A bona fide offer of the gospel, therefore, is to be made to all men, 1st. Because the satisfaction rendered to the law is sufficient for all men. 2d. Because it is exactly adapted to the redemption of all. 3d. Because God designs that whosoever exercises faith in Christ shall be saved by him. The design of Christ's death being to secure the salvation of his own people, incidentally to the accomplishment of that end, it comprehends the offer of that sal- vation freely and honestly to all men on the condition of their faith. No man is lost for the want of an atonement, or because there is any other barrier in the way of his salvation than his own most free and wicked will.
42. How can the condemnation of men for the rejection of
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Christ be reconciled with the doctrine that Christ died for the elect only ?
A salvation all-sufficient and exactly adapted to his necessities is honestly offered to every man to whom the gospel comes ; and in every case it is his, if he believes ; and in no case does anything prevent his believing other than his own evil disposition. Evi- dently he is in no way concerned with the design of God in pro- viding that salvation beyond the assurance that God intends to give it to him if he believes. If a man is responsible for a bad heart, and the exercises thereof, he must be above all worthy of condemnation for rejecting such a Saviour.
43. On what principles are those texts to be explained which speak of Christ's bearing the sins of the world, and of his dying for all ?
These are such passages as Heb. ii., 9 ; 1 Cor. xv., 22 ; 1 John ii., 2 ; 1 Tim. ii., 6 ; John i., 29 ; iii., 16, 17 ; vi., 51. These terms, " world" and " all," are unquestionably used in very various degrees of latitude in the Scriptures. In many passages that latitude is evidently limited by the context, e. g., 1 Cor. xv., 22 ; Kom. v., 18 ; viii., 32 ; John xii., 32 ; Eph. i., 10 ; Col. i., 20 ; 2 Cor. v., 14, 15. In others the word " world" is opposed to the Jewish nation as a people of exclusive privileges, Eom. xi., 12, 15 ; 1 John ii., 2. It is evident that statements as to the de- sign of Christ's death, involving such general terms, must be denned by the more definite ones above exhibited. Sometimes this gen- eral form of statement is used to give prominence to the fact that Christ, being a single victim, by one sacrifice atoned for so many. Compare Matt, xx., 28, with 1 Tim. ii., 6, and Heb. ix., 28. And although Christ did not die with the design of saving all, yet he did suffer the penalty of that law under which all were placed, and he does offer the righteousness thus wrought out to all.
44. How are we to understand those passages which speak of the possibility of those perishing for whom Christ died ?
Such passages are hypothetical, and truly indicate the nature and tendency of the action against which they warn us, and are
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the means which God uses, under the administration of his Spirit, to fulfill his purposes. God always deals with men, and thus fulfills his own designs through our agency hy addressing motives to our understandings and wills. As in the case of Paul's ship- wreck, it was certain that none should perish, and yet all would perish except they abode in the ship, Acts xxvii., 24, 31. On the same principle, also, must be explained all such passages, as Heb. x., 26-30 ; 1 Cor. viii., 11, etc. See Dr. Hodge's Com. on 1 Cor. viii., 11.
C HAP T E R XXIII.
THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST.
1. In what sense is Christ to continue a priest for ever ?
This is asserted by Paul, Heb. vii., 3, 24, to contrast the priesthood of Christ with that of Aaron, which consisted of a succession of mortal men in their generations. His priesthood is perpetual, because, 1st, by one sacrifice for sin he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified ; 2d, he ever liveth to make intercession for us ; 3d, his person and work as mediator will continue for all eternity the ground of our acceptance, and the medium of our communion with the Father.
2. Did he intercede for his people on earth ?
He did exercise this function of his priesthood on earth, Luke xxiii., 34 ; John xvii., 20 ; Heb. v., 7 ; the principal scene of its exercise, however, is his estate of exaltation in heaven.
3. What is the view which the Scriptures present of the in- tercession of Christ ?
1st. He appears in the presence of Grod for us, as the priestly advocate of his people, and presents his sacrifice, Heb. ix., 12, 24 ; Eev. v., 6.
2d. He acts as our advocate with the Father, and on the basis of his own perfect work under the terms of the covenant of grace, claims as his own right, though as infinitely free grace to usward, the fulfillment of all the promises of his covenant, 1 John ii., 1 ; John xvii., 24 ; xiv., 16 ; Acts ii., 33 ; Heb. vii., 25.