Thirdly, Say some, the world is here taken for the world of the elect, the Avorld to be saved, — God's people throughout the world. Certain it is that the world is not here taken properly p?^o mundo continente, for the world containing, but figuratively pro mundo contento, for the world contained, or men in the world. Neither can it be made appear that it must be taken universally, for all the men in the world, as seldom it is in the Scripture, which afterward we shall make appear; but it may be understood indefinitely, for men in the world, few or more, as the elect are in their several generations. But this exposition, though it hath great authors, I cannot absolutely adhere unto, because through this whole chapter the world is taken either for the world of reprobates, opposed to them that are given to Christ by his Father, or for the world of unbelievers (the same men under another notion), opposed to them who are committed to his Father by Christ. Wherefore I answer, —
Fourthly, That by believing, verse 21, and knoiuing, verse 23, is not meant believing in a strict sense, or a saving comprehension and receiving of Jesus Christ, and so becoming the sons of God, — which neither ever was, nor ever will be, fulfilled in every man in the world, nor was ever prayed for, — but a conviction and acknowledg- ment that the Lord Christ is not, what before they had taken him to be, a seducer and a false prophet, but indeed what he said, one that came out from God, able to protect and do good for and to his own: which kind of conviction and acknowledgment that it is often termed believing in the Scripture is more evident than that it should need to be proved ; and that this is here meant the evidence of the thing is such as that it is consented unto by expositors of all sorts. Now, this is not for any good of the world, but for the vindication of his people and the exaltation of his own glory ; and so proves not at all the thing in question. But of this word " world" afterward.
The following place of Matthew, chap. v. 15, 16 (containing some
198 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [bOOK T.
instructions given by our Saviour to his apostles, so to improve the knowledge and light which of him they had, and w^ere farther to receive, in the preaching of the word and holiness of life, that they might be a means to draw men to glorify God) is certainly brought in to make up a show of a number, as very many other places are, the author not once considering what is to be proved l)y them, nor to what end they are used ; and therefore without farther inquiry may well bo laid aside, as not at all belonging to the business in hand, nor to be dragged within many leagues of the conclusion, by all the strength and skill of Mr More.
Neither is that other place of John, chap. i. 9, any thing more ad- visedly or seasonably urged, though wretchedly glossed, and rendered, " In some measure enlightening every one that comes into the world." The Scripture says that " Christ is the true Light, that lighteth every man that cometli into the world ; " In some measure," sa3^s Mr More. Now, I beseech you, in what measure is this? How far, unto what degree, in what measure, is illumination from Christ? by whom or by what means, separated from him, independent of him, is the rest made up? who supplies the defect of Christ? 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, tov;ards them who are utterly deprived of all gospel means of grace, and that not only for the knowledge of God as Creator, but also of him as in Christ the Re- deemer : but whether the calves of your own setting up should be thus sacrificed unto, with wresting and perverting the word of God, and undervaluing of the grace of Christ, you will one day, I hope, be convinced. It sufficeth us that Christ is said to enlighten every one, because he is the only true light, and every one that is en- lightened receiveth his light from him, who is the sum, the fountain thereof. And so the general defence of this general, ineffectual inter- cession is vanished. But yet farther, it is particularly replied, con- cerning the priesthood of Christ, that, —
III. "As a priest in respect of one end, he offered sacrifice, — that is, propitiation for all men, Heb. ii. 9, ix. 26 ; John i. 29 ; 1 John ii. 2 ; — in respect of all the ends, propitiation, and sealing the new testa- ment, and testification to the truth ; — and of the uttermost end in all, for his called and chosen ones, Heb. ix. 14, 15; Matt. xxvi. 28." (What follows after, being repeated out of another place, hath been already answered.)
Ans. First, These Avords, as here placed, have no tolerable sense in them, neither is it an easy thing to gather the mind of the author out of them, so far are they from being a clear answer to the argu- ment, as was pretended. Words of Scripture, indeed, are used, but wrested and corrupted, not only to the countenance of error, but to boar a part in unreasonable expressions. For what, I pray, is the