Fourthly, It is true, Rom. iii. 23, it is said, " All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," which the apostle had at large proved before, thereby to manifest that there was no salvation to be attained but only by Jesus Christ; but if ye will ask to whom this righteousness of Christ is extended, and that redemption which is in his blood, he telleth you plainly, it is " unto all and upon all them that believe," verse 22, whether they be Jews orGentiles, "for there is no difference."
Proof 9. " The Lord Jesus Christ hath sent and commanded his servants to preach the gospel to all nations, to every creature, and to tell them withal that whoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved, Matt, xxviii. 19, 20; Mark xvi. 15, 16: and his seiTants have so preached to all, 2 Cor. v. 19; Eom. x. 13, 18. And our Lord Jesus Christ will make it to appear one day that he hath not sent his servants upon a false errand, nor put a lie in their mouths, nor Avished them to dissemble, in offering that to all which they knew belonged but to some, even to fewest of all, but to speak truth, Isa. xliv 2G, Ixi. 8; 1 Tim. i. 12."
Ans. The strength of this proof is not easily apparent, nor mani- fest wherein it lieth, in what part or words of it: for, — First, It is true, Christ commanded his apostles to " preach the gospel to all nations and every creature," — to tell them " that whosoever bielieveth shall be saved," Matt, xxviii. 19, 20, Mark xvi. 15, 16; that is, with- out distinction of persons or nations, to call all men to whom the pro- vidence of God should direct them, and from whom the Spirit of God should not withliold them (as from them. Acts xvi. C, 7), warning them to repent and believe the gospel. Secondly, It is also true, that, in obedience unto this command, his servants did beseech men so to do, and to be reconciled unto God, even all over the nations, without distinction of any, but where they were forbidden, as above, labour-
OBJECTIONS AND TEXTS OP SCRIPTURE CONSIDERED. ^93
ing to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth, and not to tie it up to the confines of Jewry, 2 Cor. v. 19, 20; Rom. x. 18. Most certain also it is, that the Lord Jesus Christ sent not his servants with a lie, to offer that to all which belonged only to some, but to speak the truth ; of which there needs no proof. But now, what can be concluded from hence for universal redemption is not easily dis- cernible.
Perhaps some will say it is in this, that if Christ did not die for all to whom the word is preached, then how can they that preach it offer Christ to all? A poor proof, God wot! For, — First, The gospel was never preached to all and every one, nor is there any such thing affirmed in the places cited; and ye are to prove that Christ died for all, as well those that never hear of the gospel as those that do. Se- condly, What do the preachers of the gospel offer to them to whom the word is preached? Is it not life and salvation through Christ, upon the condition of faith and repentance? And doth not the truth of this offer consist in this, that every one that belie veth shall be saved? And doth not that truth stand firm and inviolable, so long as there is an all-sufficiency in Christ to save all that come unto him ? Hath God intrusted the ministers of the gospel with his intentions, purposes, and counsels, or with his commands and promises? Is it a lie, to tell men that he that believeth shall be saved, though Christ did not die for some of them? Such proofs as these had need be well proved themselves, or they will conclude the thing intended very weakly.
Proof 10. "The Lord willeth believers to pray even for the un- just and their persecutors. Matt. v. 44, 48; Luke vi. 28; yea, even 'for all men;' yea, even 'for kings and all in authority,' Avhen few in authority loved Christianity. Yet he said not, some of that sort, but, 'For all in authority ;' and that on this ground, — it is good in the sight of God, ' who will have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth,' Luke x. 5 ; 1 Tim. ii. 1-4. Surely there is a door of life opened for all men, 2 Tim. i. 10; for God hath not said to the seed of Israel, ' Seek ye me in vain,' Isa. xliv. 19. He will not have his children pray for vain things."
Ans. The strength of this proof lieth in supposing, — First, That indefinite assertions are to be interpreted as equivalent to universal; which is false, Rom. iv., v. Secondly, That by " all," 1 Tim. ii. 1, is not meant all sorts of men, and the word all is not to be taken dis- tributively, when the apostle, by an enumeration of divers sorts, gives an evident demonstration of the distribution intended. Thirdly, That we are bound to pray for every singular man that he may be saved ; which, — 1. We have no warrant, rule, precept, or example for; 2. It is contrary to the apostolical precept, 1 John v. 1 6 ; 3. To our Sa- viour s example, John xvii. 9 ; 4. To the counsel and purpose of God,