The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

As for that dotage, that Christ should dye for all, absolutely and without restriction, it is absurd: for Christ died not for them for whom he vouchsafeth not to pray, nor is a Redeemer, where he is no Intercessor. Now he himself saith, he ⁱprayeth not, he is no Intercessor for all. Therefore we may conclude, he dyed not, he is no Redeemer of all. Nay, the very distinction so common in the Schools, between the sufficiency of Christs death, and the efficiency of it; as though his death, or one drop of his blood (as some are not afraid to speak) were sufficient for the salvation of all, though it effect not, nor work salvation unto all; is too light and carrieth no weight with it, if it be weighed at the Lords Beam: for the sufficiency of Christs death is not to be measured by our own conceit of it, but by the Ordinance and Decree of GOD. The Messiah was never promised but only to the Church: Therefore he was never destinated but unto them alone. To ^kthe rest the seed or children of the Devil, as he calleth them, John 8. 44. he is the Seed of the woman, to bruise and tread down their head in perpetual enmity and defiance with them, not a friend to dye and suffer for them, being that wherein he doth so much ^lcommend his love. Christ, indeed, gave an infinite merit to all his Actions, to the end whereunto he purposed them, and suffered in weight and measure a proportionable punishment for the Redemption of all Gods people. But the Scripture speaketh evidently, that ^mChrist dyed not, he suffered nothing in vain, nor more then was of necessity, for the saving of his Church. And when Prayers and Intercession which he offered not for all, are one part of his Priesthood, and consequently of that sufficiency which it was requisite he should perform to God-ward for us, it is manifest that in the Ordinance ⟨p. 306⟩and Decree of God, his death, without the same, had not been thoroughly sufficient for the saving of the Elect themselves, much less of all the World. And why should we imagine a half sufficiency wrought for them in his death and sufferings, when the other part of his Prayers and Intercession, without which there is no complete nor perfect sufficiency at all, cannot be drawn unto them?