[1.] That all infants dying before they come to the use of reason and the committing of actual sin must necessarily be saved (al- though our Saviour hath said, that "except a man be bom again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," John iii. 3 ; and Paul from him, that the children of infidels are "unclean," 1 Cor. vii. 14; — now no unclean thing shall enter the new Jerusalem, E.ev. xxi. 27), whereby the infants of Turks, Pagans, infidels, persecutors, are placed in a far more happy condition than the apostles of Christ, if they depart in then- infancy, — than the best of believers, who are not, according to the authors of this doctrine, out of danger of eternal perishing. [2.] That there is no more required of any to be saved than a continuance in the estate wherein he was born (that is, in covenant, actually restored by Christ thereunto), when the whole word of God crieth out that all such as so abide shall certainly perish everlastingly. [3.] That every one that perisheth in the whole world falls away from the grace of the new covenant, though the promises thereof are, that there shall never be any total falling away of them that are in covenant. [4.] That none can come unto Christ but such as have in their own persons fallen from him, for all others abide in him.
Innumerable other such consequences as these do necessarily attend this false, heretical assertion, that is so absolutely destructive to the free gi'ace of God. I doubt not but that such proofs as these will make considering men farther search into the matter intended to be proved, and yield them good advantages to discover the wretched lie of the whole.
Fifthly, To the last words of the proof I answer, that God sowed that seed in Adam, and watered it with innumerable temporal bless- ings towards all, and spiritual in some, whose fruit he will come to require from the world of unbelievers, and not in the blood of Jesus
400 THE DEATH OF DEATH. [BOOK IV.
Christ, any farther than as it hath been certainly proposed to some of them and despised.
Proof 15. "God's earnest expostulations, contendings, charges, and protestations, even to such as whereof many perished, Rom. ix. 27; Isa. X. 22. As, to instance : — * O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me,' etc., ' that it might be well with them ! ' Deut. v. 29. ' What could have been done more to my vine- yard, that I have not done in it?' etc., Isa. v. 4, 5. 'What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me?' Jer. ii. 5. ' Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?' verse 31. 'O my people, what have I done unto thee? wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me,' Mic. vi. 3. 'How often would I have gathered,' etc., ' and ye would not!' Matt, xxiii. 37. ' O that my people had hearkened unto me !' etc., ' I should soon have subdued their enemies,' etc., Ps. Ixxxi. 13, 14. ' Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded,' etc., Prov. i. 24-31. 'Because, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,' etc., Rom. i. 21, 28. 'Therefore thou art inexcusable, O ■man,' etc. ' Thou, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath,' etc., Rom. ii. 1, 5. No Christian, I hope, will reply against God, and say, 'Thou never meantest us good; there was no ransom given for us, no atonement made for us, no good done us, no mercy shown us, — nothing, in truth, whereby we might have been saved, nothing but an empty show, a bare pretence.' But if any should reason so evilly, yet shall not such answers stand."
Ans. To this collection of expostulations I shall very briefly answer with some few observations, manifesting of how little use it is to the business in hand; as, — First, That in all these expostula- tions there is no mention of any ransom given or atonement made for them that perish (which is the thing pretended in the close), but they are all about temporal mercies, with the outward means of grace. To which [add] what we observed in the argument last foregoing, — namely, that as God doth not expostulate with them about it, no more shall they with God about it at the last day. Not that I deny that there is sufficient matter of expostulation with sinners about the blood of Christ and the ransom paid thereby, that so the elect may be drawn and wrought upon to faith and repentance, and be- lievers more and more endeared to forsake all ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live unto him who died for them, and that others may be left more inexcusable; only for the present there are no such expostu- lations here expressed, nor can any be found holding out the pui'pose and intention of God in Christ towards them that perish. Secondly, That all these places urged (excepting only those of Rom. i. 28, ii. 5, which apparently and evidently lay the inexcusableness of sin upon