Two Treatises, Treatise 2
THE Extent of Chriſts Death and Love.
EPHES. 5.2.
And walke in Love, as Chriſt alſo loved us, and hath given himſelfe for us &c.
HAving ſpent the greateſt part of an houre in handling the Duty of Love, with the kinds, activeneſſe and Conſtancy of it: as alſo the Motive thereunto, Chriſts Love to us, which is alſo an Example and Pattern; Chriſts love conſidered.I conſidered Chriſts Love as a Fountaine and Roote, And then the effect and fruit of it in giving himſelfe for us.
For the firſt, 1As a root and cauſe why he died.I conſidered Chriſts Love with the Object of it, us; ſhewing it (as alſo the Love of the Father) to be,
1. Free, not depending on any thing in man. Rom. 11.35, 36.
2. Eternall, as being 1. from eternity, Jer. 31.3. 2. To Eteruity. Iohn 13.1. Rom. 8.39.
3. Great and infinite. John 15.13. Greater Love hath no m…n then this, that a m… lay downe his life for his friends.
This was ſuch a love as whereby hee paid the utmoſt farthing due to our ſinne.
Vſe. 1. And ſo it is not a common love, but ſpecially of ſome.To account nothing too deare for Him, &c.
2. Therefore this is not a common, but a choiſe love: and therefore ſeeing it is ſuch a love as he could not have ſhewed greater, Let any judg whether it is likely that hee with like and equall love and intention died for all and each, reprobate as well as Elect, otherwiſe then either in regard of the ſufficiency of the price paid, or of a common love and Philanthropy: and whether he loved, whileſt he died, the reprobate, Judas, Pilate, (yea Cain and Pharao then in Hell) with the greateſt love of all, As only of the elect.and ſo that hee could not have ſhewed them greater love. For ſurely then there ſhould have beene for them not onelyonly an impetration of reconciliation, remiſſion and ſalvation, but alſo an effectuall Application thereof, as in the elect. This greateſt love then reſpects the elect onelyonly and ſuch men as are infallibly to be ſaved.
For the ſecond, 2According to the effect of it, his death.(And hath given himſelfe for us.) not to inſiſt on theſe particulars, 1. Who gave himſelfe? Chriſt, God-man, 2. Whom gave hee, or what, not an Angell, &c. but himſelfe: not ſilver and gold, &c. 1 Peter 1.18.
3. What to be, an offering and a ſacrifice, &c.
4. To Whom; not to Satan, but to God, and that by way of price.
That which is chiefly of us now to be conſidered is,For whom eſpecially did Chriſt die, or give himſelfe?
5. For whom Chriſt gave himſelfe: For us, ſayth the Text.
1. For us, enemies and ſinners. Rom. 5.6.8.10. but ſo we are all. Therefore,
2. For us] eſpecially the elect, and ſuch as doe beleeve.
See the Apoſtles owne expoſition, Verſe 23. Not for all mankind alike.The husband is the head of the wif, even as Chriſt is the Head of his Church, and he is the Saviour of the body. Chriſt is the head and husband of his Church, and theſe are holy ones, the elect people of God whom the Holy Ghoſt doth ſanctify, as in our common Catechiſme. Chriſt then is an Head of ſuch as Adam was of all mankind. As only of the elect. He is the head of his Church.For though Chriſt tooke on him mans nature, yet not as it is common. Howſoever, as in each woman is the nature of man in common, yet each man is not each womans husband and head, but hers onelyonly to whom hee is joyned in a ſpeciall bond and contract, ſo here. Can wee ſay all the wide World is Chriſts Church, or that every man throughout the world from the beginning belongs as a member to this Head and Church?
So, And Saviour of his body.Chriſt is ſaid to bee the Saviour of the body. He is a Saviour of all, but eſpecially of thoſe that believe▪ 1 Tim. 4.10. Do all believe? no, all men have not faith. 1 Theſ. 3.2. Are all members of Chriſts Body?
So Verſe 25, Christ loved the Church and gave himſelfe for it, that hee might ſanctifie it, &c. Where Chriſts ſpirituall Love and intent is ſhewed, whileſt hee offered himſelfe, in regard of the infallible conferring of ſalvation, by vertue of which love and Merits of Chriſt the elect have Faith, holineſſe, perſeverance and eternall life infallibly conferred upon them, as learned Abbats reaſons out of Romans 8.32. Abbats de veritate gratiae Chriſt… p. 36Hee that ſpared not his owne Sonne, but delivered him up for us all: how ſhall hee not with him alſo freely give us all things? For whom therefore properly duplicate page duplicate page hee gave his Sonne, God giving Chriſt, gives with him all things,to thoſe alſo with his Sonne hee gives all things; Repentance, Faith, Hope, Charity, Perſeverance, his Spirit, and by it, whatſoever is needfull to ſalvation. But theſe hee gives not to all; and therefore all are not alike loved, or alike in the Death of Chriſt. Therefore where the Apoſtle ſaith, Pro quibus nobis? praeſcitis, inquit, praedeſtinati…, &c. Aug…ſt… Ioh. tract. 45.Chriſt was delivered up for us all, Saint Auguſtine asketh, for which us? and anſwereth, for us whom hee did foreknow, predeſtinate, juſtify, glorify: as Verſe 30. Of whom it followes, Ʋſe 33, who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect?
There is a power then in Chriſts Death: Tit 2.14.hee gave himſelfe for us, that hee might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purifie to himſelfe a peculiar people, zealous of good Workes. Redemption includes, 1. Gods acceptation.And Redemption includes, 1. Acceptation into Gods favour, but is Chriſts offering a ſweete ſmelling ſavour in regard of every one? ſo it muſt be for every one whom hee thus loved, and for whom he gave himſelf, it includes Remiſſion (even actuall remiſſion) of ſinne. Eph. 1.7. 2Pardon of ſin.In whom wee have Redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, ſo Coloſ. 1.14. Have all remiſſion of ſinnes?
3. 3Freedom from the power of ſinne.Sanctification and freedome from the power and rage of ſinne, Redemption is from our vaine converſation, 1 Peter 1.18. And here Epheſ. 5 25, 26. Hee loved the Church and gave himſelfe for it, that hee might ſanctify and clenſe it, &c. but are all ſanctified.
In a word, Chriſt giving himſelfe as a Husband to his Church indues his Church with all his riches (oh how rich is every member of Chriſt!) As God gives his Sonne, and the Sonne himſelfe, ſo he gives with him all things alſo, as is ſaid Rom. 8.32.
What are theſe things? And all things belonging to life and godlineſſe.All things pertaining to life and godlineſſe—to glory and vertue, 2 Pet. 1.3. That is, all things belonging both to the end and meanes: unto both which wee are elected: 2 Theſ. 2.13.—God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation (lo, Which all men have not.there is the end) through ſanctification of the ſpirit, and beliefe of the truth (lo, theſe are the meanes.)
But ſee 1 Cor. 1.30 Chriſt is made to us (namely ſuch as for whom hee ſpecially gives himſelfe) wiſedome, Chriſt not being to all, but to ſome only,righteouſneſſe, Sanctification, and redemption.
1 Wiſedome, what? 1Wiſdometo all alike? no: I thanke thee O Father becauſe thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them unto Babes; even ſo Father, for ſo it ſeemed good in thy ſight.
2 Righteouſneſſe: What? 2Righteouſneſſe.to all? OnelyOnly to ſuch as have faith, Rom. 1.17. & 3.22. The righteouſneſſe of God which is by faith of Ieſus Chriſt, unto all and upon all that beleeve; but all have not faith, as is ſaid; faith is the gift of God. Eph. 2.7. Therefore is it called the faith of Gods Elect, Tit. 1.1. All are not of God, and therefore beleeve not, heare and obey not, Ioh. 8.46.47. why do ye not beleeve me (ſaith Chriſt) hee that is of God heareth Gods words: ye therefore heare them not, becauſe ye are not of God. All are not Chriſts ſheepe, and therefore all beleeve not; ye beleeve not, ſaid Chriſt againe to the Jewes, becauſe yee are not of my ſheepe—my ſheepe heare my vorce. Ioh. 10.26.27.
3 Chriſt is to his, 3Sanctification.Sanctification; this is a fruit of the word, (Sanctifie them through thy truth, thy word is truth, Ioh. 17.17.) and a gift of the Spirit. But is Chriſt ſanctification to all? no 1. his word ſanctifieth not all men, becauſe never intended for all Acts 16.6.7. Paul and Silas were forbidden of the holy Ghoſt to preach the word in Aſia: After they were come to Myſ…a, they aſſayed to goe into Bithynia: but the Spirit ſuffered them not.
2 His Spirit, like the wind, blowes where it liſteth, Ioh. 3.8. namely on the elect only ſavingly; hee for them by dying purchaſed the ſpirit, by which his benefits are made effectuall.
4 Chriſt is made Redemption, but is that of all? 4Redemption.no. —Thou waſt ſtaine and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and Nation. Revel. 5.9. Not all nations, but ſome out of all, according to that of Paul, explaining whom hee meanes by Veſſells of mercy, which God had afore prepared unto Glory, Rom. 9.23.24.even us (ſaith he) whom hee hath called, not of the Jewes onelyonly, but of the Gentiles: he ſaith not all us Jews, or all us Gentiles, but us of the Iewes and Gentiles.
Objection. This doctrine is not againſt the doctrine of our Church.This is againſt the doctrine of our Church, which tells us that the offering of Chriſt made upon the croſſe, is a full, perfect and ſufficient ſacrifice, oblation and ſatisfaction for the fins of the whole world. I anſwer, no: The Church indeed uſeth the phraſe of Scripture, but not againſt the ſenſe of Scripture, whoſe meaning therefore is the ſame with that of the Scripture; for our Church doth tell us, Artic. 20.that (as it is not lawfull for the Church to ordaine any thing that is contrary to Gods Word, ſo, neither) may it ſo expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another. Therefore our Church uſeth not the Scripture phraſe ſo as to bee repugnant to thoſe other places named, or yet to it ſelfe which (beſides much more that might bee ſaid) in the 17. article, tells us, That God hath decreed by his Counſell ſecret to us, to deliver from curſe and damnation, thoſe whom he hath choſen in Chriſt out of mankind. So that, ſeeing to deliver from curſe and damnation is the effect of Chriſts death according to the everlaſting purpoſe of God, Therefore Chriſt hath not redeemed all mankind, ſo as to deliver them from curſe and damnation, ſeeing his everlaſting purpoſe and conſtant decree was to deliver from curſe & damnation, not all Mankind, but thoſe whom hee hath choſen in Chriſt out of mankind. Redemption, in Gods purpoſe and intention, reacheth not beyond the decree.
Our Church then doth not deny univerſall redemption: Which denies the equall application of redemption to all.for we truly ſay with it and with the Scripture, Chriſt died for all. Yet it denies that equall and univerſall Application of this redemption, whoſe event is ſuſpended, & hangs either on the libertie of mans will, or on any condition in man (which God will not work.) We deny not, but ſay that Chriſt paid a price for all, but ſuch as is to bee applied to each by the meanes of faith, which is not of all, and not by the very act or fact of his oblation, ſo that, faith being preſuppoſed, & comming betweene, all and each are capable of ſalvation, and they are ſuch as, beleeving, ſhall be ſaved.
Objection. But doth not the Scripture invite all, and make promiſes to all, and that truly, not fainedly? Math. 11.28. 1 Tim. 2.4. Rom. 11.32:
I adſwer, The promiſes are made to all upon condition of faith.there is none but may truly and ſeriouſly be invited to partake of the pardon of ſinne and of life by Chriſts death, upon the condition of Faith. Bee it knowne unto you, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, Act. 13.38.39.And by him all that beleeve are juſtified &c. And elſewhere, Acts 10.43To him give all the prophets witneſſe, that through his name, whoſoever beleeveth in him, ſhall receive remiſſion of ſinnes. Now this is grounded on the merit of Chriſts death: Which generality is grounded upon Rom. 3.24, 25. The merits of Chriſts death.wee being juſtified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Chriſt Ieſus: whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteouſneſſe for the remiſſion of ſins &c.
In this regard and upon this ground, if I were among the Barbarous heathen, among Jewes, Turks and Infidells, I (if I could ſpeake to be underſtood of them) would firſt endeavour to let them know Chriſt and his benefits, and then I would ſeriouſly invite them all to beleeve on him, yea and would aſſuredly in Chriſts name, promiſe unto all true penitents and beleevers among them, pardon of ſinne and life eternall, having (though I be no Apoſtle) warrant for the ſame from our Saviour himſelfe, ſaying, Ma…. 16.15 16.Goyee into all the world, and preach the Goſpell to every creature, hee that beleeveth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved: but hee that beleeveth not ſhall bee damned. And I would ground ſuch exhortations and promiſes upon the merits of Chriſts death, Gods Word conjoynes inſeparably, faith and ſalvation.the fruit whereof doth actually belong to ſuch onelyonly as beleeve, as is ſaid. So Gods word doth teach us, whoſe will (as wee ſee in his word) doth immutably tye and conjoyne together repentance and pardon, faith and ſalvation, and contrariwiſe. It excludes from pardon the impenitent, and from ſalvation the unbeleever, upon which ground I ſay, if Pharaoh obey and beleeve, he ſhall be ſaved: If the Ninevites beleeve they ſhall not periſh. There's no falſhood nor mockery here, ſeeing the promiſe is conditionall.
And though it be ſaid by ſome, Gerh. …d. Enchirid. conſolator. D…y.that God inviting all, ſuch is his heart inwardly as he hath manifeſted himſelfe outwardly, and that he beares the ſame mind to us, which hee ſhewed to us in his ſonne Chriſt, who is the image as of his eſſence, ſo of his will, and that wee muſt not thinke he ſhewes himſelfe kind outwardly, and yet inwardly hates us.
I anſwer, Men muſt not be too bold to inferre that God ſhould equivocate and deale hypocritically with men, whileſt hee invites and calls them to that whereunto hee effectually workes not. How God even ſeriouſly invites men in his wordThough Jeſuiticall equivocations and Reſervations doe falſify and deſtroy the Propoſition uttered, yet Gods ſecret decrees never deſtroy or falſify his will revealed; ſeeing as is ſaid, Gods will in his word doth connexe and tye together the end and the meanes, repentance and pardon, faith and ſalvation, life (eternall) and Godlineſſe, 2 P…t. 1.3.glory and vertue ▪ (Both which and all things pertaining to both, his divine power doth give unto …s.) Neither is the tru… o… this connexe by any decree… of God, or ſinne of man broken.
And as for Gods will, what Gods will, made knowne by Chriſt, is.whereof Chriſt is both the Image and the interpreter, we may ſee it declared by himſelfe, in theſe words. Firſt, Ioh. 6, 37.38, 39, 40.ſaith hee, All that the Father giveth mee, ſhall come to me: and him that commeth to mee, I will in no wiſe caſt out; then hee ads immediatly, for I came downe from heaven, not to doe mine own… will, but the will of him tha… ſent me. And this is the Fa… thers will which hath ſent me that of all which he hath given me I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up againe at th… laſt day. And this is the wi… of him that ſent me, that every one which ſeeth the Sonne and beleeveth on him may have everlaſting life. Lo, Gods will in Chriſt is not to ſave any but ſuch as beleeve (I ſpeake not now of infants) & all ſuch he will ſave; How God wills not the death of the wicked.God then wills mens ſalvation in willing their faith and Repentance: and ſo he wills not (yea and ſweares hee wills not, or hath no pleaſure in) the death of the wic…ed, Ezek. 33.in that hee wills not their ſinne and impeniten…y: Therefore its ſaid, 11 clearedI …ave no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the …ricked turne from his way and …ve: (thats it eſpecially which God hath pleaſure …in.) Therefore it is added, Turne ye, turne yee from your …vill wayes, for why will yee die O houſe of Iſraell? as if he …ad ſaid, if ye will not turn, yee muſt aſſuredly dye: I have inſeparably conjoyned theſe two together, impenitency (perſiſted in) and death. The truth is, in that place of Ezekiel, The people conceiving that evills did befall them not for their owne, but for their parents ſinnes, ſaying The Fathers have eaten ſoure grapes, Ezek. 18.2.4. and ver. 19.20.21.22.23.and the childrens teeth are ſet on edg, the Lord there Ezek. 18. Where this ſame doctrine and point is handled, ſweares that — the ſoul… which ſinneth ſhall dye (whether the ſoule of the Fathe… or of the ſonne) and tha… the ſonne ſhall not beare th… iniquitie of the Father — bu… if the wicked will turne fr… all his ſinnes — hee ſhall ſure… live, and not die. And the… it followes, have I any pleaſure at all that the wicke… ſhould dye? and not that hee ſhould returne from his wayes and live? and 31.caſt away from you all your trangreſſions— for …hy will ye die, O houſe of Iſrell.
God therefore anſwe…ing their objection, who thought themſelves puni…hed for their parents ſins, denies the ſame, and tells them it is for their owne ſinnes; and whereas they thus ſpake, Ezek. 33.10 11.if our tranſgreſſions and our ſinnes bee upon us, and we pine away in them, how …hould wee then live? The anſwer in effect is, by repentance; unto which God accordingly exhorts them, ſaying and ſwearing, as I live, I have no pleaſure &c. as formerly; ſo he ſweares, he had rather they ſhould repent and live (ſeeing theſe two are inſeparable, and without repentance, no life) then perſiſt in impenitency (whileſt they ſhuffled off their ſinnes to their Fathers) and ſo periſh: (which two alſo are inſeparable:) ſo that if they perſiſt in impenitency, his will then is they ſhall periſh. God doth truly will the death of impenitent ſinners, who will deny it? and when he wills not their death, it is as much as if hee had ſaid hee will not their ſinne and impenitency: but if they would goe on in ſinne, hee muſt and did will their death. Therefore he ſaith, turne ye, turne yee, why will ye dye? i. Why will ye run upon your owne death? and yet hee aſſures them by oath) they dyed not but for their ſinne, though they thought otherwiſe.
So, on the other hand, How God wills the ſalvation of all.God wills mens ſalvatiō, in willing their faith and repentance, & ſo he wills that all men ſhould be ſaved; 1 Tim, 2, 4.and ſo wills the ſalvation even of ſuch as periſh; but how? firſt by approving it if it were done, Even of ſuch as per…. 1 By approving … … …, not by decreeing the event.but not by decreeing the extent, nor yet ſo as to worke it by ſpeciall and effectuall grace. The obedience and faith, ſuppoſe of Pharaoh, had beene a thing pleaſing to God: but it was not a thing to bee given by God from Gods decree. But for thoſe that are ſaved hee ſo wills their ſalvation that hee decrees the ſame, and according to his decree, infallibly produceth the ſame, according to that of Chriſt, Ioh. 6 37. Ier. 31.3.All that the father giveth me, ſhall come unto me, and of God, I have loved thee with an everlaſting love, Therefore with loving kindneſſe have I drawne thee. The one is according to his will revealed, The diſtinction of Gods will ſecret and revealed juſtified.his ſignifying will, the other according to his ſecret will, or the will of his good pleaſure; which ancient diſtinction of the Schooles muſt not bee ſo ſ…eighted, or ſo eaſily cryed downe; and our Church doth hold it, Artic, 17whileſt in the 17. Article it uſeth firſt theſe words, hee hath conſtantly decreed by his Counſell ſecret to us: and theſe againe in the end of that article, In our doings that will of God is to bee followed which we have expreſſely declared unto us in the word of God. So that it would not impertinently be thought on what God wills by the will of his precept, and what hee wills by the will of his decree: what Gods will is to mee concerning that hee would have me doe, and what he wills with himſelfe in his owne ſecret Counſell; what hee wills at my hand as my duty, what hee will beſtow upon me freely as a bleſſing. God ſeriouſly wills mee to doe my duty, and ſhewes me what would bee acceptable to him, as namely to pray for all men; 1… 2.3.and to make no exception of any, but to further, every mans ſalvation: but, ſaith Auſten, … … … & … …if the Church were certaine who (in particular) were predeſtinated to goe into everlaſ…ing fire with the devill, It would as little pray for them (though yet living on earth) as it doth for him.
2 God ſo farre wills the ſalvation of all, 2By giving men ſo much grace as to leave them faulty if they anſwer it not.that hee ſeriouſly exhorts ſinners to repent, and accordingly in his Goſpell gives them ſo much grace, knowledge and good motions and ſo far enables them thereunto, that there is a true fault in them that repent not; that is, there is either contempt or neglect of the Goſpell, and ſo indeed, beſides their other ſinnes, a new fault againſt the Goſpell, whence their condemnation becomes the greater, and the condition of ſuch as never heard of Chriſt more tolerable at the day of judgement then theirs. Math. 11.21, 22, 23.24.Therefore (beſides that God gave men power ſufficient in Adam to doe what he requires and that men have diſabled themſelves to doe that which hee otherwiſe hath right to require) I ſay God, upon the forenamed groūd, may ſeriouſly invite all, exhort all, & require of them that, which hee gives them ſo much grace to performe, that it is out of their owne deficiency if they performe it not: & withall may puniſh them juſtly for not doing it their periſhing is of thē ſelves: Man is never puniſhed but for his owne ſinne. OnelyOnly God gives not that powerfull grace to them (as hee is not bound) by which (as depending on his election) infallibly they might convert.
Here is then the myſtery; Chriſts merits are availeable to all beleevers:Though God invite all, and promiſe life to all upon the condition of faith, and that promiſe be grounded, as is granted, upon the merits of Chriſts death, yet the fruit of Chriſts death doth actually belong only to ſuch as beleeve. The price paid for all, and which ſhall certainely bee to the ſalvation of beleevers, yet profits not all, But to beleeve is not g…ven to all.becauſe faith is not given to all (as not the meanes of faith) but to the Elect onelyonly.
We therefore preach and teach that Chriſt dyed for all, How Chriſt dyed for all men.ſo as that all and each, may, by the vertue of Chriſts death, through faith (the Goſpell once comming to them) may I ſay obtaine remiſſion of ſin and life; and ſo Chriſts death hath purchaſed a poſſibility of ſalvation for all men, if all men can beleeve.
But wee ſay againe that Chriſt ſo dyed for the Elect that, How only for the Elect.by vertue of the merit of his death (which was ſpecially intended for them according to Gods eternall decree) they not onelyonly might, but ſhould infallibly attaine faith here, and obtaine life eternall hereafter, (and that without any cō pulſion of their wills.
Hence it comes to paſſe (though the particularitie of Gods promiſes be objected as an odious doctrine and comfortleſſe) that the promiſes of the Goſpell are of two ſorts. Gerhard. … …pri. G…ds promiſes diſtingu…ſbed▪ 1. Conditionall which are m…e gene…l.1. Conditionall, and of the end which is ſalvation, requiring faith and repentance; and ſo Gods promiſes are generall, and hee ſeriouſly invites all, and mocks none who performe the condition. 2Abſolute, which are particular.2. Abſolute, and of the Meanes: whereby, as he abſolutely, (and without condition required of us) promiſed Chriſt himſelfe Gen. 3.15. ſo alſo both the outward, and alſo inward effectuall Meanes, as the working of faith, writing his Lawes in our hearts, Ier. 31.33.34▪ and 32.40.putting his feare in our hearts that wee depart not from him, &c.
Which, as they depend not on any condition in man, but only on Gods free, abſolute and immutable decree, ſo doe they particularly and ſpecially belong to the Elect, and not to all. Let any ſhew me a promiſe in Scripture whereby God hath promiſed to give faith univerſally to all without exception. But who theſe in particular are, the effects of Gods eternall love, manifeſted in time on and in them, doe and will ſhew and declare.