Catholic Theology Plain Pure Peaceable, Section 6
SECT. VI. Of Univerſal Redemption.
95. By what hath been ſaid, it appeareth how far Chriſt may be ſaid to have died for all. Certainly (de re) all that Chriſt giveth to all, which is the fruits of his Death, he procured for all by his death: whatever we ſay of conditional Intentions, he certainly intended to give all that he giveth. But all theſe following particulars are given by Chriſt, either to all, or to more than the Elect.
1. The Humane Nature, common to all, is advanced and brought nigh to God, in Chriſt's Incarnation. 2. Chriſt's Sacrifice for Sin, and his perfect Holineſs, are ſo far ſatisfactory and meritorious for all men, as that they render Chriſt a meet Object for that Faith in him which is commanded men, and no man ſhall be damned for want of the ſatisfactorineſs of Chriſt's Sacrifice, or for want of a Saviour to die for him, and fulfil all Righteouſneſs, but only for the abuſing or refuſing of his Mercy. 3. Chriſt's conqueſt of the Devil and the World, hath made man's conqueſts of them the more eaſie or poſſible. And his Victory over Death and his Reſurrection, hath procured a Reſurrection to all the World. 4. All men are his Subjects by Obligation, as he is the Redeemer, and ſo are under his healing, ſaving kind of Government. 5. A clearer revelation of Life and Immortality, is made by him, even to thoſe that periſh. And they have far greater helps than elſe they would have had, to ſet their hearts on a better World. 6. Eſpecially a Law of Grace is made by Chriſt for all the world; (In the laſt Edition to all Joh. 1. 11, 12. & 3. 16, 17, 18, 19. 1 Joh. 5. 10, 11.that hear the Goſpel, and in the firſt to all the reſt.) By the Promiſe of which, as by an Act of Oblivion, or Inſtrument of Donation, God hath Enacted and Given a full Pardon of all Sin to all Mankind, with Reconciliation, Adoption, and Right to Chriſt and Heaven, on condition of their acceptance of it, as offered them. So that men are pardoned and juſtified by that Inſtrument or Gift, if they will believe, and will not unthankfully reject their Mercies. 7. Apoſtles and ordinary Miniſters were appointed to preach this Goſpel to all the World, and make the Offer of Chriſt and Life to all men without exception. 8. The Matth. 28. 19. Mark 16. 16.execution of the violated Law of Innocency is forborn to all men, in the greateſt part; Judgments kept off; and they kept out of Hell, while they have time and means to prepare for their Salvation. 9. Many and great Mercies which ſignifie Gods goodneſs, and lead towards Repentance, are given to all the world; even mercies forfeited by ſins againſt the Law of Innocency, and given by the Grace of our Redeemer. 10. It is made all mens duty, to believe (the Revelation made to the…) to repent, to accept more mercy, and to ſeek their own Salvation. And ſuch duty is not the ſmalleſt mercy. 11. He hath recorded his Word and Grace in the holy Scriptures, which all are allowed to uſe for their good. He hath filled his Doctrine or Goſpel with ſuch powerful convincing Reaſons and Perſwaſions, which have a tendency to convince men, and convert them. 12. He ſecondeth his Word by many ſuch Providences (in his Works, his Mercies, his Afflictions,) as greatly Act. 14. 17. & 17. 27, 28. Rom. 1. 19, 21. Rom. 2.tend to win mens Souls. 13. He hath left his excellent Example to the world, which greatly tendeth to mens Conviction and Salvation. 14. He hath appointed ſeveral Church-Ordinances, which are mercies to more than the Elect; as is the viſible communion alſo which they have with the Upright, and their examples, prayers, &c. 15. To all theſe he addeth an obligation on all Chriſtians, to do their beſt to convert and ſave all others. 16. And the Office of Magiſtrates under Chriſt, is appointed for theſe ſaving uſes, to promote the Salvation of the people. 17. Death it ſelf is now turned into a medicinal means, by the proſpect of it to convert and ſave men. 18. Uſually Gods patitience alloweth men time of Repentance, and taketh them not at the firſt denial, that they may conſider and correct their former error. 19. Remedies are offered men fetcht from Satan and Sin it ſelf. The Tempter (by the malice of his temptations) oft detecteth his ow… fraud and mens danger. A natural enmity againſt Devils, and all that is known to be of them, is put into all Mankind: And Sin hath a ſting to the Fleſh it ſelf, and is mad… ſuch a miſery to Sinners even in this life, as may much tend to alienate and deter them from it. And the world it ſelf is made ſuch a palpable vanity, and ſmart vexation, as tendeth to drive men to look out for a better, and not to love it above God. 20. Laſtly, To all theſe means, there are certain internal motions, and ſtrivings of the Spirit of Chriſt, which he commonly vouchſafeth m… in ſome degree, and which irritate Conſcience to do its office; and which if men will but ſo far yield to as they can, have a tendency to th… recovery. All theſe twenty ſorts of means and mercies Chriſt giveth to all, or to more than the Elect.
96. It being certain de re that Chriſt ſo far died for all, as to procure them all ſuch Benefits as he giveth them, the queſtion remaining i… de nomine, whether it be a fit phraſe to ſay that Chriſt died for all? And this is put out of queſtion by the Scripture, which frequently uſeth it, as is proved by the fore-cited Texts. We may well ſpeak as God ordinarily there ſpeaketh.
97. There are certain fruits of Chriſt's death which are proper to the Elect, (or thoſe that are in a ſtate of Salvation). As 1. Grace eventually Rom. 8. 30, 31. Act. 26. 18. 1 Joh. 5. 11, 12. Joh. 15. 1, 2, 6. Eph. 1. 22, 23. Col. 1. 19. Eph. 3. 17. Act. 5. 31. & 13. 38, 39. Col. 1. 13, 14. Rom. 5. 1, &c. Tit. 3. 5, 6, 7. 1 Pet. 1. 3, 4. Pſal. 50. 15. & 46. 1. Rev. 22. 9. Heb. 1. 14.effectual working them to true Faith, Repentance and Conver…on. 2. Union with Chriſt the Head, as his true living members. 3. The actual forgiveneſs of ſin, as to the grand ſpiritual and the eternal puniſhment, Rom. 4. 1. 7. & 8. 1. 33, 34. 4. Our actual Reconciliation with God, ſo as to be beloved as his peculiar people. 5. Our Adoption and Right to the heavenly Inheritance, Pſal. 4. 6. & 8. 16, 17, 18. 6. The Spirit of Chriſt to dwell in us, and ſanctifie us, by a habit of Divine Love, Rom. 8. 9, 13. Gal. 4. 6. Col. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 16. & 2 Pet. 1. 4. 1 Joh. 4. 15. Joh. 3. 5, 6. 1 Cor. 6. 19. Gal. 5. 17, 18, 22. 2 Cor. 6. 1. 7. Imployment in ſincere holy acceptable Service, where they and their duties are pleaſing to God, Heb. 11. 5, 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9. 8. Acceſs in prayer, with a promiſe of being heard in all that's good for us (in Gods meaſure, time and way,) through Chriſt, Joh. 14. 13, 14. Heb. 10. 19, 20, 22. 9. Well-grounded hopes of Salvation and peace of Conſcience thereupon, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. 10. Spiritual communion with the Church-myſtical in Heaven and Earth, Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24. Eph. 2. 19, 20, 21, 22. 1 Cor. 3. 22. 11. A ſpecial intereſt in Chriſt's Interceſſion with the Father▪ Rom. 8. 32, 33, &c. 12. Reſur…ection unto Life, and Juſtification in Judgment; Glorification of the Soul at Death, and of the Body at the Reſurrection, Phil. 3. 20, 21. … Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Rom. 8. 17, 18, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37, &c.
All theſe Benefits Chriſt hath made a conditional Deed of Gift to all the world: But only the Elect accept them, and poſſeſs them. From whence we certainly infer, that Chriſt never abſolutely intended or decreed that his death ſhould eventually put all men in poſſeſſion of theſe Benefits: And yet that he did intend and de…ree that by his death all men ſhould have a conditional Gift of them. (As Dr. Twiſſe doth frequently aſſert.)
98. Chriſt therefore died for all, but not for all equally, or with the ſame intent, deſign or purpoſe: So that the caſe of difference in the matter of Redemption, is reſolved into that of Predeſtination; and is but Gods different Decrees about the effects of Redemption.
99. The particle [For] when we queſtion whether Chriſt died [For▪] All is ambiguous: 1. It may mean [In the ſtrict repreſentation of the …erſons of all as ſeveral, ſo that they may be ſaid to have died or ſatisfied …n and by him, as civilly in their own perſons, though not naturally]. And thus Chriſt died not for all, or for any man: which yet is in ſome mens conceits, who thence ſay that Chriſt died not for all, becauſe he did not ſo perſonate all. 2. It may ſignifie [to die by the procurement of all …ens ſins, as the aſſumed promeritorious cauſe.] And thus Par… himſelf in his Irenicon ſaith, That the ſins of all men lay on Chriſt; and ſo he died for all, that is, for all mens ſins as the cauſe of his death: And you may tell any wi…ked man, Thy ſins killed Christ (what-ever the deniers ſay to excuſe them). 3. Or it meaneth, that Chriſt died fin…lly for the good of all men. And that is true, as afore explained. He died for the good of all; but not equally; that is, not with the ſame abſolute Will, Decree or Intention of attaining their Salvation.
100. But the conditional New Covenant, without any difference in the tenor of it, doth equally give Chriſt, Pardon and Life to all Mankind (antecedently to mens rejecting the offer) on condition of acceptance. And Chriſt equally ſatisfied Gods Juſtice for all the lapſed Race of Adam, ſo far as to procure them this Gift or Covenant, and the other foreſaid common mercies: But not equally as to his Decree of the ſucceſs: For there Election differenceth.
101. It is a thing ſo contrary to the nature of Chriſtianity, and the Spirit of Chriſt in his Saints, to extenuate Chriſt's Merits, Purchaſe, Intereſt or Honour, or rob him of his due, that doubtleſs ſo many ſincere Chriſtians would never be guilty of ſuch injurious extenuations, and narrowing of Chriſt's ſucceſſes, but that they cannot reconcile ſpecial Grace with univerſal, and miſtakingly judge them inconſiſtent: Nor durſt opprobriouſly reproach his univerſal Grace, as they do, by calling it vain, lame, imperfect, a mockery, &c. if the conceit of their defending ſome truth by it did not quiet and deceive their Conſciences. Whereas indeed univerſal Grace and ſpecial, do as perfectly and harmoniouſly conſiſt, as Nature and Grace do, and as the foundation and the building, and as any generical and ſpecifick Natures: And ſo doth a general Decree, that [All who will believe ſhall be ſaved, and that this Promiſe ſhall be made to the world] with a ſpecial Decree that [Paul ſhall believe and be ſaved.]
But on two accounts I paſs by all the reſt about the extent of Redemption, 1. Becauſe I muſt give you a ſpecial Diſputation or Tractate on that ſubject. 2. Becauſe the moſt Judicious of Engliſh Divines (ſo far as I can know them by their works) Biſhop Davenant hath ſaid ſo much in his two Poſthumous Diſſertation de Redempt. & Praedestinat. (Publiſhed out of the hands of Biſhop Uſher) as might ſuffice to reconcile contenders on theſe two points, were not men ſlothful in ſtudying them or partial or incapable in judging of theſe matters.