Answer to Granthams Book, Chapter 4
CHAP. III. Ten Arguments from the Scripture, to prove that thoſe that Chriſt dyed for, ſhall all of them be called, juſtified and glorified in Heaven.
I have ſaid enough already, I hope, to clear thoſe Scriptures that this Author brings for Univerſal Redemption. Now through the Lords Aſſiſtance, I ſhall ſhew, that though Arminians make ſuch a poor, low, common thing of the precious Blood of Jeſus Chriſt, who was God, as well as Man; That they ſay, that Men may be Damn'd in Hell for ever, notwithſtanding Chriſt dyed for them; I ſhall prove the contrary by many Scriptures.
1. John 10.15, 16. I lay down my Life for the Sheep, and other Sheep I have, which are not of this Fold: Them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall hear my Voice; and there ſhall be one Fold, and one Shepherd.
1. Obſerve, that there are ſome that are called Chriſts Sheep, before their Converſion, given to Chriſt, that he ſhould be the Shepherd and Biſhop of their Souls, in the appointed time, to bring them to Grace and Glory.
2. Theſe Sheep are the Elect, both of Jews and Gentiles, ſome are of the Fold of the Jews, ſome of the Fold of the Gentiles.
3. That Chriſt laid down his Life for theſe Sheep.
4. That Chriſt hath undertaken to bring in and Convert thoſe Sheep that he laid down his Life for, that not one of them be miſſing and Periſh: Therefore Chriſt puts [a must] upon it. I muſt bring, as if he had ſaid, becauſe of my engaging to the Father in the Covenant of Redemption, to bring them to Grace and Glory; as alſo becauſe of my own free and everlaſting love to them, I muſt bring them home.
Ay, but ſome might ſay, True, Chriſt may uſe ſome means outward and inward, to bring in theſe Sheep that he dyed for, but peradventure, they will ſtop the Ear, and their wills be rebellious: Ay, but ſaith Chriſt, they [ſhall] hear my Voice, that is, they ſhall certainly and infallibly be Converted.
2. Rom. 5.10. For if when we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we ſhall be ſaved by his Life.
1. Obſerve that thoſe that Chriſt dyed for, he Reconciled them to God, made Satisfaction and Reconciliation for all their Sins. Chriſt dying, was no ſmall matter; It was not a thing of ſmall Power and Vertue; it was not to make God meerly Reconcileable; but it was a perfect and eternal Reconciliation: Though the benefit of his Reconciliation is given out in a certain order, and manifeſted by degrees, as ſeemed good to the Counſel of Gods Will, yet Chriſt did all by way of Merit and ſatisfaction for ſin, when he dyed upon the Croſs.
2. Obſerve, that ſuch a Reconciliation being made by the Death of Chriſt, the Apoſtle ſaith, how much more ſhall we be ſaved by his Life? That is, by his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion, and Interceſſion for them for whom he dyed. Thoſe for whom Chriſt dyed, for them he roſe again. Rom. 4. and laſt v. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raiſed again for our Justification. Chriſt as the Head and Surety for thoſe for whom he dyed, was diſcharged of the debt of their ſins by his Reſurrection: So that, as he dyeth no more, death hath no more Dominion over him: So all that he dyed and roſe again for, ſhall be brought into ſuch a ſtate by Vertue of his Death and Reſurrection, that death ſhall not have Dominion over them. Chriſt alſo aſcended into Heaven as a publick perſon, and Repreſentative of thoſe for whom he dyed. For all them whoſe high prieſt he was, Heb. 6.20. Whither the forerunner is for us entred, even Jeſus made a high Prieſt for ever, after the order of Melchiſedec, for them he ever liveth to make Interceſſion, until they be all brought to Glory, he preſents his Merits, his Blood, his Satisfaction in the Holy of Holies for them. So, that unleſs Men will ſay that Chriſt did not riſe again and aſcend into Heaven, and doth not ever live to make interceſſion, it muſt needs be, that all that he dyed for, ſhall be eternally ſaved: For ſaith the Apoſtle, if we were Reconciled to God by the Death of his Son, how much more being Reconciled ſhall we be ſaved by his Life? If there were ſuch Merit in his Death as to Reconcile us to God: Then Chriſt riſing again, aſcending into Heaven, and ever living to make Interceſſion for thoſe for whom he dyed, they ſhall all be certainly and infallibly brought to Glory.
3. Rom. 8.32. He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how ſhall be not with him alſo freely give us all things?
1. Obſerve the [all] here is not all Adams Poſterity, but all that God hath an Eternal purpoſe of Grace to, which are in due time called according to his purpoſe, viz. the Elect v. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? Thoſe whom he did predeſtinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son, v. 29.
2. The Apoſtle makes this to be a wonderful thing, that God ſhould not ſpare his Son, but deliver him up to Death as Mediator, and Surety for us: In this was manifeſted the Love of God towards us, becauſe that God ſent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him, 1 John 4.9. God manifeſts his love in giving other things, but in this, the love of God was moſt of all manifeſted, that God ſent his Son to dye for us, that he ſpared not his Son, but delivered him up to bear the Curſe of the Law in our ſtead. Thanks be to God for his unſpeakable gift, 2 Cor. 9.15. Conſider the perſon that he delivered up to dye for us, he was his own Son, his proper natural Son, and tis ſaid, he ſpared him not, he ſpared him not from nor in dying, but made him to bear unutterable grief in Soul and Body, as Surety and Mediator for thoſe for whom he dyed.
3. The Apoſtle doth poſitively conclude, that all thoſe that God hath ſuch love to, as not to ſpare his own Son, but to deliver him up to Death for them, that God would certainly and infallibly, and freely give them all things, that is, all things neceſſary to their Eternal Happineſs. Thoſe for whom God would give his Son, to them he will freely give Faith, Grace and Glory: The new Heart is the gift of God, and a great gift, but nothing to Gods not ſparing his own Son, but giving him to dye for us. Gods giving his Son to dye for any perſon, was the higheſt expreſſion of his love to that perſon, that ever was, or ever could be: If God had ſuch a love to give his Son to dye for a Man, he will ſtick at nothing to bring about the Eternal Happineſs of that perſon. He ſpared not his Son, that he might ſpare that perſon: He puniſhed his Innocent Son, as Surety, that he might not puniſh that perſon for his Sins: He was at coſt indeed to Redeem a perſon by the price of the Blood of his own Son: But as to giving that perſon a new Heart, He can more eaſily do it, than we can ſpeak a word; There is ſuch ſtrength in the Apoſtles arguing, as carries all before it, throws down all Cavils and Objections whatſoever.
4. We may draw another Invincible Argument, from Rom. 8.34. Who ſhall Condemn? Chriſt hath dyed, yea, rather is riſen again, who is even at the Right Hand of God, who alſo maketh interceſſion for us.
1. The Apoſtle here ſhews, that thoſe that Chriſt dyed for, he roſe again for them, he ſits at Gods Right Hand for them, he makes Interceſſion for them, that they may infallibly obtain all that he Merited and Purchaſed for them, by his Death.
2. The Apoſtle in the Name of all that Chriſt dyed for, makes a challenge; Who ſaith, he ſhall Condemn? Chriſt hath dyed: Ay, but the Law and Juſtice may Condemn; no Chriſt hath dyed: Chriſt hath delivered them, for whom he dyed from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for them, Gal. 3.13. he hath made ſatisfaction for their Sins, by his Death. But thoſe that hold univerſal Redemption, may ſay, O Paul, why do you Argue thus, that if Chriſt dyed for us, we cannot be Condemned to Hell? Ay, but Paul knew what he ſaid, he knew how to argue from Chriſt dying for us, that we ſhall never be Condemned to Hell. Thoſe that hold that Chriſt dyed for all Adams Poſterity, of which the greateſt number are, or ſhall be Condemned to Hell for ever, make nothing, or next unto nothing, of Chriſts dying for a perſon: But Paul makes it ſuch a great thing for Chriſt to dye for us, that he is bold to ſay, who ſhall Condemn? Chriſt hath dyed.
5. John 17.2. As thou haſt given him power over all Fleſh, that he ſhould give Eternal Life to as many as thou haſt given him.
Our Saviour often ſpeaks of them that were given him of the Father, that is, the Elect people, there was a Covenant of Redemption between the Father and Chriſt, wherein he undertook to bring them to Glory, and that he might not fail of ſaving every one of them; Chriſt as the Mediator, had power given over all Fleſh: Yea, over all Devils too, that nothing ſhould hinder, but that he ſhould infallibly give Eternal Life to as many as the Father had given him to Redeem and Save. Chriſt as God had all power of himſelf: Chriſt as Mediator, had power given him over all perſons, and things in ſuch a perfect manner, that nothing ſhould hinder the Salvation of thoſe that were given him. Chriſt as Mediator hath abſolute power over the Hearts and Wills of Men, to alter, change and frame the Wills of all that the Father hath given him, to bring every thought into Obedience to him, that all the Elect ſhall be a willing people in the day of his power, he puts forth his power irreſiſtibly, ſo far as infallibly to Convert them, and puts forth his power after their Converſion irreſiſtibly, ſo far as to preſerve them to the Heavenly Kingdom. Chriſt is mighty as God, and mighty as Mediator; Hath abſolute power over all Fleſh, over their very Hearts and Wills, to open their Hearts to receive him, to work their Wills to embrace him whenſoever he pleaſes; and will certainly do it for thoſe that the Father hath given him to Redeem and Save.
6. John 17.19. And for their ſakes, I ſanctifie my ſelf, that they may be Sanctified through the truth: Our Saviour being now near his Death, he declares who he was to dye for, not for all Adams Poſterity; but for thoſe whom the Father had given him to be the Myſtical Body, whereof he is the Head, and declares, v. 9. I pray for them, I pray not for the World, but for them whom thou haſt given me, for they are thine: As if Chriſt had ſaid, I am ſo far from dying for all Adams Poſterity, that I will not ſo much as pray as Mediator, for any but thoſe whom thou haſt given me. I dye to bring the many Elect Sons to Glory, and for their ſakes, ſanctifie I my ſelf, that is, I Conſecrate and Dedicate my ſelf as their High-Prieſt, to offer my ſelf a Sacrifice for them, that they may be ſanctified through the Truth, that is, that they may be juſtified and ſanctified through him, that they might not any one of them miſs of Eternal Salvation.
7. Gal. 2.20. Who loved me, and gave himſelf for me.
The Apoſtle Paul is here ſetting forth the Love of Chriſt to him, and as an Aſtoniſhing Demonſtration and proof of the for ever to be adored love of Chriſt to him, he ſaith that Chriſt gave himſelf for me, that amongſt thoſe that Chriſt had ſuch great and ſpecial love's to, as to dye for them: He was one, he gave himſelf for me. Paul thought that Chriſt dying for him, was the greateſt Love that Chriſt could ſhew to him: But now thoſe that hold that Chriſt dyed for all Adams Poſterity, might ſay, O Paul, do you make ſuch a great buſineſs of Chriſts giving himſelf for you, and that this ſhall ſecure your Salvation. We hold he dyed for Multitudes that are, and ſhall be in Hell for ever: Ay, but Paul knew better than Arminians do, both what unſpeakable love it was for Chriſt to die for a perſon, and he knew the certainty of the Eternal Salvation of all thoſe for whom Chriſt died, he rejoices, and triumphs in this, that he knew he was one of thoſe whom Chriſt loved, and gave himſelf for.
8. Epheſ. 5.25, 26, 27. Husbands love your Wives, as Chriſt alſo loved his Church, and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it, with the waſhing of Water by the Word, that he might preſent it to himſelf a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any ſuch thing; but that it ſhould be Holy, and without blemiſh.
Here the Apoſtle exhorts Husbands to love their Wives, and with a great and ſpecial Love, as Chriſt loved his Church, and gave himſelf for it Now, if Chriſt had loved all Adam's Poſterity ſo, as to give himſelf for them; this had been no Argument for Husbands to love their Wives with a great and ſpecial Love: but rather an allowance to Husbands to love other Women with as great and ſpecial Love as their Wives: But the Apoſtle ſhews it was a great and ſpecial Love that Chriſt had to his Church, ſuch a Love as he gave himſelf for it.
By the Church, here, is meant, all the Elect; all that by the Decree of God from Eternity, were to be the Lord's, the Lamb's Spouſe; for this Church only that Chriſt as Mediator was to be Head and Husband of, did Chriſt give himſelf. This Church he was to Sanctifie, this Church he was to waſh from their Sins in his own Blood; and whatſoever they were in themſelves, polluted, defiled with Sin, yet he undertook both to Juſtifie them, and Sanctiſie them, who alſo will infallibly do it.
9. The ninth Argument to prove, that all that Chriſt died for, ſhall certainly be ſaved, ſhall be taken from thoſe Scriptures that make it manifeſt that thoſe that Chriſt died for, he purchaſed Faith and Sanctification for them, as well as Reconciliation for their Sins, Gal. 1.4. Who gave himſelf for our Sins, that he might deliver us from this preſent evil World, according to the Will of God, and our Father.
1. Obſerve, that thoſe that Chriſt died for, the Heart of the Father was in this thing, it was from the Will, the great Love and good Pleaſure of the Father, that he ſhould give himſelf for them.
2. That Chriſt did give himſelf for their Sins, that is, to take away their Sins, and that he might deliver them from this preſent evil World, that is, not only from the Guilt and Puniſhment due to them for their Sins, that ſo they might not be condemned with the World; but that he might deliver them from the evil Manners of the World, from the wickedneſs of this preſent evil World, and to make them new Creatures, he purchaſed Sanctification for them, to be certainly and infallibly beſtowed upon them, Titus 2.14. Who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purifie to himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
See in the Verſe before, who it was that gave himſelf for us; the Apoſtle calls him, the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Ay, this puts infinite value into his dying for us, that he is God as well as Man, and ſo cannot be fruſtrated in the Ends, which he had in his Death: and the Apoſtle here ſhews, that his End was to purifie to himſelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works: He intended for all for whom he died, not only to redeem them from the guilt of all their Sins, but purchaſed Sanctifying Grace for them, whereby they might be made a peculiar People, zealous of good Works, which according to his mighty Power, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things to himſelf, he will certainly do.
1 Pet. 1.18, 19. For as much as ye know, that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as Silver and Gold from your vain Converſation received by Tradition from your Fathers; but with the precious Blood of Chriſt, as a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot.
Our Lord and Saviour, Jeſus Chriſt, ſhed his precious Blood, not only to take away the guilt of Sin, but to Sanctifie them; to deliver them for whom he died, from the Vanity of their Minds, and from their Vain Converſation, that ſo they may be brought to walk with God here, and come to Heaven hereafter; and all that do partake of Mortification of Sin, and Vivification in Grace; it is by Vertue from the Death of Chriſt: he hath given Sin a mortal wound by his Death, he hath nailed it to his Croſs, that at laſt, all that he died for ſhall be wholly freed from it for ever.
10. The laſt Argument that all thoſe that Chriſt died for, ſhall certainly be ſaved, is taken from ſeveral paſſages in the 53th Chap. of Iſaiah, where we have ſuch an illuſtrious Propheſie of Chriſt.
1. There the Prophet ſpeaks of the great Sufferings of Chriſt the Mediator, He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our Iniquities, v. 4. and the Iniquities of all the Iſrael after the Spirit; that is, all the Elect of God were laid upon him, to bear the Puniſhment due to their Sins.
2. The Prophet ſhews the effects of Chriſt's Death, what benefit comes to them for who he died, he ſaith, by his Stripes they are healed, v. 5. He ſhews what Grief and Sufferings he went through to make Satisfaction for Sin, and compares our Saviour in his Death to a Woman in Travail: Ay, Chriſt had a hard Travail, and ſore Pains in Soul and Body to expiate Sin; but he ſaith, He ſhall ſee his Seed, v. 10. he ſhall ſee of the travail of his Soul and be ſatisfied; he ſhall not bring forth Wind, ſuch a windy, empty, poor Redemption as Arminians talk of, who ſay, that notwithſtanding any thing that Chriſt did in the Work of Redemption, there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been ſaved; but he brought forth a Perfect, Glorious, Eternal Redemption, ſo that all the Children of his Croſs, all that he had that hard travail for upon the Croſs, ſhall be eternally ſaved; and ſo as the Apoſtle ſaith, Heb. 12.2. For the Joy that was ſet before him he endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the Shame: The Joy that was ſet before Chriſt, as Mediator, when he endured the Croſs, when he died upon the Croſs, was not only the Glory that ſhould follow to his Humane Nature, but the Glory that the manifold Wiſdom, infinite Grace, and the holy Juſtice of God ſhould have to Eternity, by ſaving the Elect in ſuch a wonderful way by his Croſs; and likewiſe this was part of the Joy ſet before Chriſt, when he died upon the Croſs, that all that he died for ſhould be eternally ſaved, and ſtand before the Throne as his Redeemed People.
Thus I have endeavoured, for the Honour of our Lord and Saviour, Jeſus Chriſt, for the Comfort of thoſe that believe on him, to maintain, that he hath not failed in the Work of Redemption; but for all that he undertook to die, as their Surety and Mediator, he will bring them to Eternal Bleſſedneſs. Now to the Father that ſent him, to the Son that was willing to take our poor Humane Nature upon him, and die for our Sins; and to the Holy Ghoſt that doth certainly, and infallibly apply this glorious Redemption that Chriſt hath wrought to all, for whom he died, be Glory for ever and ever, Amen. And for thoſe that catch at a few Words and Phraſes in the Scripture, to make this Redemption by the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, to be ineffectual to any for whom he died; I bow my Knees, and pray to God for them, that he may pleaſe to give them Light and Underſtanding, that they may be taken off from their erroneous Conceits concerning our Saviour, and the for ever to be adored Redemption by him which ſtandeth ſure for ever.
But to remove what Doubts and Temptation may ariſe in the thoughts of ſome upon two places of Scripture: It is ſaid, Rom. 14.15. But if thy Brother be grieved with thy Meat, now walkeſt thou not charitably, deſtroy not him with thy Meat, for whom Chriſt died; and through thy Knowledge ſhall thy weak Brother periſh, for whom Chriſt died, 1 Cor. 8.11. from theſe two places ſome maintain, that thoſe that Chriſt died for may be damned in Hell.
Now for the underſtanding of theſe two Texts, obſerve, that ſome walked very uncharitably towards thoſe that were fellow Members with them; they pretended more Light, and that they ſaw their Liberty further than thoſe which they counted weak Brethren, did about eating of ſome Meats which others ſcrupled: Now, ſaith the Apoſtle, to thoſe that accounted themſelves ſtrong: Deſtroy not him with thy Meat for whom Chriſt died: Thoſe that are fellow Members in the Church, you ought to judge of them with a Judgment of Charity, that they are the Elect of God, and ſuch as Chriſt died for; therefore don't do that which tends to their deſtroying and ruin; and thro' thy Knowledge, thy pretence of having more Knowledge, and to have a greater Latitude, ſhall thy weak Brother periſh for whom Chriſt died; if without Light and Satisfaction in his own Conſcience, he ſhould be emboldened to do thoſe things, by your Example you draw him to ſin, which deſerves Damnation; but that eventually, any ſhall periſh for whom Chriſt really died, cannot be collected from theſe Scriptures, or any others; thoſe that we in Charity think are ſuch as Chriſt died for, may periſh, we ought to think in Charity, that all that are Members with us in the Church, are partakers of the Heavenly Calling, and ſuch as Chriſt died for, tho' in foro dei, in the ſight of God, who knoweth infallibly who are his, they are ſuch as Chriſt never died for: our Judgment of Men that Chriſt died for them, is but a Judgment of Charity, not a Judgment of Infallibility: But can any one think, that if Chriſt, God-man, did really die for a Perſon, had ſuch inconceiveable Love to him, and had endured ſo much for his Salvation in his Agony in the Garden, and upon the, Croſs that he would not take ſuch care, that this poor Soul ſhould not eternally periſh, and be deſtroyed by the uncharitable carriage of ſome proud, giddy Profeſſor: yea, if Chriſt really died for any Perſon, all the Wiles and Devices, and fiery Darts of all the Devils in Hell ſhall never be able to deſtroy and ruin ſuch an one, tho' other Profeſſors be uncharitable and hard-hearted, to give offence to the weak, and ſhake them, and endanger them; yet Chriſt the Meek, the Pitiful and Merciful, and Almighty High-Prieſt, will not ſuffer a bruiſed Reed to be broken, nor ſmoking Flax to be quenched: but tho they may fall, yet ſhall they riſe again; Chriſt ſaith to the Sheep, that he laid down his Life for, that they ſhall never periſh; and that none, whether Men or Devils, ſhall pluck them out of his Hand, John 10.27, 28.