The Practice of Repentance, Chapter 22
CAP. 22. Lets of presumption in that Christ dyed for all men.
THe second Obiection to bring men to presumption vrged by Sathan, is this: But Christ dyed for all men: and if thy sins be forgiuen in him, what needeth all this ado? as if thou wouldest satisfie againe for that which Christ hath once satisfied. If Christ hauehave redeemed all, then thou art safe: if he hauehave redeemed but some, bee as carefull as thou canst, thou canst neuer bee assured that thou art of that number; and therefore howsoeuer, thou mayest enioy thy sin.
Ans Christs precious bloud, the price of redemption, was for the vertue and value of it, for the sins of the whole world and eueryevery person: but neither in the purpose of God, nor in the will and intention of our blessed Sauiour, nor in the spirituall application of it by liuely faith, is it effectuall to all and eueryevery one, neither are all vniuersally redeemed by it.
1. The Scripture meaneth by all, not eueryevery particular, but many. Matth. 26. This is the bloud shed for many for remission of sins. Matth. 20 28. The sonne of man came to giuegive his life a ransome for many. Isay 52.11. My righteous seruant shall iustifie many. Luke 2.34. Hee is for the rising and fall of many in Israel.
2. All, is taken for all kindes, not persons. And this ground answereth a number of places alledged to the contrary. Titus 2.11. The grace of God appeared, bringing saluation to all men; that is, all kindes, rankes, and conditions of men; euen seruants as well as masters, vntounto whom, and for whose comfort he directed his spirit.
Heb. 2.9. Christ tasted death for all men▪ that is, for all kinds of men, not all particulars. Rom. 11.32. that he might hauehave merciemercy on all, that is, as God shut vp all vnderunder vnbeliefe, aswel Iewes as Gentiles; so hee will hauehave merciemercy on all, aswell Iewes as Gentiles, that neither Iew nor Gentile should bee saued but by mercy. The word all cannot be taken collectiue, but distributiue, Vt quosdam ax illis omnibus saluaret. Dionysius Carthus. So 1. Tim. 2.6.
2. There is an all, or vniuersalitie of the elect. Esay 53.6. The Lord hath layd on him the iniquitie of vsus all, that is, beleeuers in the Mesiah the Prophet, including himselfe in their number. And as there is a world of reprobates for whom Christ prayeth not, Iohn 17.9. so there is Mundu… è mundo electus, saith Augustine, for whom Christ is the propitiation. 1 Iohn 2.2. He is the propitiation for our sins.
Ob. Yea, and of the whole word?
Ans. 1. Of the whole world of beleeuers: 2. of the whole world in generall in respect of sufficiencie, price, and vertue of his death; but not in respect of efficacie, which is hindered by the infidelitie of the wicked. Thus the vniuersall particle includeth not vnbeleeuers, impenitent, contemners, and enemies of Christ. For howsoeuer 1. Christ dyed for all in respect of the sufficiencie of the price, the vertue of his death being infinite in himselfe, and sufficient for all that by faith can apprehend it; and the preaching and publishing of it appertaineth to all: yet in respect of the fruit, and application, it belongeth onelyonly to the faithfull; because this remedy is propounded vntounto all vponupon condition of faith, which condition onelyonly the beleeuer performes. Ioh. 3.16. God so loued the world, that whoseuer beleeueth in him, &c. Whosoeuer fayle: in this condition, neuer tast any benefit by the death of Christ: and what were I better▪ if I had a plaister neuer so sufficient for my wound▪ if I apply it not to the …ure? as no vnbeleeuer doth.
2 The Scripture speaketh of some, whom Christ neuer knew, Math. 7. therefore there are some whom he dyed not for; for he will know them, whom hee will dye for: there are some whom he will not pray for, will he dye for those whom he will not pray for?
3 The Scripture plainely distinguisheth the persons: for whom Christ dyed, from such as neuer shall hauehave benefit by his death.
1 He gaue his life for the Church, Ephes. 5.25. that is, that part of the world that is washed and sanctified through the word: he dyed for those that part from their sinnes, not those that will hold on a course in them: he dyed for his people: his name is IESVS; for hee shall saue his people from their sins: implying, there is a people that are not his, for whom he dyeth not; a people that are strangers and aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, I must therefore be one of those. I must dwell in Sion, the true Church: of those that dwell there, is said, their sinnes shall be forgiuen.
2 He dyed onelyonly for his sheepe, Ioh. 10.15. not for the goates: who be they? those that heare his vo…ce, that follow him in obedience, that heare not the voyce of a stranger, nor the voice of the tempting seducer, to draw him aside from following the true shepheard.
3 Hee dyed onelyonly for his friends, Ioh. 15.13. not for the wicked, for enemies, that say we will not hauehave this man to raigne ouer vsus.
Obiect. He dyed also for his enemies, Rom. 5.10.
Answ. Those for whom Christ dyed, were enemies in their nature & corrupt constitution, but now are friends by
grace,
recōciliatiō
Obiect. But Christ dyed for Reprobates, for they were sanctified by the bloud of Christ, Heb. 10.29.
Answ. Sanctification by the bloud of Christ, is either externall, or internall: the former is onelyonly in outward profession of Faith and participation of Word and Sacraments; and so these Apostates were sanctified; …d est, seuered from the Iewes and Pagans in profession. But they were neuer inwardly sanctified, nor the bloud of Christ neuer purified their hearts.
2 The Apostle speaketh of these Apostates, as they were in the iudgement of charity, reputed of men, who holdeth all them sanctified, that consent to the doctrine of faith▪ but not that they were so in the iudgement of certainty before God: for they were neuer of the Church, while they were in it. 1. Ioh 2.19. They went out from vsus, because they were not of vsus.
Am I then a friend of Christ, that I may be sure Christ dyed for me?
1 If I be a friend, I am a beleeuer. Abraham beleeued God, and was called the friend of God. Iames 2.23. He dyed for no vnbeleeuer. I must be a beleeuer, or he dyed not for me. Rom. 3.25. God set forth his Sonne to be a reconciliation through faith in his bloud.
2 Am I a friend… … must doe whatsoeuer Christ commandeth me. Ioh. …1.14. Ye are my friends, if ye doe whatsoeuer I command you: A seeming friend, as Herod, may doe many things; but a sound friend will doe all things, euen difficult and costly commandements. If he bid me repent and returne, I must obey.
3 A friend must bee glad of an… opportunity … shew his friendship and louelove▪ so must I. Prou. 3.28. Say not to thy friend, I will answer thee to morrow, if now it be in thy power. If Christ thy friend, call thee to Repentance this day, deferre him not till to morrow; for then it may be out of thy power to shew thy friendship▪
4 He dyed onelyonly for those that manifest the fruit of his death, 1. in the daily conquest and abolition of sinne: hee dyed for my sinne▪ that … might dye vntounto sinne, and sinne dye in mee. Rom. 6.2. How can they that are dead to sinne, yet liue in it? If sinne neuer dye in thee, Christ neuer dyed for thee: thou art still vnderunder the curse of sinne, that art vnderunder the power of it: if thou beest not redeemed from vaine conuersation, thou art not from condemnation of sinne.
2 I must daily finde the work of Sathan destroyed in me, for by death he destroyed him that had the power of death, which is the diuell, Heb. ….14. If Sathan rule thee still at his will, and hold thee vnderunder the dominion of sinne, thou hast no benefit by Christs deaths.
3 If Christ be dead for mee. I must manifest the obedience of faith, another fruit of his death. Heb. 5.9. He is the Author of saluation to all that obey him, not to any that continue in sinne.
4 I must henceforth liue to him, that dyed for me, 2. Cor. 5.15. and he dyed for those, who whether they sleepe or wake, liue or dye, liue in him, and for him, 1. Thes 5.10. that is, are partakers of his life, and liue to his glory.