intention to fave fome by the death of Chrift, for an univerfal Redemption by it? nothing is more certain than that falvation. could not be intended for any, to whom the benefit of Chrift's death was not intended; fince falvation is the benefit of Christ's death, and which is not intended for any perfons conditionally, it being abfolutely defigned for the elect, abfolutely wrought out for them, and abfolutely applied unto them: nor is fuch a fpecial intention of Chrift's death, for the faving of the elect only, contrary to the love of God to the world, or to his mercy and goodness to the fons of men; the paffages referred to, being either impertinent, .or misunderstood and mifapplied; as has been fhewn in the first part of this performance, to which I refer the reader.

II. It is further urged, That, " hence it must follow, that Chrift never died with an intention to fave them, whom he doth not actually fave and deliver from the wrath to come." I answer; 'Tis very true; for if he had died with an intention to fave them, whom he doth not actually fave, not only his defigns must be defeated, and his intentions fruftrated, but his death be fo far in vain. Moreover, their being

a

Whitby, p. 161. Ed. 2. 157.
F 2

not

not actually faved, muft arife either from an incapacity in him to fave them, and a fuperior power in other men, or devils, or both, to obftruct his methods and designs; which can never be thought of him, who is the Almighty; or from a change of his intentions and purposes; which can by no means agree with him, who is Jefus, the fame to day, yesterday, and for ever.

The paffages oppofed to this, either regard the elect of God only, whether among Jews or Gentiles, or else have no concern with Redemption, either general or particular, the thing in controverfy between us; as has been made to appear in that part of this work, just now referred to.

III. 'Tis faid "Hence it must follow, That none of those, to whom God never intended falvation by Chrift, or who shall not be actually saved by him, are bound to believe in him." I reply; The confequence is very juft; none are bound to believe in Chrift, but fuch to whom a revelation of him is made; and according to the revelation, is the faith they are obliged to. Such who have no revelation of him, as the Heathens, are not bound to believe in him, in any fenfe; and, indeed, How Shall they believe in him of whom they have

b Whitby, p. 152. Ed. 2. 138. Remonftr. A&t. Synod. Circ. Art. ii. p. 337. Curcellacus, p. 360. Limborch, p. 322.

not heard? and how shall they bear without a preacher? Such who have only an external revelation of him by the miniftry of the word, are obliged to believe no more than is included in that revelation, as that Jefus is the Son of God, the Meffiah, who died and rofe again, and is the Saviour of finners, &c. but not that he died for them, or that he is their Saviour. 'Tis true, the minifters of the gofpel, though they ought not to offer and tender falvation to any, for which they have no commiffion; yet they may preach the gospel of falvation to all men, and declare, That whofoever believes, fhall be faved; for this they are commiffioned to do: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; be that believeth and is baptized, fhall be faved . But then this preaching of the gofpel to all indefinitely, no ways contradicts the particular Redemption, and fpecial falvation of the elect only; it being de-. figned, and is bleffed, for the effectual gathering of them to Chrift, and does become the power of God to their Jalvation, and to theirs only.

IV. 'Tis alfo faid, "Hence it clearly follows, That no man can be condemned

c Rom. x. 14.

d Mark xvi. 15, 16. Whitby, p. 163. Ed. 2. 159. Remonftr. Act. Synod. Circ, Art. ii. p. 369. Curcellaeus, p. 36. Limborch, p. 324.

F 3

here

hereafter for final impenitency and unbelief, feeing he tranfgreffeth no law of God by his unbelief: for, furely God commandeth no man to believe in Chrift for falvation, for whom he never intended falvation by Chrift; or to repent for falvation, whom he intended not to fave by Chrift." I anfwer; Why repentance unto falvation, or final impenitency, fhould be brought into this argument, I fee not; fince God might have required repentance of men, and have juftly condemned them for final impenitence, fuppofing Chrift had never died at all, or for any at all; and as for final unbelief, none, who have not enjoy'd a revelation of Chrift, as the Pagans, will be condemn'd for not believing in him, but for their fins against the law and light of nature; and as for fuch who have enjoy'd the external revelation of the gospel, and yet have remained finally unbelievers, as the Jews, and others, they'll be condemned, not for not believing that Chrift died for them, or that he was their Saviour; but they'll be condemn'd, and die in their fins, for their not believing that he was God, the Son of God, the Meffiah and Saviour of the world, and for the contempt of his gospel, and for their tranfgreffions of the law of

God.

V. This

V. This author goes on to obferve, That hence it will follow, that neither the elect, nor non-elect, can rationally be exhorted to believe; not they who are not elected, becaufe Chrift died not for them; nor the elect, for he that knows himself to be one of that number, hath believed and repented already; if he do not know this, he cannot know that Chrift died for him, and fo he cannot know it is his duty to believe in him for falvation." I reply; That minifters, in exhorting men to believe in Chrift, do not, and cannot confider them as elect, or non-elect, but as finners, ftanding in need of Chrift, and falvation by him; and that either as fenfible, or as infenfible of their ftate and condition; not as infenfible of it, for I do not find, that any fuch are exhorted to believe in Chrift for falvation; but as fenfible of it, as the jaylor was, who trembling faid, Sirs, What must I do to be faved? when the Apostle exhorted him, faying, Believe in the Lord Fefus Chrift, and thou shalt be faved s. Befides, fuch who have believed already, and do know that Chrift has died for them, and that they are of the number of God's elect, may be rationally exhorted to walk on in Christ, as they have received him, and to

Whitby, p. 164. Ed. 2. 160.

8 Aas xvi. 30, 31.