Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

1. That still this is punishment, and for Sin, (if we had nothing but Original Sin) when it is absolutely considered, why God punisheth the best; it is for sin. But when it is asked comparatively, why he punisheth Job more than another, it is not for Sin, and therefore in the Comparative Sense, that is, oft rather to be called Affliction, Persecution, (as from Men) Tribulation, &c. which in the Absolute sense, must still be called Chastisement, or Punishment.

2. Mark that this Gospel Promise of Mercy, and remission of Temporal Corrective Punishment in part, is properly a Conditional Promise as it respecteth God's ordinary dealing with Men, but it is not an infallible ascertaining Promise as to this or that particular Person, though they do perform the Condition: because (as is said) it hath, besides the Condition on our part, certain Exceptions and Reserves on Christ's part; (from hence you may see how to answer the Question, whether we must pray for temporal ⟨p. 364⟩Deliverances, Absolutely, or Conditionally.

Concl. 15. As all Punishments on the Elect before Conversion (while yet God hateth them as Workers of Iniquity, and they are Children of wrath) are not of the first sort (in demonstration of prevailing Rigorous Justice) but most commonly Merciful Chastisements, (for they are oft the happy occasions of their Conversion, yea, powerful means thereto:) So the like must be said of the Non-Elect themselves, who are but in the same state, even they are the subjects of tender Chastisement, and in a gracious sense God is oft called their Father in Scripture, tho' not in that special strictest sense as he is the Father of the Adopted, as not giving them that special Grace, but common only. The Reason is, because though God have unequal Intentions de eventu, in Chastising the Elect, and the Non-Elect, yet