Universal Redemption of Mankind, Chapter 7 · Argument 8
Arg. 8th. A Cauſa pereundi negativè.
If Chriſt hath not ſatisfied for all men, then the cauſe of mens periſhing is for want of an expiatory ſ…cri…i…e But the want of an expiatory … is not the cauſe of mens … therefore Chriſt hath ſatisfied for all. By … cauſe▪ I mean not the meritorious cauſe, for that no doubt muſt be ſome ſin of Man:) And I ſuppoſe that Unbelievers are not condemned according to the firſt Law of works▪ as ſtanding without Remedy, that is, not meerly becauſe they did not perfectly obey; but at the Redeemers bar, becauſe they believed not, and would not have Chriſt to Reign over them, or becauſe they improved not their Talents of Grace, (that is, of mercy given contrary to deſert) And of thoſe that hear the Goſpel, this is undenyable; (and I think it is certainly true of all others.) So that it is periſhing in reference to a Goſpel Judgment at the Mediators Bar that we mean; and ſpecicially in a comparative ſence: And by [cauſe] I mean, the Reaſon of their periſhing to be alledged: So that if you ask, ſeeing all are equally condemned by the Law of works, and mercy hath found out a Remedy, what is the reaſon that this man is condemned at the Redeemers Bar, when that is acquit? Or that this Man (Judas) is not delivered and ſaved as well as that (Peter?) Is it becauſe Chriſt Dyed only for one, or that one only believed and the other refuſed Chriſt? Here according to the Doctrine which denyeth Univerſal Satisfaction, it muſt be ſaid that either the only or the principal reaſon that men periſh when others are ſaved, is for want of an expiatory ſacrifice, or ſatisfaction for their Sin; i. e. becauſe they had no Redeemer when others had, or no Chriſt to Die for them. But this is contrary to the Scripture. The conſequence is evident, that it is more principally, the want of a Saviour or ſatisfaction then the want of Faith that is the reaſon of their periſhing, if Chriſt ſatisfied not for them. 1. Becauſe ſatisfaction is prerequiſite to the efficacy or uſefulneſs of Faith: Sed non è contra. 2. Satisfaction hath the greateſt work to do, and is the greateſt cauſe: And faith hath a far and a lower work; and is a leſſer cauſe, or indeed no cauſe at all, but a meer condition. 3. God could not fitly ſave Sinners without ſatisfaction: But he could, if he had pleaſed, have ſaved them for that ſatisfaction, without a perſonal Faith as he doth Infants, and as he ſaved the Church before Chriſts Incarnation, without that Faith which now juſtifieth. viz. Believing that this Jeſus is the Chriſt; and without believing in any Articles of our Creed. If two Men be mortally ſick, and one be healed, and the other not, becauſe one had a coſtly Cordial, and the other had none prepared for him, but only a nonimal offer without the thing; though this Man refuſe that nominal or feigned offer, yet the chief cauſe why he was not healed was the want of the medicament, rather then his refuſal.
And for the Minor, its plain through the whole New Teſtament that the cauſe of Mens periſhing is not for want of an expiatory Sacrifice, but for want of Faith to receive the Redeemer and his benefits, Mat. 23. 37. How oft would I have gathered thee, &c. ye would not, Iſa. 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard, &c. Mat. 24. 4. 5. Tell them which are bidden, behold I have prepared my dinner. My Oxen and Fatlings are killed and all things are ready Come unto the Marriage. But they made light of it, &c. verſe 8. The Wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy, i. e. There is no want on Chriſts Part, his Sacrifice and ſatisfaction is ſufficient: But they loſt the benefits for want of believing, Mat. 25. 1. 2. All the Virgins might have been accepted at the Marriage, if their own ſloath had not ſhut out the fooliſh, verſe 14. All the Servants had Talents (mercies purchaſed by Chriſts Death) but it was, not well uſing them that condemned one. Men treade under Foot the Blood of the Covenant wherewith they were ſanctified: And deny the Lord that bought them, Mens deſtruction is of themſelves. But in God (through Chriſt) is their help. All the Scripture ſhews this, that Men periſh for their rejecting a Redeemer and not for want of the Price of Redemption: For quoad pretium, Chriſt hath taken away the Sins of the World.