Arguments againft Univerfal Redemption. ¶3! that Eternal Tranfaátion : and the whole intended by it was only to pro- cure a meer Pofi'ibility of Salvation ; and that fuch a Pofïibility , as that though it was equally for all ; yet it might fo fall out , that not one perfon should be faved , among all the fones of Adam. How unreafonable is it to imagine fuch a bargane betwixt the Father and the Son, as among men , con- fidering what they are doing , can have no place ? If Cilia was to fee his feed , by vertue of this Contra& , then certainly God had a fpecial eye and refpedt unto that feed ; and that feed muff be diftinguished from all the ref(, for it cannot be all , elle all should be Caved : and fo Chrift did not undertake to buy all , nor did the Father give him all , for his feed : and in reference to that feed , the Redemption purchafed muff be an Actual , & not a meer Potential , or Poflible Redemption ; and the Lord mutt have full Power & Dominion over the Will of that Seed , whereby he may determine their hearts unto a following of the Method , which he was to prefcribe; and all thefe meanes , whereby this'hdual Clofeingwith the Conditions was to be -effectually wrought , muft have been fecured : for a tranfadion betwixt per - fons , infinite in Wifdom , muff of necefíity be , in all things , contrived in deep W ifdom. So then , if by vertue of this Covenant , a feed was enfured to Chrift , it was thefe concet ping whom the tranfadlion was made; for what intereft could others have in this , or advantage by it < And fo the Radem- ption was neither Univerfal ; nor yet meetly Pofïible , & no more. Againe (2.) The Scripture every where pointeth out the end ofChrifls coming & dying , to have been , to Procure & Obtaine force good to man; it were endlefs to cite the Scriptures (peaking this out plainely : But if it had been only CO have procured a Poffibility , then the proper & immediat end of his dying , had beenonly to have procured fomething to God , vii. a Po- wer to Him , that he might , without hurt to his Juftice , prefcribe a pofn ble way of falvation. Now , not to difcuffe that queftion , agitated among Orthodox Divines ,vii. whether it was impof ible for God to have pardoned the fins of man , without a fatisfaEtion made by his Son , or not; meaning antecedently to a decree, determineing this way of manifeflation of the ju- flice of God ; only I mull fay , that as yet I can fee nothing from Scripture, determineing the egreffes of the Relative Juftice of God, to be more effen- tial to God , & lefs fubje l to the free determinations of his good will and pleafure , than we the egreffes of his Mercy ; nor do I fee any neceffity for afferting.thisagainfi the Socinians, feing our ground, walking upon a decree, is proof againft all their Affaults; far lefs fee I any necefïìty of founding our whole debate with the Socinians, upon that ground; yea I cannot but judge it the refult of great imprudence fo to do , feing the Socinians may reply , that the fole ground of that Oppoftion to them is not only queflioned, but plainly denyed', by fu, h as we account Orthodox & learned ; and may hence ga- ther we have no other folide ground, whereupon to debate with them, but fch as the learned of our owne fide overthrow. The depths of God's Counfel are beyond our fathoming; and it is hard for us to fay , hithertil the omnipotent can come, but not one irate further. I dar not be wife above what is written; and I would gladly fee one paffage of Scripture , declareing V v v this
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