For what, thirdly, is urged from John iii. 10, 17, that God so
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sent his Son, tliat " whosoever believeth on him might have ever- lastino- life," as far as I know is not under debate, as to the sense of it, among Christians.
Fourthly, For God's willingness that all should be saved, from 1 Tim. ii. 4 (to which a word is needlessly added to make a show, the text being quite to another purpose, from 1 Tim. i. 15), taking all men there for the universality of individuals, then I ask, — First, What act it is of God wherein this his willingness doth consist? Is it in the eternal purpose of his will that all should be saved? Why is it not accomplished? " Who hath resisted his will?" Is it in an antecedent desire that it should be so, though he fail in the end ? Then is the blessed God most miserable, it being not in him to ac- complish his just and holy desires. Is it some temporary act of his, whereby he hath declared himself unto them? Then, I say, Grant that salvation is only to be had in a Redeemer, in Jesus Christ, and give me an instance how God, in any act whatsoever, hath declared his mind and revealed himself to all men, of all times and places, concerning his willingness of their salvation by Jesus Christ, a Re- deemer, and I will never more trouble you in this cause. Secondly, Doth this will equally respect the all intended, or doth it not? If it doth, why hath it not equal effects towards all? what reason can be assigned? If it doth not, whence shall that appear? There is nothing in the text to intimate any such diversity. For our parts, by all men we understand some of all sorts throughout the world, not doubting but that, to the equal reader, we have made it so appear from the context and circumstances of the place, the will of God there being that mentioned by our Saviour, John vi. 40. That which follows in the close of this proof, of God's '' not being wanting in the sufficiency of helpfulness to them who, as light comes, suffer themselves to be wrought upon and receive it," is a poisonous sting in the tail of the serpent, wherein is couched the whole Pelagian poison of free-will and Popish merit of congruity, with Arminian sufficient grace, in its whole extent and universahty ; to neither of which there is the least witness given in the place produced.
The sum and meaning of the whole assertion is, that there is a universality of sufficient grace granted to all, even of grace subjec- tive, enabling them to obedience, which receives addition, increase, degrees, and augmentation, according as they Avho have it do make use of what they presently enjoy; which is a position so contradic- tory to innumerable places of Scripture, so derogatory to the free grace of God, so destructive to the efficacy of it, such a clear exalta- tion of the old idol free-will into the throne of God, as any thing that the decaying estate of Christianity hath invented and broached. So far is it from being " plain and clear in Scripture," that it is universally repugnant to the whole dispensation of the new covenant revealed
382 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [BOOK IV.
to US therein ; which, if ever the Lord call me to, I hope very clearly to demonstrate: for the present, it belongs not immediately to the business in hand, and therefore I leave it, coming to —
Proof 2. " Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to save the world, John xii. 47; to save sinners, 1 Tim, i. 15 ; to take away our sins, and destroy the works of the devil, 1 John iii. 5, 8 : to take away the sins of tlie world, John i. 29 : and therefore died for all, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15; and gave himself a ransom for all, 1 Tim. ii. 6; to save that which was lost. Matt, xviii. 11. And so his pro- pitiation was made for the world, 2 Cor. v. 19; the whole world, 1 John ii. 2. And all this is full and plain in Scripture."
Ans. Those places of this proof where there is mention of all or world, as John xii. 47, i. 29; 2 Cor. v. 14, 15; 1 Tim. ii. 6; 2 Cor. V. 19; 1 John ii. 2, have been all already considered, and I am un- willing to trouble the reader with repetitions. See the places, and I doubt not but you will find that they are so far from giving any strength to the thing intended to be proved by him, that they much rather evert it. For the rest, 1 Tim. i. ] 5 ; Matt, xviii. 1 1 ; 1 John iii. 5, 8, how any thing can be extracted from them to give colour to the universality of redemption I cannot see; what they make against it hath been declared. Pass we then to —
Proof 8. " God in Christ doth, in some means or other of his ap- pointment, give some witness to all men of his mercy and goodness procured by Christ, Ps. xix. 4; Rom. x. 18; Actsxiv. 17; and there- through, at one time or other, sendeth forth some stirrings of his Spirit, to move in and knock at the hearts of men, to invite them to repentance and seeking God, and so to lay hold on the grace and sal- vation offered: and this not in a show or pretence, but in truth and good-will, ready to bestow it on them. And this is all fully testified in Scripture, Gen. vi. 3; Isa. xlv. 22; Acts xvii. SO, 31 ; John i. 19."