The Disabled Debtor Discharged, Part 14
Them both.] Text.
And here we ſee wherin the Condition of theſe two Debters was Alike. There was difference in reſpect of the Debt owing, one ought a greater Summe then the other; but no difference in reſpect of the Diſcharge: Both are forgiven the one as well as the other. Hence obſerve,
Doct. Forgiveneſſe and Pardon is generall to all that caſt themſelves on Gods free mercy for it.
Ezek. 18.27. Iſay. 55.1. Iohn 3.16. Acts 2.38, 39. Revel. 22.17.
The Ground of this is, The Love of God to Mankind, out of which he was mooved to ſend Chriſt into the world,Chriſtus tametſi non eſſet omnes lucraturus, nihilo minus pro omnibus mortuus eſt, quod ſuum erat adimplens, &c. Chryſ in Rō. 14 and offer to them life and Salvation upon terms poſſible.
2. The price paid by Chriſt (wherby Juſtice was ſatiſfied, and a way for mercy made) was paid for all, and made for all, 1 Tim. 2.6. Iſay. 53.6. though it be not Beneficiall to all, but onelyonly to ſuch as obſerve the Condition.
Vſe. This being ſo, It is our duty who are the Miniſters of Reconciliation ſo to tender it: Our Commiſſion is, Preach the Goſpell to every creature, Marke 16.15. which is not to be underſtood in a Fryer-like ſenſe, of preaching to Birds, Beaſts, Wolves, as they ſay ſome have done.
But in our Saviours ſenſe, to every reaſonable creature, tendering Salvation and happineſſe to all that will receive it upon thoſe termes and conditions, which are expreſſed in the Covenant of Grace; which conditions required, are not impoſſible to be obſerved and performed through thoſe gratious helps which God affords unto them in the Miniſtery of the Word.
Without this generall offer the Elect of Chriſt (before Converſion) can have no ground for their Faith to reſt upon. A pardon through Chriſt is offered to a man,See D. Preſton on Faith. p. 10. and M Madens Trea. of Chriſts love and affection towards Jeruſalem, p 65 and his Ep…ſtle to the Reader. M. Harris on the Beatitudes, p. 25. in the ſtate of Unregeneracy, how ſhall this man know it belongs to him, ſeeing no mans name is particularly mentioned in the pardon? There is no other way then by reaſoning after this manner. Pardon and Forgiveneſſe belongs to every man that repents and believes the Goſpell: But I am of that number, I repent and believe: Therfore pardon and forgive neſſe is mine, it belongs to me as well as to any other whoſoever.
Thus farre the Doctrine of univerſall Grace is to be taught, and was taught by our bleſſed Saviour and his Diſciples, Iohn 7.37. Tit. 2.11. Indeed all are not Elected, but it is not for us to judge who are, and who are not. There is no particular Perſon, who lives within the boſome of the Church, but we in Judgment of Charity are to think him to be one of the number for whom Chriſt died, 1 Cor. 8.11.
Nor doe all Profit by the meanes of Grace. They will not apply themſelves to God, nor ſerve his Providence in that way, and courſe which he hath laid forth for their good, yet may not Gods Miniſters be wanting to them, though they be wanting to themſelves: We muſt do our duties, knowing we have to deale with a Nature capable of Salvation and Happineſſe without any varying of his Species: And with ſuch as may lay claime to Remiſſion, and Happineſſe upon their acceptance of the conditions. Upon which conditions it is neceſſary we ſhould make a generall Offer without any exception of ſins or ſinners, Act. 13.46.
To prevent al miſtakes, that Diſtinction which Aquinas hath out of the Fathers, of Sufficienter and Efficienter, that there is ſufficient done by Chriſt for the Salvation of Man-kind, though it ſhall not be efficient to all, (for that all apply it not) is of good uſe. Saint Auſtin made it his Buckler againſt thoſe who charged him to hold that Chriſt ſuffered not for all men. S. Chryſoſtome likewiſe (and out of him his Epitomiſt Theophilact) duplicate page duplicate page with divers others, both antient and modern, make uſe of this diſtinction in this Queſtion.
I will conclude the Point with a Relation of what I have read concerning that bleſſed Mar…yr of Chriſt M. Bilney (whom Father Latimer called S. Bilney, bleſſing God for the day that ever he knew him) He comming into a Church and there hearing a very eloquent Preacher to ſay thus in his Sermon: Behold thou haſt lyen rotting in thy luſts for theſe threeſcore yeares like a Beaſt in his …ung; and wilt thou preſume in one yeare to goe forward to Heaven (and that in thine old age) as much as thou wenieſt forward towards Hell in ſixty yeares before? He was much offended with the Preacher, and ſaid: Is not this a goodly Argument? Is this preaching of Repentance in the name of Ieſus Chriſt? Surely it is (ſaid he) as much as to ſay that Chriſt hath died in vaine: Had I heard ſuch preaching in times paſt I had utterly deſpaired of Mercy. It is a high point of wiſedome for Gods Miniſters ſo to preach Chriſt and Remiſſion of ſinnes in his Name, that a poore diſtreſſed ſoule may have ſome twig to hang on; and ſome bottome to reſt upon to ſave himſelfe from ſinking.
The Standard is ſet up for all Nations and Conditions to fly unto:Iſa 49.22. Cant. 2. Iude v. 3. He preacheth Chriſt beſt who holds him up higheſt: He is the Roſe of the field, and the Flower of the Vallies: Salvation by him is no incloſure, it is a common Salvation, reaching to all Ages, Heb. 11. To all Nations, Act. 2.5, 10, 34. And to all Conditions of men, Acts 10.12. And to all ſorts of ſins (that againſt the Holy Ghoſt excepted) He that owes moſt as well as he who ows leaſt may obtaine a diſcharge. So you ſee in the Text, which ſaith, He forgave them both.