Yea but,1 say you, Christ died for the sins of all▪ Therefore he rose again for the justification of all. The answer hereunto is two-fold, either of which is §1true and sound.2 First, as often as the Gospel extendeth the fruit of Christs merits and benefits unto all, it must be understood (as saith Saint Ambrose) of the whole number of the faithful and elect. For this is the usual and common voice found every where throughout the whole course of the gospel: He which believeth shall be saved, and cometh not into judgement. He which believeth not, shall be damned, and is judged already, and the wrath of God abideth on him. Wherefore the Gospel dispossesseth all unbelievers of Christs benefits, not only by a flat exclusion, but also by positive virtue of that condition of faith and repentance, by which he promiseth expressly or covertly his benefits unto men, & which it appeareth is never found in the reprobate, that is, such as do persist, and will still persist in their impiety. Christ therefore is thus said to be dead for all: that is, for all the faithful and elect; for whom alone he also prayed, and in whom alone he findeth ⟨p. 135⟩the end and fruit of his death. But to extend the benefits of Christs death unto infidels, & reprobates,3 for whom he never prayed, whom he never knew, or took for his own, 4and on whom the wrath of God abideth for ever; 5what else is this but against his express commandment to give holy things unto dogs, 6and cast pearls before swine. This answer may be strongly maintained by the authority of holy scripture, and testimonies of sound fathers §2and is much available unto Christian consolation.7 Howbeit there is an other answer no less true, wherewith we may satisfy the most contentious wranglers; that Christ died for all men absolutely and without exception to wit, if you respect the sufficiency of the merit, and the price which he payed. It is out of all doubt and controversy that the death of the Son of God is of such weight & worth that it may serve to purge and cleanse the sins not of one world only, but thousands of worlds; if at least all m•• would apprehend by faith this salve of sin. But the question concerneth the efficacy and participation it self of the fruits which we mainly deny to be common to the believing, and unbel•••ing, or to be generally promised or given in the […];
Yea but,1 saie you, Christ died for the sinnes of all▪ Therefore he rose againe for the iustification of all. The answere herevnto is two-folde, either of which is §1true and sóund.2 First, as often as the Gospell extendeth the fruit of Christs merites and benefites vnto all, it must be vnderstood (as saith Saint Ambrose) of the whole number of the faithfull and elect. For this is the vsuall and common voice found everie where throughout the whole course of the gospel: He which beleeveth shall be saved, and commeth not into iudgement. He which beleeveth not, shall be damned, and is iudged already, and the wrath of God abideth on him. Wherefore the Gospell dispossesseth all vnbeleevers of Christs benefites, not onlie by a flat exclusion, but also by positiue vertue of that condition of faith and repentaunce, by which he promiseth expresly or covertlie his benefits vnto mē, & which it appeareth is neuer found in the reprobate, that is, such as do persist, and wil stil persist in their impietie. Christ therefore is thus said to be dead for all: that is, for all the faithfull and elect; for whom alone he also praied, and in whom alone he findeth ⟨p. 135⟩the end and fruit of his death. But to extende the benefites of Christs death vnto infidels, & reprobates,3 for whom he neuer praied, whom he neuer knewe, or tooke for his owne, 4and on whom the wrath of God abideth for ever; 5what els is this but against his expresse commaundement to giue holy thinges vnto dogges, 6and cast pearles before swine. This answere may be strongly maintained by the authoritie of holy scripture, and testimonies of sound fathers §2and is much available vnto Christian consolatiō.7 Howbeit there is an other answere no lesse true, wherwith we may satisfie the most contentious wranglers; that Christ died for all men absolutely and without exception to wit, if you respect the sufficiencie of the merite, and the price which he paied. It is out of all doubt and controversie that the death of the Son of God is of such weight & worth that it may serue to purge and cleanse the sinnes not of one world only, but thousands of worlds; if at least all m would apprehend by faith this salue of sin. But the question concerneth the efficacie and participation it selfe of the fruits which we mainely deny to be common to the beleeving, and vnbeling, or to be generally promised or given in the ;
- 1Chriist died for all men.
- 2All that believe.All that beleeue.
- 3Joh. 17. 9.Ioh. 17. 9.
- 4Mat. 7. 23.
- 5Joh. 3. 36.Ioh. 3. 36.
- 6Mat. 7. 6.
- 7For the unbelievers. only in respect of the sufficiency of the price which he payed.For the vnbeleevers. only in respect of the sufficiency of the price which he paied.
