(2.) Analogy from other eternal purposes of God gives a demonstration hereof. The eternal purposes of the divine will for the creation of the world out of nothing left that nothing as very nothing as ever, until an act of almighty power gave, in the beginning, existince and being to the things that are seen. Things have their certain futurition, not instant actual existence, from the eternal purposes of God concerning them
(3.) The Scripture plainly placeth all men in the same state and condition be- fore conversion and reconciliation. " We liavc proved both Jews and Gentiles, that
god's will towards those for whom CHRIST DIED. 457
they are all under sin/' Rom. iii. 9. So " every mouth is stopped, and all the world is become guilty before God," verse 19; all being "by nature children of wrath," Ejih. ii. 3. The condition of all in unregenei acy is really one and the same. Those who think it is a mistaken apprehension in the elect to think so, are certainly too much mistaken in that apprehension. " He that believeth not the Son, the wrath of God abideth on him," John iii. 36. If the misapprehension be, as they say it is, unlielief, it leaves them in whom it is under the wrath of God. He that would see this farther cleared and confirmed may consult my treatise of Redemp- tion, lib. iii. cap. 8, where it is purposely and expressly handled at large.
Hence Mr Baxter may have some directions how to dispose of that censure concerning me, which yet he is pleased to say that he suspendeth, p. 158, — namely, That 1 should affirm justification to be nothing but the manifestation of eternal love; which I have more than in one place or two expressly opposed. That any one should but here and there consult a few lines or leaves of my treatise, I no way blame, — in such things we all use our liberty, — but upon so slight a view as can- not possibly represent the frame, structure, and coherence of my judgment iu any particular, to undertake a confutation and censure of it, cannot well be done without some regret to candid ingenuity.
2. For the second assertion laid down, which goeth something farther than the former, it is easily deduced from the same principles therewithal. I shall there- fore add only one argument for the confirmation thereof.
God having appointed that his eternal love, in the fruits thereof, should be no otherwise communicated but only in and by Christ, all right thereunto must of necessity be of his procurement and purchasing. Yea, the end of the mediation of the Lord Jesvxs is to give right, title, and possession, in their several order and seasons, unto and in all the fruits, issues, and tendencies of that love unto them whose mediator he is appointed to be.
Thus far, then, all is seated in the bosom of the Almighty, all dltferencing acts of grace flowing from hence being to be made out as seems good unto him in his infinite wise sovereignty; from whence alone is the disposal of all these things, as to that order which may most conduce to his glory. And this also writes vanity upon the objection insisted on by Mr Baxter, p. 157, that when we have a right we must presently have a possession; all these things being to be moderated ac- cording to his free, sovereign disposal.
And this concerneth the first mstant proposed.
CHAPTER Vin.
Of the will of God in reference to them for whom Christ died, immediately upon the consideration of his death ; and their state and couditiou before actual believing in relation thereunto.
The second instance proposed to be considered is in the immediate issue of the death of Christ, as proposed and accomplished. Purpose and accomplishment are, indeed, different, but their effects in respect of God are the same. In refer- ence to us, also, the death of Christ hath the same efficacy as promised and as per- formed. What acts the Scripture ascribes unto God, antecedent unto any con- sideration of the death of Christ, or at least such as are absolutely free and of sovereignty, without any influence of causality from thence, we saw before; for as for the order of God's decrees compared among themselves, I will not with any one contend. Here we inquire what it holdeth out of him, that being in all its efficacy supposed. And we affirm. —
458 OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
1. That the will of God is not moved to any thing thereby, nor changed into any other respect towards those for whom Christ died than what it had before. This was formerly proved, and must again be touched on. But, —
2. The death of Christ [being] proposed and accounted effectual, as before, God can, agreeable to his infinite justice, wisdom, truth, and appointment, make out unto sinners for whom Christ died, or was to die, all those good things which he before purposed and willed by such means to them; those things being purchased and procured, and all hinderances of bestowing them being removed, by that satis- faction and merit which, by free compact, he agreed and consented should be in that death of Christ.
3. That as [to] the making out of all spiritual blessings, first proposed by the Father, then purchased by the Son, that they might be bestowed condecently to divine justice, God hath reserved it to his own sovereign disposal. That it be done so that they for whom this whole dispensation is appointed may really enjoy the fruits of it, is all that necessarily is included either in the purpose or purchase.