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

Prop. V. This New Law or Covenant doth not actually oblige men (for all the enacting of it) till it be Promulgate; that is, a rational sufficient publication of it, made to the World.

It belongeth to the Rector after the enacting of his Law, to promulgate it: And though promulgation be not in the strictest sense (I think) a part of Legislation (though many think otherwise I confess;) yet it is a necessarily subsequent act of the Rector, without which his Law cannot actually oblige; even as [Revelation] is a natural requisite, of our actual Believing any Truth of God; tho' not (as I think) the ipsum formale objectum fidei, sed potius (quod dicitur) vinculum inter formale & materiale. For it is the Sense and Will of the Legislator, that his enacted Law do oblige those, and only those to whom it is promulgate; (else it should be apparently unjust, as obliging to natural Impossibilities.) And it cannot oblige beyond his Sense and Will.

And therefore though the Tenor of the New Law extend to all men in the World, yet it cannot be said that any man is by it obliged to Believe in Jesus Christ Crucified, further than this Law hath been published or promulgate to him, with a Rational sufficiency. It is therefore a vain objection that one makes (J. G. against Mr. Barlow, p. 47.) that if men be not obliged before the revelation of the Gospel, then either they must remain disobliged when it is revealed, or else God must make a new Law for them, or be changeable: (that is his sense.) For it is sufficient that he make a Promulgation of that Law which before he had enacted; and which was before an Instrument fit to oblige but wanted the application by a Promulgation, without which it could not actually oblige.

And therefore though the Tenour of the New Law extend to all men in the World, yet it cannot be said that any man is by it obliged to Believe in Jesus Christ Crucified, further than this Law hath been published or promulgate to him, with a Rational sufficiency. It is therefore a vain objection that one makes (J. G. against Mr. Barlow, p. 47.) that if men be not obliged before the revelation of the Gospel, then either they must remain disobliged when it is revealed, or else God must make a new Law for them, or be changeable: (that is his sense.) For it is sufficient that he make a Promulgation of that Law which before he had enacted; and which was before an Instrument fit to oblige but wanted the application by a Promulgation, without which it could not actually oblige.