A Golden Chain

Objection. II. Christs redemption is as general, as Adams fall was: and therefore it appertaineth to all Adams posterity. Answer. Adam was a type of Christ, and Christ a counter-type correspondent to Adam. Adam was the root of all his successors, or all that should come of him, from the which first Adam, was sin and death derived: again, Christ he is also a root, but of the elect only, and such as believe, to whom, from him, proceed righteousness, and life eternal. He cannot be said to be the root of all, and every singular man, because that all do not drink and receive this his righteousness, and life neither are they actually by him made righteous. Romans 12.17.19. Object. The benefit of Christs death redounded to all. Answer. It did, to all that believe. For as Adam destroyed all those that were borne of him: so Christ doth justify and save all those that are borne anew by him, and none other. Object. If tha• Adams sin destroyed all, and Christs merit doth not save all: then is Adams sin more forcible to condemn, then Christs mercy is to save. Answer. We must not esteem of the mercy of Christ by the number of men which receive mercy (for so indeed I grant, that as Adams fall made all unjust, so the mercy of Christ and his redemption should actually justify all) but we mu•t rather measure it by the efficacy and dignity thereof, then by the number on whom it is bestowed. For it was a more easy thing to destroy all by sin, then by grace to save but one. Man, being but mere man, could destroy all: but to save even one, none could do it, but such an one as was both God and man.

Obiection. II. Christs redemption is as generall, as Adams fall was: and therfore it appertaineth to all Adams posteritie. Answer. Adam was a type of Christ, and Christ a counter-type correspondent to Adam. Adam was the roote of all his successors, or all that should come of him, from the which first Adam, was sinne and death deriued: againe, Christ he is also a roote, but of the elect onely, and such as beleeue, to whome, from him, proceede righteousnes, and life eternall. He cannot be said to bee the roote of all, and euery singular man, because that all doe not drinke and receiue this his righteousnesse, and life neither are they actually by him made righteous. Romans 12.17.19. Obiect. The benefit of Christs death redounded to all. Answer. It did, to all that beleeue. For as Adam destroyed all those that were borne of him: so Christ doth iustifie and saue all those that are borne anewe by him, and none other. Obiect. If tha Adams sinne destroyed all, and Christs merit doth not saue all: then is Adams sinne more forcible to condemne, then Christs mercie is to saue. Answer. We must not esteeme of the mercie of Christ by the number of men which receiue mercie (for so indeede I grant, that as Adams fall made all vniust, so the mercie of Christ and his redemption should actually iustifie all) but we mut rather measure it by the efficacie and dignitie thereof, then by the number on whom it is bestowed. For it was a more easie thing to destroy all by sinne, then by grace to saue but one. Man, being but meere man, could destroy all: but to saue euen one, none could doe it, but such an one as was both God and man.