But a greater Ambiguity lieth in the Word [All.] [All] is taken sometime limitedly and improperly for the multitude or very many, as in Mat. 2. 3. and 3. 5. Mar. 1. 32, 33. Acts 5. 12. &c. 2. Sometime properly, according to the different subjects. Sometime it is spoken of All kinds only, as of All Ages, Sexes, Estates, Degrees, Nations, Conditions of Men: Sometime of All Persons, and then if it be [All] in proper speech we need not expect that [Every one] should be added; for All Persons and Every Person, are equivalent. And though our Question be of [All] in this last proper sense, yet principally as contradistinguished from the Elect only: And I had rather far so take it here, as referring only to those that have heard the Gospel. Not that I doubt at all of Christs Dying for every Man, so far as we shall anon explain. But 1. Because the case is more clearly opened in Scripture: 2. And much more concerneth us to know, How God dealeth with those to whom Christ is revealed, than with those to whom he is not revealed. God speaks both little ⟨p. 4⟩and more darkly of the State of those to whom he speaks not; seeing it concerneth us not to know his Counsels about others, so much as about our selves. Those therefore who in all disputes on this Question, do still insist on the Case of Infants and Pagans to whom Christ was never revealed, to prove that he Dyed not for All, do plainly show, that they seek not the clearing of the point, and manifestation of the truth, but the Obscuring of it. It being the usual trick of men that are at a loss, and can carry on their Cause no farther, to argue presently à minus noto, & ad obscurum ab obscuriore, that so they may carry the business into a mist, which will not endure the light, and so may bring their Antagonists to grope; the weakest having the most disadvantage in the dark. If it had much concerned us to know on what terms the Indians are judged that never heard of Christ, the Scripture would have said more of it; and not have fitted the description of the Judicial process wholly, or almost wholly to the state of those that have heard the Gospel, Mat. 25. 2. Thes. 1. 6, 7, 8, &c. So that I desire to handle this Question now, as it concerneth all those that have heard the Gospel, knowing no great use (but some hurt) that may be in the extending it farther in our dispute;
But a greater Ambiguity lieth in the Word [All.] [All] is taken sometime limitedly and improperly for the multitude or very many, as in Mat. 2. 3. and 3. 5. Mar. 1. 32, 33. Acts 5. 12. &c. 2. Sometime properly, according to the different subjects. Sometime it is spoken of All kinds only, as of All Ages, Sexes, Estates, Degrees, Nations, Conditions of Men: Sometime of All Persons, and then if it be [All] in proper speech we need not expect that [Every one] should be added; for All Persons and Every Person, are equivalent. And though our Question be of [All] in this last proper sense, yet principally as contradistinguished from the Elect only: And I had rather far so take it here, as referring only to those that have heard the Gospel. Not that I doubt at all of Christs Dying for every Man, so far as we shall anon explain. But 1. Because the case is more clearly opened in Scripture: 2. And much more concerneth us to know, How God dealeth with those to whom Christ is revealed, than with those to whom he is not revealed. God speaks both little ⟨p. 4⟩and more darkly of the State of those to whom he speaks not; seeing it concerneth us not to know his Counsels about others, so much as about our selves. Those therefore who in all disputes on this Question, do still insist on the Case of Infants and Pagans to whom Christ was never revealed, to prove that he Dyed not for All, do plainly shew, that they seek not the clearing of the point, and manifestation of the truth, but the Obscuring of it. It being the usual trick of men that are at a loss, and can carry on their Cause no farther, to argue presently à minus noto, & ad obscurum ab obscuriore, that so they may carry the business into a mist, which will not endure the light, and so may bring their Antagonists to grope; the weakest having the most disadvantage in the dark. If it had much concerned us to know on what terms the Indians are judged that never heard of Christ, the Scripture would have said more of it; and not have fitted the description of the Judicial process wholly, or almost wholly to the state of those that have heard the Gospel, Mat. 25. 2. Thes. 1. 6, 7, 8, &c. So that I desire to handle this Question now, as it concerneth all those that have heard the Gospel, knowing no great use (but some hurt) that may be in the extending it farther in our dispute;
