his own body en the tree, 1 Pet. ii. 24. We have all finned and come Jhort of the glory of God ; but are ju fifed freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jfus Chrifi : wham God hath ft forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteoufnefs for the remifjion of fins, R.om. iii. 23, 24, 25. for in him we have re- demption through his bloody even the forgivenefs oj fins ^ Col. i. 14. 3. Sandificaticn ; by the purging away ol the uncleannefs and as curnally inUnded. 19 m^ pollution ot our fins, renewing in us ihc image of God, and fupplying us wiih the graces of the fpirit of holincfs; lor the blood of Chnjl, who though the tttrnal [pint offered him- felf without fpot to God, purgeth our con/ciencc from dead works, to ferve the living God, Heb. ix. 14. yea the blood of jfefus Chrilt cleanfeth us from all fin, 1 John i. y.hyhimfiJf he purgeth our fins, Heb. i. 3. That he irdght fanEijy the f topic with his own blood, he fuffercd without the gate, Heb. xiii. 12. hi' gave hirnreif for his church, xo JanBify and clean fe it, that it fiiould be holy and zuithout blemi/Ji, Eph. v. a^, 26, 27. pecuharly amongft the graces of the fpirit, it is given to us Hyper Christou forChrid's fake, to believeon Phil. i. 29. God bleffing us in him, with all fipiritual blefiings in heavenly places, Eph. i. 3* , ,, 4. Adoption; with that evangelical liberty, and ail thofe glorious privileges, which appertain to the fons of God : For God fent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law ; to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Jons, Gal. iv. 4, 5. 5. Neliner do the effects of the death of Chrirt reft here; they leave us not until we are fettled in Heaven, in glory and immortality forever; our inheritance is di purchafd poffeffion, Eph. i. 14. And for this caufe he is the Mediator of the Nezo Tef lament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the tranjgreffions that were under the firfi Ttjlament, they which are called might receive the promife of eternal inheritance, Heb. ix. 15. The fum ot all is, the death and bloodilicdding of Jefus Chrill hath wrought, and doth eiTe6tually procure, for all thofe that are concerned in it, eternal redemption, con- fifting in grace here, and glory hereafter. li. Thus, full, clear, and evident are the expreilions in the Scripture concerning the end and effeBs ot the death ot Chrift; that a man would thin!;, every one might run and read; but we muft ftay. Among all thing«? in chriUian re- ligion, there is fcarce any thing moie queiVioned than this, which feems to be a moll fundamental principle ; a fpreading perfuafion there is, of a general ranfoni p^id by Chrift for all, that healed to redeem all and every om : not only for many, his church, the ekS of God, but for every one alfo of the polierity ot Adam. Now, the mailers of this opinion do fee full well and eafily, that if that be the end ol the death of ChrlH, which we have from the Scripture afleried, if thoie before recounted be the immediate fruits and products therecF, iliat then or:s ol thefc two things will nccefTanly follow ; yepared him horjes and chariots, and fifty men to run be- Jore him, 2 Sam. xv. 1. and iurther, by fair words and gloz- ing compliances, he Jiole the hearts of the men of Ifratl, ver. 6. then pretends a facrifice at Hebron, where he rn^jkcs dflrong conf piracy, ver. 12. all which were the means he ufed lor the attaming of his forepropofed end. II. Between both thefe, ^nafand means, there is this rela- tion ; that (though in fundry kinds) they are mutually caufes one of another. The endisthefirfl principle wofz/?^ caufe of the whole; it is that, for whofe fake the whole work is; no agent applies itfelf to a£fion, but for an end; and were it not by that determined to fome certain efFe6f, thing, way, or manner of working, it would no more do one thing than ano- ther. The inhabitants of the old world, defiring and intend- ing unity and cohabitation, with (perhaps) fome referves to provide for their fafety againfl a fecond fform ; they cry, goto, let us build us a city and a tower, whofe top may reach unto Heaven ; and let us make us a name, left we he fcattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Gen. xi. 4. Firfl they lay down their aim and defign, and then let out the means in their apprehenfion conducing thereunto. And manifefl then it is, that the whole reafon and method of affairs, that a wife work- er, or agent according to counfel, propofeth to himfelf, is taken from the end which he aims at ; that is, in intention and contrivance, the beginning of all that order which is in work- ing. Now, the means are all ihofe things which are ufed for the attaining of the end propofed, (as meat for the preferva^ tion of life ; failing in a fhip, for him that would pafs the fea; laws, for the quiet continuance of human fociety) and they are the procuring caufe of the end, in one kind or ano- ther ; their exiffence is for the end's fake, and the end hatk its rife out of them ; following them either morally as their dcfert, or naturally as their fruit and produft. -ifi. In a moral fenfe, when the a6iion and the end are \o be fueafured or confidered ia reference 10 a rporal rule, or lorn s*2 The, End of ihz Death of Chrift. law prcrcnbeu to the agent, tlien the means are the defervrng or nifritorious cauft; of the end; as ii:' Adam had continued in Ills innocency, and dene ail things according to the law given unto him, the end procured thereby had been a blefled life to e'erniiy ; as now, the end of any finFul aQ: is death, the curfe of the law. 2^/v. When the means are conddered only in their natural relation, then they are the inftrumentaily efficient caufe ol the zn(\. So Joab intending the death ol: Abner, he fmote liim with his fpear under the fifih rib, thar. he died, 2 Sain, iii. 27. And when Benajciii, by the command of Solomon, fell upon Shimei, the wounds he gave him were the efficient caufe of his death, 1 Kings ii. 46. In which regard, there is no dlfFerence between the ipurdering of an innocent man, and the executing an offender ; but as they are under a moral con- fideration, their ends follow their defervings, in refpect of conlcrmity to the rule; and fo there is chasm A mkga be* tween them. HI. The former confideration, by reafon of the defecl and perverfenefs of fome agents, (for otiierwiie thefe things are coincident) holds out a two-foid end oi things, firll:, of the •work, and fecondly, of the workman ; of the aft, and the 3gent. For, i/t. When the means afiigned for the attaining of any end are not proponioned unto it, nor fitted for it, according to that rule which the agent is to work by ; then it cannot be, but that he muft aim at one thing, and another follow, in relpecl: oi the morality of the \\rork. So Ada?7i is inticed into a de- iire to be like God; this now I^.e makes his aim ; which to effeft, he eats the forbidden fruit, -ypA that contratis a guilt which he aimed not at. But, 2dly. When the agent atfs aright, and as it fnould do ; when it aims at an end that is proper to it, belonging to its proper perfe61ion and condition, and workcth by iuch means as are lit and fuitable to the end propolcd ; the end of the v/ork. and the vv'ork-man, are one and the fame. As when Abel imended the worihip of the Lord, he offered a facrifice through faith acceptable unto him ; or as a man deliring fal- vailon through Cv^rift, applicth himfelf 'to get an intereft in him. Now tiie folc reafon of this diverfity is, that fecondary agents, fuch a? men are. have an end fet and appointed to their anions, by him who giveth them an external rule ov law to work by ; which fiiall always attend them in their working as titrr.::illy inicvidcJ.. .z-'_ vvoiking, Nvhciiicr ilicy \;l!i or no. God oi:I), wlicfo wili and good plcafure is the lolc rule of ail iliole v. oiks vvhiLli outwardly arc 6i" him, can never deviate in his stlii^ns, i;or have any end attend or iollow bis afts, net preci'Lly bv Liin intended. IV. Again ; ilie end of cvciy free i-^gcnt, is citlipr \\:z'i which he efFefteth, or that for whofe lake he doih cffctt it. — When a raiin builds a boiife, to lot to hire, t!iat v»-hich l- cf- fefteth is the building of a hcnfo — that which moved h':\:\ '.o do it is love of gain. The phyfician cures tlie patiLrit, and is moved to it by his reward. Tjie end which Judas ain;cd at, in his going to the pricUs, bar^ainin;]; with thtui, conduct- ing the foldiers to the garden, kifling Chnil, was the bcL'a;- ing of his Mailer; but the end for whofe fake the whole un- dertaking was let en toot, was the obtaining the thirty pieces. of liiver ; what will ) on give me and I wil; do it ? The e;ul which God effected by the death of Chi ill, was the iuUaiJJd- on ot his jullice ; the end for whofe lake he did it, was ciil.cr iupreme, his own glory, — or fnbordinatc, ours with hiin. V. Moreover, the ?nea?is are of two ioi ts ; iJL SucU as have a true goodnefs in ihemfelves, with.cut reference to any further end ; though not fo conhdered, rs we ufe them for means : no mean as a mean, is confidcred as good in itfelf J but only as conducible to a further end. It is repugnant to the nature of means, as I'uch, to be confidcr- ed as good in themfelves: flndv is in itfe'f the molt ncbie employment of the ioul ; but aiming at wifdom or Imow- ledge, we conhder it as .qood, only in as much as it conduc- eth to that end; cihcrwiie as a uearinefs to the lidh^ LccL xii. 12. 2.dly. Suchi as have no good at all, in any kind, as in tliern- felvesconfidered; but merely as conducing to that end, which they are fit to aiiain ; they receive all their goodnefs (v.^hich is but relative) from that whcrcunto they are appointed; in themfelves no way defn-able : as the Lutting otf a leg or a-i arm, ior the prefcivation of life; taking a bitter poiiuu, ior beahli's fake ; throwing corn and lading inio the fea, to pre- vent fhip-wieck: of which nature is the death oi Cinifi, as we fliall aicerwavds declaic. VI. Thefe thinns being thus propofed in general ; our next tafk muft be, to accommodate them to thepiefent bu- finefs in hand : which we fhall ao in oider, by laying down the agent working, the means zurcught^ and the end effe^led in the great work cf our redcmnuon ; for thofc three iTiUlt be #4 The End of the Death of Chrifl be orflerlv confidcred and diflinftly, that wc may liave a rl^ht apprehenfion of the whole; into the fiift whereof SYif Thjso we make an entrance. CHAP. III. Of the agent, or chief author of the work of our redemption / and of the firjl thing dijlintlly afcnbed to the perfon of the Father. TKE agent in, and chief author of this great work of our redemption, is the whole blefled Trinity ; for all the works which outwardly aie of the Deiry, are undivided, and belong equally to each perfon ; their didinft manner oV fuh- fiftance and order, being obferved. It is true, there were other fundry inftrumental Cdufes in the oblation, or rather paffion ot Chrlft; but the work cannot in any fenfe l>e af- cribed unto them : for in refpe6l of God the Father, the iffue of their endeavour was exceeding contrary to their own in- tentions ; and in the clofe they did nothing, but what the hand andcounfel of God had before determined fliould be done^ A6ls iv. 28. And in refpe^l of Chrift, ihey were no way able toaccomplifh whaL ihey aimed at; tor he himfelf laid down his life, and none was able to take it from him, John X. 17, 18. fo that they are to be excluded from th's confi- deration. In the feveral perfons ol the holy Trinity, the joint Author of the whole wo-'k, — the Scripture propofetb difl:in6l and fundry afts or operations, peculiarly afTigned unto them ; which, according to our weak manner o\ ap- prehenfion, we are to confider feverally and apart : which alfo we fhall do, beginning with them that arc afcribed to the Father. Two peculiar acts there are, in this work ot our redemp- tion by the blood of Jefus, which may be and are properly afligned to the perfon of the Father : Firft, the fending of his Son into the world for this employment ; Secondly, a laying the punifhment due to our fm upon him. I. The Father loves the world, and fends his Son to die. Be fent his Son inn-' the world, that the world through him might be faved, John iii. 17. He fcnt his Son in the likenefs •f finful flefJi, and for fin condemned fin in thefefli, that the ri^hteou/nefs of the law might he fu filled in its, Rom. viii 3. Jie fent him forth, tfi be a propitiation through faith in his blood, Rora« as eternally intended. gj Rom. Hi. 25. When the fulnefs of time was co?ne, God feni Jortk his Son, made of a woman, made under the law ; to re' deem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Jons, Gal. iv. 4. ^. So more than twenty tiir.es in the Gofpel of John, there is mention of {\\\& fending ; and our Saviour defcribes himfeU by th's periphrafis, him whom the Father hath fint, John x. 36. and the Father, by this, he which hath fent me, John v. 37. So that this a6lion of fending, is appropriate to ihe Father ; according to his pro- mife, that he would fend us a Saviour, a great one, to deli- ver us, Ifa. xix. 20. and to the profeffion of our Saviour ; I have not fpoken in fecret from tht beginning, from the time that It was, there am /, and nozo the Lord God and his Spirit hath fent me, Ifa. xlviii. 16. Hence the Father himfelf is fometimes called oar Saviour, 1 Tim. i. 1. By the command- ment Theou Soieros hemon of God our Saviour : foine copies indeed read it, Theou kai Soteros hemon of God and our Saviour; but the interpofition of that particle kai, arofe doubtlefs from a mifprifion, that Chrifl alone is called Saviour. Butdireftly this is the fame with that parallel place of Tuus, i. 3. KAT 'epitagen tou Soteros hemon Theou according to the commandment of God our Saviour ; where no interpofition of that conjanftive particle can have place : the fame title being alfo in other places afcribed to him ; as Luke i. 47 \ 7ny fpirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. As alfo, 1 Tim. iv. 10; zue trufl in the living God, who is the Saviour of all 7nen, efpecially of them that believe : though in this laft place, it be not afcribed unto hirn, v/ith reference to his redeeming us by Chrift, but his favingand preferving all by his providence. So alfo, Titus ii. 10. and iii. 4. Deut. xxxii. 15. 1 Sam. x. 19. Pfal. xxiv. 5. and xxv. 5. lfy» xii. 2. and ix. 11. and xlv. 1^. Jer. xiv. 8. Mich. vii. 7. moft of which places, have reference to his fending of Chril'i^ which is alfo diftihguifhed into three feveral afts ; which ia order we mull lay down. \jl. An authoritative impofiiion cf the office of Mediator ; which Chiifl clofed withal, by his voluntary fulception of it, willingly undergoing the oftice : wherein, by difpeafation, the Father had and exerciled a kind of fuperiority ; which the Son, though in the form of God, humbled hirrifelf unto, Phil. ii. 6. 7. And of this, there n-ay be conceived two parts, 1. The purpofed impofition of his counfel; or his eternal eounfel for the fctiing apart of his Son, incarnate, to this »fhce : faying unto him, thou art my Son, this day have 1 be^ D ^cttm sG The End of the Death of ChnJ goUen tnte ; Afn of me^ and I will give thee the nations for tkinf inheritance, and the utter mo/i parts of the earth Jor thy poffpjfLon. Prai. ii. 7, 8. He faid unto him, fn thou at my ri^hi hand, u^til I make thine enomes thy Joctjlool ; for the Lord hath /zvorn and will not repent ^ thou art a Pttefl forever after the order of Mdchifedek, Pfal. ex. 1, 4. He appointed him heir of all things, Heb. i. 2. having ordained him to be the judge cf quick and dead, Ath x 42. for unto this he was forr.ordained, hejore the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. ao. and determined, iioristheis, /i? betheSon of God with power, Rom. i. 4, that he mi^ht ht the firfl-born of many hrethrfn, Rom. viii. 29. I know that this is an aft eternally eftablifhed in the mind and will of God ; and fo not to be ranged in order with (he other, which are all temporary, and had their beginning in the fulnefs of time ; of ail which, this firft is the fpring and fountain, — according to that of James, A6ls XV. 18. known iin'o God are all his works front the beginning of the world': but yet, it being no unufual form of fpeaking, that the purpofe fhould alfo be comprehended in that which holds out theaccompUfhmcnt of it ; aiming at truth and not exaftiiefs, we pafs it thus. 2. The 'dEi\x3i\ inauguration, or folemn admifTion of Chrlft unto his ofhce ; co??imitting all judgment unto the Son, John V. 22. making; him to be both Lord and Chrifl^ A6is ii. 36. appointing him ever his whole houfe, Heb. iii. 1,2, 3. which is that anointing cf the mofl holy, Dan. ix. 24. God anoint- ing him with the oil ofgladnefs above his fellows^ Pra\ xlv. 7. For the aftual fetting apart ot Chrift to his office, is faid to be byunftion; becaufe all thofe holy things which were types of him, as the ark, the altar, &c. were let apart and confe- crated by anointing, Exod. xxx. 25, 26, 27. &;c. To this alfo belongs that public t.effification by innumerable angels from licaven, of his nativity ; declared by one of them to the fncphcrds, behold (faith he) ] bring you good tidings of great joy, which fliall he unto all people ; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, zvhich ifChrifl the Lord, Luke ii. lo, 1 1. which meflage was attended by, and clofcd v/ith that triumphant cxultatioii of the hoft of heaven ; Gloiy to God in the Highefl, and en earth peace, goodwill to- zvards men, yct. 14. with that redoubled voice which after- wards came from the excellent glory ; this is my beloved Scn,^ inzohom I om wcllpUafed, Matth.iii. 17. and chap. xvii. 5. 2 Pet. i. ij. If ihefe things ought to be diftinguiihed, and placed in their ow.n order, they may he confidered in thefe . three as eUniilly inttndcd, ty three feveral a£l3. i. The glorious proclamation which he made oi his nativity, whznht prepared kv:i a body^ Heb. x. ^. bringing his firll begotten into the world, and Taying,- Let all did angels of God worfliip him, Heb. i. 6. and fending them to proclaim the meddge which wo before recounted. 2. Sending the fpirit vifibly in the form of a dove, to light upon him, at the time of liis baptifrn, Matth. iii. 16. when he was endued with a fulnefs thereof, for the accompiilh- ment o( the work, and diicharge of the office whercunto he was defjgned ; attended with that voice wlieieby he owned him from heaven as his only beloved. 3. The crowning of him with glory and honour ; in bis r<^lu' reef ion, afcenfion, and fitting down on the right hand of the Nhjfly on high," Heb. i. 3. fetting hiinas his King upon his holy hill of Sio?i, Pfal. ii. 6. when all power was given unto him, in heaven and in earth. Matt, xxviii, 18. ail things bang put under his Jeet, Heb. li. 7, 8. hinifeH highly exaaed, and a name given him above every name, &c. Phil. ii. 9. Ol which it pleaied hiiTi to appoint witnefTes of all foris ; angels Irom heaven, Luke xxiv. 4. Acfsi. 10. the dead out of the graves, Matr. xxvii. ^2. the Apolfles among and unto the living, A61s ii. 32. with thofe more than five hundred brethten, to whom iie appeared at once, 1 Cor xv. 6. Thus gloriouily was he inau- gurated into his ofHce, in the feveral acts and degrees ihereoi ; God faying unto him, It is a light tiling ihat thou JJicuUljl hi my fervant, to raife up the tribes of Jacob, and 10 refiore the. preferved of Ifrael ; I will alfo give thee for a light to the Gtn- tiles, that thou mayfi be rnyfahation unto the end of the earth, Ifa. xlix. 6. * ' Between thefe two a61s, I confefs, there interceeds a two- fold promife ot God : one, of giving a Saviour to his people, a Mediator, according to his former purpole ; as Gen. iii. 1 j. That the feed of the woman fhall bruife the jer pent' s head ; and ihefceptrefliall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and ur,to hviifhall the ga- thering of the people be, Gen. xlix. 10. Which he alfo fore- fignified by many lacrifices, and other types, with propheti- cal prediftions : for of this falvation the prophets have inquired and fear ched diligently, who prophefied of the grace that fJiould come unto you ; fearching what or what manner of time the f'pirit of Chrifi which was in them didfignify, when it teflified before hand the fuffe rings of Chrifi and the glory that fliould follow : unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themfelves, but unto us they did minifhr the things which arc ?13W reported unt0 ^§ The End of the Death of Chrifl unto you by them that have preached the go [pel unto you, with the Holy Qhoji fent down from hzopuen : which things the angtls dc' fire to look into, i Pet. i. lo, ii, 12. The other is, a pro- mife of applying the benefits purchafed by this Saviour, fo defigned, to them that fhould believe on him, to be given in the fulnefs of time, according to the former promifes ; tel- ling Abraham, that in his feed the nations oj the earth fhould be hlffcd. Gen xxii. 18. and juftifying himfelf by the fame faiih, Gen. xv. 6. But thefe things belong rather to the ap- plication wholly ; which was equal both before and alter his a6uia] mifTion. 2^^y The fecond a6i of the Father's fending the Son, is the fiirnifliing of him in his fending, with a fulnefs of all gifts and graces, that might any way be requifite for the office he was to undertake, the work he was to undergo, and the charge he had over the houle ol God. There w^as indeed in Chrift, a two-told fulnefs and perfe£tion of all Ipiritual excellencies : 1. The natural all-fufficlent perfeftion of his deity, as on© with i is Father in refpeft of his divine nature : for his ^o\y vidi^ the priory of the only begotten of the Father, John i. 14. Be was in the form of God, and counted it no robbery to be equal 'With God, Phil, ii, 6 bang the fellow of the Lord of Hojls^ Zech. xiii. 7. whence that glorious appearance, Ifa. 6- 3. when the cherubims cri'd one unto another, and faid^ Holy, holy, holy, the Lord of Flojls, the whole earth is full of his glo^ ry ; and the pojls of the doors moved at the voice of him that cried, and the houfc was filled with fnoke ; and the prophet cried, mine eyes have feen the King the Lor d of hofis, ver. 4. ]Even concerning this vifion, the Apoftle laith, Ifaiah faw his glory and f pake of him, John xii. 41, Of which glo* ly, EKE NOSE, he as it were emptied himfelf for a feafon, when He was found in the form, or condition, of a fervani^ lumbling himfelf unto death, Phil. ii. 7, 8. laying a'fide that glory which attended his deity ; outwardly appearing to have ncMhtx forMincr beauty, nor comelinefs, that he fhould be de- fired, Ifa. liii. 2. But this fulnefs we do not treat of; it be- •ing not communicated to him, but effentially belonging tohis perfon, which is eternally begotten of the perfon oi his Fa- ther. 2. The fecond fulnefs that was In Chrift, was a communi- lated iulnefs ; which was in him by difpenfation from his father, beftovvred upon him to fit him lor his work and office, ss he was and is the Mediator between God and men, the man Chri^ as eternally intended, 29 thrift Jcfus, 1 Tim. ii. 5. not as he is the Lord of hod?, but as he IS Immamiel God roifk us ; as he was a Son given to us, tailed Wonderful, Counlfilor, the mighty God. the everlafting father, the Piince of Peace, upon whofe fhoulders the go- vernment was to be, Ha. ix. 6. It is a fuhiefs of grace ; not that eflential, which is of the nature of the deity, but that \vhich IS habitual and iniufed into the humanity, as perfonal- ly united to the oiher; which though it be not abfoluteiy in- finite, as the other is, yet ii extends itfelf to ail perfettions of grace, both in relpetl o\ parts and degrees. There is no grace that is not in Chrift, and every grace is in him in die higheft degree; fo that v/hatfoever the perfection of grace, either for the feveral kinds, or refpeftive a:-fd, to hide him in the fnadow of his hand, to make him a ^jljfted Jhajt, ai:d if hide him in. his quiver^ io make him his fcrvani as eternally inUnded, 31 fnvanl in whom he would he glorified, Ifa. xIik. g, 3. Thnt ihoMgh the kings oj the eaith Jliculd jet iherrjtlvcs, and the rulers take counfel together againjl lam ; yet he. zvould Icvgh them to Jcorn^ and fet him as king upon his hcly hill cf Zicr.. Pfal. ii. 2, 4, 5. Though the builders did rejctl him, yet he fhould become the head cf the corner ; to the amazcmcrd arJ ' Cijlcnifhment oJ all the world, Pfal. cxviii. 22, 23. (Matth, xxi, 42. Mark xii. 10, u. Lake xx. ij. A£ls iv. 11, 12. 1 Pet. ii. 7.) yedijLewouldlayhi?!! for a fcundation, a Jlone, atri'/i Jlone, a precious corner jl one, a fare foundation, Ifa. ::xvili. 16. that whofoever fnuuld fall upon hnn, fiiould be brcherr., bt:i upon whomfoever he flwuld fall, he Jliould grind them tc pcui' der, Luke xx. 18. Hence aroie that confidence of our Sa- viour, in his grcateft and utmoft trials; h'i\ng afTurcd, by yir- fue of his Father's cnFagfiTiCnt in this covenant upon a tirity with him about «he redemption of tnan, that he would never leave him nor torlake him: I gave (faith he) my back to hhe Jmiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, I Ind not my face from JJiame and f pitting, Ifa. 1. 6. But with what confidence (blefTed Saviour) didft thou undergo all this fhamc and foirow ? why, The Lord God will help me, there- fore Jliall I not be confounded ; therefore have J fd my face like a flint, and I knozv that I fhall not be cfiamcd; he is near thai jufifieth me, who will contend with me ? let us fland to- gether ; who is mine adverfary ? let him ccme near to me ; be- hold! the Lord God zvill help me, xoho is he that fiall condemn me? lol they all f mil wax old as a garment, the moth fall confume them, verfes 7, 8, 9. With this afTiirance, he war brought as a lamb to the flaughicr ; and as a feep before her fiearers is dumb, fo he opened net his mouth, Ifa. liii. 7. for when he was reviled, he reviled not again ; when he fiffered, he threatened not, but committed himfelj to him that judgcth righteoufy, 1 Pet. ii. 23. So that the ground of our Sa- viour's confidence and afTurance in this great undertaking, and 3 flrong motive to excrcife his graces received, in the ut- moft endurings,- was this engagement of his Father, vmn this compaft of aflTifiance and protcilion. 2. His promlfe of fuccefs, or a good iffue out of all 1 is fufFerings, and a happy accompiifhment and attainment of the end of his great undertaking. Now of all the refl this chiefly IS to be confidercd, as direftly conducing to the bufir.efs pro- pofed ; which yet v.'ould not have been fo clear, without the former confideraiions ; for whatfocver it was that God pro- niifcd his Sen H^ould be iMifiile:! dvA attained by him, that cer- tain! v 32 'I^he End of the Death of Chifi talnly was it at which the Son aimed in the whole undertaking and defigned it as the end of the work that was committed id him; and which alone he could and did claim, upon the ac- compliflimeni of his Father's will. What this was, and the piomiles whereby it is at lar^e fet forth, ye have, Ifa. xlix. Thou Jlialt be my fcrvant ffaith the Lord) to raife up the tubes of Jacob, and to refiore the prefervedof Ifrael: I zuillalfo gwt thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayfi be my falvation unto the end of the earth: Kings fliall fee and artfe, princes alfo fhall zvorfhlp ; becaufe of the Lord that is faithful. And lie will certainly accomplifli this engagement : ' 1 will preferve * ihee and give thee lor a covenant of the people, to eftablifh * the earth, to caufe to inherit the defolate heritages; that * tiwu mayft ^Ay to the prifoners, go forth, to thenii that are * ill darknefs, fhew yourfelves ; they {hall feed in the ways, * fmd their paftures fliall be in all high places; thev fhall not * liunger nor thirft, neither fliall the heat nor Sun fmite them ; * ^'or he that liadi mercy on them, fhall lead them, even by * the fprings of water fliall he guide them; and I will make * all my mountains a way, and my highways fliall be exalted ; * behold thefe fliall come from far, and lo thefe from the * north, and from the weft, and thefe from the land of Sinim,* verfts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. By all which exprefiions, the Lord evidently and clearly engageth himfelf to his Son, that he fliould gather to himfelf a glorious church of be- lievers from among Jews and Gentiles, through all the world ; that fliould be brought unto him, and certainly fed in full pafl:ure, and refrefiicd by the fprings oi water, all the fpi- ritual fprings of living water, which flow from God in Chrifl for their everlafling lalvation. This then our Saviour cer- tainly aimed at, as being the promife upon which he un- dertook the work ; the gathering of the fons of God toge- ther, their brinaing unto God, and pafling to eternal fal- vation. Which being well confidered, it will utterly over- throw the general ranfom, or univerfal redemption, as after- ward will appear. In the fifty-third chapter of the fame prophecy, the Lord is more exprefs and punftual in thefe promifes to his Son ; aflaring him, that v.'hen he ' made * his foul an offering for fin, he fliould fee his ft'ed, and * prolong his days, and the pleafure of the Lord fhould * profper in his hand; that he fliould fee of the travail of his * foul and be farisfied ; by his knowledge he fliould juftify * many ; that he fliould divide a portion with the great, and * the fpoil with the llrong,* verjes 10, 11, 12, He was to fee as eternally intended, §g bis feed by covenant, and to ralfe up a fpiritual feed untd God ; a faithful people, to be prolonged and preferved throughout all generations : which how well it conliifs with their perfuafion, who in terms have affirmed, that the death of Chrift might have had its full and utmolt efFeci, and yet rione be faved, I cannot fee ; though forae have boldly af- firmed it, and all the afTertors ot univerfa! redemption do tacitly grant, when they come to the affigning of the proper ends and efFefts of the death of Chrift. The pleafure a!fo> of the Lord was to profper in his hand ; which what it was he declares, Heb. ii. lO. * even the bringing of many fons un- * to glory : for God fent his only begotten Son into thd * world, that we might live through him,' i John iv. 9. as we {hall afterward more abundant'y declare, , But the promiies of God made unto him in their agreement, and fo confe= quently his own aim and intention, may be ictn in nothing more manifeftly, than in the requeft that our Saviour niakes upon the accomplifhinent of the work about which hei Was fent ; which certainly was neither for more nor lefs, than God had engaged himfelf to him for. * I have (faith he) glorified * thee on earth, I have finiftied the work which thou gavef?: ' me to do,' John xvii. 4. And now what doth he require,; after the manifeftation of his eternal glory, of which ior a feafon he had emptied himfelf, ver. 5 ? clearly, a full con- fluence of the love of God, and fruits of that love, upon alll his eleft ; in faith, fanftification and glory, God gave them unto him, and he fanftified himfelf to be a facrifice tor their fake, praying for their fanftification, v. 17, 19, their prefer^ vation in peace, or communion one with another, and uriioni with God, ver. 20, 21. * I pray not for thefe alone, (that is his apoftles) but for them alfo which fhall believe on me * through their word ; that they all may be one, as thoU Fa^ * ther art in me, and 1 in thee, that they alfo may be oiie in * us:' and laftly their glory, v» 24. * Father> I will that they * alfo whom thou haft given me, be \vith me where I anil, thaf * they may behold my g'ory which thou haft given me,' A\i which feveral demands are no doubt grounded upon the fore- cited promiies, which by his Father were riiade unto hirri i and in this, not one word concerning all and every one^ but exprefsly the contrary, John xvii. q. Let this then be diligently obferved ; that the promife oi God unto his Son,; and the requeft of the Son unto his Father, are dire6fed to !his peculiar end of bringing (ons unto God. And this is the firft aft, confifting of thefe three particulars. E IL the 34 The End of the Death of Chrljl II. The fccond is, o\ laying upon him the punifnment of fins, every where afcribcd unto the Father: * Awake O * (word againfJ my fliepherd, againfl the man that is my lei- * low (faith the Lord oi hofls,) fmite the fhepherd, ai'.d the * flieep ihall be fcatleied,' Zich. xiii. 7. What h?ie is fet down imperailvely by way of command, is in ilie go{ptl in- dicatively expounded ; * I will fmi'.e (he (liepherd, and the * flicep ofthe flock fliall befcattered abroad,' Maft. xxvi. 31. * He was ftricken, fmitten of God, and affl 6led, yea the * Lord laid on lilm the iniquity ot us all; yea it pleafed the * Lord to biuife him, he haih put liim to grief/ Ifa. liii. ^, 6, 10. * He made him to be fin \ot us, who knew no hn, that * we might be made the righteoulnefs oi God in him,' 2 Cor, V. 21. The adjunft in boih places is put for the fubjeft ; as the oppofition between his being made fin, and our being niaderightcoufnefs declareih: him who knew no fin, that is, who deferved no puniihment : him hath he made to be fin, or laid the punifliment due to fin upon him : or perhaps in the latter place, yF« may be taken for an offering or facrifice for the expiation of fin ; K am art I A anfwering in this place to the word CHATAH in the OldTeftament, which fignificr'.h both fin and the facrifice for it. And this the Lord did ; for as for Herodi Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Ifrael, when they were gathered together, they did nothmg but * what his hand and council determined before to * be done,' ABs iv. 27, 28. Whence, the great fhakings of our Saviour weie in his clofe conflift with his Father's wrath, and that burthen which by himfelf he imroediately impofed on him ; when there was no hand or infirument outv.'ardly appearing to put him to any fuiFering or cruciating torment. Then * began he to be forrowful even unto death,' Matt, xxvi. 37, 38. to wit, when he was in the garden with his three choice Apoflles, before the traitor or any of his accom- plices appeared ; * then was he fore amazed and very heavy,' Mark xiv. 33. That was the time, ' in the days of his flefli,' zohen * he offered up prayers and fupplications, with ilrong ' crying and tears, unto him that was able to fave him from * death,' Heb* v. 7. which how he performed, the Apoflle defcribeth, Luke xxii. 43, 44, ' there appeared an angel * unto him, from heaven, ilrengthening him ; and being in * an agony, he prayed more earneuly, and his fweat was as it * v^ere great drops of blood falling down to the ground.' Surely it was a c)ofc and firong trial, and that immediately from his Father, he now underwent; for how meekly and chearfully as eternally intendtd. 35 diearfully dotfi he fubmit, without any regret or trouble of Ipirif, to all the cruehv of men, and violence offered to his body; uruil this confiit't being renewed again, he cries, * My God, my God, why haft thou forfaken me ?' And this, by the way, will be worth our obfervation, that we may know with whom our Saviour chiefly had to do, and v/hat was that which he underwent for (inners; which alfo will give Tome light to the grand Qiicry, concerning the perfons ot them tor whom he undertook all this. His iuiferings were far from con- {iftiniT in mere corporal perpeilions and affliflions; wiih fu ch impreilions upon his foul and fpirit, as were the effefts and ilTues (jnlv of them; it was no more, nor lefs, than the curfe of the law of God, which he underwent tor us; * for he hath * redeemed us 'rom the curfe, being made a curfe,' Gal iii. 13. which contained all the punifhment that was due to fm, euner in the feverity of God's juftice, or according to the ex- igence of that law which required obedience. That the exe- cration of the law IhouM be only temporal death, as the law was coiifidered to be the inftrument of the Jewilh polity, and fervmg that (Economy or difpenfation, is true; but that it fhould be wo more, as it is the univerfal rule ot obedience, and the bond of the covenant between God and rr.an, is a foolilh dream. Nay, but in dying for us, Chriil did not on- ly aim at our good, but alfo direcily died in our Head, the punilhaient due to our fm, and the chaftifement of our peace, v/as upon him ; which that it was the pains of hell in their nature and being, in their weight and preiTure, though not in tendency and continuance, (it being impoffible that he fhould be detained by death) who can deny, and not be injurious to thejudlce of God, which will inevitably infli8; thofe pains to eternity upon Tinners? It is true indeed, there is a relaxa- tion of the law, in relpeft of the perfons fufFcring, God ad- mitting of commutation ; as in the old law, when in their fdcrifices the life of the beaft was accepted (in xt^^^^ to the carnal part of the ordinances) tor the life or the man ; this is fully revealed, and we believe it ; but for any change ot the puniihment, in relpe£l of the nature ofit, where is the leaft in- timation of any alteration ? We conclude then tiiis fecond a£t of God, in laying the punifhment on him for us, with that of the prophet : ' All we like iheep have gone affray, we ' have turned every one to his own wav, and the Lord hath * laid on him the iniquity of us all,' Ifa. liii. 6. And add thereunto this obfervation ; that it feems ilrange to me, that Chriil fhould undergo the pains 01 hell in their ftead, who lay ^6 The End of the Death of Chrifi, lay in the pains of hell before he underwent thofc pains, and fliall continue in them to eternity ; tor * their worm dieth ^ not, neither is their fire quenched.* To which 1 may add this dilemma to our Univerfalifls : God impofed his wrath due pnto, and Chrift underwent the pains of hell for, either all the fms ot all men, or all the fins of fome men, or fome fins of all men.^ If the Jaft, fome fins of all men, then have all liien fome fins to anfwer for, and fo fhall no man be faved ; for ir God * (hould enter into judgment* with us, though it were with all mankind for one fin, * no man living fliould be " juftified in his fight,' PfaL cxliii. 2. * If the Lord fhould 'mark iniquities, who fhall ftand?' PJal. cxxx. 3. Wc might all go to cafl all that we have, * to the moles and to * the tsars ; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the * tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the ^ glory of his Majefly,' Ifa. ii. 20, 21. If the fecoiid, that is It which we affirm; that Chrifi, in their Head and room, fuffered for all the fins of all the ele£l in the world. If the fir ft, why then are not all freed from the punifhment of all their fins? You will fay, becaufe of their unbelief, they will not believe ; but this unbelief, is it a fin or not ? If not, why fhould they be punifhed for it ? If it be, then Chrifi under- v/ent the punifhment due to it, or not ; if fo, then why mufl that hinder them, more than their other fins for which he died, from partaking of the fruit of his death ? If he did not, then did he not die for all their fins. Let them choofe which part they willo C H A P. IV. Of thefe things which, in the work of redemption, are peculiarly ■ afcrihed to the perfon oj the Son. THE Son was an agent in this great work ; concurring by a voluntary fulception, or willing undertaking of the office impofed on him ; for when the Lord faid, * facrifice * and offerings he would not, in burnt offerings and facrifice * for fin he had no pleafure;' then faid Chrifi, ' Lo I come, ' (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy * will, O God,' Heb. x. 5, 6, 7. All other ways being re- jeftcd as infufficient, Chrifi undertaketh the tafk; * in whom' alone * the Father was well pleafed,' Matth. iii. 17. Hence he profeffeth, that * he came not to do his own will, but the ^ will of him that feat him,' John yi. 38. yea that it was •his • as eternally intended, 1 ' ^j * his meat and drink, to do his Father's will, and to finifii hig * work,' John iv. 34. The firfl words that we finij recorded of him in Scripture, are to the fame purpofe : ' Wift you * not, that I mull be about my Father's bufinefs,' Lu.ic u, 49. And at the clofe ot" all, he faith, ' I have glorified thee on -'■ earth, I have finiftied the work which thou gavell me to do' John xvii. 4. calling it every where his Father's work that he did, or his Father's will which he came to accomplifh ; with reference to the impofition, which we before treated of. Now this undertaking ot the Son may be referred to three heads. The firft being a common foundation for both the other, being as it were the means in refpeft of them as the end ; and yet in fome fort partaking of the naiure of a diftinft aftion, with a goodnefs in itfelf, in reference to the main end propofed to all three ; we fliall confider it apart. And that is, I. His incarnation, as ufually it is called; or his * taking * of flefh, and pitching his tent amongrt us,' John i. 14.— His being made of a woman, [GaL iv. 4.) is ufually called his Ensarcosis or incarnation; for this was the mv- fiery of godlinefs, that God ' fhould be manifefl in the flefli,' 1 Tim. iii. 16. thereby affuming, not any fingular perfon, but our human nature, into perfonal union with himfelf ; for, ' for as much as the children are partakers of flefh and blood, ' he alfo himfelf likewife took part of the fame; that through ' death he might deftroy him that had the power of death, " that is, the devil,' Heb. ii. 14. It was the children that he sonfidered, the * children whom the Lord had given him,* verje 13. Their participation in flefh and blood moved hitu to partake of the fame ; not becaufe all the world, all the pofterity of Adam; but becaufe the children were in that con- dition, for their fakes he fan6lified himfelf. Now this empiy- ing of the Deity, this humbling of himfelf, this dwelling a- mongft us, was the fole a6l of the fecond perfon, or the di- vine nature in the fecond perfon; the Father and the Spirit having no concurrence in it, but by liking, approbation, and eternal counfel. II. His oblation, or offering himlelf up to God for us ' without fpot, to purge our confcience from dead works,' Heb. ix. 14, Jor * he loved us, and wafhed us from our fins * in his own blood,' Rev. i. 5. * he loved the church, and * gave himfelf for it. that he might fan6lify and clean fe it,' f!.ph. v. 25, 26. taking the cup of wrath at his Father's hands due to us, and drinking it off, * but not for himfelf,' Dan. ix. 26. for, ' for our fakes he fanftified himfelf,' John xvii. 3^ The End of the Death of Chrijl xvii. 1?). that is, to be an offering, an oblation for fin; for ' when we were yet without flrensith, in due time Chrift died * ior the ungodly,' Rom. v. 6. This being that which was typified by ail the infbitutions, ordinances and Sacrifices of old; which when they were to have an end, then faid Chrift, * Lo I ccnie to do thy will.' Now, though the perfefting or ccufuinmating of thi:j oblation, be fet out in the Scripture chiefly, in refpeft of what Chrift fuffered, and not fo much in relpe£l; oi what he did; becaufe it is chiefly confidered as the means uled by thefe three blefled agents, for the attaining ot a further end ; yet in refpeft oi his own voluntary giving up himfelf, to be fo an oblation and a facrifice, without which it would not have been of any value, (for if the will of Chriilhad not been in it, it could never have purged our iinsj therefore in that regard, I refer it to his aftions. He was the ' Lamb of God, which taketh away the fin of the * wor'd,' John i. 29. the lamb of God, which himfelf had provided for a facrifice ; and how did this lamb behave him- felf in it ? With unwillingnefs and ftruggling ? No ; * he * opened not his mouth, he was brought as a lamb to the * flaughier, and as a fheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo he ' opened not his mouth,' ^^. liii. 7. whence he faith, * I lay * down my life, no man taketh it ivom me, but I lay ii down * of myfelf ; I have power to lay it down, and I have power * to take it again,' Jfohn x. 17, 18. He might have been cruciaied on the part of God; but his death could not have been blu oblation and offering, had not his will concurred ; but * he loved me' (faith the apoftle) * and gave himfeif for * me,' Gal.ii, 20. Nov/. 2a, And w^hat doth he there appear for ? why, to be our advo- cate, to plead our caufe v.-ith God, for the application of the good things procured by his oblation, unto all thein for whom he was an offering ; as the apofllc tells us, ' if an)' man fin, we have an advocate with the Father, even Jcfus ChriO', the righteous,' 1 fohnu. 1. why? how comes that to pafs ? he is a * propitiation for our fins,' v. 2. his being iiilasmos a propitiatory facrifice for our fins, is the foundation of his interceding, the ground of it : and therefore they both belong to tlie fame perfons. Now (by the way) we know, that Chriff refufed to pray for the world, in oppofition to his e- / lecl : • I pray for them (faith he) ; I pray not for the world, | * but for them which thou haft given me,' John xvii. 9. And I therefore * 40 The End of the Death of Chrifl therefore there was no foundation for fuch an interceding fof them, becaufe he was not hilAsmos for them. Again, we know the Father always hea?eth the Son ; for 'I know, ' (faith he,) that thou heareft me always,' John xi. 42. that is, fo as to grant his requeft, according to the forementioned engagement, Pfal. ii. 8 And therefore, if he fhould inter- cede for all, all fhould undoubtedly be faved ; ' for he is able * to fave them to the uttermoft that come unto God by him* * feeing he ever liveth to make intercefhon for them,' Heb. vii. 25. Hence is that confidence of the apoftle, upon that interceffion of Chrift ; * Who fhall lay any thing to the charge * of God's ele6l ? it is God that juflifieth ; who is he that * condemneth ? it is Chrifl that died, yea rather that is rifen, * again, who is even at the right hand of God, who alfo mak- * eth interceflion for us,' Rom, viii. 33, 34. Where alfo we cannot but obferve, that thofe for whom he died may af- furedly conclude he maketh interceffion for them, and that none fhall lay any thing to their charge : which breaks the neck of the general ranlom ; for, according 10 that, he died for millions that have no intereft in his intercefTion, who fhall have their fins laid to their charge, and perifli under them. Which might be further cleared up, from the very nature of this interceffion ; which is not an humble deje6led fupplication, which befeems not that glorious flate of ad- vancement which he is pofTefTed of, that fits at the right hand of the Majefly on high; but an authoritative prefenting him- felf before the throne of his Father, fprinkled with his own blood, for the making out to his people all fpiritual things that are procured by his oblation; faying, * Father, I will that * thofe whom thou haft given mc, be with me where I am,* John xvii. 24. fo that for whomfoever he fuffered, he appears for them in Heaven with his fatisfaftion and merit. Here alfo, we mufl call to mind what the Father promifed his Son, upon his undertaking of this employment ; for there is no doubt, but that for that, and that alone, doth Chrifl, upon the accomplifhment of the whole, intercede with him about; which was in fum, that he might be the captain of falvation to all that believe on him, and efFeftually bring many fons to glory. And hence it is, having fuch * an high priefl over the « houfeof God, we may draw near with the full affiirance of « faith ; for by one offering he hath perfefted for ever them * that are fanaified,' Eeh. x. 14, 21, 22. But of this more mufi be faid afterwards. CHAP. as eternally intended, .j CHAP. V. irke peculiar aCiions of the holy Spirit in this hu/mc/s. T N few words we may confider the aftions of that ap-eri^ JL who in order is the third in that blefTcd One, whofe til 'la thewhoJe the ^,(y5/.,W/ ; who is evidently Concurring ,c his owndiftincl operation, to all the feveraUhief or ^Tand parts q[ this wotk. We may refer them to three heads'^ I. The incarnation of the Son, with his plenary ainiUnce in the coarfe of "his converfation whilft he dwelt amonaU us • for his mother was found en gastri echousa, to *Miave con-* " ceived in her womb of the holy Ghofl," Matt i 18 U yoii afk with Mary, how that could be'? the an^el refolved both her and us. as far as it is lawful for us to be Acquainted with thefemyflerious things, Luke x. 35. - The Holy Giioft inall come upon thee, and the power of the Higheft Ihall ' overaiadow thee; therefore alfo that holy thing which Ihall be born of thee, fhall be called the Son of God/' It w^^ an overfliadowing power in the fpiric; fo called bv an allafio'^'i taken from fow.s that cover their eggs, that fo bv their warmth the young may be hatched: for. by the fole power of tl-e Spi- rit was tais conception : who did mcubarejcetiiu as m the be- ginnmg of the world. Now, in procefs as this child was conceived by the power ol, fo he ys2.s JiiUd zvith the fpin^ and waxed flronger in it; until having received a fulreis thereof, and not by any limited meafare in the gifts and graces ot 11, he was throughly furniflied and fitted for his meat u-i- dertaking. ° II. In his cllation or pafTicn, (for they are both tlie far^ie. with fevera refpeas. one to what he fufTered, the other tci what he Old Hich, by, and under thofe fulTerin'Js;) "th'-oudi "the eternal Spirit, he offered himfelf without%otto God '* H^b, IX. 14. Whether it be meant, of the ofFerinT himfelf a bloody fucnfice on the crofs, or his piefentaiicn ol" himfcl'^ continually before his Father ; it is through the eternal Spi^ Fit. The Willing oiTr:ng himfelf through that Spirit, waa th. eternal fiij ur.der this racrifice. v.hich made it acceptable un o Gog. Tnat which fome contend, that by the eternci Sp.nt IS here iniant G,:r Saviour's own Deity, I fee no cneau ground tor. Some Greek and Latin copies read, not a. we- commonly, PNEUMAios Ai6iMou,bat pxhl^matos HAGIGU and fo thedxibt is quite removed, and I fcenorea. 1o.> v.'hy lie may notas v. ell be faiu to '"' offer himre:/, through F " the 42 The End of the Death of Chrifi " the holy Spirit ;" as to be ** declared to be the Son of God, ac- ** cordirii^ to the Spirit oi holinciS, by the refurre£lion from the dead," as Rom. i. 4, as alfo to be " quickened by the Spirit,'^ 1 Pet. iii. 18. The working of the Spirit was required, as well in his oblaticn as refurreftion, in his dying as quickening, III. In his reJurreBion ; of which the apoftle fpeaks, Rom, viii, 11. " Butif the fpirit oi him that raifed up Jefus from •* the dead dwell in you, he that raifed up Chrift from the «' dead fhall alfo quicken your mortal bodies, by his fpirit " that dweileth in you." And thus have we difcovered the bleffed agents and undertakers in this work; their feveral ac- tions, and orderly concurrence unto the whole : which tho* they may be thus diftinguiflied, yet they are not fo divided, but that every one mufl be afcribed to the whole divine na- ture, whereof each perfon is in Jolidum partaker. And as they begin it, fo they will jointly carry along the application of it, unto its ultimate iffue and accompliihmcnt : for we muft " give thanks unto the Father, who hath made us *' meet (that is, by his fpirit) 10 be partakers of the inherit- " ance of the faints in light ; who had delivered us from the *' power of darknefs, and hath tranflated us into the kingdom " of his dear Son ; in whom we have redemption through *' his blood, even the forgivenefs offms." CoL i. 12. 13, 14. ,j, ^ ^ .|. -J. .^ 4» 4» ^ .j» 4» 4, .J. ^ ^ .J. .1. ot offer for them, or not intercede for the fiiccefs of his ob'aiKni on their behalf, he is wanting in the diicharge oihis office by him undertaken. Bova thefe we find conjoined (as before) in Jefus Cliiill, 1 John ii. 1. 2. " If any man fm, v/c have " an advocate with liie Father, Jefus Clirift the righteous, and ** he is the propitiation for our fins :" He muft be ;':n advo- cate to intercede, as well as offer a propitiatory facrifice ; if he will be fuch a l^.erciful/^^^/^ priejl over the houfc of God, as that the children fhould be encouraged to go to God 07 him. This the apolfle exceedingly clears and evidently proves, in the epillle to the Hebrews j defcribing the prief't- hoodof Chriftin the execution thereof, to confiltin ihefc two a6ls, of offering up hirafelf in and by the ffiedding of his blood, and interceding for us to the utmoft : upon the rer- formance of both which, he prefl'eth an exhortation to draw- near with confidence to the throne of grace ; for, " he is " come an high-priefl: of good things to come, neither by " the blood ot goats and calves, but by his own blood he en- *' tered in once into the holy place, having obtained for us *' eternal redemption," cha^. ix. 11, 12. His bloody ob- lation gave him entrance into the holy place not made with hands, there to accomplifh the remaining part of his office ; the apoffle comparing his entrance into heaven for us, with the entrance of the high prieff into the holy place, with the blood of bulls and goats upon him, verfc 12, 13. (which doubt. lefs was to pray for them in whofebehalfhe had offered, t/6^r/? 1.) fo prefenting himfelf before his Father, that his former oblati- on might have its efficacy. And hence it is faid to have APARABATON HI EROS YN EN an unchangeable priefthood, becaufehecontinuethever, Hd. vii. 24. i^o being " able to " fave them to the tittermoff, that come unto God by him," verft 25. wherefore we have *•' boldnefs to enter into the *• holieft, by the blood of Jefus," chap. x. 19. So then it is evident, that both thefs are aBs of the fame prieffly office in Chrift ; and if he perform either of them for any, he muff of neceffity perform the other for them alfo ; for he will not ex- crcife any after duty of his prieftly funftion, in their behalf for whom he is not a prieff; and for whom he is a prieff, he muft-perrorm both, feeing he is faithful in thedifchaVge o\. his funaion to the utmoft, in the behalf of the finners for whom he undertakes. Thefe two tiien, oblation uuiinUrceJfiGn, muft m refpeQ of their ohjeas be cf equal extent, and can by no means be 48 The End of the Death of ChrifK be feparatcd. And here by the way, (the thing being by this ar- gument in my appichenfion made fj clear) I cannot but demand ot thofe who oppufe us about the death ot Chrift, whether they will fullain thjt he intercedeth for a!!, ornot? If not, then they make him but half a prieft : it they wiil, they muil be ne- ceffitated either to defend this error, that all (hall be faved; or ov/n thisblafphemy, that Chrift is not heard of his Father, nor can prevail in his interceffion; which yet the faints on earth are fure to do, when they make their fupplicaiions according to the will of God, Rom. viii. 27. 1 John v. 14. Befidcs that of our Saviour it is exprefsly faid, that the Father " al- ways heareth him," John xi. 42, And if that were true, v;hen he was yet in the way^ in the days of his flefh, and had not finiflied the great work he was fent about ; how much more (htnnow^ when, having done the will and finiihed the work of God, he is fet down on the right-hand of Majefty on high, defning and requefting the accornplifning of the promifes that were made unto him upon his undertaking this work; of v/hich before. III. The nature of the intercefTion cf Chrift, v/ili alfo prove no lefs than what we alTert ; requiring an unfeparable conjun6lion betv/een it and his oblation ; for as it is now per- fe6ied in He.5ven, it is not an humble dejetiion of himfelf, with cries, tears and fupplications; nay it cannot he conceived to be vocal^ by the way of intreaty ; but merely reai^ by the prefentation of himfelf fprinkled with the blood of the cove- nant before the throne of grace in our behalf. *' For Chrift ** (faith the apoftle) is not entered into the holy places made *• with hands, but into heaven itfelf, now to appear in the prefence of God for us, thb. ix. 24. His intercelLon there, is an a/;j& ix. 12. VL Lailly, a feparating and dividing of the death and in- tercefTion of Chrift, in refpeft ot the objeBs of them, cuts off all that confolation which cny foul might hope to attain, by an aifurance that Chrift died tor him. That the doarine of the general ranfom is an uncomfortable doBrine, cutting all the nerves and fmews of that ftrong confolation which God is fo abundantly willing that we fhould receive, fhall be eftei wards declared; for the prefent I will only Ihew, how- it cuts off cur comfort in this particular. The m.ain founda- tion of all the confidence and affurance, whereof in this life we may be made partakers, (which amounts to joy unfpeaka- ble and full of glorv) arifeth from this ftria connexion of the oUalion and intercejjion of Jefus Chrift ; that by the one he ha*th procured all good things for us, and by the other he will procure them to be aBu^illy beftowed ; whereby he doth never leave our fms, but follows them into every court, until rhev be fullv pardoned and clearly expiated, Hcb. ix. 26. He will never leave us, until he hath faved, to the uttermoft, them that come unto God by him. Hijl^leaih, without his refurre£tion^ AS eRually dccomplijhcd, c i refurre6lion, would have profited iis nothing ; all our faith in him had been in vain, i Cor, xv. 17, So that feparated from it, with the interceffion following, either in his own intention, or in the feveral procurements of the one and the other, it will yield us but linle confolarion ; but in this cor*- nexion, it is a fure bottom for a foul to build upon, li^b. vii. 25. What i^ood will it ^o me, to be perfuaded that Chrift died for mv fins, if, notwithilanding that, my fins may an- pear againft me for my condemnation, where and when Chrift will not appear for my juflification ? If you will afk with the apoftle, *' Who is he that condemneth, it is Chrifi, " that died?" Rom. viii. 34. It may eafily be anfwered ; -vhy, God by his law may condemn me, notwithftanding Chrift's ^y'mg for me ! Yea but faith the apoUle, *' he is rifen airam, !" and fittethat the right hand of God, making intercefTion " for us ;" he refls not in his death, but he wi»l certainly make interceffion for them for whom he died, and this along gives firm confolation ; our fins dare not appear, nor any oi our accufers againft us, where he appeareth for us. Cavillingr objeftions againft this text, (hall be afterwards confidered ; and fo I hope I have fufficiently confirmed and proved, what in the beginning oi this chapter I did propofe, about the identity of the objeft of the oblation and intercefTion qI Jefus Chrift. CHAP. VIII. ObjeBions againji the former propofal, anfwered, BY what was faid in the laft chapter, it clearly appeareth, that the oblation and interceffion of Chrift are o\ equal compafs and extent, in refpeft of their objefts, or the per- fons for whom he once oflFered himfelf, and doth continually intercede; and lo are to be looked on, as one joint mean for the attaining of a certain propofed ^w^; which what it is, comes next to be confidered. But becaufe I find fome oh- jeftions laid by fome againft the former truth, I muft remove them before I proceed ; which I fhall do, as a man removeth dung, until it be all gone. The fum of one of our former arguments, was, that to fa- crifice and intercede belong both to the fame perfon as high prieft ; which naine none can anfwer, neither hath apy per- formed that office, untH^oth by him be accomplifhcd ; where. fort 10F ^,2 The End of the Death of Chrtfl fore cur Saviour being the moft abfolute, and indeed only true High Prieil, in whom were really all thofe perfeftions which in others received a weak typical reprefentation, doth perform both thefe in the behalf ot them for whofe fakes he was fuch. An argument not unlike to this, I find by fome undertaken to be aiiiwered ; being in thefe words propofed : Tlie ranfom and intdialion oj Chrijl^ is no larger than his ojice^ of pnejl, frophct, and king ; hut thefe ojices ptrtain to his church and chojen, thzrfore his ranfom pertains to them only. The intention and meaning of the argument, is the fame with what we propoled, viz. That Chrifl offered not tor them for whom he is no priefl ; and he is a priefl only for them for whom he doih alfo intercede. If afterwards 1 fhall have ©ccafion to make ufe ot this argument, I fhall, by the Lord's affillance, give more weight and flrength to it, than it feems to iiave in their propofal, whofe interefl it is to prefent it as ilighily as pofTible, that they may feem fairly to have waved 3t ; but the eC'afion, fuch as it is, let us look upon. This (faiih the anfwerer) is a foher ohjeEiion ; which friend- ly term, I imagined at firll he had given this reafon, becaufe he found it kind and eafy to be fatisfied; but reading the an- iwer, and finding that, fo wide from yielding any colour or appearance ot what was pretended, it only lerved him to vent fome new weak and talle conceptions; I imagined that jt inuft be fome other kindnef^,, that caufed him to give this pbj-rfction .'as i^.e cal s iij fo much milder an eniertainmentj, than thofe oilers which equally gall him; which hear nothing but, this is horrid, that biafphemy, that deteflable, abomi- nab e and talfe ; as being iiideed, by thofe of his perfuafion, Fieiiher to be endured nor avoided. And at length 1 con- ceived, that the reafon of it was intimated in the fiift words ot his pretended anfwer; which are, that this objeSlion dotk riot deny the death of Chrifl for all 7nen, but only his ranfom and mediation for oil men. Now truly if it be fo, I am not of his judgment ; but fo far from thinking it a fober objec- tion, that I cannot be perfuaded that any man in his right wits ,^ would once propofe it. That Chrifl fhould die tor all, and yet not be a raniom for all, (himfelf affirmmg, that he came lo " give his life a ranfom for many," bAatt. xx. 28.) is to me a plain contradi61ion. The death of ChriO, in the firft mofl general notion and apprehenfion thereof, is a ranfom* Nay do not this anfwerer, and thofe who are ot the fame per- fuafion fvith him, make the raniom of as lar^re extent, as any |bing in or about or following the de|lh of Cbrifl? Or have as ailually accomplijhtd. ^a they yet fome further diftin£lion to make, or rather divlfion, about the ends oF the death of Chrift ? As we have heard already, for fome he not only paid a ranfom, but aifo inter- cedeih tor them, which he doth not for all for whom he paid a ranfom; will they now go a ftep backwards and fay, that ior fome he not only died, but alfo p-riid a ranfom for them, which he did not for all for whom he died ? Who then were thele that he thus died for? they muft bclome beyond all and every man ; for as they contend, for them he paid a ranfom ? But let us fee what he fays further ; in fo eafy a caule as this, it is a fhame to take advantages. I. The anfzuer to this ohjeSlion (faith he) is eafy and plain in the Scripture; for the mediation of Chrijl is both more general, cs he ts the Mediator between God and men, i Tim. ii. 5. and more efpeaally, as he is the NLdiator oj the New Tejlament, that they which are called may receive the promife of eternal inheritance, Heb. ix. 15. According to that, it is /aid he is the Saviour of all jnen, efpecially of thofe that believe, 1 Tim. iv. 10. So in all the offices of Chrijl, the prief, the prophet, the king ; there is that which is more general, and that which is more fpecial and peculiar. And, ijl. This is that, which he calls a clear and plain anfwer from the Scripture, leaving the application of it unto the ar- gument, to other men's conjeaure ; which, as far as I can conceive, mufl be thus, viz. It is true, Chrift paid a ranfom for none but thofe for whom he is a Mediator and Prieft ; but Chnft is to be confidered two ways; Firft, as a general Mediator and prieft for all; Secondly, as a fpecial Mediator and prieft for fome ; now he pays the ranfom as a general Me- diator. This I conceive, may be fome part of his meaning; for in itfelf, the whole is in expreflTion fo barbiJious and re- mote from common lenfe, in fubftance fach a wild unchrifti- an madnefs, as contempt would l^ar better fuitii, than a reply. The truth is, fenfe and expreflion, in men who from their manual trades leap into the office of preaching, and employ- ment of writing, I know no reafon why we fliould expe£^ ; only it can never enough be lamented, that wildnefs, in fuch tattered raggs, fhould find entenainment, whilft fobcr truth is fhut outol doors. For what, 1 pray you, is the meaning of this diftinftion ; Chrift is either a general Mediator be- tween God and man, or a fpecial Mediator of the New Tef- tament ? Was it ever heard before, that Chrift was any way a Mediator, but as he is fo of the New Teftament ? A Ivle- fuaior is not of one ; all rnediation rcfpc6ls an agreement of V fever al 54 The End of the Death of Ckriji fevcral parties, and every mediator is the mediator of a cove- nant. Now, if Chrill be a Mediator more generally, then a$ he is fo of a covenant ; of what covenant, I befeech you, was that ? Of the covenant of works ? Would not fuch an af- fertion overthrow the whole Gofpel ? would it not be dero- gatory to the honour of Jefus Chrift, that he fliould be the Mediator oFa cancelled covenant ? Is it not contrary tq Scripture, affirming him to be a furety (not of the firft) but of a better Teftament ? lieb. vii. 22. Are not fuch bold afierters, fitter to be catechifed than to preach ? But we muft not let it pafs thus ; the man harps upon fomething that he hath heard from fome Arminian do61or, though he hath had the ill hap, fo poorly to make cut his conceptions? Where- fore being in foine meafure acquainted with their evafions, which they colour with thofe texts of Scripture which are here produced, I (hall briefly remove the poor fhift, that fo qur former argument ma)' ftand unfliaken. The poverty of the anfwer, as before exprefled, hath been fuSicienily aheady declared. The fruits of Chr ill's medi|a- tion have been diflinguiihed by fome, into thofe that are more general, and thofe which are more peculiar ; which in fome fenfe may be tolerable ; but that the offices of Chri/l fhould bcfaid to be either general or peculiar, and himfelf in relation to them fo confidered, is a grofs unfhapen fancy. I anfwer then to the thing intended, that we deny any fuch general mediation or iun6lion of office in general, in Chrift, as iliould extend itfelf beyond his church or chofen. It was his church which he *' purchafed with his own blood," AEls xx. 28. His church that " he loved and gave himfelf for it, *- that he might fanftify and cleanfe it with the wafhing of " water by the word, that he might prefent it to himfelf a « glorious church," Eph, v. 25, 26, 27. They were his fhtep whom he laid down his life for, John x. 15. And '" he appeareth in heaven for us," Bch. ix. 24. Not one word of mcdiatinfT for any other, in the Scripture. Look upon his incarnation; it wasbecaufe iht children were partakers offlefh and blood, Heb. ii. 14. not becaufeall the world vj^^ fo. Look upon his oblation ; " for their fakes," (faith he, thofe whom thou half given me) "I fan£lify myfelf" Job xvii. 19. that is to be an oblation, which was the work he had then in hand. Look upon his reruric£ficn ; he died for our fins and rofe for j r.if ification, Rom. iv. 25. Look upon his afccnfion ; ** I go ♦* (faiLh he) to my Father and your Father, and that to pre- " pare a plac« for you, John xiv. $*. Look, upon his perpetu- • ' '* ate4 as adually accomplijlied. J, 5 «* ated intercefllon ; is it not to " (ave to ihe uttermofl them *♦ that come unto God by him," Heb. vii. 25. Not one word of tins general niediation for all. NdV, if you will hear him- felf, he denies in plain terms to mediate for all ; tor "I pray " not" Idi'.h he, " tor the world, but for them which thou « haft aiven me," John xvii. 9, But, 2i/7v. Let us fee vvhat is brought to confirm this diftin6^io>n, 1. The text 1 lim ii. 5. ia quoted tor the maintenance ihereof J " for there is one God and one Mediator between *• God and men, the man Ch. id Jefus." What then I pray ? whaf will be concluded hence ? Cannot Chrift be a Mediator between God and men, but he mud be a Mediator for all men ? are not the ele£l men ? do not tke children partake of flefn and blood ? doth nor his church confift of men ? Whit reafon is there to affert cut of an indefinite propofiiion an univerfal conclufion? Becaufe Chriit was a Mediator for men, (which were true, had he been fo only for his apofties) fliall we conclude therefore, he was io for ^//men ? apagt nu- gas. 2. But let us ke ano:ber proof, which hap'y may give more ftrength to the uncouth diftinftion v;e oppofe ; and that is 1 Tim. IV. 10. *' who is the Saviour of all wen, especially ** of thofe that believe." H:id it been, who is the Mediator of all men, etpecially of them that believe, it had been more likely ; but O the co'nfciences, or at leaft «lie foreheads of thefe men \ Is there any word here fpoken of Chrift as Me- diator ? Is it not the living God in whom we truft, that is the Saviour here mentioned, as the words going before in the fame verfe are ? and is Chrift called fo, in refpcB of his me- diation? That God the Father is oiten called Saviour, I fhewed hefore; and that he is here intended, as is agreed upon by all found interpreters; fo alfoit is clear, frurn the matt-r in hand, which is the protefting providence of God ; genci ai towards all, fpecial and peculiar towards his church. Thus is he laid to y^tt/^ man and beaft, Py^/. XXX vi. 6. anthropo'JS l-^Ai KTENE soSEis KYUIE; rendering the Hebi-ew TO- SHIAH by SOSEIS, thou fhalt fave or preferve. It is Go ], then, that is here called the Saviour of all ; by deliverance and proteftion in danger, of which the apolile treats ; and that by his providence, which is peculiar towards believers; lirA wiiat this makes for an univerfal mediation, I know not. Now, the very context in this place will not admit or any other interpretation. • For the words render a reafon vAvy, EOtv/ithftaridsng all the injury and reproaches wherewith ti;e 56 the End of the Death of Chrijl people of God are continually affaulted, yet they {hould chear'« fully go forward, to run with joy the race that is fet betore them ; even becaufc, as God preferveth all, (" for in him we *' live and move, and have oui being," A8s xvii. 28. PfaL cxlv. I4, 15, 16.) fo that he will not fuffer any to be injured and unrevenged, [Gen. ix. 5.) fo is he efpeciajly ihe prelerver of them that do believe, tor ihey are as " the apple of his " eve," Zexh. ii. 8. Deut. xxxii. 10. So that il he (houid fuffer them to be preffed for a feafon, yet let them not let go their hope and confidence, nor be weary of well-doing, but Hill reft on and truft in him. This encouragement being that which the apoftle was to lay down ; what motive would it be hereunto, to tell believers, that God would have thofe faved, who neither do, nor ever will, or fhall believe? That I lay- nothing how Ifrange it feems, that Chriil fhould be the Sa- viour of them who are never faved, to whom he never gives grace to believe ; for whom he denies to intercede, John xvii. g. which yet is no fmall part of his mediation, whereby he faves finners. Neither the fubjeft then, nor the predicate of the proportion, (He is the Saviour of all men) is rightly ap- prehended, by them who would wrell it to the maintenance of univerfal redemption. For the fubje£l He, it is God the Father, and not Chrift the Mediator; and for th« predicate, it is 2i providential "^i^itxvd.non, and not apurchafed falvation, that is intimated ; that is, the providence ot God, protefting and governing all, but watching in an efpecial manner for the good of them that are his, that they be not always unjuftly and cruelly traduced and reviled, with other preffures, is what the apoftle here refts upon ; as alfo he (hews that it was bis courfe to do, 2 Cor. i. 9, 10. " But we had the fentence of *' death in ouiielves, that we fhould not truft in ourfeivcs^ *• but in God which raifeth the dead ; who delivered us from *' fo great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we truft, that " he will deliver us;" for he is the Saviour of all men, ef- pecially of them that do believe. If any fhall conceive, that thefe words (becaufe zoetrujl in the living God, who is, &c.) do not render an account ol the ground ot P^w/'j confidence, in going through with his la- bours and affliftions, but rather are an exprefTion of the head and fum of that do£trine, for which he was fo turmolied and alflifted, 1 will not much oppofe it ; for then alfo, it includes nothing but an afTertion of the true God and dependence on him ; in oppofition to all the idols of the Gentiles, and other vain conceits, whereby they exalted themfeves mto the throne of as adually accomptijhed. ^7 oF the Mod High. But that Chrift fhould be fald to be a Saviour (i.j of thofe who are never faved from their fins, as hefaves his people, Matt. i. 21 ; (2.) of thofe who never hear one word of (aving or a Saviour; (3.) that he fhould be a Sa- viour in a twofold fenfe, [1.] for all, [2. J for believers; (^.) that to beheve, is the condition whereby Chrill becomes a Saviour in an efpecial manner unto any, and that condition not procured nor purchafed by him ; that this, 1 lay, is the lenfe of this place, credat Jadaus Apdla. To me nothing is more certain, than that to whom Chrift is in any fenfe a Saviour in the work of redemption, he faves them 10 the ut- termoft from all their fins of infidelity and difobedience; with x\\^ faving of grace here, and glory hereafter. II. Further attempts alfo there are, to give ftrength to this evafion, and fo to invalidate our former argument ; which I inuft alfo remove : " Chrifl (fay they) * in fome fort intercedeth and putteth *' in for tranfgrefTors, even the fons of men, yet in and of the *' world; that the Spirit may fo ftill unite and blefs thofe that *' believe on him, and lo go forth in their confefiions and con- *' verfations, and in the miniftration of his gofpe! by his ferv- *' ants, that thofe among whom they dwell and converfe •' might be convinced and brought to believe the report of " the gofpel, Ifa, liii. 12. As once, Luke xxiii. 34. As " himfelf left a pattern to us, John xvii. 21, 23. That lo, *' the men of the world might be convinced, and thefe con- *• vinced allured to Chrift, and to God in him. Matt. v. 14, *' 15, 16. Yea fo, as that he doth in fome meafure enlighten *' every man that cometh into the world, John i. 9. But in ** a more fpeciai manner doth he intercede, &c." Here is a twofold interceflion of Chrift as Mediator : t . For all finners, that they may believe ; (for that is it which is in- tended, by the many cloudy exprelBons wherein it is involved) 2. For believers, that they may be faved. It is the firft mem- ber of the diftinftion, which we oppofe ; and therefore muft infift a little upon it. \]l. Our author faith, it is an interceding in fome fort : I afk, in what fort ? is it diredly, or indire61ly ? is it by virtu of his blood, fhed tor them, or otherwife ? is it with an in- tention and defire to obtain for them the good things inter- ceded for, or with purpole that they fhouid go without them ? is it for all and every man, or only for thofe who live in the outward pale of the church ? is faith the thing required for H them, * More'i Univerfalitj of Grace, 58 Tfie End of the Death of Chriji them, or fometbing elfe ? is that defired abfolutely, or upoB fome condition ? All which queries muft be clearly anfwered, before this general intercetTion can be made intelligible. 1. Whether it be diretlly, or indirettty, and by confe- quence only, that this interceirion alter a fort is ufed ? For that thing interceded for is reprefented, not as the immediate ilfue or aim oi the prayer ot Chriit, btit as a reflex, arifing from a blt-ffing obtained by oihers ; for the prayer let down, is *' that God would fo blefs believers, that thole amongft •' whom they dwell may believe the report of the gofpel ;" it is believers that are the dire£t obje6l of this interceflion, and others only glanced at through them. The good alfo fo defired for them is confidered, eitlier as an accident that may come to pafs, or follow the fiourifhing of believers, kata SYMBEBeKOS ; or as an end intended fo be accompliib- ed by it; if the firft, then their good is no more intend- ed than their evil ; if the latter, why is it not efiFe6led ? why is not the intention of our Saviour accomplilhed ? is it for want of wifdom to choofe fuitable and proportionable means to the end propofed, or is it for want of power to effeft what he intendeth ? 2. Is it by virtue of his blood, {bed for them, or otherwife ? It it be ; then Chrift intercedeih for them, that they may en- joy thofe things which for them by his oblation he did pro- cure : for this it is, to make his death and bloodfhedding to be the foundation q\ his inlerceffion. Then it follows, that Chrift by his death procured faith lor all; becaufe he interced- eth that all may believe, grounding that intercefTion upon the merit of his death. But, (1) This is more than the alfertors of univerfal redemption will fuftain : amon^ all the ends of the death of Chrift by them afligned, the effe61;ual and infalli- sble beftowing of faith on thofe for whom he died, is none^ {2) If by his death he hath purchafed taith for all, and by in- tercefSun entreaieth for it ; why is it not aftually beftowed on them ? is not a concurrence of both thefe fufficient for the makiiig out of that one f[3iritual bleffing ? — But if it be not founded en his death and bioodfhedding ; then we defire, that they ihould defcribe unto us this interceflion of Chrift, differing from his appearing for us in heaven fprinkled with his own blood. 3. Doth he intercede for them, that they fhould believe ; with an intention or defire that they fhould do fo ; or not ? If not, it is but a mock interceflion, and an intreaty for that which he would not have granted; iffo ; why is it not ac- complifhed ? as aSIual/y accomphJJied, c* •orapIJfhed ? Why, do not all believe ? yea. if he died frr all, and pravedforall that they might believe ; why are not all faved ? for Chriil is always heard of his Father, 7ohn xi. 42. ^ 4. Is it for all and every one in the world, that Chrift makes this interceffion ; or only for ihofe who live within the pale o[ the church? If only for ihofe latter; then this doth not prove a general interceffion for all, but only one more large than that for believers : for if he leaves out any one in the world, the prefent hypothtfis falls to the ground. If for all: how can it confift in'that petition, that the fpirit zuould fo Uad, guide and blefs hduvers, and /o gojortk in the mimftralion of the gofpd by his Jervants, that others (that is all and every one in the world) may be convinced and brought to believe ? How, I fay, can this be fpoken, with any refer- ence to thole miiiions of fouls that never fee a believer, that hear no repoit of the gofpel ? 5. L'^this interceffion be for faith, then either Chrift inter- cedeth tor it abfolutely, that they raay certainly have it ; or upon condition ; and that, either on the part of God, or man. It abfolulely, then all do aaually believe ; or that is not true, the Father ^ia'^yj/^^r^rj him, John ya. 42. If upon condition on the part of God ; ircan be nothing but this, if he zcill or Jleafe. Now, the adding of this condition may denote in our Saviour two thmgs : (1.) A nefcience of what is his Father's will, in the thing interceded for ; which cannot ffand with the unity of hisperfon, as now in glory ; and cannot be, be- caufe he hath the afTurance of a promife to be heard in what ever he ail^eth, Pfal. ii. 8. Or. (2.) An Advancement of his Father's will, by fubmifTion to that, as the prime caufe of the good to be beffowed ; which may well itand with ab- foluteinttrcefTion, by virtue v/hereof all muff believe. But next, is it a condition on the part of thofe for whom he do:h intercede ? Now I befeech you, what condition is that : where in the Scripture affigned ? where is it faid, that Chrift doth intercede for men that they may have faith, if they do fuch and fuch things ? Nay, what condition can rationally be afhgned of this defire ? Some often intimate that it is, if they /offer the Spirit to have its work upon their hearts, arJ o- bey the grace of God: now what is it to obey the grace of God? is it not to believe? therefore it Teems, that Chrifl inter- cedeth for them, ibar they may believe, upon condition that they do believe. Oihcrs more cautioufly ailert the good ufmg of the means of grace, that tbey do enjoy, to be the ccndition upon which 6o The End of the Death of Chrift which the benefit oF this Intercenion doth depend: but again, (i.) What is the good ufing ot the means of grace, but afub- mitiing to them, which is beHeving; and fo we are asbeiore. (2.) All have not the means of grace, to ufe well or ill. (3.) Chrift prays that they may ufe the means of grace well ; or he doth not : if not, then how can he pray that they may be- lieve ; feeing to ufe well the means ot grace, by yielding o- bedience unto them, is indeed to believe ? if he do, then he doth it abfolutely, or upon condition ; and fo the argument is renewed again as in the entrance. Many more reafons might be eafily produced, to fhew the madnefs of this afler- tion ; but thofe may fuffice. Only, 2dly. We mull look upon the proof and confirmations of it. 1. The words of the prophet Ifaiah liii. 12, "He made *' interccffion for the tranfgreffors," are infifted on. Now the tranfgreffors here for whom our Saviour is faid to make interceffion, are either all the tranfgreffors for zvhom he fut- fered ; as is moft likely, from the defcription we have of them, verfe 6, or the tranfgreffors only by whom he fuffered, that a6led in his fufferings as fome fuppofe ? If the firft ; then this place proves, thai Chrift intercedes for all thofe for •whom he fuffered, which differs not from that which we con- tend for. If the latter ; then we may confider it as accom- pliflied : how he then did it, lo it is here foretold that he fhould ; and thus, 2. The next place urged, is Luke xxiii. 24, ** Then faid •* Jefus, Father forgive them, for they know not what they " do." The conelufion which from thefe words is inferred, being, therefore there is a general interceffion for all, that they may believe ; I might well leave the whole argument to the filent judgment of men, without any further opening and difcove- ry ot its invalidity and weaknefs : but becaufe the ableft of that fide have ufually infiftcd much on this place, for a gene- ral fuccefslefs interceffion ; I will a little confider the mfer- cnce, in its dependence on thefe words ot the gofpel, and fearch whether it have any appearance of flrength in it ; to which end we muff obferve that, (i.) This prayer is not for all men, but only for that hand- ful of the Jews by whom he was crucified ; now, from a prayer for them, to infer a prayer for all and every man, that ever were, are, or ffiall be, is a wild dedu6iion. (2.} It doth not appear that he prayed for all his crucifiers either, as aBually accomplijhed, 6i either, but only for thofe who did it out of ignorance ; as appears by the reafon annexed to his fupplication, '» for the/ *' know not what they do." And though, ABs ili. 17, it is faid that *' the rulers alfo did it ignorantly ;" yet that al! of them did fo, is not apparent, That (ome did, is certain from that place ; and fo it is, that fome of them were converted afterwards : indefinite propofitions muft not, in fuch things, be made univerfal. Now doth it follow, that becaufe Chrilf prayed for the pardon of their fins who crucified him out of ignorance, as fome of them did ; that therefore he interced- eth for all, that they may believe ? even fuch who never once heard of his crucifying. {3.) Chrift, in thofe words, doth not fo much as pray for thofe men that they might believe ; but only, that that fin of them, in crucifying of him, might be forgiven, not laid to their charge : hence to conclude, therefore be intercedeth for all men that they may believe, even becaufe he prayed that the fin of crucifying himfelf might be forgiven them that did it, is a ftrange inference. (4.) There is another evident Hmitaiion in the bufinefs ; for among his crucifiers he prays only for them that were prefent at his death ; amongft whom, doubtlefs, many came more out of curiofity to fee and obferve, as is ufual in fuch cafes, than out of malice and defpight : fo that whereas fome urge, that notwithflanding this prayer — yet the chief of the priefts continued in their unbelief; it is not to the pur- pofe, for it cannot be proved that they were prefent at his crucifying. (5.) It cannot be affirmed with any probability, that our Saviour fliould pray for all and every one of them, fuppofing fome of them to be finally impenitent : for he himfelf /^/^f a; full well what was in man, John ii. 25. yea htknezv from the beginning who they were that believed not, John vi. 64. Now it is contrary to the rule which we have, 1 John v. 16, thera is a fin unto death, &c. to pray for them whom we know to be finally impenitent, and to fin unto death. (6.) It feems to me that this fupplication was effeftual and fuccefsful, that the Son was heard in this requeif alfo; faith and f orgivenefs being granted to them for whom he prayed ; fo that this makes nothing for a general inefFeftual intercef- fion, it being both fpecial and efFe6fual. For of them whom Peter tells, that the'/ " denied the holy On^^ and defired a " murderer," ACts in. 14. and " killed the Prince of life," ifcrfc i^. of thefe, I fay, five thoufand believed, Atls iv. 4. *' Many 62 The End of the, Death of Ckriji *' Many of them which heard the word, believed, and the " number of the men was about five thoufdnd." And if any others were among thetn, whom our Saviour prayed for, they might be converted atterv/ards. Neither were the rulers without the compafs of the fruits of this prayer; for " a •'.great company o\. priefls v»^ere obedient to the faith," AB:s .\\..j. &o that nothing can poilibly be hence inferred for the -purpofe intended. (7.) We may, nay we muft grant a twofold praying in our Saviour; one by virtue oi his office as he was Mediator, the other in anfwer to his duty, as he was fubjcB; to the law, and a private perfon. It is true, he v/ho was Mediator wag made a fubjeft to the law ; but yet thofe things which he did in obedience to the law, as a private perfon, were not a6;.s of mediaiion, nor works of him as Mediator, though of him who was Mediator. Now, as he was fubjefl to the law, our Saviour was bound to torgive offences and wrongs done unto him, and to pray for his enemies ; as alio he h^id taught us to do, whereol in this he gave us an example. Matt. v. 44. *' I " lay unto you, love your enemies, blefs them that curfe you, " do ^ood to them that hate you, and pray for them which ** defpitefully ule yoa and perfecute you." Which doubtlefs he inferreth from that lavv% Lev, xix. 18. *' Thou (halt not a- " venge, nor bear any grudge againft the children of thy *' people, but thou flialt love thy neighbour as thyfelf ;" quite contrary to the wicked glofs put upon it by the Phari- fees. And in this fenfc our Saviour here, as a private per- fon, to whom revenge was forbidden, pardon enjoined, pray- er commanded, prays for his very enemies and crucifiers ; which doth not at all concern his interceding for us as Medi- ator, wherein he was always heard ; and fo is nothing to the purpofe in hand. 3. Again, John xvii. 21, 23. is urged, to confirm this general intcrcefTicn which we have exploded^ our Saviour praying that bv the unity, concord, and flourifhing of his ferv- ants, the world might believe and know that God had fent him ; from which words though fomc make a feeming flouriih, yet the thing pretended is no v/ay confirmed. For, (1) it Chnll really intended and dcfired, that the whole world, or all men in the world, fliould believe, he would aifo, no doubt, have prayed for. moie effeftual means of grace to be gi anted unto them, than only a beholding of the bleffed condition of his, (v^hich yet is granted to a fmall part of the world) at leaft the pieachingof the word to ihem all, that by as aSlually accomplifned. 63 it, as the ovk\y ordinary way, they might come to the know- ledge ot him. But this we do not find that ever he prayed for, or that God hath granted it ; nay he bleffed his Father that fo it was not, becaufe fo it fcemed good in iiis fight. Matt. xi. 25, 26. (♦.) Such a glofs or interpretation mult not be put upon the place, as 111 >uld run cro!s to the exprefs words ot our Sa- viour, V, 9. " I pray not for tlje world;" for it he here prayed, that ihe world fliould have true, holy, faving iaith, he prayed for as great a bleffing and privilege for the world as any he procured, or interceded for, for his own. Where- fore, (3) Say fomc, the world is here taken (or tiie world of the elefct, the world to be faved, God's people tliroughout the world. Certain it is, that the world is not here taken proper- ly, pro mundo coniinmte^ for the world containing ; but figu- ratively, pro mundo contento, for the v/orld contained, or men in the world ; neither can it be made appear, that it mufc he taken univerfally for all the men in the world, as feldom it is in the Scripture, which afterwards we fhall make appear; but may be underftood indefinitely, for men in the world, few or more, as the eleft are in their feveral generations. But this expofition, though it hath great authors, I cannot abfplutely adhere unto, becaufe, through this whole chapter, the world is taken, either for the world of reprobates, oppofed to them that are given to Chrift by his Father, or for the world of un- believers (the fame inen under another notion) oppofed to them who are conimitted to his Father by Chriil. Where- fore I anfwer, (4.) That by believing^ verfe 21. and knozuing,.verfc 23. is not meant believing in a flrift fenfe, or a faving compre- henfion and receiving of Jefus Chriil, and fo bicominer the fons of God, which neither ever v.'as, nor ever will be ful- filled in every man in the world, nor was ever prayed for; but a convittion and acknowledgment, that the Lord Chriil is not, what before they had taken him to be, a feducer and a falie prophet, but indeed what he faid, one that came oiit from God, able to proteft and do good for and to his own ; which kind of conviaion and acknowledgment, that ii is often termed believing in the Scripture, is more evident than that it fhonld need to be proved; and that this is here meant, the evidence of" the thing is fuch, that it is confented unto by ex- pofitors of all forts. Now, this is not for any good of the world, but icr the vindication of his people, and the exalta- tion 6^ The End of the Death of Chrifl tion ot his own glory ; and fo proves not at all the thing in queftion. But of this word, worlds afterward. 4. The following place, Matt. v. 14, 1^, 16. (containing fome inftru6lions given by our Saviour to his apoftles, fo to improve the knowledge and light which of him they had, and were farther to receive, in the preaching of the word snd hclinefs of life, that they might be a means to draw- men to glorify God) is certainly brought in to make up a fhew of a number, as very many other places are, the author not once confidering, what is to be proved by them, nor to what end they are ufed ; and therefore, without further in- quiry, it may well he laid afide, as not at all belonging to the bufmefs in hand, nor to be dragged within many leagues of the conclufion, by all the ftrength and fkill of Mr. More. 5. Neither is that other place, John i. 9. any thing more advifedly or feafonably urged, though wretchedly glofl'ed, and rendered in fome meafure enlightening every 7nan that cometh into the world. The Scripture fays, that Chrift is the true liaht, zohich lighteth every man that cometh into the toorid; in fome meafure, fays Mr. More ; now, 1 befeech you, in what meafure is this ? how far, into what degree, in what meafure, is illumination from Chrifl ? by whom, or by what means, fe- parated from him and independent of him, is the reft made up ? who (upplies the defe61: of Chrift ? I know your aim is, to hug in your illumination by the light of nature, and I know not what common helps that you dream of, towards them who are utterly deprived of all gofpel means of grace ; and that not only for the knowledge of God as Creator, but alfo of him as in Chrift the Redeemer. But whether the calves of your own felting up, fhould be thus facrificed unto, with wrefting and perverting the word of God, and undervaluing the grace of Chrift, you will one day I hope be convinced. It fufficeth us, that Chrift is faid to enlighten every one, be- caufe he is the only true light ; and every one that is en- lightened, receiveth his light from him, who is the fun, the fountain thereof. And fo, the general defence oS. this gene- ral ineffectual interceflion is vaniihcd ; but yet further, it is particularly replied concerning the priefthood of Chrift, that, 111. " As a prieft, in refped of one end, he ofFereth facri- •' fice, that is, propitiation, for all men," Heh. ix. 26. and ii. 9. John i. 29. 1 John ii. 2. " In refpeCl of all the ends, «' propitiation, and fealing the New Teftament, and teftifica- *• tion to the truth, and of the uttermoft end in all, for his *' called and chofen ones," lieb, ix. 14. 15. Viatt. xxvi. 26. (what as dRually accdmplijhed, 6, o ^what follows after, being repeated out of another place, hath been already anfwered.) Now , ifl. Thefe words, as here placed, have no tolerable fenfa in them, neither is it an eafy thing to gather the mind ot the author out of them ; fo far are they trom being a clear an- fwer to the argument, as was pretended. Words of Scrip* ture indeed are ufed ; but wrefted and corrupted, not only to the countenance of error, but to bear a part in unreafonable cxprelTions. For what, I pray, is the meaning of thefe words; he offered facrijicc in refpeti of one end, then of all ends^ then ef the utltrmojl end in all? To enquire backwards, 1. What is this utter?no/l end in all? is that in all, in Of among all the ends propofed and accomplifhed ? or in alf thofe for whom he offered facrifice? or is it the uttermoft end and propofal of God and Chrifl, in his oblation ? If this lat- ter, that is tlie glory of God ; now there is no fuch thing once intimated, in the places of Scripture quoted, Lkb. ix* 14, 15. Matt. xxvi. 26. a. Do thofe places hold out the uttermod end of the death ot' Chrilf, (fuboidinate to God's glory ?) why, in one of them ifc is the obtaining of redemption; and in the other, the fhed- ding of his blood for the remifTion of fins, is exprefled ? Now, all this you affirm to be the firft end of the death of Chrift, in the firft words ufed in this place : calling it propi- liation, that is an attonement for the remiffion of (ins: wliich remiiTioii of fins, and redemption, are, for the fubiUnce, one and the fame: both of them the immediate fruits and firllend of the death of Chrift, as is apparent, Epk. i. 7. CoL i. 14* So here you have confounded the firft and lafi end of the death ot Chrift, fpoiling indeed and cafting down (as you may lawfully do, tor it is your own) the whole frame and building ; whofe foundation is this, that there be feveral and diverfe ends of the death of Chrift, towards feveral perrons. To that fome of them belong unto all, and all of them only to fome ; which is the proton pseudos of the whole book. 3. Chrift's ofterin;» himfelf to put away fin, out of Ileh* ix. 26. you maketo be the^^T^,^ end of the death of Chrift; and his (bedding of his blood for the remifTion of fins, from Matt. xxvi. 26. to be the /j/?: pray, when you vv^rite next, give us the difference between thefe two. 4. You fay ; he offered facrifice, in refpecl of one end, that is propitiation, for all men; now truly, if you know the mean* ing ofi'acrjiice and propitiation, this will fcarce appear fenf end what it was, is next to be confidered. BOOK 6; B O O K II. C H A P. I. Some previous con/tderalions, to a ?nore particular enquiry aj< . ter the proper end and efcd oj the death ofChiiJl, nPHE main thing upon which the whole controverfy abou: A th(i deaih ot Chi id tuineth, and upon which the great- eft weight of the bufmers dependeth, comes next to our con- fideration ; being that which we have prepared the way unto, by all that hath been already faid. It is about the proper end of the death of ChriO; which whcfo can rightly conftitute and make manifeft, may well be admitted for a days-man and umpire in the whole coateftation; for, if that be the end of Chrift's death, which niofl of our advei faiies aiTign, we will not deny, but that Chrift died for all and every one; and if that be the end of it, which we maintain' fo to be, they wili not extend it beyond the eleft, beyond believers. This then muft be fully cleared and folidiy confirmed, by them who hope for ^ny fuccefs in thefe undertakings. The end of the death of Chriff, we aiTerted in thebeginning ot our difcourlc, , to be our approximation or drawing nigh unto God; that be- ing a general exprefTion, for the whole reduaion and reco- very of finners from the ftate of alienation, mifery apxd wratb, into grace, peace, and eternal communion with him. Nov/ there being a two-fold end in things, one of the worker, the other of the work wrought; we have manifeffed how that, unlefs it be either for want of wifdom and certitude of mind in the agent, in chufmg and ufing unfuitable vieans for the attaining of the end prcpofed, or for want of fkill and pow. cr, to make ufe cf and tightly to improve well-proportioned means, to the beft advantage; thofe things are always co-inci- dent, the work cfTeaeth what the workman intendeth. In the bufmefs in hand, the agent is the hlejed Three in One, as was before declared; and the «zft3,7j whereby they coiiimed and aimed at the f «ijf propofed, was the oblation and intercef- fion of Jefus Chrift; which are united, intending the fame objea, as was alfo cleared. Now, unlefs we will blafphe- mouflyafcribe want of wifdom, power, perfeaion, and fuf- ficiency in working, unto the agent; or affirm, that the death and intercefTion of Chrift was not fuitable and propor- lioned for the attaining the end propof^d by it to be effeaed ; vvc mufl grant, that th^ etid of thefe is one and th^ fame; whatfoever 62 Previous Conjiderations about the ^vhatfoever the blefi^d Trinity intended by them, that was ef- fetled; and whatioever we find in the ilFue afcribed unto them, that by them the hlejfed Trinity intended. So that we ihall have no caufe to confider thefe apart; unlefs it be lome- times to argue from the one to the other; as where we find any thing afcribed to the death ot Chrift, as the fruit thereof; we may conclude that, that God intended to effeft by it; and fo aifo on the contrary. Now, the end of the death of Chrift is either fupreme and uhimrite; or intermediate and fubfervient to that laft end, I. The firft is, the glory of God, or the manifeftation of his glorious attributes: efpecially of hisjuftice, and mercy tempered with jullice unto us. The Lord doth neceflarily aim himfelf in the firll: place, as the chieteft good ; yea indeed that alone which is good, that is abfolutely and fimply lo, and not by virtue of communication from another; and theielore in ail his works, efpeciaily in this which we have in hand, the chiefeft of all ; he firff intends the manifeftation of his own glory ; which alfo he fully accompliflieth in the clofe, to every point and degree by him intended. He maketh •' all things for himfell," Prov, xvi. 4. and every thing, in the end, muft '* redound to the glory of God," 2 Cor, iv. 1^. AVherefore Chrijl himfelf is faid to be G^^V, 1 Cor. iii. 23. ferving to his glory, in that whole adminiftration that "was committed to him. So, Eph. i. 6. the whole end of ali this difpenfation, both of choofing us from eternity, redeem- ing us by Chrift, blefling us with all fpiritual bleflings in him ; is affirmed to be, the praife of the glory of his grace ; and Tjerfe 13. '* that we (hould be to the praife of his glory." This is the end of all the benefits we receive by the death of Chrift, for, " We are filled with the fruits of righteoufnefs, which ** are by Jefus Chrift unto the j^lory and praife of God, PhiL •* i. 11." which alfo is fully afferted, chapter ii. 11. "That •* every tongue fhould confefs that Jefus Chrift is Lord, to *• the glory of God the Father. This the apoftle fully clears, in the ninth to the Ro??ians; where he afTerts the fupreme do- minion and independency of God, in all his aftions; his abfo- Jute freedom from taking rife, caufe or occafion, to his pur- pofcs, from any thing among us fons of men; doing all things ior his own fake, and aiming only at his own glory. And this is that which, in the clofe of all, fliall be accomplifhed ; when every creature fliall fay, '* bleffing, and honour, and *' S'^^y ^^^ power, be unto him that fitieth uponthe throne, *• and unto the Lamb for ever and ever," Rev. v. 1 3. But this jsBETExON. JL There proper end of the death of Chrijl, 69 11. There is an end o^ the death of Chrift, which is inter^ mediate, and fubrervient to that other which is the laft and raolt fupreme; even the eUcBs which it hatli in rcfpecl of us : aFid ih-*t is it oi which we now treat ; which as we before af- firmed, is, ihc bringing of us unto God. Now this, though in reference to the oblation and interceflion of Chri'ft, it be one miuQend; yet in itfelf, and in refpea ot the relation which the feveral afts therein have one to another, it may be confidereddiitintlly, in two parts ; whereot one is the end, and the other the 7nean for the attaining of that end, both, the compleat end of the mediation of Chrift, in refpeft of us. The ground and caufe of this, is,— the appointment of the Lord, that there (hould be fuch a connexion and coherence between the things purchafed for us by Chrii^ that the on2 ihouid be a mean and way of attaining the other ; the one the condition, and the other the thing proraifed upon that condition; but both equally and alike procured for us bv Jefus Chrift : for if either be omitted in his purchafe, the other would be vain and fruitlefs ; as we fhaU afterwards de- clare. Now, boihthefeconfiftina communication of God and his goodnefs unto us, (and our participation of him hv virtue thereof) and that either to grace or glory, holinefs or bleiTednefs, faith or falvation. In this lalt way, they are ufually called ;/zj//^ being the means of which we fpeak. ^vid. falvation the end ; faith the condition, falvation the pro- mifed inheritance. Under the name of faith, we comprize all faving grace that accompanies it : and under the name of falvation, the whole glory to be revealed ; " the liberty of the "glory of the children of God," Rom. vm. ^i, all that bleiTednefs which confifteth in an eternal fruition of the blefled God. Wkhfaith go all the effeaual means thereof, both external and internal ; the Word, and almighty fanfti- fying Spirit : all advancement of ftate and condition attend- ing it ; asjuftification, reconciliation, and adoption into the family of God : all fruits flowing from it, in fanaification. and univerfal holinefs; with all other privileges and enjoy- tnents oi believers, here, which follow the redemption and reconciliation purchafed for them by the oblation of Chrift. A real, effeaual and infallible beftowing, and apolyincr of all thefe things, (as well thofe that are the means, as thSfe that are the end; the condition, as the thing conditioned about ; taith and grace, as falvation and glory) unto all and every one for whom he died ; do '.ve maintain to be the end pro- • poled and cfFeaed, by the bloodllicdding of J.^ias Chrift. with 7© '^djt Ends removed^ and the proper with tliofe other afts of his Mediatorfiiip, which we before declared to be therewith infeparably conjoined : fo that every one for whom he died and offered up himfelf, haih, by virtue of his death or oblation, a right purchafed for him unto all thefc things ; which in due time, he {hall certainly and in- fallibly enjoy. Or, which is all one, the end of Chrift's ob- taining grace and glory with his Father, was, that they might be certainly bcflowed upon all thofe for whom he died ; fome of them, upon condition that they do believe; bat faith itfelf abfoluiely. upon no condition at all : all which we fhall fur- ther illuftrate and confirm ; after we have removed fome falfe ends afTigned. CHAP. II. Containing a removal of fome mijlakes^ and falfe affignations, if the end of the death of Chrift. '"T^ HAT the death, oblation and bloodfhedding of Jefus X Chriff, is to be confidered as the rnean for the compafTmg of an appointed end^ was before abundantly declared ; and that fuch a jnean, as is not in itfelf any way defirable, but for the attaining of that end. Now, becaufe that which is the end of any thing, muft alfo be good, (for unlefs it be fo, it cannot be an end, for bonum & Jinis convertuntur) it mufl be either his Father's good, or his own good, or our good, which was the end propofed. 1. That it was not merely his own good, is exceedingly ap- parent ; for, in his divine nature, he was eternally and efTen- tially ptaraker of all that glory which is proper to the Deity; which, though in refpett of us it be capable of more or lefs maniieflation, yet in itfelf it is always alike eternally and ab- folutely perfeft ; and in this regard, at the clofe ot all, he de- fires and requeffs no other glory, but that which he had with his Father *' before the world was,'' John xvli. 5. And in refpcft of his human nature, as he was eternally predelfinat- cd, without '^any forefight of doing or fufFering, to be perfon- ally united, liom the inflant of his conception, with the fe- cond pel ion in the Trinity ; fo neither, while he was in the way, did he merit any thing for himfelf by his death and ob- lation, * That !£, not upon anj foreHght of hii doicg or fuffcricg, 38 raeritofioui of his incarnation. End bJ the Death of Ckrifi ajfnted. ^t Jation. H« needed not to fuffer for h^mfelf, bein-r pertea- Jy and legally righteous; =nd the glory that he aim?d at by enduring the crofs, and defpifing the (hame. w^., not fo n^'-ch his own, m rcfpea of poffeffion, by the e.x-,3haticn of"his own nature, as the bringing of many children to glorv even a. It was m the promife fct before him, as we before at lar.e dec,ared Hisown exaltation, indeed, and power overall Jlelh. and his appointment to be judge of the quick and the dead was a conjiquent of his deep humiliation and ri.fFerin.T. but that It was the effea and produa of it, procured mtruJ. rtcujly by it; that it was iht end aimed at bv him i'l h.'s making fatisfaa-.on for fin ; that we deny. Chrill' hath "a power and dominion over all ; but the foundation of ihis do- minion ,s not m his death for all ; for he hath dominion over ad by the word of hs power Hcb. i. 2, 3. " He is ki over the works of God's hands, and all things are put in ftib- jeaion under hm,," He!,, ii. 7, 8. A„d%.hat a?e thofe .z// hatn he no, power over the angels, are not principahties and powers made fubjea ,0 him ? (hall he not, at the M da" J"dge the angels? for with him the faints fnall do i, b-." giving atteftation to his righreous judgments, , Qr. v'i o And yet is.t not e..pref.iy faid, that the ^angels have ni Lf^ in the whole cnfpenfation of God manileft'in the fl.ft % i1 he had died for them .0 redeem them from their fins (ol M/ome had no need, and others are eternally exSd d Ilek 11. ,6. " He took not on him the nature of an.e's km '•he took on him the feed of Abraham ?"1 God's ^t't't him hng upon hnholy kUlofSwn, in defpight ol his nemi>^ to bruife them and to rt;!c them with a rod of iron, pTlT'^ .s not the immediate effca of his death for them ;' Z\tkl\ ad mngs are given into his hand, out of the immediate bve _ of me Fatner to his Son, John iii. 35. Matt. xi. 27 That "ret eT"'l°-1 "^^ ^" '"'^ '-"-§"' -^^ doinir.ioiroveTa haul: • "' P°"'' °^ J^-^Sing. that is put into his' byliStt' !■ r'""" ^"T^ ''""°' ^= Proved) that Chrift b) his death did prccuie this power of jud^ine would anv of'tL':""?'"? "'r"'*^'" ''^' benei;cia°l tf'ti:e"p;;v nj ^infnnfnT'''^'"- ¥■."''• ^^' do"b'lefs : for this do'! «.monat>d power oi judging, is a power of condemning as well -7 2 Talft Ends rcmovf.d, and the prdpir well as laving; it is all judgment that is committed to hif«, John V. 22. " He hath authority given him to execute judg- '* mcnt, becaufc he is the Son of man ;" that is, at that hour •* in ihe which all that are in ihcii graves, (hall hear his voice, •• and come torlh ; they that have done good unto the refur- " re£lion ot" li^e, and they that have done evil unio the lefur- ** re6lion of damnation," ver/es 27, 28, 29. 2 Cor. v. 10. — Now, can it be reafonably afferted, that Chrift died tor men to redeem them, that he might have power to condemn? Nay, do not thefe two overthrow one another ? If he redeemed them by his death, then he did not aim at the obtaining of any power to condemn them; if he did the latter, then that lor- mer was not in his intention. 11. It was noi his Father's good. I fpeak now of the proxi- mate and inmiediate end and product of the death ct Chnii, not of the ultimate and remote ; knowing that the fupreme end of Chrift's oblation, and of all the benefits purchaled and procured by it, was the praife of his glorious grace ; but tor this other, it doth not directly tend to the obiaining of any thing unto God, but ot all good ihlnns from God to us. Ar- 7nmus wiih his followers, and the other Univerfalifls oi our days, affirm this to be the end propofed, thai God might, his iullice being fatisfied, favefmners; the hindrance being re- moved by the fatisfaaion of Chrift, he had, by his de If the end ot the death of Chrifl, were, to acquire a right to his Father, that notwithftaading his juftice he might fave finners ; then did he rather die to redeem a liberty ujito God, than a liberty from evil unto us: that his Faiher might be enlarged from that eftate, wherein it was impoffible for him to do that which he defired, and which his nature inclined him to ; and not that we might be freed from that condition wherein, without this freedom purchafed, it could not be but we moft periih. If this be fo, I fte no reafon why Chrifl: fhould be faid to come and redeem his people from their fins : but rather plainly, to purchafe this right and li- berty for his Father ; now where is there any fuch affertion ; where is any thing of this nature, in the Scripture ? Doth the Lord fay, that he fent his Son out of love to himfelf ; or unto us ? Is God or men, made the immediate fubjeft of good attained unto by this oblation ? -< But it is faid, that although immediately and in the firfl: K place ^ It is here^ though not zvithcut fomt dubiety, 5 efufed by Dr. Owen, That vindicative jujiice is ejftntial to God^ and ne' ce/fary in its egrefs; fo as to make afatisJaEiion for fn abfo- lately necejlary, in order to the falvation of finners : but five years afterwards^ he was led to a more cloje examination of this fubjeB ; he puhliflied a book, fviz, Diatriba de JuftU tia Divina,) of purpofe to ?naintain the point which is hr're re* fufed ; and itiat without any detriment tc tke caufe now d^Jend* ed. rfHi^itiitMMaiilit^*^- 74 ^^^ -^w^-f removedy and ike proper place this right did a rife unto God by the £)eiith of Chrift, yet that it alfo was to tend to our good; Chriil obtaining that right, that the Lord might now bellow mercy on us, if wc fulfilled the condition that he would propofe. But I anfwer, that this utierly overthrows all the merit of the death of Chrift: towards us, and leaves not fo much as the nature of merit unto it; tor that which is truly merircrious indeed, deferves that the thin?, merited, or procured and obtained by it, (hall be done or ought to he beitowed ; and not only that it may be done. There is fuch an habitude and relation, between merit and the thing obtained by it, whether it be ablolute or anOng on contra61 ; that there arifeth a real right to the thing piocured by it, in them by whom or for whom it is procur- ed. When the labourer hath wrought all day ; do we fay, now his wages may be paid, or rather, now they ought to be paid ? hath he not a right imto them ? Was ever fuch a me- rit heard of before, whofe nature fhould confid in this, that the thing procured by it might be bellowed, and not that it ought to be : and (hall Chriil be faid now to purchafe by his meritorious oblation, ihis only at his Father's band ; that he might bellow upon and apply the fulnefs of his death to fome, or all, and not that he ftiould lo do ? To him that workdh (faith the Apollle) is the reward not reckoned of grace, hut of debt, Rom. iv. 4, Are not the fruits of the death ol Chrilt, by his death as truly procured for us, as if they had been obtained by our own working ? And if fo, though in refpe6l of the perfons on whom they are beftowed, they are of free grace ; yet in refpe£l; of the purchafe, the bellowing of them IS of debt.. Athly. That cannot be alTigned as the compleat end of the death 01 Chriil, which being accomplilhed, it had not only been pofiible that not one foul might be faved ; but alfo im- poflible, that by virtue of it any (inful foul fliould be faved. For fure the Scripture is exceedingly full, in declaring that through Chi ill we liave remiflion of fins, grace and glory (as alterwards.) Butnov/ not withftanding this, when Chrift is faid to have procured aiid purchafed by his death, fuch a right and liberty to his Father, that he might beftow eternal life upon all, upon what conditions he would; it might very well fland, that not one of thofe iTiould enjoy eternal life ; ior fuppofe the Father would not beftow it, as he is by no en- gagement according to this perfuafion bound to do, (he had a right to do it» it is true, but that which is any one's right, he may ufe or not ufe at his pleafure ;j again, fuppofe he had prefcribtd End of ik: Death of Chrijl ajf cried, 7 .; prefcrlbed a condition of works, which it had been impoffi- ble for them to fulfil ; the deaih of Chrill might have had its. full end ; and yet not one been faved. Was this his coming to fave finners, to fave that which was loft ? Or could he, npori fuch an accomplilhrnent as this, pray as he did ; Fatiiei i " will, that they whom thou haft given me be with me wbere *' lam, that they may behold mv g'oiy," John xvii, 24? Divers other reafons might be ufed, to evert^his fancy, that would make thepuichafe ot Ch-ift, in refpett of us, not :a be the remiftion ot fins, but a poffibility of it ; not falvation, but a falvability ; not reconciliation and peace wiili God, but the opening of a door towards it : but I fhall ufe them, in afTigningthe right end of the death of CbrilL Afk now of thefe, what it is that the Father can do, and vyill do, upon the death of Chnft; by which means hi'sjuf^ rice, that before hindred the execution o^ his good will to- wards them, is fatisfied ? and they tell you, it is the entcrino- into a new covenant of grace with them ; upon the perform^ ance o^ whofe condition they Ihall have all che benefits of the death of Chrift applied to them. But to us it feemeth that Chrifthimlelf, with his death and paflion, is the chief nro- mife of the nezD covenant itfelf, as Gen. iii. 15. and fo the co- venant cannot be faid to be procured by his death. Befides, the nature of the covenant overthrows this propofai ; that they that ve covenanted withal, fhall have fuch and fuch good things, if they fulfil the condition; as though that ail de- pended on this obedience; when that obedience itfelf, and the whole condition of it, is a promife of the covenant, Jer\ xxxi. 33. which is confirmed and fealed by the blood ot Chrift. We deny not, but the death of Clu id hath a proper end in refpcft of God ; to wit, the manifeftation of his glory ; whence he calls him his fcrvant, in whom he will be glorified, [fa. xlix. 3. And the bringing of many fons to glory, where- with he was entrufted, was to the manifeftation and praife of his glorious grace, that {o his love to his ele61 might gloriouf- ly appear; his falvation being borne our, by Chrift, to the mmoft parts of the earth. And this fuil declaration of hti glor>Y by the way of mercy tempered withjuftice, (" for he ** fet forth Chrift to be a propitiation through faith in his " blood, that he might be juft,' and the juftifier of him which *• believethinjefus," Rom. iii. .25.) is all that which accru- ed to the Lord by the death of his Son ; and not any riglt and liberty of doing that which before he would have done, but could not for liisjuflicCf lv\ rcfpea of us, the end of the oblation y6 Faljt Ends removed^ and the f roper oblation and bloodfliedding of Jefus Chrift was, not that God might if he would ; but that he (hould, by virtue of that compacl and covenant which was the foundation ot the me- rit of Chrift, beltow upon us all the good things which Chrift aimed at, and intended to purchafe and procure, by his offer- ing of hirnfeif for us unto God ; which is in the next place to be declared. CHAP. III. ^iore particularly^ of the immediate end of the death oJChiJi: with thejcveral ways whereby it is defi^ned. WHAT the Scripture affirms in this particular, we laid down in the entrance of the whole difcourle ; which now, (having enlarged in explication of our fenfe and mean- ing therein,) muft be more particularly afTerted, by an appli- cation ot the particular places (which are very many) to our 'ihrfis as before declared ; whereof this is the fum : " Je- *' Cus Chrift, accordmg to the counfel and will ot his Father, *' did offer himfelf upon the crofs, to the procurement of " thofe things before recounted, and maketh continual inter- *' ceffion ; v^iih this intent and purpofe, that all the good " things fo procured by his death, might be aftually and in- *' fallibly beftowed on, and applied to, all and every one for " whom he died, according to the will and counfel of God." Let us now fee what the Scripture faith hereunto ; the fundry places whereof we (hall range under thefe heads, '^. 1^, Thofe that hold out the intention and counfel of God, xih our Saviour's own mind ; whofe will was one with his Father's, in this bufinefs. ^dly, Thofe that lay down the aBual accom^ plijhment or effeB o{ his oblation; what it did really procure, effc£l and produce, '^dly, Thofe that point out the perfons for whom Chrift died; as defigned peculiarly to be the objeft o£ this work of redemption, in the end and purpofe of God. I. For the firft ; or thofe which hold out the counfel, pur- pofe, mind, intention, and will of God, and of our Saviour, m this work ; they are, 1//, Matt. x\ni. 15, " The Son of man is come to fave " that which was loft ;" which words he repeateth again upon another occafion, Luke xix. 10. In the firft place, they are i/3 the front of the parable o^ feeking the lojljheep ; in the o- ther End of tke Death of Chrijl ajferted. 77 tber place, they are in the clofc of the recovery of loft Zac^ ckeas : ami in both places, fet iorih the end ot Chrift's com- ing ; which was to do the will of his father^ bv the recovery of loft finners ; as Zaccheus was recovered by converfion, by bringing him into the free covenant, making hiina fan oj Abraham ; or as the loft Iheep, which he lays upon his Jho^U- der, and bringeth home : fo that unlefs he findcth that which he feekeih for, unlefs he recover that which he cometh to fave ; he faileth of his purpofe. , ^ 2(//y, Mait.i. 21. where the angel declareth the end of Chrift's coming in the flefh, and confequcntly of all his fuf- ferings theiein, is to the fame purpofe ; he was to fave his people from their fins. Whatfoever is required, for a com- pleai and perfeft faving of his peculiar people irom their fins, ■was intended by his coming ; to fay that he did but in a part, or in fome regard efFe6t the work of falvation, is of ill report to chriftian ears. ^diyy The like expreflion is that alfo of Pauly t Tim. i, 15. evidently declaring the end of our Saviour's coming, accord- ing to the will and counfel of his Father, viz. to fave /inner s\ not to open a door for them to come in, if they will or can ; not to make a way pafTable, that they may be faved ; not to purchafe reconciliation and pardon of his Father, which per- haps they ftiall never enjoy ; but aftually to fave them from all the guilt and power of fin, and from the wrath of God for fin ; which if he doth not accomplifh, he fails ol the end of his coming; and if that ought not to be affirmed, furely became for no more, than towards whom that efFeftis procu- red. The compaft ot his Father with him, and his promife made unto him, o\ feeing his feed, and carrying along the pica- fur e of the Xord^ profperoufly, Ifa. Jiii. 10, 11. I before de- clared ; from which it is apparent, that the decree and pur- pofe of giving aftually unto Chrift a believing generation^ whom he calleth ** the children which God gave him," Heb» ii. 13. is infeparately annexed to the decree of Chrift's mak- ing his foul an offering for fin, and is the end and aim thereof. 4M/y, As the apoftle further declareth, Eeb. ii. 14, 15. " For as much as the children are partakers of flefti and blood, " he himfelf likeways took part of the fame ; that through " death he might deftroy him that had the power of death, " that is, the devil ; and deliver them who, through fear of " death, were all their lite-time fubjeft to bondage." Than which words, nothing can more clearly fct forth the intire end 78 Falji Ends te}noved, and the proper enaoFthat whole difpenfatlon of the incarnation and offerino'- of Jeius Cbrift; even a deliverance of ihQ children whom God, f^ave hm, trorn the power of death, hell, and the devi!, fat bringing them nigh unto God ; nothing at all, of the purchaf- ing of a polFible deliverance for all and every one ; nay ali are net ihofe childrca which God gave him, all are riot deli- vered from death and him that had the power of it, and there- fore it was not all, for whom he then took flefh and blood. m ^^'^'O* ^^^^ fame purpofe and intention we have, EpJi, y, 25 26, 2/. *' Chrill loved the church arki gave hjmfelf for " it; that he might fanftity and cleanfe it, with the. wafhing ** of water by the word, that he might prefent it to himfelf a *' glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch ** thing, but thbit it ihould be holy, and without blemifh." — As alio Tttus ii. 14. *' He gave himfelf for us, that he might " redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himfelf a pe- *' culiar people, zealous of good works." I think nothing cm be clearer than thofe two places; nor is it pofTible for the wii of man to invent exprefTions, fo fully and lively to fet out the thing we intend, as it is in both thefe places by the Holy Ghoif. — What did Chrifl do? ke gave himfelf , fay both theie places alike;; for whom ? for his church, faith out; for ij, faith the other; both words of equal extent and force, as all men know. To what end did he this? to fan&ify and dtanf ity to prejent it to himfelf an holy and glorious church, Ziii'nout fpct^or mrinkUy faith he to the Ephefians ; to redeem us pom all iniquity, and to purify to himfelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works, faith he to Titus. \ afk now, are ail men af this church ? are all in that rank of men, among whom Faul placeth himfelf and Titus? are all purged, pu- rified, fanftified, made glorious, brought nigh unto Chrifl ? or doth Chrift fail in his aim towards the greateft part of men ? I dare not clofe with any of thefe. 6thiy. Will you have cur Saviour Chrifl himfelf exprefTmg this, more evidently retraining the objeft, declaring his whole defign and purpofe, and afhrming the end of his death ? John xvii. 19. *' For their fakes I fandify myfelf, that they *' alfomightbe fan^lified through the truth. For their fakes;" whcie I prsy ? " the men which thou gave me out of the *' v.'crld," verfe 6, notthe whole world, whom he prayed not for, verfe 9. " I fanftify myfelf;" whereunto ? to the work X am now going about, even to be an oblation ; and to what end? hina kai autoi osin xisgiasmenoi £}■ ALETHEIA that they alfo may he truly fanBified. The En4 vf the Dtath df Chriji qfaied, y^ The HINA there, (that \ht)\) fignifics ilic intent and purpofe ot Chrift ; It dcfigns out the end he aimed at, which our hope is, and that is the hope of the goTpel, ihiit lie hath accompliihed ; (for " the deliverer that comes out of Sion, *' turns aw-ay ungodlinefs from Jacob," Rom, xi. 26.); and that herein there was a concuricnce of the will of his Father ; yea that this his purpofe was, to lu'fil the will of his Taiher which he came to do. jthly. And that this alfo was his counfel, is appareift,^ Gal. i. 3, 4. " For our Lord jefus gave himfeU for our fins, •* that .he might deliver us from this prefent evil world, accor- *' ding 10 the will of God and our Father." Which will and purpofe of hi.^, the aooflle further declares, chuptcr-'w. a. p,^ 6. ** God fcnt forth his Son, made of a v/oman, msde under ** the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we *' might receive the adoption of Sons ; and becaufe ye are •' Sons, God hath fent forth thefpiriicf his Son into ) our ** hearts, crying, Abba Father." Our deliverance Ifom the law, and thereby our freedom from the grdlt of fm ; our a- doption to be fons, receiving the fpirit, and drawing nigh un- to God; are all of them in the purpofe of the Father, rivin^ his only Son for us. 8M/)'. 1 fliall add but one place more, of the very many more that might be cited to this purpofe ; and thai is 2 t^r. V. 21. " He hath made him 10 be fin lor us, uho knew no *' fin, thai we might be made the righieoufnels ol Gdd in him." The purpofe of God in making his Son 10 be tm, is, ihat thofe for whom he was made fm, might become ri^htcouQjefs; - that was the end of God's fending Chrifl to be To, and* Chrift's willingnefs to become fo. Now, if the Lord did not purpofe what is not fulfilled, yea, what he knew fhould never be fulfilled, and what he v/ould not Vv-orkat all, that it might be fulfilled, (eiiher of which are mofl atheiftical exprclfi- ■ons) then he made Chrifl fm for no more, than do in the cfFefl become aftually righteoufnefs in him.; fo that the coun- fel and will of God, with the purpofe and intention of Chrifl, by his oblation and bloodfhedding, to fulfill that will and counfel ; is from thefe places made apparent. From all which v/e draw this argument; that which the Fa- ther and the Son intended to accomplidi, in and towards ali thofe tor whom Chriii died, by his death ; ihat is mofl cer- tamly effeaed ; (if any fliall deny this piopofiiion, I will at any time, by the Lord's afudance, take up the aflenion of it;) but the Father andhb Son intended, by?hs death of Chrift, ♦ to 8o falfe Ends removed, and the proper to redeem, purge, fanftify, purify, deliver from death, Sa- tan, the curfe of the law, to quit of all fin, to make righte- oufnefs in Chrift, to bring nigh unto God ; all thofe for whom he died ; as was above proved ; therefore Chrift died for all thofe, and only thofe, in and towards whom, all thefe things recounted are efFefted ; which whether they are all and every one, I leave to all and every one to judge that hath any knowledge in thefe things. II. The fccond rank contains thofe places, which lay down the a6lual accomplifhmcnt and efFe61 ot this oblation ; or what it doth really produce and effcft, in and towards them for whom it is an oblation. Such are, i/?. Heb. IK. 12,14. "By his own blood he entered in once " into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for *' us; the blood of Chrift, who through the eternal Spirit of- " fered himfelf without fpot to God, {hall purge your confci- ** ence from dead works, to fcrvc the living God." Two things are here afcribed to the blood ot Chrift; one referring to God, It obtains eternal redemption ; the other refpe^ring us, it purgeth our confciencesfrom dead works; fo that jullification with God, by procuring for us an eternal redemption from the guilt of our fins, and his wrath due unto them, with fanc- tification in ourfelves, (or as it is called, Heb. i. 3. *' a purging •* our fins") is the immediate prodluft of that blood, by which he entered into the holy place — ot that oblation which, through the eternal Spirit, he prefentcd to God, Yea, this meritorious purging of our fins is peculiarly afcribed to his offering, as performed before his afcenfion, Heb, i. 3. *' When *' he had by himfelf purged our fins, he fat down on the right " hand of the Majefty on high;" and again moft exprefsly, Heb. ix. 26. " Ke hath appeared, to put away fin by the facri- *' fice of himfelf;" which expiation and putting away of fin, by the way of facrifice, mufl needs take in the aftual fanfti- fication of them for whom he was a facrifice; even as ** the *• blood of bulls and of goats, and theafiiesolan heifer, fprink- *' ling the unclean, fandifieih to the purifying of theflclh," verfe 13. Certain it is,, that whofoever v/as either polluted or guilty, for whom there was an expiation or a facrifice allow- ed, in thofe carnal ordinances which had a Jhadow of good ihinos to come ; that he had truly a legal cleanfing and fanfti- fving, to the purifying of the flefii, and a freedom from the punifhment which was due to the breach of the law, as it was the rule of converfation to God's people; fo much this facri- fice carnally accomplifhed, for him that was admitted there- unto» End of the Death of Chrifi aJferUL 8 1 unto. Now, thefe things being but a Piadow of good tilings to come ; certainly the facrifice o\ Chrift did effed fpiritnally, for all them for whom it was a facrifice, whatever the other could typify out; that is, fpirilual cleanfmgby fanSlificatlon, and freedom from the guilt of fin ; which the places pro- duced do evidently prove. Now, v/hethsr this be accomplifh- ed in all, and for them all; let all that are able, judge. Again, 2diy. Chrifi, by his death and in it, is faid to l>^ar our fins ; 1 Pet. ii. 24. " His own felf bare our fins;" where you have^ both what he did, bare our fins, (anenenkem, he carried them up with him, upon the crofs) and what he intended^ that zve being dead to fin, Jhou'd live unto righteoufnefs ; and what was theefTeft, by ivhojejlripesyc were healed. \Vhich lat- ter, (as it is taken from the fame place of the prophetj where our Saviour is afHrmed to bear our iniquities, and to haver them laid on him, Ifia. liii. 6, 11*) (o it is expofitory of the former; and will tell us Vvhat Chrifi; did by bearing cur fins ; which phrafe is more than once ufcd in the Scripture to this purpofe. Chrifi: then lo bare our iniquities by his death, that by virtue of the ftripes and i^ffiiftions which he underwent, in his oflfering himfelf for us, this is certainly procured and ef- fefted, that we fiiould go free, and not fuffcr any cf thofd things which he underv;ent for us. To which alfo you may refer all thofe places, which evidently hold out a commutation, in this point of fuffering^ between Chrifi and us; Gal iii* 13. •' lie hath redeemed us from the curfe, bring made a *• curfe for us;" with diver.-? others, which u'e fliali have oc^ cafion afterwards to mentioHi o^dly. Peace alfo, and reconciliation with God, that is^ ac- tual peace by the removal of all enmity on both fides, with all the caules of it, is fully afcribcd U) this oblation; CoL i, 21, 22. " And you that were fo^Tetime alienated, and qk\i'.' *' mics iri your mind by wicked W(7rks, vet now hath he re- *• conciled in the body of his fiefii through death ; to prefent ** you holy and unblameable, and urircprovcable in his fight ;" as alio, Eph. ii. J3, 14, j^, itS. " Ye v;ho fometimes v/ere ** far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrifi; for he ?« *• our peace, having abolilhed in his fieOi the enmit)-, even •* the law of ccmmandments, that he might reconcile both *' unto God in one body by the crofs, having flain the enmity " thereby." To which add all thofe places, wherein plenary deliverance from anger, wrath, death, and him that had the power of it, is likewife afierted as the fruit thereof, as Rom, L T. 82 I'alje Ends remcycd, and the proper V. 8, 9, 10. and ye have a further difcovery made, of the immediate efre6l of ihe death of Chilfl. Peace and recon- cihation, deliverance from wrath, enmiiy, and whatever lay agalnfl: us, to lieep us from enjoying the love and favour of God ; all thefe he eftefted for his church, " with his own *' blood," Ads XX. 28. Whence all and every one for whom he died, may truly fay, '* Who fhall lay any thing to *' our charge ? It is God that jufiifieth ; who is he that con- ** demneth ? It is Chrift that died, yea, rather that is rifen a- *' gain; who is even at the right hand of God, who allomak- *' cth interccfhon for us," Rom* viii. 33, 34. which, that they are procured for all and every one of the Sons of Adam, that thev all may ufc that rejoicing in full afTurance, cannot be made appear. And yet evident it is, that fo it is with all for whom he died ; that ihcfe are the effefts of his death, in and towards ihcm lor whom he underwent it ; for by his being iiain, •' he redeemed ihem to God by his blood ; out of eve- " ry tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and made *' Mf/7z kings and priefts unto our God," Rev. v. 9, 10. For he •' made an end of their fins, he made reconciliation for *' their iniquity, and brought in everlafling righteoufnefs,'* Dan.ix. 24. 4/A/)'. Add all thofe other places, where our ii/e is afcrib- ed to the death of Chrift ; and then this enumeration will be perfeft. John vi. 33. *' He came down from heaven, and •' gjveth hie unto the world ;" furc enough, he givcth life to that Vv'orld, for which he gave his life. It is the world of his Jheep, for which he " laid down his life," J^ohn x. 15. even that he might •' give unto them eternal life," that they might *• never perifli," verje 28. So he appeared to '* abolifh death " to bring life and immortality to light," 2 Ti?n. i. 10, as Elfo Rom. v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Now there is none of all thefe places, but will afford a lufhcicnt llrength againfi the general ranfom, or the univerf- idity of the merit ol Chrifl. My leifure will not ferve, for fo large a profecution of the fubje6f, as the explaining of that would require ; and therefore I fhall take from the who-e, this general argument, viz. If the death and oblation of Je- ius Chrift (as a facriiice to his Father) doth fanftify all them for whom it was a facrifice, doth purge away their fin, re- deem them from wrath, curfe, and guilt, work for them peace and reconciliation with God, procure for them life and immortality, bearing their iniquities and healing all their dif- cafes, then died he only for ihofe that are in the event fanc- tified. End of the Death of Chrijl aj] tried, 83 tificd, purged, redeemed, juflificd, freed from wrath and death, quickened and faved ; but that all are not thus fanfti- fied, freed, &c. is mod apparent ; and thcrctore, they can- not be faid to be the proper object of the death of Chrilf.-— The fuppofal was confirmed before ; the fccond propofition is plain from Scripture and experience ; and the whole argu- ment (it 1 miftake not) foHd. III. Many places there arc, that point out ;he perfons for whom Chrift died, as defigned peculiarly to be the obje£l of this work o\ redemption, according to the aim and purpofc of God ; of which, fome we will briefly recount. In fomc places they are called many ; as Matt, xxvi. 28. " The blood •• of the New-Teftament is fhcd for many, for the remifTion " of fins ; and^ by his knowledge fliall my righteous fervant *' juftify many, for he Ihall bear iheir iniquities," ]fa. liii. 11. ** For the Son of man came not to be miniflered unto, but " to minifter, and to give his life a ranfom for many," Maik x. 45. andMa^/. xx. 28. He was to " biing many ions unto gio- *' ry;" andfo was to be "the captain of their falvation, through fuffering," Heh. ii. 10. And though perhaps the word wa??)', it- fclf, be not fufhcient to reff rain the obje£l of Chrifl's death un- Xofome^ in oppofition to all\ becaufe many is fometimes placed abfolutely {ox all \ as Rom. v. ig. yet, thefe 772^??^ being defcrib- ed in other places, to be fucb, as it is mofl certain all are not ; fo it is a full and evident rcflriflion of ir. For thofe many are the " fhcep of Chrift," John x. 15. " The children of ** God that were fcattered abroad," John xi.,52. thofe whom our Saviour called /;rf//2;^«, Rtb* ii. 11. " The childrea " which God gave him," which were " partakers of flefh " and blood," r;er/fj 13, 14. and frequently, thofe who were " given unto him" of his Father, John xvii. 2, 6, 9, 11. who fhould certainly be preferved, vtrfi 12, "The iheep, " whereof he was the Ihepherd, through the blood of the "' covenant," Heb. xiii. 20. His tleEl^ Rom, viii, 33. and his ptopUy Matt. i. 21, further explained to be his " vifited " and redeemed people," Lun^ i. 68. even the people which he foreknew^ Rom. xi. 2. even fach a people as he is faid to have at Corinth before their converfion • \\\% people by elec- tion, Atls\s\\\. 10. T\\Q people that he " fufifered for with- *' out the gate, that he might fanftify," ILb. xiii. 12. Pi's ** church which he purchafed with his own blood," Ads xx.. 28. which "beloved, and gave himfelf for," Eph. v. 2,5. ihe many, whofe " fins he did bear," Hcb. ix. 28. with whom " tie confirmed the covenant," Dan, ix. 27. Thofe many 3-i faljc Ends removed^ and the proper many being thus defcribed and fet forth, with fuch qualifica- eions as by no means are common to al', but proper only to the cleft, do moft evidently appear, to be all and only thofc that are chofen of God, to obtain eternal life through the of- fering and bloodfliedding of Jefus Chrift. Many things are here excepted, with much confidence and clamour, that may eafily be removed. And fo you fee the end of the death of Chrift, as it is fet out in the Scripiure. That we may have the clearer pafTage, we muft remove the hindrances that are luid in the way, by fome pretended an- fwers and evafions, ufed to efcape the force of the argument drawn from the Scripture, affirming Chrift to have died for many, his ftieep, his els^i, and the like. Now to this it is replied ; thit this reafon, as it is called, is weak and of no force, cquivoca!, fubiile, fraudulent, falfe, ungodly, deceit- ful and erroneous ; fora'i thefe feveral epithets are accumu* lated, to adorn it withal, [Mores Univerfaiity of free Grace, pag. 16.) Now this variety ot terms, (as 1 conceive,) ferve5 only to declare, what copia verborum the unlearned eloquence of the author is woven withal ; for fuch terrible names, im- pofcd on that which we know not well how to gainfay, are a ibong argum'^nt of a weak caufe. When the Pharifees were not abie to refift the Spirit whereby our Saviour fpake, they call him devil and Samaritan^ Waters that make a noife are are ufually but fiiallow. It is a proverb among the Scythians, That the dogs which bark moft, bite leaft. Bet let us fee, Qj.dd digraan tanto ferclhic refponfcr hiatu ; and hear 'him ipcak in his own language. He fays then, ly'?, " This reafon is weak, and of no force ; for the word " [many] is often fo ufed, that it both fignifies all and every ** man, and alfo amplifieth or fetteth forth the greatnefs of '* that number; as in Dan, xii. 2. Ro7n. v. ig. and in o- *' ther places, where [7/2./i!^?_)'] cannot be, nor is by any chiif- mn underftood, for lefs than all men." To which I reply, that, 1. If the proof and argument were taken merely from the ?ivord ?^anyt and not from the annexed defcription of thofe many, with the prefuppofed diflinclion of all men into feveral forts, by the purpofe of God, this exception would bear ^ome colour; but for this fee our arguments following. On- }y by the way obferve, tha: he that fhall divide the inhabitants ofany place, as at London, into poor and iich, thofe that want, and thofe that abound ; aherwards affirming, that he will be- ftov/ his bounty on many at London, ©n the poor, on thofe that End of tht Death of Chrijl aJfaUd. i^<; that want : he will be eafily underllood to give unto, and bc- ftow it upon them, only. 2. Neither of the places quoted prove direftly, that wa«y mull neceffarily in tiiem be taken tor all. In Daa. xii. 2. a diftribution ot" the word to the leveral parts of the aflirniation mud be allowed ; and f^ot an application ot it to the whole, as fuch ; and fo the fenfe is, the dead Ihall arife, many to life, and many to fhame ; as in another language it would have been expreiled ; neither are fuch Hebraifms unufual ; be- fides, perhaps, it is not improbable, that many are faid to rife to life, becaufe as the apoftle fays, all (hall not die. The like alfo mav be faid oS. Rom. v. 19. Though the many there feem to be all, yet certainly they are not called fo ; with any intent to denote all, with an amplificaiion, (which that /«a«y ihould be to «//, is not likely ;) for there is no comparifou there inftiiuted at all, between number and number, of thofe that died by Adam's difobedience, and thofe that are made a- live by the righteouinefs of Chritt ; but only in the effefts of the fin of Adam and the righteoufnefs of Chrift, together with the way and manner of communicaiiug death and lile from the one and the other ; whereinto any confideraii- on of the number of the participators of thofe eflfeft?, is not inferted. 3. The other places whereby this fliould be confirmed, I am confident our author cannot produce, notvvithftanding his tree inclination ior fuch a referve, thefe, thefe being the places which are in this cafe commonly urged by Arminians ; but if he could, they would be no way material to infringe our argument ; as appeareth by what was faid before. odly. '* This real'on f he adds) is equivocal, fubtile and " fiaudulent ; feeing where all men and every man is affirm- *' ed of, the death of Chrilf, as the ranfom and propitiation, " and the fruits thereol only, is afFumed for them; but where *' the word manyh'm any place ufed in this bufmefs, there are " more ends of the death of Chrilf, than this one affirmed •' of." Reply, 1. It is denied that the death of Chrilf, in any place of Scripture, is faid to be for all men, or for every man ; which with fo much confidence is fuppofed and irapofed on U5, as a thing acknowledged. 2. That there is any other end of the death of Chrifl, be- fides the fruit of his ranfom and propitiation, dire6f !y intend- ed, and not by accident attending it ; is utterly faife; yea what other end ; he ranfom paid by Chrilf, and the atonement 8o Falfe Ends removed^ and the proper made by him, can have, bat the fruits of them, is not ima» ginabls. The end of an/ work, is the fame with the fruit, effeft, or produfcl of it ; fo that this wild diftinftion, of the ranfom and propitiation of Chrift with the fruits of them to be for all, ani other ends ot his d^ath to be only for many, is an aflertion neither equivocal, fubtile, nor fraudulent ; but 1 fpeak to whit I c jnceive the meaning of the place ; for the words themfelves bear no tolerable fenfe. 3. The obfervation, that where the word many is ufed, many ends are defigned, but where all are fpoken of, there only the ranfom is intimated, is, (1.) Difadvantageous to the author's perfuafion, yielding the whole argument in hand ; by acknowledging that where m:iny are mentioned, there alt cannot be underftood ; becaufe more ends of the death oi Chrift, than do belong to all, are mentioned ; and [o confef- fedly all the other anfwers, to prove that by many'y all are to be underftood, are againft the author's own light. (2.) It is frivolous ; for it cannot be proved, that there are more ends of the death of Chrift, befides the fruit of his ranfom. (3.) It is falfe; for where the death of Chrift is fpoken of, as for 7nany, he is faid to give his life a ranfom for them, Matt* XX. 28. which are the very words, where he is faid to die for ally 1. Tim, ii. 6. What difference is there in thefe, what ground for this obfervation ? Even fuch as thefe, are divers others of that author's obfervations ; as his whole 10th chap- ter is fpent to prove, that wherever there is mention of the redemption purchafed by the oblation of Chrift, there they for whom it is purchafed are always fpoken of in the third pcrfon, as by atlth^ worlds or the like; when yet, in the ift chapter of his book, himfelf produceth many places to prove this general redemption, where the perfons for whom Chrift is faid tofuffer, are mentioned in the firft or fecond perfons, as 1 Pet, ii. 24, and iii 18. Ifa. liii. c, 6. 1 Cor, xv. 3. GaL iii. 13, &c. 3i/)', He proceeds ; " This reafon is falfe, and ungodly; " for it is no where in Scripture faid, that Chi ift died or gave ^* hinifeit a ranfom but for many, or only for many, or orily " for his flieep ; and it is ungodlinefs 10 add to, or diminiOi *' froni, the words of God in Scripture.'* R^ply 1. To pafs bv the loving terms of the author, and allowing a grain to make the fenfe current ; I (2iy, that Chrift sinrming that he gate his Hfe for many, for his Qieep, being friid to die for his Church, and innumerable places of Scripture witnefling, that all men are not of his iheep. End of the Death of Chriji aJferteL 87 of his Church ; we argue and conclude, Ly juft- and un- deniable confequence, that he died not Tor ihofe who arc not fo. It this be adding to the word of God, (being only anexpofition and unfolding of his mind therein) who ever fpake from the word of Gud and was guiiilel^ ? But it were cafy to recriminate. «. Let it be obfcrvcd, that in the very place where our Sa. viour fays, that he gave his hfe for lils fheep, he prefenily adds, that feme are not ot his fheep, John x. 26. which if ii be not equivalent to his fheep only^ 1 know not what is. ^thly, •' But, fayshe^ the reafon is deceitful and er cncotis ; *' for the Scripture doth nowhere fay, thofe many he died *' for arc his fheep, (much lefs his eleft, as the reafon intends *• it) As lor the place, John x. i^. ufually inftanccd to this " end, it is therein much abufed ; for our Saviour, John x. *' did not fet forth the difference between fuch as he died tor, *' and fuch as he died not for ; or iuch as he died for fo and ** fo, and not fo and fo ; but the difference between thofe that *' believe on him, and thofe who believe not on him, verfts " 4, 5, 14, 26, 27. The one hear his voice and follow him, ** the other not. Nor did our Saviour here fet forth the pri- *' vileges of all he died for, or whom he died tor fo and fo ; " but of thofe that believe on him through the miniffration " of the gofpel, and fo to know him, and approach to God^ " and enter the kingdom by him, verfes 3, 4, 9, 27. Nor *' was our Saviour here fetting forth the excellency of thofe " for whom he died, or died for fo only ; wherein they arc *' preferred before others ; but the excellency of his own " love, with the fruits thereof, to thofe (not only that he " died for, but alfo) that are brought in by his miniftralion ** to believe on him, verfis 11, 27. Nor was our Saviour •' here treating fo m.uch of his ranfom-giving and propitia'ion- '• making, as of his miniffration of ths gofpel ; and (o of his- *' love and faithfulnefs therein ; wherein he laid down his "life, for thofe mini ftred to, and therein gave us an exam- " pie, not to make propitiation for fin, but to teffifV love in *' fuffering." Reply, 1 am perfaaded that nothing but an acaujiintcdnefs with the condition of the times v/nerein we iive^n afford mc fan^uary from the ccnfure of the reader, to hi lavifli of precious houis, in confidering and iranfcribing fuch canting lines as thefe lafl repealed. But yet, feeing better cannot be af- forded, we muft be content to view fuch evafions as thefe; all Vi'hofe ffrcngth is in incongruous expreffions, incoherent firucture. 85 ^alfc Ends removed, and the proper flriiftnrc, cloudy and windy phrafes ; all tending to raifc fuch a mighty fog, as that the bulinefs in hand might not be per- ceived, being loft in this fmoke and vapour, caft out to dark- en the eyes and amufe the fenfes of poor fcduced fouls. The argument undertaken to be anfwercd, being, that Chrift is faid to die for many, and thofe many are defcribed and de- figned to be his Iheep, as John x. What anfwer, I pray, or any thing like thereunto, is thtre to be picked out of this confufed heap of words which we have recited? So that I might fafely pafs the whole cvafion by, without further ob- fervation on it, but only to defire the reader to obferve, how much this one argument preflcth, and what a nothing is that heap oi confufion which is oppofed to it. But ) et, left any thing fhould adhere, I will give a few annotations to the place, leaving the full vindication of them, until 1. come to iheprefling of our arguments. I fay then, 2. That the many Chrift died for, were his fheep, was before declared; neither is the place of John x. at all abufed, our Saviour evidently fetting forth a difference between them for whom he died, and thofe for whom he would not die; calling the firft his ftieep, verfe 15. thofe to whom he would give eternal life, verfe 28. thofe given bim by his Father, chapter xvii. evidently diftinguifhing them from others who were not fo. Neither is it material, what was the primary intention of our Saviour in this place; from which we do not argue, but from the intention ?t brought unto him by the miniftration of thegofpei; fo that there is not (a not only thofe. whom hi died Jor, but aJjo ihofe that are brought in unto him) tor he died for his fheep, and his fheep hear his voice; they for whom he died, and thofe that come unto him, may receive difF^rcnt qualifications; but they are not feveral perfons. 5. The queffion is not at all, to what end our Saviour here malies mention of his death ; but for whom he died, who are exprefsly faid to be his flieep, which all are not. His inten- tion is, to declare the giving of his life for a ranfom, snd that according to the commandment received of his Father, verfe 18. 6. The love and faithfulnefs of Jefus Clirifl, in tlie mini- ftration of the gofpel, that is, his performing I'le oiTice of the Mediator of the new-covenant, is feeji in no'hing more, than in giving his life for a ranfom, John xv. 13. Here is not one wordof givingus an example; thoughin laying down his life^ he did that alfo; yet here, it is not improved to that purpofe. From thefe brief annotations, I doubt not but that it is apparent, that that long difcourfe before recited, is nothing but a miferable miftaking ol the text and quellion; which (he euthor perhaps perceiving, he adds divers ether evafions ; which follow : c^thly, •* Befide:, (faiii he) the oppofiiion nppenrs here to *' be, not fo much bet-.vccn elc61: and not elett; as between *' Jews cal'ed, and Genfiles uncalled." Reply. The oppofuion is between fheep and not fliecp : snd that with reference to their ele£lion, and not their vocation. Now, who would he have fignified, by the «:7/^:ofed, or the excepti- ons agdinfl it devifed, be to be accounted weak, fraudulent, ungodly and erroneous. Although I fear, that in this particular I have already en- trenched upon the reader's patience; yet I cannot let pafs the difcourfe immediately following in the fame author, to thofe exceptions which we lad removed, (laid by him ag^.inft the arguments we had in hand,) without an obelifl<. ; .as alfo an oblervation of his great abilities, to caft down a man of clou.is, which himfelf had fet up, to manifeil his fkill in its defti'uftion. To the preceding difcourfe, he adds another ex- ception, which he impofeth on thofe that oppofe univerfal redemption, as though it were laid by them, aoainftthe under- ilanding of the general expreffions in the Scripture, in that way and fenfe wherein he conceives them ; and it is, that: thofe words were fitted for the time of Ciiriff and his apoftles, having another meaning in them than they ieem to import. Now, having thus gaily trimm.ed and let up this man of ftraw, to whofe framing I dare boldly f^yjj^t one of his acjptfaries did ever contribute a penful of in^j||Po fiiew his rare (kill, he chargeth it with I know not how many errors, blafphemies, \)^^, fet on with exclamaiions and vehement outcries, uniii it tumble to the ground. Had he not fometimes anfwered an ar- gument, he would have been thought a moff unhappy difpu- tant ; now, to make fure that once he would do it, I believe he was very careful that the objedion of his own framing, (liould not be too flrong for his own defacing;. In the mean time, bow blind are they that admire him for a combatant ; who is fkilful, only at fencing with his own fiiadow ; and yet with luch empty janglings as thefe, proving what none denies, an- iwering what none objc6ls j is the greateP!: part of Air. Mort\ bookftufFed, CHAP. p2 Talfi Ends ronoved, and the proper CHAP. IV. Of the diJlinBion if impe.tr adon and application : tJie uje ani abufe thereof ; with the opinion of (he adverfaries, upon the whole matter in controverfy, unfolded ; and the quejlioit on bothfdes fated* THE further reafons whereby the precedent difcourfe may be confirmed, I defer, until I come to oppofe fome ar- guments to the general ranlom. For the prefent, I (hal! on- ly take away that general anfwer which is ufually given to the places of Scripture produced, to wave the fenfe of them ; which is PiiARMACON PANSOPHON to our adverfafics, and ferves them, as they fuppofe, to bear up all the weight wherewith in this cafe they arc urged. I. They fay then, that in the oblation of Chrift, and con- cerning the good things by him procured, two things areto be confidercd ; firlf , the impetration or obtaining of them ; and I'econdly, the application of them to particular perfons. The tirfl (fay they) is general, in refpeft o\ all ; Chrift obtained snd procured all good things by his death, ot his Father, re- f:onciliation, redemption, forgivenefs of fins, for all and eve- ry man in the world ; if they will believe and lay hold upon liira ; but in refpeft oi application, they arc a6lually beftowed and conferred but on a tew; becaufe but a few believe, which is the condition ©n which they are beftowed. And in this latter fenfe ire the texts of Scripture, which we have ar- gued, all of them to be u.iderftood ; fo that they do no whit impeach the univerfality of merit, which they aflert; but on* ]y the univerfality of application, which they alfo deny. Now this anfwer is commonly fet forth by them in various terms, and (iivers drcffes ; accorfipg as it feems beft to them that ule it, and moft fubfervieU: to their feveral opinions. For, ifl. Some of them fay, that Chrift by his death and pafli- on did abfolutely, according to the intention of God, pur- chafe for all and every man, dying for them, remifllon of fins and reconciliation with God ; or a reftitution into a ftate of grace and favour ; all which ftiall be aftually beneficial to them, provided that they do believe. So the Armi- nians. idly. Some again ; ^ that Chrift died for all indeed ; but conditionally lor fome, if they do believe, or will fo do, (which he knows they cannot of ihemfelves ;) arid abfolutely iol? f Cqmero^ Tefiarduf^ Amiraldus, End of the Death cf Chrijl oJfuUd, 'J'") ife; for his own, even them on whom he purpofeth .to bellovv faiih and grace, fo atiualty to be made pcfredors .If' die good things by him purchafcii, So Camerc, and the divines of France, which follow a new method by him devifed. o^dly. Some f diftinguiih of a two-fold reconciliation and redemption ; one wrought by Chriftwiih God for inan, which (fay ihzy) is general tor all and every man ; fecondly, a re- conciliation wrought, by Chrid in man unto God, brin;jin^ them a61ually into peace with him. And (undry oih-r ways there are, v.hereby men expref^ their conceptions in this bufniefs. The fum of all comes to this, and th? weight of ail lies upon ih?.t diftindion which wc before recounted, viz. that in refpeft of impetration, Chriil obtained redemption and reconciliation for ail ; in iefpt£t of application, it is beftowed only on iheni 'Ahodo believe, ^.•[id continue therein. II. Their arguments whereby they prove the generality of the ranfom and univerfality of the reconciliation, muff after- wards be cor;fidercd ; for the prefent, we handle only tho diftinBion iticlf, the meaning and mifapplication whercct i {hall briefly declare; which will appear, if we confider, \fl. The- true nature and ir.eaning of this diHin^lioii, and the true ufe thereof; for we do acknowledge, that it may be ufcd in a found fcnfc and right meanirg, ^which way fotver you exprefs it ; either by impetraiion and application, or by procuring reconciliation with God, and a v/orking of recon- ciliation in us. For by impdration, we mean the meritorious purchafc cf all good things made by Chi iff for u?, with and of his Father ; z^ndhy applicaiicn, the a^ual enjoyment of ihofegood things upon our believing; as if a mian pay ^a price for the redeeming of captives ; the psying cf tlie piicetuppli- €th the room of the impttraiioh of wyifch we fjeak, ancl the freeing cf the captives, is as the application u: ir. Yet then we mull obfcrve, 1. That this dift inclion haih no place in the irctcniicn *nd purpcfc o\ Chrilf, but only in refpsct ot the thing.5 procured by him. For in his purpoft-, they are belli united ; hii fail end and aim being, to deliver us lioni al! evil, and to procure all good actually to be beftowed upon us ; but in refpcd ct" the things tkemfck'cs, they may be-eonfidered as either procur- ed by Chrifl, eras beflcwed on us. 2: That the will of God is not at aM ccndi'ional, in this bufi. jiefs ; as iho' he gave Chril!; to cbt..ia peace, rccci;ci!ijtioii and t More, with fomc others cf laic. Q4 ^^^If^ ^^^^ removed, and the proper :ir\^ forgivenefs of fins, upon condition that we do believe. There is a condition in the things, but none in the will of God ; that is abfolute, that fuch things fliould be procured^ and beflov\ed. 3 That a// the things which Chrift obtained for us, are not beftowed upon condition ; but Jbme of them abfolutely ; and as for thofe that are beftowed upon condition ; the condition on which they are bellowed, is aftualiy purchafed and procur- ed for us, upon no condition, but only by virtue of the pur- chafe. For inftance ; Chrift hath purchafed remifTion oi fins and eiernal life for us, to be enjoyed on our believing, upon che condition of faith ; but faith itfelf, which is the condition of them, on whofe performance they are beftowed, that he hath procured for us abfolutely, on no condition at all. For^ what condition foevcr can be propofed, on which the Lord Ihould beftow faith; I fliall afterward fhew it vain, and t* run into a circle. 4. That both thefe, impetration and application^ have for their objefts the fame individual perfons ; that lor whomfo- cver Chrift obtained any good thing by his death, unto them it Ihall certainly be applied, upon them it (hall aftually be beftowed ; fo that it cannot be faid, that he obtained any thing for any one, which that one fhall not or doth not in due time enjoy. For Wfeonifoever he wrought reconciliation with God, in them doth he work reconciliation unto God ; the one is not extended to fome, to whom the other doth not reach. Now, becaufe this being eftablilhed, the oppofite in- terpretation and mifapplication ot this diftin6lioii vanifhcth ; I Ihall briefly confiim it with reafons. (i.LIf tiie application of the good things procured be the cndimy tlicy are procured, for whofe fake alone Chrift doth obta^themj; then they muft be applied to all for whom they are obtained"; for otherwife Chrift faileth ol his end and aim ; which muft not be granted. But that this application was th« end of the obtaining of all good things for us, appeareth, [1.] Becaufe il it were otherwife, and Chrift did not aim at the applying ot them, but only at their obtainiijg ; then might the death of Chrift have had its full effeO: and ilTue, without the application of redemption and lalvation to any one foul, that being not aimed at ; and fo notwithftanding all that he did for us, every foul in the world might have perifhed eter- nally ; which, whether it can ftand with the dignity and fuffici- ency of his oblation, with the purpofe of his Father, and his •wn intention, who came into the world to Jave finners^ that whi^ End of the Death of Chrijt ajfertej, ^ o J which was loft, and to bring many fons unto fjory • let a^l juJg' the weight oi iniquity upon him, and giving him up toHfs M' curfed death; muli be affirmed to be altogether i^ncc' -*;i!, what event all this (houU have in rcfpeft of us. For,^r ' - intend that we fhould be Paved by it ? then the app)lcatlo:i of it, is tliat which he aimed at, as we aiFcrt : Did he not? cer- tainlv he was uncertain what end it fhould have ;. which, is bUfphrmv, and exceeding contrary to fci ipfure and rit>ht rei- fon. D.J he appoint i Saviour, without tlioui^ht of them that were to be faved ? a Redeeme.r, not determining; Avijo fhould be redeemed? Did he icfolve of a m.mn, not determin- ing the end ? It is an alTertion oppofite to all the gloiious pro- perties of God. (2.) If that which is obtained by any, do, by viirue of th^t aftion whereby it is obtained, become his in right, fo» wi om it is obtained ; then for whomfoever any thing is by Chni*£ obtained, it is to them applied. For that muft be made thf )rs in fafcl, which is theirs in right : but it is moll; certain, that whatfoevcr is obtained for any, is theirs by right tor whom it is obtained. The very fenfe of the word, whether you call it merit, impetration, purchafe^ acquifition or oUaiinno; doth befpcak a right in them for whofe good the mtiit is et- fcQed, and the purchafe made. Can that be laid to be ob- tained for me which is noways mine ? V/nen I obtain any thing by prayer or intreaty of any one ; it being obtained, it is mine own : that which is obtained by one, is granted by him of whom it is obtained ; and if granted, it is g'^^m^d by him to thein for whom it is obtained. — But they will^^HL is obtained upon condition ,• and until the conditiih ^^RfiU led, no right doth accrue. I anfwer ; it this condition be equally purchafed and obtained, with other things that are to be bellowed on that condition, then this hinders'not, bat thai every thing is to be applied that is procured : but if it be un- certain whether this condition will be fuifilled or not, then,. [1.] This makes God uncertain what end the death of his Son will have; [2.] This doth not anfwer,' but deny the thing we are in proving ; which is confirmed, (3.) Becaufe the Icripture perpetually conjoining thefe two things together, will not fuffer us to fever them, as that the one Ibould belong to fome and not to others, as though thfv could have feveral perfons for their obje6fs : as IJh. liii. n. By his knowledge fdall my righteous fervant jiiflify many, there i^ the application of ail good things" ; for hef.iallh^ar their ini- quities. ^6 ^ Falfi Ends removed, and the proper quiiics, tliereis die impetration ; he juillfied all whofc Iniqui'-- ties he bore. As alfo verf: j. of that chapter, But he was zvoundecifor cur tranfi^rejfions, kt zvas bruifed for our iniqui" iieSyiiiithajiifcTmntoj our peac^ was upon him, and zoith his jlripeS we arc htaltd : his wounding and our healing, impe- tration and appHcarion, his chaftifement and our peace, are inf.-parably alTociated. So Rom. iv. 2j, Who was delivered for cur cffenees, and was raifcd a^^ain f@r our jujlifi cation : and Rom. V. 18, B\ the nghteoufnefs of one, (that is his impetra- tionj the free gift comrs upon a' I men unto juflification oj life, in the application. See there who are called all men, moft clearly. Alfo i;^w. viii. 32,33, 3^, " He that fpared not " his own Son, but delivered him up to the death for us alL " how fhall he not with him alfo freely give us all things? " Who {liall lay any thing to the charge of God's eleft ? It is '* God that juflifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Chrift *• that died, yea, rather that is rifen again ; who is even at *• the right hand of God, who alfo makeih interceflion for *' us." From which words, v.^e have thefe feverai leafonr of our affertion : [1.] That for whom God gives his Son, to them in him he freely gives all things ; theretorcall things obtained by his d^th, muft be beftowed, and are, on them for whom he died, verfe 32. [2.] They for whom Chrifl died, arejuilified, are God's ele6^, cannot be condemned, nor can any thing be laid to their charge ; all that he hath pur- chafed for them inuft be applied to them, for by virtue there- of it is that they are fo faved, ve^fes 33, 34. [3.] For v;hom Chriildied, lor them he makcth intcrccfifion : now his intcr- ccfliofi is for the application of thofe things, as is confellcd^ and thereinjtie is alv.-ays heard; thofe to whom the one be- longs, theirs aUo is the other. So Johnr.. 10. the coming of Chrift is, that his fheep might have life, and have it ahun- dantly. as alfo 1 John iv. 9. and Heb. x. 10. By the which zvill we areJanCnfud, that is the application ; thro' the offer- ing oj the body 0/ Jefus Chrifl, that is the means of impetrati- on ; *' for by one ofTering he hath perfe6led for ever them ^» that are fan^iined," IJeb. x. 14. In brief, it is proved by c\\ thofe places which v;c produced, rightly to afTign the end of the death of Chrift ; fo that this may be refted on, I conceive ss firm and immoveable ; t'.iat the impetration of good things by Chrift, and the application of them, rtfpeft the f>me individual perfons. 9.dly. We may confider the meaning of thofe who; feck ta niaintsiin univerfJ redemption by this diftinftion ; and to what kndof tht heath of Chrifl ajfaicd. gf what ufe they do apply it. Chrift (fay they) died f(ff all men^ and by his death purchafed reconcihaiion wiih God for them, and forgivenefs of fins ; which to fome is applied, and they become aftually reconciled to God, and have their fins forgiven them ; but to others not, who therefore pe- rifh in the (late of irreconcihation and enmity, under thd guilt of their fins. This application (fay they) is not procur- ed norpurchafed by Chrift; for then he dying for all, all mud be aftually reconciled, and have their fins forgiven them, and befaved; but it attends the fulfilling of the condition which Godispleafedtoprefcribeunto them, that is, believing; which (fay forae, though not in terms, yet by diretl confequence) they can do by their own ftrength; others fay not, but God muft give it. So that when it is faid in the Scripture, Chrift hath reconciled us to God, redeemed us, faved us by his blood, underwent the punifhment for our fins, and fo madd fatisfaftion for us ; they affert that no more is meant, but that Chrift did that which, upon the fulfilling of the condition that is of us required^ thefe things will follov/. To the death of Chrift, indeed, they aftign many glorious things; but what they give on the one hand, they take away with the other 5 by fufpending the enjovtnent of them en a condition by us vo be fulfilled, not by him procured; and in terms alTert, that the proper and full end of the death of Chrift, was, the doing of that whereby God, hii? juftice being fatisfi.ed, might favei finners if he would, and on what condition it pleafed him 3 that a door of grace might be opened to all that would come in; and not that aftualjuftification and remilnon of fins, lile and immortality, were procured by him, but only a poffibility of thofe things, that fo it might be. Now, that all the((poni that lies under this expofition and abufe of the diftinaion, may the better appear; 1 (liall let down the whole mind of them that ufe it, in a fev/ affertions; that it may be clearly feen what we do oppofe. 1. " God (fay they) confidering all mankind as fallen from *' that grace and favour in Adam wherein they were created, *' and excluded utterly from the attainment of falvation by *' virtue of the covenant of works^ which was at the nrft made *' with him; yet by his infinite goodnefs was inclined tode- *' fire the happinefs of them all and every one, that ihey might *' be delivered from mifcry, and be brought unto hirafelfj " which inclination of his, they call his univerfal love and *' antecedent will, whereby he would defirouily have them aU '' to be faved; cut of v/hich love he fsnae-h Ch:ift."' As 98 Falfi Ends removed^ and the proper to which* obCeive, (i.j That God haih any natural or nccefTary inclination, hy, his f^oodnefs or anv other property, to do good to us or aiiy of his creatures; v/e do deny ; every thing that concerns us, is an aft of his Irec-vvill and good pleafure, and not a natural neceiTary aQ o'i his deity ; as (hali be declared. (2.) The alciibing aa antecedent conditional will unto God, whofe fulfining and accomphlhtnent fhould depend on any tree contingent a6t or work of ours, is injurious to his wifdom, power, and fovereignry ; and cannot well be excuf- ed fromblalphemy ; and is contrary to Rom. ix. 19. " Who " haih refifted his will ?" (3.) 'A common affeflion and inclination to do good to all, doth not feem to fet out the Irecdom, tulnefs, and dimenfi- ons of that molt intenfe love of God, which is aflerted in the Scripture to be the caufe of fending his Son ; as John iii. 16. •' God fo loved the world, that he gave his only begotten " fon." Rom. V. 8. " God commendcth his love towards us; *' in that while we were yet finners, Chrifl died for us." Thefe two I Ihall by the Lord's affiftan-ce fully dear ; if the Lord give life and ftrengtn, and his people encouragement, to go through with the fecond part of this controverfy. (4.) We deny that all mankind is the cbjeft of that love of God, which moved him to fend his Son to die ; God hTHV- 'mg 'made iCyiTxt for the day of evil ^ Prov. xvi. 4. hakd ihem before ihey were born, Rc'?n. \^. 11, 13. Before of old ordained them to condemnation, Jude'iw "^Qiug fitted to defiruBion, Rom. ix. 22. made to betaken and deflroyed^ 2 Pit. ii. i2» appointed to zurath, 1 Thef. v. g. io go to ihoAX own place, Ads i. 25. 2.'|f^The juilice of God being injured by fm ; unlefs *' foinelhing might be done for the fatisfaftion thereof, that *' love of God whereby he wouldeth good to all Tinners, could *' no way be brought forth into a£f ; but muff have its eternal *• reiidenceinthebofomoiGod, without any efFeft produced." Obf. (1.) That neither Sciipturenor right reafon, v/ill en- force nor prove an uUer and abfolute want of power in God, to fave fmners by his own abfolute will, without faiisfaftion to his juftice. Suppoung his purpofe that fo it fhould be, in- deed it cou;d not be otherways ; but without the confiderati- on of that, certainly he could have effefled it; it doth not imply any violating of his holy nature.* (2.) An a£lual and neceflary velleity, for the doing of any thing which cannot poffibly be sccemplifhed ^Yithout fome work ^sc iha note on page 73. End ofthz Death of Chrift aJfcrUd, 99 work fulfilled outwardly of him, is oppoGte to his clernal blelfednefs and all-fufliciency. g. •• God, therefore, to (ulfil that general love and good " will of his toward all, and that it rriight put forth i.felf in *' fuch a way as fhould feem good to him to faiisly his juflice *' which ftood in the way 2nd was the only hindrance ; he *' fent his Son into the world to die." Ohf. The failing of this alTertion, wc fhall lay fcnh ; when we come to declare that love, whereof the fending of Chrift was the proper iffue and effect. 4. " Wherefore the proper and immediate end and aim of ** the purpofe of God, in lending his Son to die for all men, *' was, that he might what way he pleafed him fave fmners, *• hisjultice which hindred being fatished, as Arminius \ or " that he might will to fave fniners, as Corvimis : and the in- " tention of Chrift, was, to make fuch (atisfaftion to the juf- *' tice of God, as that he might obtain to himfelf a power of " faving, upon what conditions it feemed good to his Father " to prcfcribe." Ob/. Whether this was the intention of the Father in fend- ing his Son, or not ; let it be judged. Something was faid before upon the examination oi thofe places of Scripture which defcribe his purpole ; let it be known from them, whe- ther God, in fending of his Son, intended to procure to him- felf a liberty to fave us if he would ; or to obtain certain fal- vation for his eleft. (2.) That fuch a pofTibillty of falvation, or at the utmoftj a velleity or willing of it, upon an uncertain condition to be by us fulfilled, fhould be the full, proper, and only immedi- ate end of the death of Chrift ; will yet fcarcely go down v/ith tender fpirits. (3.) The expreffion of procuring to himfelf an ability to fave, upon a condition to be prefcribed, feems not to anfwer that certain purpofe of our Siviour in laying down his life .; which tb.e Scripture faith was to fave his Jlieep, and to bring many Jons to glory ^ as before ; nor hath it any ground in Scripture, 5. '* Chrift therefore obtained for all and every one recon- *' ciliation with God, remiflion of fins, life and falvation ; *' not that they fhould aftually be partakers of thefe things ; " but that God (his juftice now not hindering) might and *' would prefcribc: a condition, to be by them fulfilled, where- " upon he would actually apply it, and make them partake -" ©f all thole good things purchafed by Chrift." And here comefi 100 falfe Ends removed^ and the proper comes inthelr diftinftion oiimpetration and application^ which we before intimated ; and thereabout, in the expUcaiion of this afferiion, they are wondroufly divided. (i.) Some fav, that this proceeds fo far, that all men are thereby received into a new covenant ; in which redemption AdajJi was a common perfon, as well as in his fall from the old, and all we again reflored in him ; fo that none fhall be damned, that do not fin aflually againft the condition where- in they are born, and fall from the flate whereinto all men are affumed through the death of Chrift. So Borreus, Cor- vinus, and one of iate in plain terms ; that all are reconciled, redeemed, faved and juftified in Chrift ; though how, he would not underfland, (More page lo.) But others, more waiily, deny this ; and aflert, that by nature we are all chil- dren of wrath, and that until we come to Chrift the wrath of God abidtth on all, fo that it is not a£hially removed from any ; fo the afterters ot the univerfality of grace in France. (2.) Some fay, that Chrift bv this fatisfattion removed ori- ginal Jtnin all; and, by confeqiient, that only : fo that all infants, though of Turks and Pagans out of the covenant, dying before they come to the ufe ot reafon, muft undoubted- ly be faved ; that being removed in all, even the calamity, guilt, and alienation contrafted by out firft fall, whereby God may fave all upon a new condition. But others of them (more warily) obferving, that the blood of Chrift is faid to " purge all our fins," 1 John'i.j. 1 Pet.'i. 18. Ifa. liii. 6. they fay he died for all fins alike ; abfoiutely lor none, but conditionally for all. Further, fome of them affirm, that af- ter the- fatisfaftion of Chrift, or the confideration of it in God's prefcience, it was ablolutely undetermined what condi- tion fhould be prefcribed; fo that the Lord might have reduc- ed all again to the law and covenant ol works ; fo Corvinus. Others, that a procuring of a new way of falvation, by faith, was a part of the fruit of the death of Chrift ; fo More^ page 35- (3.) Again, fome of them fay, that the condition prefcribed is by our own flrength, (with the help of fuch means, as God at all times and in all places and unto all is ready to afford,) to be performed. Others deny this ; and affirm that effeftual grace, flowing peculiarly from eleflion, is necefTary to be- lieving : the firft eftablilhing the idol of Jreewill, to maintain their own aJTertion ; others overthrowing their own afTertion, for the eftabluliment of grace. So Amiraldus, Ca?Mro, &c, (4.) Moreover fome lay, that the love of God, in fcndin "4 Eiid of the Death of Chriji afferied. ioi of Chiift is Is eciual to all; others go a ftralii higher, and rnaiiUain an inequality in the love oi God ; although he fend his Son to die for all, and tnough greater love there can- not be, than that whereby the Lord fent his Son to die lor us,* as Romans viii. 32. and fo they fay, that Chrlll purchafed a greater good tor fome, and lefs for others. And here they put tl-.emfelves upon innumerable uncouth difhndions, or ra- ther (as one calleih thern) extinBions ; blotting oui all fsnfe and reafon, and true meaning of the Scripiure; witnefs Tef tardus, Amirald: and as every one may ieethat can but read Englifh, in T. M. Hence that multiplicity ot^ the feveral ends ot the death ot Chrift ; fome that are the fruits of his ranfom and fatisfaftion, andfom.e that are I know not what; befides his dvino- for fome fo andfo, for others fo and fo, this way and that way ^hiding themfelves in innumerable unintelligible expref- fjons, that it is a moll difficult thing to know what they mean ; and harder to find out their mind, than to anfwer their reafons. (5.) Inoneparticularihey agree well enough, viz. in de- nying that faith is procured or merited for us, by the death of Chrift. So far they are ail of them conftant to their own principles ; for once to grant it, would overturn the whole iaihncoi univerfalredtfnpiion; but in afligning the caufe ot faith, they go afunder again. Some fay, that God fent Chrift to die for all men; but on- ly conditionally, it they did or would believe ; as though, if they believed, Chrift died for them, if not, he died not ; and fo make the a£f, the caufe of its own objecf . Other fome teach, that he died abfolutely for all, to procure al- good things for them ; which yet they (hould not enjoy, u.itil they fulfil the condition that was to be prefcribed unto them. Yet all conclude, that in his death Chrift had no more refpeft unto the e'ie6l than others ; to fuftain their perfons, or to be in their room ; but that lie was a public perfon, in the room of all mankind. III. Concerning the clofe of all this, in refpeB of the e- vent and immediate produft of the death ot Chrift, divers have diverfly exprefted themfelves; iomc. placing it in the pozvery fome in the will of God ; fome in the opening of a door of grace, fome in a right purchafed to himfelf ot faving whom he pleafed ; fome, that in refpeft of us he had no end 9t all, but that a'l mankind mjght have perifJisd alter he had done all. Others make divers and diftinft end?, not al- moft to be reckoned, of this one acl of Chrift ; according to the diverfity ot the perfons tor v/hom he diecl, \vhom they 102 lalfi Ends removed^ arid the proper grr.nt to be dlllinguiflied and differenced by a foregoing de- cree ; pat to what purpofe the Lord fhould fend his Son to die for them, whom he hirnfelt had determined not to fave, but at leaft to pafs by and leave to irremedilefs ruin for their firjs, I cannot fee ; nor the meaning ot the twofold deftinati- on, by fome invented. Such is the powerful force and evi- dence o} tt uth, that it fcatters all its oppofers, and makes them fly to feveral hiding corners; who if they are not wil- Jing to yield and fubmit themfelves, they fliall furely lye down in darkncfs and error. None of thefe or the like intricate and involved impedite diftinBions, halh truth ilfelf any need of; into none ot fuch poor fliitts and devices, doth it com- pel its abettors ; it needcih not any v/indings and turnings, to bring it fell into a defenfible pofture ; it is not liable to contradiftions, in its own fundamentals ; for v,?ithout any further circumftances, the whole of it, in this bufinefs, may be thus fummed up, viz. *' God cut of his infinite \o^q to his ekcl, fent his dear ** Son in the fulnefs of time, v/hom he had promifed in the *' beginning of the v/orld, and made efteftual by that pro- " mife ; to die, pay a rarJom ot infinite value and dignity ; *' for the purchahng of eternal redemption ; and bringing •* unto himfelf, all and every one ot thefe whom he had be- ♦* fore ordained to eternal life, for the praife of his own " glory;" fo thatyrd^^',9?;i from all ih^ evil from which we are delivered, and an enjoyment of all the good things that arebeftowed on us, in our trad uftion from death to life, from hell and wrath, to heaven and glory ; are the proper iffues and effe61s of the death of Chrift, as the meritorious caufe of them all. Which may, in all the parts of it, be cleared by thele few affertions, viz. ijl. The fountain and caufe of God's fending Chrift, is his eternal love to his ele6f, and to them alone; which I fhall not now funher confirm ; referving it for the fecond general head of this whole controverfy. odly. The value^ worth and dignity of the ranfom which Qui if gave himfelf to be, and of the price which he paid, was infinite and unmeafureable ; fit for the accomplifhing of any end, and the procuring of any good, for all and every one for whom it v;as intended, had they been millions of men more than ever were created. Of this alfo alterwards. Si-cMh XX. 28. *' God purchafed the church Vv-ith his own '' blood.'* 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. *' R.edeemed, not with filver " zvA ^old : bin with the precious blood of Chrift ;" and that End of tke Death of Chrijl aJ/drUd. 103 that anfwering the mind and intention ot Almighty God, John\\y. 31^ " As the Father gave me commandment, c- " van fo I do :" who would have fuch a price pairl, as mioht be the tonndation of that oecoiiomy and difpenlation oi" his love and grace which he intended, and cI the way whereby he would have it difpenfed; A&s xiii. 38, 39. " Throuirh " this man is preached unto you the forgivenels of fins ; and *' by him all that believe are julllxied from all things, from " which ye could not be juftiiiedby the lawof A/Jofes." 2 Cor. V. 20, 21. •' We are ambalFadors for ChrlH, as though God " did beleech you by us; we pray you in Chrill's Head, be " ye reconciled to God : for he hath made him to be fin for *' us, who knew no fin; that we mig'it be made the riglr.couC- *' nefs of God in him." 2,dly, The intention and aim of ihe Father, in this great work, was bringing of thofe many fons to gloiy, znz. his c- le6i ; whom by his free grace he had chofen from amongrt all men, ol all forts, nations and conditions, to take them in- to a new covenant of grace u'ith himfelf ; the lormcr beinir as to them, in refpeft of the event, i\uil and aboliihcd : oi which covenant, Jefus Chrift is the fiift and chief promi(e ; as he that was to procure tor them all other good things pjo- mifed therein ; as fliall be proved. ^tkly. The things pur chafed ox procu'-ed for thofe pc-rfcijs, which are the proper effects of the death and ranfom cF Chrift, in due time certainly to become theirs, in po{ic{T]Gn and enjoyment ; are reraiiTion of fin, freedom from wrath and the curfe of the law, juflification, fanftificaticn, reconci- liation with God, and eternal life ; tor the will of Ids Father fending him for thefe, his own intention in laying down his life for them, and the truth of the purchafe made bv himj is the foundation oi his intcrceflion, begun on earth and continu- ed in heaven ; whereby he, whom his Father always hears, dehres and demands, that l>Iie good things procured by hin: may be aftually bellowed, on them all and cvcvy one for whom they were procured. So that the whole of v;hat we affcrt in this great bufinefs, is exceedingly clear and apparent, without any intricacy or the lead diiTiculty at aSi ; nut clouded with Itrange exprefiTions, and unneceflary divjifions and tearingsof one thing from another, as is the oppofite o- pinion ; which in the next place fiiall be dealt withal by ar- guments ; confirming the one, and everting the ether. ' But bccaufe the whole ftrength thei^of lyeth in, and the v^eight of all lycih upon, that cnecilHnflion we before fj^ali-j or, by 104 Falft Ends removed, and the. proptr by our adverfaries dlveril)' eKprelFed and held out ; we WiO a Utile fuiflier confHer that ; and then come to our argu- ments ; and fo to the aniwering oi the oppofed objeftionS. C H A P. V. Of application and impetration* ^ I "HE allowable ufe of this diftinction, how it may be tak- JiL en in a found fenfe, the feveral ways whereby men have expreffea the thing which in theie words is intimated, and fome arguments for the overthrowing of the falfe ufe of it, however expreffed ; we have before intimated and de- clared. Now, feeing that this is the proton pseudos of the oppofite opinion, underftood in the fenfe and accord- ing to the ufe they make of it : I fhail give it one blow more^ and leave it I hope a-dying. I. I fliall then briefly declare, that although thefe two things may admit of a diftinftion, yet they cannot of a repa- ration ; but that for whomfoever Chrifl obtained good, to them it muft be applied ; and for whomfoever he wrought re-- conciliation with God, they muft aftually unto God be re- conciled ; fo that the blood of Chrift, and his death, in the virtue of it, cannot be looked on (as fome do) as a medicine in a box, laid up foi" all that fhall come to have any of it ; and fo applied, now to one, then to another, without any re- Ipeft or difference ; as though it fhould be intended no more tor one than for another; fo that, although he halh obtained all the good that he hath purchafed for us ; yet it is left in- different and uncertain, whether it (hall ever be ours or not. For it is well known, that notwithflanding thofe g'ori- ous things that are alTigned, by the Arminians, to the death of Chrift ; which they fay he purchafed for all, as remifTion of fins, reconciliation with God, and the like ; yet they for whom this purchafe and procurement is made, raav be damn- ed ; as the greateft part are, and certainly Ihall be. Now^ that there fhould be fuch a diftance between thefe two. — ijl. It is contrary to common fenfe, or our ufual form of fpeaking; which muft be wrefted, and our underftandings forced, to apprehend it. When a man hath obtained an office, or any other obtained it for him, can it be faid, that it is uncertain whether he (hall have it or not? If it be ob- tained End of the Death of Ckriji ajferted, 105 tained for him, is it not his in right, though perhaps not in pofTeflion ? That which is impetrated or obtained by petition, is his by whom it is obtained. It is to o£Fer violence to com- mon fenfe, to fay, a thing may be a man's, or it may not be his, when it is obtained for him ; for in fo faying, we fay it is his ; and fo it is, in the pnrchafe made by Jefus Chrifl, and the good things obtained by him, for all them for whoin lis died. <2.dly. It is contrary to all reafon in the world, that the death of Chrift in God's intention, fhould be applied to any one, that fhall have no fhare in the merits of that death : God's will that Chrift ihould die for any, is his intention that he {hall have a fhare in the death of Chrift, that it fhould be- long to him, that is, be applied to him; tor that is in this cafe faid to be applied to any, that is his in any refpefl accord- ing to the will of God; but now the death of Chrift, ac- cording to the opinion v/e oppofe, is fo applied to all; and yet, the fruits of this death are never fo m.uch as once made known to far the greateft part of ihofe all. 3^/)'. That a ranfom fl:iould be paid for captives, upon compaft for their deliverance, and yet, upon the payment, thofe captives not be made free and fet at liberty, (the death of Chrift is a ranfom, Matt, xx. 28. paid by compaQ; for the deliverance of captives for whom it was a ranfom, and the promife wherein his Father ftood engaged to him, at his undertaking to be a Saviour and undergoing the ofRce im- pofed on him, v/as their deliverance (as was before oeclared.) upon his performance of thefe things, that the greateft num- ber of thefe captives ftiould never be releafed) feems ftrange and very improbable. ^thly. It is contrary to fcripture, as vyas before at large de- clared. Sec alfo book III. chop. 10th. II. But now, a'l this our adverfaries fuppcfe they (liall wipe away, with one flight diftinftion, that v/ill make, as they fay, all v/e affirm in this kind to vanifti. And that is this ; it is true, (fay they) all things that are abfolutely procured and obtained for any, do prefently become theirs in right, for v/hom they are obtained ; but things that are obtained upon condition, become not theirs until the condition be fulfilled ; now Chrift hath purchafed by his death, for all, all good things, not abfolutelv, but upon condition; and until that condition come to be fulfilled, unlefs they perform v;hat is required, they have neither part nor portion, right unto, nor poireflion of them. A'fo, what this condition is, they give O ov*» id6 Falje Ends removed, and the proper out in Tundry terms ; fomc call it a not rejijling of this redemp- tion offered to them ; fome, 2^ yielding to the invitation of the gofpel ; fome in plain terms. Faith. Now be it {o, that Chrift purchafed all things for us; to be beftowed on this condition, that we do believe it ; then 1 affirm, that, \J{. Certainly this condition ought to be revealed to all for whom this purchafe is made, if it be intended for them in good earneft; all for whom he died, muft have means xo know that his death will do them good, if they believe ; e- fpecially it being in his power alone to grant them thefe means, who intends good to them by his death. If I fhould intreat a phyfician, that could cure fuch a difeafe, to cure all that came unto him ; but fhould let many refl ignorant of the grant which I had procured of the phyfician, and none but rayfelf could acquaint them with it, whereby they might go to him and be healed ; could I be fuppofed to intend the healing of thofe people ? doubtlefs no : the application is cafy. ^dly. This condition of them to be required, is in their power to perform, or it is not ; if it be, then have all men power to believe ; which is falfe. If it be not ; then the Lord will grant them grace to perform it, or he will not; if he will, why then do not all believe ? why are not all faved ? If he will not; then this impetration or obtaining falvation, and redemption for all, by the blood of Jefus Chrifl, comes at length to this; Godintendeth thathe fhall diejor all, to pro- cure for them remijfion ofjins, reconciliation with him, eternal redemption and glory ; hut yet Jo, that they Jhall never have the leafl good by thefe glorious things, unlefs they perform that which he knows they are no ways able to do,^ and which none but himfelf can enable them to perform, afid which concerning far the greatejl part of them he is refolved not to do. Is this to in- tend that Ghrift fhould die for them, for their good ? or rather that be fhould die for them, to expofe them to fhame and mifery ? Is it not all one, as if a man fhould promife a blind man a looo pounds, upon condition that he will fee? S^/y. This condition of faith, is procured for us by the death of Chrifl ; or it is not. If they fay it be not ; then the chiefefl grace, and without which redemption itfelf, (expref- fed how you pleafe) is of no value, doth not depend on the grace of Chrift, as the meritorious procuring caufe thereof: which is exceedingly injurious to our bleffed Saviour, and ferves only to diminifh the honour and love due to him. And End of the Death of Chrifl ajferted, so/ And it is contrary to Scripfure, lit. iii. 5. 6. 2 Cor. v. 21 He became " fin for us, that we might be made the righte- *' oufnefsof God in him ;" and how we can become the righteoufnefs of God, but by believing ; I know not. Yea cxprefsly faith the apoftle ; " It is given to us, in the behalf ** ot Chrift, to beheve on him," Phil. i. 29. " God blefling " us, with all fpiritual bleflfings in Chrift, Eph. \. 3, where- of furely faith is not the leaft. If it be a fruit of the death of Chrift ; why is it not beftowed on all, fince he died tor all P efpecially fince the whole impetration of redemption is alto- gether unprofitable without it. It they do invent a condition upon which this is beftowed ; the vanity of that fhall be af- terwards difcovered. For the prefent, if this condition be, Jo they do not refufc or refijl the means of grace ; then I alk ; if the fruit of the death of Chrift ftiall be applied to all, that fulfil this condition of not refufing or not refifting the means of grace ? If not, then why is that produced ? If lo; then muftall be faved, that ha^e not or do not refift the means of grace ; that is, all paganJ, infidels^ and thofe infants to whom the gofpel was never preached. ^tlUy. This whole aftertion tends to make Chrift but an half Mediator ; that thould procure the end, but not the means conducing thereunto. So that notwiihftanding this exception and new diftin6fion, our affertion ftands firm ; that the fruits of the death of Chrift, in refpeft of im.petration ot good and application to us, ought not to be divided ; and our arguments to confirm it, are unlhaken. For a clofe of all ; that which in this caufe we affirm, may be fummed up in this ; Chrift did not die for any, upon con- dition if they do believe ; but he died for all God's elefl;, that they fhould believe, and believing have eternal lite. Faith itfelf, is among the principal effefls and fruits of the death of Chrift ; as Ihall be declared. It is no where faid in Scripture, nor can it rcafonably be affirmed, that if we be- lieve, Chrift died for us ; as though our believing (hould make that to be, which otherwife was not, the a£i create the object : but Chrift died for us, that we might believe ; falva- tion indeed is beftowed conditionally ; but faith, which is the condition, is abfolutely procured. The queftion being thus ftated, the difterence laid open, and the thing in contro' V€rfy made known ; we proceed, in the next place, to draw forth fome of thofe arguments, demonftrations, teftiniQ«es and proofs, whereby the truth we maintain is eftablifhed, in which it is contained, and upon which it is firmly founded ; only io8 ' Arguments agairifi only defiring the reader to retain feme notions in his mind, oF thofe fundamentals which in general we laid down before ; they {landing in fuch relation to the arguments which we Ihall ufe, tli^t I am confident not one of them can be throughly an- fwcred, before they be everted. BOOK III. CHAP. I. Argu?7ients againjl the univer/ality of redeviption. The two jirjl ; from the nature of the covenant, and the difpenfation thereof, ARGUMENT I. TH E fiifl argument may be taken from the nature of ihe covenant of grace ; which was eftabliflied, ratified and confirmed, in and by the death of Chrifl. That was the Tejlament whereof He was the Teftator, which was ra- tified in his death, and whence his blood is called ** the blood -' of the new teftament," Matt. xxvi. 28. neither can any effefts thereof be extended beyond the compafs of this cove- nant ; but now, tliis covenant was not made univerfally with all, put particularly only with fome ; and therefore, thofe a- lone were intended, in the benefits of the death of Chrifl. The affumption appears, from the nature of the covenant itfelf ; defcribed clearly, ^er^yw. xxxi. 31, 32. *' I will make *' a new covenant with the houfe of Ifrael, and with the " houfe of Judah : not according to the covenant that I " made with their Fathers, in the day that I took tiiem by *' the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, (whicl^ " my covenant they brake, although I was an hufband unto " them faith the Lord. "J and Hebrews viii. 9, 10, 11. " Net " according to the covenant that I made v/ilh their fathers, ** in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out • * of the land of Egypt ; becaufethey continued not in my co* " vcnant, and I regarded them not, (faith the Lord ;) for *' this is the covenant that 1 wiJl make with the houfe of H- *' rael after thofe days, (faith the Lord ;) I will put my laws " into their niii^d, and write them in their hearts ; and I will '• be to them a God, and ihey fhall be to me a people ; and • ' they fiiall not teach every mV.n his neighbour, and every " man , Vnivtrftxl Reacmption. 109 •* man his brother, faying, Know the Lord; for all fhall " know me, from the leaft to the greateft." Wherein the condition of the covenant is not faid to be required ; but it is abfolulely promifcd ; " 1 will put my laws into their mind, *' and write them in their hearts." And this is the main dif- ference, betv/een the old covenant ot works, and the new one of grace ; that in that, the Lord did only require the fulfilling of the condition prefcribed ; but in this, he promif- eth to cffeft it in them himfelf, with whom the covenant is made. And without this fpiritual efficacy, the truth is, the new covenant would be as weak and unprofitable ior the ^x\^ of a covenant, (the bringing of us and binding of us to God,) as the old. For in what confifted the weaknefs andunprofit- ablenefs of the old covenant, tor which God in his mercy a- boiiftied it ; was it not in this ? bccaufe, by reafon of fin, we were no way able to fulfil the condition thereof, Bo this and live ; otherways the connexion is flill true, that he that c^cth thefe things Jhall live. And are we, of curfelves, any way more able to fulfil the condition of the new covenant ? Is ic not as eafy, for a man, by his own ftrength, to fulfil the whole law, as to repent, and favingly believe the promife of the gof* pel ? This then is one main difference of thefe two covenants; that the Lord did, in the old, only require the condition ; but in the new, he will alfo effe£l it in all the federates to whom this covenant is extended. And if the Lord fhould only exaft obedience required in the covenant of us, and not work and effecl it alfo in us ; the new covenant would be a fhew, to increafe our mifery, and not a ferious imparting and com- municating of grace and mercy. If then this be the na- ture of the New Teflament, (as appears from the very- words of it, and might abundantly be proved ;) that the con- dition of the covenant fliall certainly, by free grace, be wrought and accomplifhed in all that are taken into covenant; then no more are in this covenant, than in whom thofe con- ditions of it are effefted. But thus, as is apparent, it is not with all ; iovallmen have not faith, it is of the ele6f of God ; therefore it is not made with all ; nor is the com.pafs thereof to be extended beyond the re?nnant.that are according to eleBion. Yea, every Wef- fmg of the new covenant, being certainly common, and io be communicated to all the covenantees ; either faith is none of them, or all muff have it, if the covenant itfelf be general. But fome may fay ; that it is true, God promifeth to write his law in our hearts, and put his fear in cur inward parts ^ but no ArgU7nents againjl but it is t:pon condition. Give me that condition, and I wUl yield the caufe. Is it, if they do believe ? nothing elfe can be imagined ; that is, it* they have the law written in their hearts, (as every one that beUeves hath ;) then God promif- eth to write his law in their hearts; is this probable, friends ? is it Hkeiy ? I cannot then be perfuaded, that God hath made a covenant oi grace witli all ; efpecially thofe who never heard a word or covenant, grace, or condition of it ; much ]efs received grace for the fulfilling of the condition, without which the whole would be altogether unprofitable and ufelefs. The covenant is made with Adam, and he is acquainted with it, Gen. iii. 15. renewed with ISloah, and not hidden from him, again eftablKhed with Abraham, accompanied with a full and rich declaration of the chief promifes of it. Gen. xii. which is moft certain not tobeefFefted towards all, as after- wards will appear. Yea that firft diftin6lion, between the feed of the woman and the feed of the ferpent, is enough to overthrow the pretended univerfality of the covenant of grace; for who dares affirm, that God entered into a cove- nant of grace with the feed of the ferpent ? Moft apparent then it is, that the new covenant of grace, and the promifes thereof, are all of them of diftinguifhing mer- cy ; reftrained to the people whom God did foreknow, and fo not extended univerfally to all. Now, the blood of Jefus Chrift being the blood of this covenant, and his oblation in- tended only for the procurement of the good things intended 2nd promifed thereby, (tor he was the furety thereof, Hebrews vii. 22. and ot that only ;) it cannot be conceived to have refpe6t unto all, or any, but only thofe that are intended in this covenant. ARGUMENT II. If the Lord intended that he fhould, and he by his death did, procure pardon of fm and reconciliation with God, for all and every one ; to be aftually enjoyed, upon condition that they do believe; then ought this good will and intention 01 God, with this purchafe in their belialt by Jefus Chrift, to be made known to them by the word, that they might believe; *' for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of *• God," Rom. X. 17. For if thefe things be not made known and revealed, to all and every one that is concerned in them, viz, to whom the Lord intends, and for whom he hath Univerfal Redemption. Ill hath procured fo great a good ; then one of thefe things will follow ; either, that they may be faved without Uith in, and the knowledge of Chrift, (which they cannot have unlefs he be revealed to them ;) which is falfe, and proved fo ; or elfe, that this good will of God, and this purchafe made by Jefus Chrift, is plainly in vain and fruftrate, in refpeft o\ them ; yea a plain mocking of them, that will neither do them any- good to help them out of mifery, nor ferve the juftice of God to leave them inexcufable; for what blame can redound to them, for not embracing and well ufing a benefit which they never heard of in their lives ? Doth it become the wifdom of God, to fend Chrift to die tor r/ien that they might be faved ; and never caufe thefe men to hear of any fuch thing; and yet to purpofe and declare, that unlefs thev do hear of it and believe it, they fhall never be faved? What wife man would pay a ranfom, for the delivery of thofe captives, which he is lure fhall never come to the knowledge of any fuch payment made; and fo never be the better for it ? Is it anfwerable to the goodnefs of God, to deal thus with his poor creatures ? to hold out towards them all, in pretence, the moft intenfe love imaginable, beyond all comoare and il- luftration, as his love in fending his Son is fet forth to be, and yet never let them know of any fuch thinor, but in the end to damn them for not believing it ? Is it anfwerable to the love and kindnefs of Chrift to us ; to affifrn unto him at his death fuch a refolution as ihis ; *' I will now, by the obla- •' tion of myfelf, obtain for all and every one, peace and re- •' conciliation with God, redemption and everlaftingfalvation, •' eternal glory in the high heavens ; even for all thefe " poor miferable wretched worms, condemned caitiffs, that *' every hour ought to expe6l the fentence of condemnation; " and all thefe fhall truly and really be communicated to them •' if they will believe ; but yet wiihai I will fo order things, •' that innumerable fouls fliall never hear one word of all this *• that 1 have done for them, never be perfuaded to believe, ** nor have the object of faith that is to be believed propofed ♦' to them; whereby they might indeed poiTibly partake ot *• thefe things ?" Was this the mind and will, this the dcHgn and purpofe of our merciful high prieft ? God forUd. It is all one, as if a prince ftiould fay and proclaim ; that whereas there be a number of captives held in fore bondage in fuch a place, and he hath a full treafure, he is refolved to redeem them every one ; {o that every one of them iliall come out of prifon, that will thank him for his good will ; and in the lueiii 1 1 2 Arguments agairifl mean time never take care to let thefe poor captives fcnovy his mind and pleafure ; and yet be fully aflured, that unlefs he efteft it liimfelf, it will never be done ; would not this be conceived a vain and oftentatious flourifti, v/ithoutany good intent indeed towards the poor captives ? Or asif a phyfician fhould fay, that he hath a medicine that will cure all d'ifeafes, and he intends to cure the difeafes of all ; but lets but very few know his mind, or any thing of his m.edicine ; and yet is aflured that, without his relation and particular information, it will be known to very few : and fhall he be fuppofed to de- fire, intend or aim at the recovery ot all ? Now it is moft clear from the Scripture and experience of aU ages, both under the old difpenfation of the covenant and the new ; that innumerable men, whole nations, for a long fealon, are palled by in the declaration of this myftery ; the Lord doth not procure, that it fhall by any means in the leaft meafure be made out to all ; they hear not fo much as a rumour or report of any fuch thing. Under the Old Tefla- ment, " in Judah was God known, and his name was great ** in Ifrael ; in Salem was his tabernacle, and his dwelling *• place in Sion," P/^/. Ixxvi. 1,2. " He fhewed his word *' unto Jacob, and his judgments unto Ifrael ; he hath not " dealt fo with any nation, and as for his judgments they *• have not known them," cxlvii. 19. 20. Whence thofe apel- lations of the heathen, and imprecations alfo ; diS jfer. x. 25, " Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, •* and upon the families that call not on thy name ;" of whom you have a full defcription, Epk. ii. 12. " Without Chrifl, " aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, and flrangers " from the covenants of promife ; having no hope, and with- " out God in the world." And under the New Teflament ; though the church have confirmed her cords and flrengihened her flakes, and many nations are come in to the mountain of the Lord ; fo many, as to be called, all people, all nations, yea the world, the whole world, in comparifon of the fmall pre- cinft of the church of the Jews ; yet now alfo. Scripture and experience do make it clear, that many are paffed by, yea millions of fouls that never hear a word of Chrifl nor re- conciliation by him ; of which we can give no other reafon, but, " even fo. Father, for fo it feemed good in thy fight," Matt. xi. 26. For the Scripture ; ye have the Holy Ghofl exprefsly forbidding the apoflles to go to fundry places with the word, but fending them another way, yltls xvi, 6, 7, 9, 10. anfwerable to the former difpenfation in ^omc particulars, wherein Univerfal Redemption, uq wherein he fuffered all nations to walk in their own ways, ABs Aiv. 16. And tor experience; nor to multiply particulars, do but afk any of our brethren who have been at any time in the /WiVj, and they will eafily refolve you in tiie tiuth thereof. The exceptions againft this argument, are poor and frivo- lous ; which we referve for a reply. In brief; how is it re- vealed to thofe ihoufands of the offspring of infidels, whom the Lord cuts oflFin their -nfancy, that they may not pefter the world, perfecute his church, nor diliuib human fociety ? How to their parents ; of whom Paul affirms, that by the works of God they might be led to the knowledge oi his eternal power and god-head ; but that they Jliould know any thing of Redemption or a Redeemer, was utterly impojji'ule, CHAP. II. Containing three other arguments, ARGUMENT III. JF Jefus Chrill died for all men ; that is, purchafed and procured for them, according to the mind and will of God, all thofe things which we recounted and the Scripture fetteth forth, to be the efFe£ls and fruits of his death, which may be fummed up in this one phrafe, eternal redemption : then he did this, and that according to the purpofe of God ; either abfolutely, or upon fome condition by thera to be ful- filled. If abfolutely ; then ought all and every one, abf^lute- ly and infallibly, to be made actual partakers of that eternal redemption fo purchafed : for what, [ pray, fhould hinder the enjoyment of that to any, which God abfolutely mtended, and Chrift abfolutely purchafed for them. If u^on condition ; then he did either procure this condition for them, or he did not ? If he did procure this condition for them ; iha^ is, that 2t (iiould be bellowed on thera, and wrought within them; then he did it either abfolutely again, or upon a condition. If abfolutely ; then are we as we were before : for to procure any thing for another", to be conferred on him upon fuch a condition, and withal, to procure that condition abfolutely to be beffowed on them ; is equivalent to the abfolute procur- ing of the thing itfelf. For fo we affirm in this very bufint fs; Chrifl procured falvation for us, to be bellowed condiiion- ? ally, 1 14 Arguments agaUifi ally, if we do believe ; but faith itfelf, that he hath abfolutC' iy proLured, withvout a prefcribing of any condition. Wuence we affirm, that the purchafing of falvation for us, is equiva- lent to what it wouM have been, il it had been fo purchafed, as to have been abfolutely beftuwed, in refpeft of the event and iflue : fo that thus alfo, mull all be abfolutely faved. — But if ihis condition be procured upon condition, let that bs afTigncd ; and we will renew our query concerning the pro- curing of that, whether it v»'ere abfolute or conditior.al ; and fo never reft, until they come to fix fomcwhere, or flill run in'o a circle. But on the other fide, is not this condition procured by him, en whofe performance all the good things purchafed by him are to be aftually enjoyed i^ Then firft, this condition muff be made known to all, as Arg, 2. Secondly; all men are able of themfelves to perform this condition, or they are not : if they are ; then, feeing that condition is faith in the promifes, as is on all fides conff (Fed, all men are of them- felves, by the power of their own free will, ab'e to believe : which is contrary to the Scriptures ; as by the Lord's afTift- ance fliall be declared. If ihey cannot ; but that this faith muft be bellowed on them and wrought within them, by the free grace of God : then, when God gave his Son 10 die for them, to procure eternal redemption for them all, upon condiiion that thev did believe; he either purpofed to work faith in them all by his grace, that they might believe, or he did not : If he did ; why doth he not a6\ually perform it ; feeing he is of one tnind, and who can turn him ? why do not all believe ? whv have not all men faith ? or doth he fail of his purpofe ? If he did not purpofe to beflow faith on, them all, or (which is all one) if he purpofed not to beftow faith on all, (for the will of God doth not confift in a pure negation of any thing, — what he doth not will that it fhould be, he wills that it fhould not be) then the fum of it comes to this : that God gave Chrift to die for all men ; but upon this condition, that they perform that which of themfelves with- out him they cannot perform, and purpofed that for his part he would not accomplifh it in them. Now, if this be not extreme madncfs ; to allign a will un- to Gof*, of doing that which himfelf knows and orders that it Ihail never be done, of granting a thing upon a condition which without his help cannot be fulfilled, and which help he purpoled not to grant ; let all judge. Is this any thing, but to delude poor creatures ? Isitpoflible that ^ny good at all fliould Univerfal Redemption* ii. fiiould arlfc to any, by fuch a purpofe as this, fuch a giving of a ledeemer ? Is it agreeable to the goodnefs ot God, to in- tend fo great a good as is the rcdempdon purrhaftrd by Clu ul ; £nd to pretend that he woold have it prcfitablc for thern : when he knows that they can no more fuitii the condition which he requires, that it may be by ihcm enjoyed ; than Lazarus could, of himfelf, come ou« of the grave ? Doth it befvfetn the wifdom of God, to purpofe that which he knows fhali never be fulfilled ? If a man (bould promife to give a iooo pounds to a bhnd man, \xMm condiiioti that he will open his eyes and fee ; which he knows well enough he cannot do ; were that promife to be fuppofed to come from an heart-pitying of his poveri) ; and not rather from a mind toillude and mock at his mifery ? If the King Ihould pro- mife to pay a ranfom for the captives at Algiers, upon con- dition that they would conquer their tyrants, and come away, v»'hich he knows full well they cannot do : were this a kindly aft ? Or if a man fhould pay a price to redeem captives, but not that their chains may be taken away, without which they cannot come out of prifon ; or promife dead men greac re. wards, upon condition they live again of themfelves : are not thefe to as much end, as the obtaining of falvation for men upon condition that they do believe ; without obtaining that condition for them ? Were not that the atTigning fuch a will and purpofe as this to Jefus Chiilt : *' I will obtain eter- " nal life, to be beftowed on men and become theirs by the " application of the benefits of my death, but upon this *' condition that they do believe ; but as 1 will not reveal my " mind and will in this bufincfs, nor this condition iifelf, to ** innumerable of them ; fo concerning the reft, I know they " are no v^ays able of themfclves (no more than Lazarus was *' to rife, or a blind man is to fee) to perform ihe condition *• that I do require, and without which i:one of the ^^ood " things intended for them can ever become theiis ; neither " will I procure that condition ever to be fulfilled in ihem : ** that is, I do will that that fxiall be done, which I do not " only know fliail never be done, but that it cannot be done, " becaufe I will not do that, without which- it can never be *' accomplilhed." Now whether fuch a will and purpofe as this, befecms the wifdom and goodnefs of our Saviour; let the reader judge. In brief, an intention of doing good unto any one, upon the performance of fuch a condition as the intender knows is abfolutely afbovc the lirength of him of whom it is required, (elpeciallv Ii6 Arguments againP (efpecially if he know that it can no way be done but by his concurrence, and he is refolved not to yield that afliftance •which is necefTary to the a£^ual accomplifliment of it) is a vain truitlefs flouiifh. That Chrift then fnould obtain of his Pdther eternal redemption, and the Lord ftiould through hit Son intend it for them who ihall never be made partakers of it, bpcaufe they carmot perform, and God and Chrifl have purpofed not to beftow, the condition on which alone it is to be made ^flually theirs; is unworthy of Chrift, and unpro- fitable to them for whom it is obtained ; which that any thing ihdi Chilli oh'amed tor the fons of men, fhould be fo unto ihem, is an hard faying indeed. Again, if God through Chrift purpofe to fave all if they do believe, becaufe he died for all; and this faith be not purchafed by Chrift, nor are men able of themfelvcs to beiieve : how comes it to pafs, th.'t any are faven ? 11 it be anfwered ; God beftows faith on fome, not on others: 1 repl\' ; is this diftinguifhing grace pui chafed for thr){e fonjc, comparatively, in refpeB of thofe that are pafTed by wiiiiout it ? li u be, then did not Chrift die equally tor all, ior lie died «hat fome might have faith, not others : ytdi in compaiifon, he Cdnnot be faid to die for thofe other fome at all; not dying th only ? 1$ not. the fenfe as clearly reftrained, as ifthat refbiftive term had been added ? or isthi^t term always- ?dded in the Scripture, in every indefinite aflertion ; which yet muft of neccfTi'y be limited and rellrained, as if it were exprefsly addfd ? As %vhere our Saviour laiih, " I am the way, and the life, and " the refurreBion," John xiv. 6. and xi. 2^^ He (\o>hr\fA fay, that he only is fo ; and yet of neccffuy it muft be fo un- derftood. As alfo in that, Col- i. 19. " It pleafed the Fa- *• ther, that in hira fliouid 3II fulncfs dwell ;" he doth not cxprefs the limitation only : and yet it were no lefs fhaf> bldf- phemy, to (uppofe a pofjibility of exter-ding the affirmation to anv oiher. So that this argument, notwiihflanding ihis exception, i*, as far a? I can fee, unanfvirerabic t which alfa might be further urged, by a more large expiicatlon of God'& purpofe of election and reprobation ; {hewing how the dcsub of Chriil was a means fet apart and appoin'eil for the faving of his eleft, and not at all undergone and ruffercd for thofi? which in his eternal counfel he d\d. determine fhould perifh- for their fins, and {o never be made partakers of the benefits thereof. But of this more muft he fpoken ; if the X^ord preferve us, and give affiftance for the other part of thi-^ controverfy, concerning the caule of fending Chrift. ARGUMENT V. That is not to be afferted and offirni^t!', vhich the Scrip* lure doth not any wheie go before us in ; but the Scripture no where Lith, Chrid died/^r a// 7;:f«, much lefs for all and every man, (between which two, there is a wide difFerence, as (hall be declared) therefore this is not to.be afierted. jt is true, Chriil is faid to give his life a random for all, but no ynhcvc ior rJl men. And becaufe it is affirmed exprefslv iri ©ther places, that he died for ?;2^;2j);, for \m churck, for them thatM^?',?, for the children thai God gave him, for us : foms ©^ ^\' forts, rhough not exprefsly, yet clearly in terms equi- valent, Riv. V. 9, 10. it rnuftbe clearly proved, that where- all is mentioned, it cannot be taken for all believers^ all his elet>, his whole church, all the children that God gave him, l©m.' cf all forts ; before an iinivcrfal afltnuctive can be- thence >20 Argumsnts againjt thence concluded : and if men will but confider the parties-- lar places, and contain themielves until they have done what is required ; we ihall be at quiet, i am perfuaded, i« this bufinefs. CHAP. III. Containing two other arguments ; from the per/on which Chriji fuftaintd, in this bufinefs, ARGUMENT VI. FOR whom Chrift died, he died as a Sponfor in their ftead ; as is apparent, Rom. v. 6, 7, 8. " For when we were *' yet without ftrength, in due time Chrift died for the un- " godly ; for fcarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet " peradventure for a good man forae would even dare to die ; *' but God commendeih his love towards us, in that while " we were yet fmners Chrift died for us ;" Gal. iii. 13 He was " made a curfe for us ;" 2 Cor. v. 21. "He hath made " him to be fin for us." All which places do plainly fignify and hold out a change or commutation o\ perfons ; one be- ing accepted in the room of the other. Now if he died as the fponfor or furety of them for whom he died, in their ftead ; then thefe two things, at leaft, will follow. 1/?, That he freed them from that anger, and wrath, and guilt of death, which he underwent for them ; that they fhould, in and for him, be all reconciled, and be freed from the bondage wherein they are by reafon of death : for no other reafon in the world can be afligned, why Chrift fhould undergo any thing in anothei's ftead ; but that this other might be freed from undergoing that which he underwent for him. And all juftice requires, that fo it fhould be; which alfo is exprefsly intimated, when our Saviour is faid to be EN GYOS, "a furety of abetter Teftament," Heb.v'w. 22. that is, by being our prieft, undergoing the ch-tftilement of our peace, and the burthen of our iniquities, Ifa. liii. 5, 6, 7. He was " made fin for us, that we might be made the ** righieoufnefs of God in him," zCor.wix. But now all are not freed from wrath and the guilt of death, and adually reconciled to God; which is to be juftified, through an im- putation of righteoufnefs, and a non-imputation of iniquities: lor until a man come to Chrift, ** the wrath of God abideth Univerfal Redeinption, 121 ' " on him," JfoJin ill. 36. which argueih and intlmateth, a not-removal of wrath, by reafon of not beHeving. He dotb not fay, it cojnes on them ; as though, by Chrift's death, they were freed from being under a date and condition of wrath, which we are all in by nature, Eph. ii, 3. but men ei, it remaineth or abidetk ; it was never removed ] and to them the gofpel is a favour of death to death ; bringnig a new death and a fore condemnation, by its being delpifed, unto that death the guilt whereof they before lay under. Some have indeed afhrmed ; that all and every one are redeemed, reftorcd, juftified, and made righteous in Chrift, and by bi^ death : but truly this is fo wretched; I will not fay pervert- ing of the Scriptures, which give no colour to any fuch yffer- tion, but fo direft an oppofition to them ; as I judge it fruit- lefs and loft labour, to go about to remove iuch exceptions, (More, page 45.) zdly. It follows, that Chrift made fatisfa^llon for the finS bf all and every man ; if he died for them ; for the reafon why he underwent death for us as a furety, was to make fa- tisfa£lion to God's juftice for our fins, fo to redeem us to himfelf; neither can any other be aftigned. But Chrift hath not fatisfied the juftice of God, for all the ftns of all and every man ; which may be made evident by divers reafons ; as, . ... 1. For whofe fins he made fatisfaflion to the juftice of God^ for their fins juftice is fatisfied ; or elfe his fatisfa6fion was rejefted as infufficient ; for no other reafon can be affigned of fuch a fruitlefs attempt ; which to aver, is blafphemy iri the higheft degree. But now, the juftice of God is not fatis- fied tor all the fins of all and every man ; which alfo is no* lefs apparent than the former ; for they that muft undergo eternal puniftiment themfelves for their fins, that the juftice of God may be fatisfied for their fins ; the juftice of God was not fatisfied without their own puniftiment, by the pu- niihment of Chrift j for they are not healed by his ftripes. But that innumerable fouls iliall, to eternity, undergo tl;e punifliment due to their own fins ; I hope needs with chrifti- ans no proving ; now, how can the juftice of God require fatisfatiion of them for their fins; if it were before fatisfied for them in Chrift ? To be fatisfied, and to require fatisfa61i- on that it may be fatisfied, are coatradi6lory ; and cannot be affirmed of the fame, in refpeft of the fan\e; but that the Lord will require of forae the ut'moft farthing, is moft clear. Matt, v, 26. g a.^Chrift 122 Arguments againfi 2. Chriil:, by undergoing death for us a£ our lurety, fatisfi- cd lor no more than he intended fo to do. So great a thing as fatisfa6lioii for the fins of men, could not accidentally happen befides his intention, will, and purpofe; efpecially con- fidering that his intention and good will, in fanttifying him- fclf to be in obianon, was ot abfolute neceflity to rral^e his death an acceptable offering. But now, Chrifl: did not in- tend to fatisry for the fins oi all and every man : for innu- merable fouls were in hell, under the punilhment and weight of their ov/n (ins, from whence there is no redemption ; be- fore, and actually then, when our Saviourinade himfelf an oblation for (in. Now (hall we fuppofe that Chrift would make himfelf an offering for their fins, whom he knew to be paft recovery ; and that it was utterly impoffible, that e- ver they Hiould have any fruit or benefit by his offering ? Sliall we think, that the blood of the covenant was cafl a- way upon them, tor whom our Saviour intended no good at all ? to intend good to them, he could not ; without a dire6): oppofition to the eternal decree of his Father, and there- in of his own eternal deity. Did God fend his Son, did Chrift come to die for Cain and Pharaoh ; damned fo many- years before his fuffering ? crtdat Apella. The exception, that Chrift died for them, and his death would have been a- vailable to them, if they had believed and fulfilled the condi- onr equired ; is in my judgment of no force at all. For, (i.) For the moll part, they never heard ot any fuch con- dition. (2.) Chrift at his death knew fi;ll well, that they had not fulfirred the condition ; andi were actually cut off from any poffibility ever fo to do ; fo that any intention to do them good by his death, muft needs be vain and fruftrate ; which muft not be affigned to the Son of God. (3.) This redemption co?iditionate, if they believe ; we fliall reje^i anon. Neither is that other exception, that Chrifl might as well fatisfy for them that were eternally damned at the time of his fuffering (for whom it could not be ufeful.) as for them that were then aftually faved (for whom it was not needful ;) of any more value. For, [1.] Thofe that were faved, were faved upon this ground; that Chrift ftiould certainly fuffer for them in due time ; which fuffering oi his was as effeflual in the purpofe and pro- mife, as in the execution and accomplifhment. It was in the mind of God accounted for them as accomplifned ; the com- pa6l and covenant with Chrift about it being furely ratified upos Ihihrfcd Ridcmpcion* 123 ' upon mutual unchangeable promifes, (according to our con- ception ;) and fo our Saviour was to perform it ; and fo it was needful for them that were aflually faved. But f( r thofe that were aflually damned ; there was 'no fuch inducement to it, or ground for it, er iiTue to be expecled but of !■. ' [^.] A fimile will clear the whole. Jf a man fhould fend word to a place where captives were in prifon, that he tfVvou'd pay the price and ranfom that was due for th^ir deli- very ; and to defire the prifoners to come forth, for he that detains them accepts of his word and engagement ; when he comes to make payment, according to his promifc; i[ he find fome to have gone forth according as was propofed ; and o- th'er continue obftinate in their dungeon ; iomt liearing ot what he had done, others not, and that according to his own appointment, and were notv long fince dead; doth he, in the payment oHiis promifed ranfom, intend it for them that died {lubbornly and obflinately in the prifon ? or only for them who v/ent forth ? Doubtlefs, only for thefe laft. No more can the paffi()n of Chrift be fuppofed to be a price paid for them that died in the prifon of (in and corruption, before the payment of his ranfom ; though it might rLiIl well be for them that were delivered, by virtue of his ergagement for the payment of fuch a ranfom. ^"^' 3. If Chrift died in the ftead of all men. and made iatis^ faftion for their fins ; tiien he did it for all their fins, or only for fome of their fins. If for fome only, who then can be II faved i if for all, why then are not all faved ? They fay, it is becaufe of their unbelief ; they will not believe, and there- fore are not faved ; that unbelief, is it ,1 fin, or is it not ? If it be not; hov/ can it be a caufe of damnation ? if it be ; Chrift died for it, or he died not. If he did not; then he died not for all the fins of all men ; if he did, why is this an obftacle to their falvation ? Is there any nev/ fhift'to be in- vented for this ? or muff we be contented with the old, viz, becaufe they do not believe ; that is, Chriff did not die for their unbelief, or rather, did not by his death remove their unbelief ; becaufe they would not believe, or becsufe they would not themfelves remove their unbelief ; or, he died for their unbelief conditionally, that they were net unbelievers? Thefc do not feetn to me to be fober affertions. ARGUMExNT. 424 Arguments again/! ARGUMENT VII. For whom Chrift died, for them he is a Mediator ; which is apparent : for the oblation or offering of Chrifl, which he made of himfelf unto God, in the (hedding of his blood, was one of the chiefeil afts of his mediation. But he is not a Mediator for all and every one ; which alfo is no lefs evi- dent : becaufe, as Mediator, he is the priefl for them for whom he is a Mediator. Now, to a priefl it belongs, as was declared before, to facrifice and intercede: to procure good things, and to apply them to thofe for whom they are pro- cured ; as is evident, Heb. ix. and was proved before at large : which confefTedly Chrifl doth not for all : Yea, that Chrifl is not a Mediator for every one, needs no proof: experience fufficiently evinceth it ; befides innumerable places of Scrip- ture. It is I contefs, replied by fome ; that Chrifl is a Me- diator for fome, in refpeft of fome a6ls, and not in refpeft of others: but truly this, if I am able to judge, is a difhonefl fubterfuge ; that hath no ground in Scripture, and would make our Saviour a half Mediator in refpeft of fome, which h an unfavoury exprefTion. But this argument was vindicate ed beforcc ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CHAP. IV. Of fanBiJication, and of the caufe of faith ; and the procure^ mtnt thereof hy the death of Chrifl, ARGUMENT VIII. ANOTHER argument may be taken, from the efeB and fuit of the death of Chrifl ut\\o fanBifi cation ; which Vhich we thus propofe, viz. If the blood of Jefus Chrifl doth toafh, purge, deanfe, and fanSify them for whom it was fhed, or for whom he was a facrifice ; then certainly he died, fhed liis blood, or was a facrifice, only for them that in the event are zvafhed, purged, cleanfed, and fanBified : which that all or every one are not, is moft apparent ; faith being the firfl principle of the heart's purification, ABs xv. 9. and all men have not faith, 2 Jhef iii. 2. it is of the ele£l of God, Titus i. 1. The confequence I conceive is undeniable, and not to be avoided with any diliinftions. But now we fhail make it evident, that the' blood of Chrift is efre6iual for all thofe ends Univerfol Rede?nption. ii^ ,ends of zvajliing, purging, and JanSit/ying, which wc before recounted : and this we (hall do, firil from the types of it ; and fecondly, by plain expiefTions concerning the thing it- fclf. i/?. For the type, that which we fhall now confider is the facrifice of expiation ; which the Apollle fo exprelsly compar- eth, with the facrifice and oblation of Chrift. Of this he af- firmeth, Heb. ix. 13. that it legdWy JanSIified them^ for whom it was a facrifice ; for, faith he, " The blood of bulls and of " goats, and thealhes of an heifer, fprinkling the unclean, fanc- *' tifieth to the purifying of the flefli ;" now that which was done carnally and legally in the type, muft be fpiritually ef- fe6led in the antitype, the facrifice of Chrift, typified by that bloody facrifice ofbeafls. This the Apoflle afTerteth in the verfe following ; " How much more (faith he) fhall the blood " of Chrifl, who through the eternal fpirit offered himfelf *' without fpot to God, purge your confcience from dead ** works to ferve the living God ?" If 1 know any thing, that anfwer of Arminius and fome others to this, viz. that the facrifice did fan6Hfy, not as offered, but -d.^ /prinkled ; and the blood of Chriff , not in refpe6t the of oblation, but of its ap- plication, anfwereth it ; is weak and unfatisfa6lory ; for it only afferts a divifion between the oblation and application of the blood of Chrill ; which though we allow to be diilin- guifhed, yet fuch divifion we are now difproving ; and to weaken our argument, the fame divifion which we difprove is propofed ; which (if any) is an eafy, facile way of an- fwering. We grant that the blood of Chrifl fanftifi- eth, in refpeft of the application of the good things pro- cured by it ; but withal prove, that it is fo applied to all for whom it was an oblation ; and that becaufe it is faid to fanc- tify and purge ; and muff anfwer the type, which did fan£lity to the purifying of the flefh. 2.dly. It is exprefsly, in divers places, affirmed of the blood- Ihedding and death of our Saviour ; that it doth efFeft thefe things, and that it was intended for that purpofe. Many places for the clearing of this, were before recounted. I fhall now repeat fo many of them, as fliall be fufficient to give flrength to the argument in hand ; omitting thofe which before were produced ; only defiring, that all thofe places which point out the end of the death of Chrifl, may be con- fidered as of force to eflablifh the truth of this argument. 1. Rom. vi, 5, 6. " For if we have been planted toge- 5* ther in the likenefs of bis death, we fhall be aHo in the *' likenefs 126 Arguments againfi ** likenefs of his refurrecllon ; knowing this, that our old *' man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be *' deftroyed, that henceforth we fliould not (erve fin," The words of the latter z;^r/^, yield a reafon of the former aflerti- on in ver/e 5, viz. that a participation in the death of Chrift, fliall certainly be accompanied with conformity to him in his refurrefclion ; tijat is, to life fpiritua!, as alio to eternal ; be- caufe our old man is' crucified witk kim, that the body of Jin might be dejlroyed ; that is our finful corruption and deprava- tion of nature, are by his death and crucifying efFe£lually and meritorioufly fliin, and difabled from fuch a rule and domi- nion over us, as that we (houid be fervants any longer unto them ; which is apparently the fenfe of the place ; feeing it is laid as a foundation, to prefs forward unto all degrees of fanflification, and freedom from the power of fin. ■ 2, The fame apollle alfo tells us, 2 Cor. i. 20. '* All the pro- " mifes of God in him are yea and amen ; unto the glory of *' God by us. "YV.Qy TkXQ yeaandainen ; confirmed, ratified, unchangeably eftablilhed, and irrevocably made over to us ; now this was done 2,7 hira ; that is, in his death and blood- (hedding, for the confirmation of the teffament, whereof thefe promifes are the conveyance of the legacies to us '; coxi" ^xmtiihy u\t death of him the Tejlator, Heb. ix. 16. for he VfdiS ih(: Jiireiy of this better teftamtnt^ Heb. vii. 22. which teftament, or covenant^ he corijirmed with many^ by his being cut off for them, Dan. ix. 26, 27. Now, what are the promifes that are tbus confirmed unto us, and eifablifhed by the blood of ChriP*. ? The furn of them you have, ^^r. xxxi. 33» 34* whence they are repeated by the apoille, Heb. Viii. 10, 1 1, 12. to fet out the nature of that covenant which was ratified in the blood of Jefus ; in which you have the fumma- ry defcription of all that free grace towards us ; both in fanc- tification, verfe 10, li. and in juftification, vtrfe 12. A- monaft thefe promifes alfo is that moil famous one of circum- cinn'J our heart?, and of giving new hearts and fpirits unto us ; as Deut. xxx. 6. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. So that our whole fan6lification and holinefs, with juftification and reconci- liation unto God ; is procured by, and eftablifhed unto us with unchangeable promifes in, the death and blood-fliedding of Chrill ; The heavenly or fpiritual things, being purified u^iihihaijacrificeothis, Heb. ix. 23. For " we have re- " demption through his blood, even the forgivcnefs of fins,'' Co/, i. 14. ** Through death he dellroyed him that had the ** power of death, that is, the devil; that he might deliver ' ** them Univerfal Randeption, i^^ ** them who through fear of death were all their life-tlme •• ftibjeft to bondage," Heb, ii. 34. 15. 3. Do but take notice of ihofe two moft clear places, Tit, ii . J4. Eph. V. 2j, 26. In both which, our cleanfing and fanftification is alTigncd, to be the end and intendnient of Chrift the worker ; and therefore the certain cffeft of his death and oblation, which was the work ; as was before proved. And I Ihall add but one place more to prove that^ which I am forry, that I need produce any one to do; to wit, that the blood of Chrift purgeih us fro?u all our fin ; and it is I Cor, i. 30. " Who of God is made unto us wifdom, and *' righteoufnefs, and fan6tification, and redemption ;" of which, becaufe it is clear enough, I need not fpend time to prove, that he was thus made unto us of God^ in as much as he fet him forth to be a propitiation through faith in his Mood, Rom. iii. 25. fothat our fanftification, with all other effefts of free grace, are the immediate procurement of the death of Chrift. And of the things that have been fpoken, this is the lum ; fan6lification and holinefs is the certain fruit and efFeft of the death of Chrift, in all them for whom he died ; but all and every one are not partakers of this fan6iification, this purging, clcanfing and working of holineis ; therefore Chrift died not for all and every one, quod er at dcincnflrandum. It is altogether in vain to except, as fome do ; that the death of Chrift is not the fole caui'e of thefe things, for they are not aftually wrought in any, vjithout the intervention of the Spirit's working in them, and faith apprehending the death of Chrift. For (1.) Though many total caufes of the fame kind, cannot concur to the producing of the fame efFe6i ; yet feveral caufes of feveral kinds, may concur to one effect ; and be the fole caufes, in that kind wherein they are caufes; The Spirit of God, is the caufe of fiinclification and holinefs ; but what kind of caufe I pray ? even fuch a one, as is immediate- ly and really efficient of the effeft. Faith is the caufe of pardon of fin ; but v/hat caufe ? in what kind ? why merely as an inftrum.ent, apprehending the righteoufnefs 01 Chrift. Now, do thefe caufes, whereof one is efficient and the other inftrumental, both natural and real, hinder that the biood of Chrift may not only concur, but aifo be the fole caufe moral J'nd meritorious of thefe things ? doubtlefs they do not. Nay they do fuppoie it fo to be ; or cHe they would, in this work, be neither inftrumentrd nor eilicient ; that being the io!e foundation of the Spirit's operation, and cilicicnce ; and the 128 Arguments againfl tlie folc caufe of faith's being and exiftence. A man is de« tarined captive by his enemy ; and one goeth to him that de- tains him, and pays a ranfom tor his dcHvery ; who thereup- on grants a warrant to the keepers of the prifon, that they fhall knock off liis {hackles, take away his rags, let him have new cloaths, according to the agreement ; faying, Deliver him, for I have found a ranfom ; becaufe the jailor knock* off his (hackles, and the warrant of the judge is brought for his difcharge ; (hall he or we fay, that the price and ran(om which was paid, was not the caufe, yea the fole caufe ot his delivery ? confidering that none of thefe latter had been, had not the ranfom been paid ; they are no lefs the effeft of that ranfom, than his own delivery. In our delivery from the bondage of fin, it is true, there are other things in other kinds which do concur, be(ides the death of Chrift ; as the operation of the Spirit, and the grace of God ; but thefe be- ing in one kind, and that in another ; thefe alfo being no lefs the fruit and effetl of the death of Chrift, than our deli- verance wrought by them ; it is moft apparent, that that is the only main caufe of the whole. f2.) To take off utterly this exception, with all of the like kind ; we affirm, that faith itfelf is a proper immediate fruit and procurement of the death of Chrift, in all them for whom he died ; which (becaufe if it be true, it utterly overthrows the general ranfom, or univerfal redemption ; and if it be not true, I will very willingly lay down this whole controverfy,, and be very indifferent which way it be determined, foi go it which way it will, free will muft be eftablifhed ;) I wiiS prove apart by itfelf, in the next argumentc ARGUMENT IX. 1. Before I come to prefs the argument intended, I moft premife fome few things ; as iji. Whatever is freely beftowed upon us, in and through Chrift ; that is all wholly the procurement and merit of the death of Chrift ; nothing is beftowed through him, on thofe that are his, which he hath not purchafed ; the price where- by he made his purchafe, being his own blood. For the co- venant between his father and him, of making out all fpirilu- al bleffings to them that were given unto him ; was exprefsly founded on this condition, that he fhould " make his foul ♦' an offering for fin," Ifa. liii. lo, idly. That Vniverfal Redemption. lag 2dty, That Cohfeffedly on all fidcs, U\\\\ is, in men of un- derftandirig, of fach abfolute indirpenfable heceflity unto faU Vation, there being no facrifice to be admitted lor the want of .t iri the new covenant ; that whatever God hath done, in 'his iovc lending his Son, and whatever Chrifl hath done or doth, in hiti oblation or interGelTiori for all or lorne, without {his in us, is, in regard oF the event, of no value, worth or profit unto us j but ferveth only to encreafe and aggravate Condemnation ; for vvhatfoever is accornphfned befides, thart is moll certainly true, — He that belteveth not.Jliall be damned^ Mark xvi. 16. (So that if there is in ou.Telves a power ot believing, and the aft of it doth proceed from that power, and is our own alfo ; then certainly and undeniably, it is in our power to make the love of God and death ot Chriil: ef- feclual towards us, or not ; and that in believing we aftually do the one, by an aft of our own ; which is fo evident, that the mod ingenious and perfpicacious of our adverfaries have ifi terms confcffed it ; as I have declared ^ elfewhere.) This being then the abfolute necefTity ol faith; it feems to me that the caufe of that,muft needs be the prime and principal cauCe of fal vation ; as being the caufe of that without which the whole would not be ; and by which the whole is, and is ef- feftual. 3^/y. I fliall give thofe that to us in this are contrary mind- ed, their choice and option ; fo that they will anfv/er direft- ly, categorically, and without uncouth infignificant cloudy diftinftions, whether our Saviour, by his death and inter* ceffion (which we proved to be conjoined) did merit or pro- cure laith lor us or not ? or which is all one ; whether faiih be a fruit and efFeft of the death of Chrift, or not ? and ac- cording to their anfwer I will proceed : If they anfwer affirmatively, that it is, or that Chrift did procure it by his death ; (provided always that they do n3£ wilfully equivocate, and when 1 fpeak of faith as it is a grace in a particular perfon, takin^^ it fubjcftively, under- (land t Jiih as it is the dcftrine of faiih or the way or falvatio.'i declared in ilie gofpel, taking it objeftively ; which is anothef- thing, and befides ibe prefent queilion : although by the way I mud tell them, thai we deny the graniing of that new way of faivation in bringing lite and immortality to light by the gofpel in Chnft, to be procured for us by Chrift ; Imnrelf be- ing the chielefl part of this way, yea the way itfeU; and that be fhould himfelf be procured by his own death and obla- R ' tion, ^ Difplay of Arminianifnu igo Arguments againjt tlon, is a very ftrange contradi6lory aflertion, befeeming them who have ufed it fMore^ page 35.^ It is true indeed, a full and plenary carrying of his elefct to life and glory by that way, we afcribe to him, and maintain it againft all ; but the granting of that way, was of the fame free grace and un- procured love, which was alfo the caufe of granting himfelt unto us, Gen. iii. 15.) if, I fay, they anfwer thus affirmatively ; then I demand, whether Chrift procured fai'.h for all for whom he died, ahfolutely, or upon fome condition on their part to be fulfilled ? If ahfolutely; then furely if he died for all, they mufl all ahfolutely believe ; for that which is abfo- Jutely procured for any, is ahfolutely his, no doubt ; he that hath ahfolutely procured an inheritance, by what means fo- ever, who can hinder that it fhould not be his ? But this is contrary to that of the apoffle, all men have not faith, 2, ThefT, iii 2. zudi faith is of God's eleB^ Tit. i. 1. If they lay that he procured it for them, that is, to be beftowed on them conditi- onally ; I defire that they would anfwer, bona fide ; and round- ly in terms, without equivocation, or blind diftinflions, af- fign that condition, that we may know what it is, feeing it is a thing of fo infinite concernment to all our fouls; let me know this condition which ye will maintain; and en herb am a?nici, the caufe is yours. Is it as fome fay, if they do not refift the grace of God ? now what is it not to refift the gra^e of God ; is it not to obey it ? and what is it to obey the grace of God ; is it not to believe ? fo the condition of faith, is faith itfell: Chrifl procured that they fhould believe, upon con- dition that they do believe ; are thefe things fo ? But they can affign a condition on our part required, oi faith, that is not faith iifelf ; can they do it ? let us hear it then ; and we will renew our injquiry concerning that condition, whether it be procured by Chrift or not. If not ; then is the caufe of faith ftill refolved into ourfelves : Chrift is not the author and finifher of it. If it be ; then are we juft where we were be- fore, and muft follow with our queries, whether that condi- tion was procured ahfolutely, or upon condition : depinge ubi fiflam. But, 2. If they will anfwer negatively ; as, agreeably to their own principles, they ought to do ; and deny that faith is pro- cured by the death of Chrift ; then, (1.) They muft maintain, that it is an aft of our own wills; fo our own, as not to be wrought in us by grace ; and that it is wholly fituated in our power, to perform that fpiritual a8 ; nothing being beftowed upon us by free grace, in and through Univerfal Redumption* lai ihrough Chrift, (as was before declared) — but what by him, In ■ his death and oblation, was procured. Which is contrary, fi J io exprefs fcripture, in exceeding many places ; which I mall not recount ; [2.] to the very nature of the being of the new covenant ; which doth not prefcribe and require the condition of it, but efFeftually work it in all the covenantees, 7er. xxx'i. 33, 44. EzeL xxxvi. 26. Bd. viii. 10,11. [3.] to the advancement of the free grace of God ; in fetting up the power of fiee will in the flate of corrupted nature, to the flighting and undervaluing thereof ; [4.] to the received doftrine, of our natural depravednefs and difability to any thing that is good ; yea, by evident unftrained confequence, overthrowing that fundamental article of original fin ; yea, [5.] to right reafon ; which will never grant that the natural Faculty is able of itfelf, without fome fpiritual elevation, to produce an a6l purely fpiritual ; as 1 Cor. ii. 14. (2,) They muft refolvc almofl the fole caufe ot our falvation, into ourfelves ultimately ; it being in our own power, to make all that God and Chrilt do unto that end, efFeftual, or to fruftrate their utmoft endeavours for that purpofe. For all that is done, whether in the Father's loving us and fending his Son to die for us, or in the Son's offering himlelf for an oblation in our ftead, (or for us, in our behalf) is conieffedly (as before) of no value nor worth, in refpe6b of any profitable ifTue, unlefs we believe; which that we fhall do, Chrift hath not effefted nor procured by his death ; neither can the Lord fo work it in us, but that the fole cafting voice (if I may fo fay) whether we will believe or no, is left to ourfelves. Now whether this be not to aflign unto ourfe'ves the caufe of our own happinefs, and to make us the chief builders of our own glory, let all judge. II. Thefe things being thus prcmifed, I fhall briefly prove that which is denied, viz. That faith is procured for us by the death of Chrifl; and fo confequenily he died not for all and every one, for all men have not faith. And this we may do, by thefe following reafons : 1//. The death of Jefus Chrifl purchafed hollnefs and fcinc- tification for us ; as was at large proved, 'Arg. 8ih ; but faiih, as it is a grace of the fpirit inherent in us, is ioi mally j part of our lanftification and holinels ; ihereloie he procured faith for us. The affumption is mod certain, and not denied; the propofiiion was fufficienily confirmed, in the ioregoiiig argument; and I lee not what may be excepted, againit tne !.ruth ot the whole. If any fhall except and lay, that Chrift might j^e Arguments againfi flight p'-ocure for us fome part of hoHncfs (for we fpeak of pans and not of aegiees and iTie?.fure) but not all ; as the fanftification of hope, love, meej^nefs, and the like ; \ ^{k firft, what warrant have we for any fuch difiinftion be. trween the graces ot the Spirit ; that fome of them fhould be of the purchafing of ChriU^ others of our own ftore? Se- condly ; whether we are more prone of ourfelves to believ?, and more able, than to love, and hope ? and where may we have a ground for that ? idly. All the iruits of eleftion are purehafed for us by Je» fus Chrifl ; for we are chojen in him, Eph. i. 4. as the only caufe and fountain of all thoie good things which the Lord choofeth us to, for the praife of his glorious grace, tliat in all things he might have the pre-eminenee. 1 hope I need rot be To folicitous about the proving of this • tha: the Lord Jefus is the only way and mean, by and for whom the Lord will certainly and aftually collate upon his eleft, all the fruits and eSPefts of intendments of that love whereby he chofe them ; but nov/, faith is a fruit, a principal fruit of our ele6lion ; for (faith the apoflle) we are ckofen in him, before the foundation of the worlds that we JJiould he holy, Eph. i. 4. of which holinefs, faith, purifying the heart, is a principal fhare. Moreover, whom he did predeftinate, them alfo he caU led, Rom. viii. 30. that is, with that calling which is ac- cording to his purpofe ; effeQually working faith in them, by the mighty operation of the Spirit according to the exceed- ing greatnefs of his power, ^"^h. i. 19. And fo they believe, (God making them differ from others, i Cor. iv. 7. in the enjoyment of the means) who are ordained to eternal life, A6ls. xiii. 48. their being ordained to eternal life, was the foun- tain from whence their faith did flow ; and fo the eledion hath obtained, and the refl were blinded, Rom. xi. 7. 33^/)'. All the blefhngs of the new covenant are procured and purehafed, by him in whom the promifes thereof are ratified, and to whom they are made; for all the good things thereof are contained in and exhibited by thofe promifes, through the working of the Spirit of God. Now, concern- ing the promifes of \he covenant, and their being confirmed in Chriif, and made unto him, as Gal. iii. 16. with what is to be underftood in thofe exprcffions ; was before declared. Therefore all the good things of the covenant are the effeHs, fruits, and purchafe of the death of Chrift ; he, and all things for him, being the fub (lance and whole of it. Further, that iaith is of the good things of the new cpven&nt, is apparent from univ^i'j^i' Rcaempiion. igg irom the (lefcriprion thereof, Jer. xxxi. 33. Hebrews viil. le. 11. £z^/^. xxxvi. 26. with divers other places; as might clear- ly be manifeOcd, if we ail'e£ied copiouJnefs in cavfafacili, ^thly, Tnst without which it is utterly impoflTilDie that we (bould be (aved, rnuft of necefiity be procured by him by whom we iire fully