Universalists. Scriptural Redemption.
1. Christ died for all and every 1. Christ died for the elect one, elect and reprobate. only.
2. Most of them for whom 2. All those for whom Christ Christ died are damned. died are certainly saved.
3 Christ, by his death, pur- 3. Christ by his death pur- chased not any saving gi'ace for chased all saving grace for them them for whom he died. for whom he died.
4. Christ took no care for the 4. Christ sends the means and greatest part of them for whom reveals the way of life to all he died, that ever they should them for whom he died.
hear one word of his death.
5. Christ, in his death, did not 5. The new covenant of grace ratify nor confirm a covenant of was confirmed to all the elect in grace with any federates, but the blood of Jesus,
only procured l)y his death that God might, if he would, enter into a new covenant with whom he would, and upon what condi- tion he pleased.
OBJECTIONS AND TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE CONSIDERED. 415
Universalists. Scriptural Redemption,
6. Christ might have died, and 6. Christ, by his death, pur- yet no one be saved. chased, upon covenant and com- pact, an assured peculiar people, the pleasure of the Lord pros- pering to the end in his hand.
7. Christ had no intention to 7. Christ loved his church, and redeem his church, any more than gave himself for it.
the wicked seed of the serpent.
8. Christ died not for the in- 8. Christ died for the infidelity fidelity of any. of the elect.
Divers other instances of the like nature might be easily collected, upon the first view whereof the present difference in hand would quickly be determined. These few, I doubt not, are sufficient, in the eyes of all experienced Christians, to evince how little the genei^al ransom conduceth to the honour and glory of Jesus Christ, or to the setting forth of the worth and dignity of his death and passion.
Obj. V. The next and last thing which comes under debate in this contest is gospel consolation, which God in Christ is abundantly willing we should receive. A short disquisition whether of the two opinions treated on doth give the firmest basis and soundest foun- dation hereunto, will, by the Lord's assistance, lead us to an end of this long debate. The God of truth and comfort grant
THAT ALL OUR UNDERTAKINGS, OR RATHER HIS WORKINGS IN US, FOR TRUTH, MAY END IN PEACE AND CONSOLATION ! To clear this, some things are to be premised ; as,^-
1. All true evangelical consolation belongeth only to believers, Heb. vi. 17, 18, — God's people, Isa. xl. 1, 2; upon unbelievers the "wrath of God abideth," John iii. 86.
2. To make out consolation unto them to whom it is not due is no less a crime than to hide it from them to whom it doth belong, Isa. V. 2<5; Jer. xxiii. 14; Ezek. xiii. 10.
S. T. M[ore]'s attempt to set forth the death of Christ so that all might be comforted, meaning all and every one in the world, as appeareth, is a proud attempt to make that straight which God hath made crooked, and most opposite to the gospel.
4. That doctrine which holds out consolation from the death of Christ to unbelievers, cries, "Peace, peace," when God says, "There is no peace."
These things being premised, I shall briefly demonstrate these four following positions: — 1. That the extending of the death of Christ unto a universality, in respect of the object, cannot give the least ground of consolation to them whom God would have to be comforted by the gospel. 2. That the denying of the efficacy of the
416 THE DEATH CF DEATH. [BOOK IV.
death of Christ towards them for whom he died cuts the nerv^es and sinews of all strong consolation, even such as is proper to believers to receive, and peculiar to the gospel to give. 3. That there is nothing in the doctrine of redemption of the elect only that is yet in the least measure to debar them from consolation to whom com- fort is due. 4. That the doctrine lof the effectual redemption of the sheep of Christ, by the blood of the covenant, is the true solid foun- dation of all durable consolation.
1. Begin we with the first, — that the extending of the death of Christ unto a universality, in respect of the object, hath nothing in it, as peculiar unto it, that can give the least ground of consolation unto them whom God would have to be comforted. That gospel consolation, properly so called, being a fruit of actual reconciliation with God, is proper and peculiar only to believers, I laid down be- fore, and suppose it to be a truth out of all question and debate. Now, that no consolation can be made out to them as such, from any thing which is peculiar to the persuasion of a general ransom, is easily proved by these following reasons: —
(1.) No consolation can arise unto believers from that which is nowhere in the Scripture proposed as a gTound, cause, or matter of consolation, as the general ransom is not: for, — first, That which hath no being can have no affection nor operation; secondly, All the foundations and materials of consolation are things particular, and peculiar only to some, as shall be declared.