Chap. xg, about Chrifi. i fhall be made alive in Chrifl, i COI-. 15. ]a. He takesaway thefinnes oftheworld¡ = Johna: 2. He is a propitiation , not for ourlint only, but of the whol. world: Yet all thefe mutt be taken indefinitely , not univcrfallÿ, that he died for all fortsof perfons in all Nations , notfor each pardcúfar Rerfon; as will appeare by thefe reafons. 0/) 1. TheScripture doth exprefly limit Góds lobe; andChriftsdeath tofoie onely , John 1o. I. for his Cheep, Rem. 8. 33, fire. ,Só,:. John 57: Now thefe can never be reconciled to the other Texts,' brit by this di- ftinction. z. The Scriptures which fpeak of this univerfality, fpeak of the aStual be O nefit and fruit ofhis death. Now its granted by all,that hone do( aCtually par- take of Chrifls benefits but the godly. So then-ifthe whole world, 1 John2.2. fhould extend to all mankinde , then all fhould be actually pardoned dad faved. (i 3. Experience thews that fuch phrafes mull necetfarily be fo limited: For if t I Chrift died for all men intentionally : How is it that under the Law , excepting a few profelytes , theoffer of gracewas onely to fome few, and thou_h'it been- larged under the Gofpel, yet there are many Nations, and perfons to whorn Chrilt and his benefits have never been offered ; and how then can we think that Ch'ift died for thole to whom he never difcovered fo much as the men- tion ofhis death. Duet}. rvhy then dark the Scripture fpeak,fa univerfally about Chrifi death? e4nfw. Not to leadusinto an errour contrary to other Scriptures , but for thefe reafons. To thew that thisgreat benefit purchafedby Chrift, was defignedfor man; and notfor the Apoflate Angels, H4.2.17. .2. z. It might be in oppofition to theJewes For a long time the means of falvation were only amon<gft them, as John4.za. therefore Peter would not fo much as preach the Gofpel to the Gentiles till he was admonifhed to call no perfon uncleane, Ath so. 15. Seeing therefore that formerly to the Jeweson- ly were committed the OraclesofGod : now that by Chrillscoming theparti- tionwall was broken down , and the meansoffalvation is not inclofed in one Countrymore then in another, it may very well be called the whole world that Chrift died for;for commonlythe Scripture comprehends al themen of the world under thisdivifion offew andGentile : Hence is that precept, c.*(srk,16. 1 5, `Preach theGofpel to every creature: So R.ym.11,15,The cooing awn, ofthe Tws is the reconciling of the world: where the world is oppofed to. the Nati- on of theJews. j, 3. Itwas to abate and confound thepride of the Jews, who becaufe the Mef- fias was to come ofthem , were apt to bepuffed up with this priviledge,, and toenvy and murmur that the Gentiles fhould be made partakers ofthis grace : which Chrift reprefents underthe elder brothers murmuring at the entertainment of theyounger,Luk,15,3 o. 4 4. Itmi ht be, becaufewhen thrift came into the world, fewof the Jews were converted in comparifonof theGentiles , Rom. r 1, 8 , &c. and thofe branches were brokenoff,that new ones might be graffed in therefore it may we 1 be laid, that Chrift died for all, and that he was apropitiation for the finnes of the whole world, becaufe that a'lNations did now come inand woríhip Chrift, whereas few ofthe Jews received him. 5. It was, becaufe now no Nations or particular perfons were excluded For though therebean election of fome only, and Chrift in his death had a fpecial love to thofeonlywhom the Father hadgiven him : yet becaufe, who thefe in- dividual perfons are,is notmanifefted.byGod, therefore theoutward propòunding of it isuniverfal , nor excluding any ; Thus all the invitations and commands are unìverfal,as ar.11.28.- 0 -o a 6. It' l i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=