The Fanning and Sifting of Samuel Oates, Treatise 1 · Decree 2
2. That Redemption by Christs death, is ſolely and only of, and for the elect, as a fruit of their election.
1. Chriſt died for them, and them only, whom he repreſented, whoſe names were in the bond of agreement, or in the Covenant of his Suretiſhip, and that were virtually in him upon the croſſe. Some were virtually in him upon the croſſe, for he was there as a publike perſon; all were not virtually in him, but ſuch as are in due time ſpiritually and powerfully united to him; if any more but they, then Chriſts death and croſſe loſeth ſome of its vertue, & Chriſts power is leſſe then Adams (for as all ſinned in Adam, the imputation of his ſin is put upon all their perſons, whom he repreſented) Now not any but true beleevers, and the elect ſeed are in time ſpiritually and powerfully united to Chriſt (even by Teſtardus doctrine *The 192, 194.) nor doe any but ſuch partake of Chriſts ſatisfactory righteouſneſſe, by ſpirituall propagation, or union and bond of the Spirit and faith, as they that are in Adam by naturall propagation, and bond of nature, are partakers of his condemning guilt (which Teſtardus pro…eth, from Rom. 5. 16, &c. as we uſe to prove it) By proportion of the firſt and ſecond Adam, virtuall and actuall union and imputation goe together. Now who will ſay Chriſt repreſented more then the elect, &c?
3. If Chriſt died for more then the elect, more then the elect muſt beleeve in him, as an effectuall Saviour, or he muſt be beleeved on, as an ineffectuall Saviour by ſome or other; Now not Teſtardus, nor any ſuch Ʋniverſalist will ſay, that his death is, or was ever intended to be ſavingly efficacious to all (only ſuch a groſſe Atheiſt or diſtracted brain, as he that put out *A pamphlet ſentenced before, p. 30. as unworthy of any light, but the light fireDivine Light.) And that which is not nor was intended, is not to be beleeved. Nor will, or dare any bid men beleeve in Chriſt for half, or half a quarter of ſalvation, who are in their found mindes. But beleeve (we ſay) in Chriſt for all or nothing, when we take the Scripture-ſcope along with our preaching.
3. Chriſt died for thoſe, and thoſe only, who ſhall finde their election by beleeving in his death; none can finde their Act. 13. 38.election, who firſt had it not in Gods counſel. That repreſentation therefore of Chriſts death, which Testardus makes in ſome reſpects, common to more then Gods elect, doth weaken the hands and hearts of true beleevers, ſhake the faith of Gods elect, and obſcure Gods election, as well as the reaſonings of Sam. Oates; and I hope (with Gods elect at laſt) the doctrine of the one will be received for Orthodox, no more then the other, but both be rejected as Heterodox.
Let thoſe who preach, hear, write, reade of Chriſts death and Redemption, beleeve in him for all actuall union and effieacy of communion, and the aſſurance of their election thereby, as the cauſe is known and aſſured by the effect, and you ſhall finde the Treaſure and the Pearl, for which the Chriſtian man, and merchant, ſold all he had, and bought it.
As it followeth in the Parables.