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

When Christ is said to Die [For us] it may be meant either, 1. Subjectivè that he Died Loco nosiro (of which more anon,) 2. Or Finaliter; And that two ways, 1. Either as we are to be his own in propriety; and so 1. To be a means to his own glory, 2. Or his Propriety a means to our further good. And thus he dyeth [For] Men by way of purchase, as a Man gives a Price [For] a Slave or Condemned Malefactor, (for I will not say, as we buy a Beast in the Market, seeing that is only for our selves; and not for the good of the Beast.) 2. Or else more directly as we are the Finis Cui of those benefits which by his Death he procureth. And so Dying [For us] is either taken generally, respecting our selves generally considered as the Objects of his love. As one Friend or Lover is said to Die for the sake of another in several Cases; as in fighting for him, or other way of signifying or testifying Love: So generally considered Christ Died nostri gratiâ. 2. Or in reference ⟨p. 6⟩to the special Benefits which by his Death he procured [for us.] Which Benefits might be variously considered, either, 1. As to be offered, or to be enjoyed: 2. Either quoad possibilitatem, vel quoad futuritionem possessionis: 3. Quoad rem ipsam, vel quoad Jus ad rem: with divers other Considerations, which I will pass by; lest by needless distinguishing I should rather obscure the point than clear it. Only, before I can go any farther I must needs lay down a few Distinctions which are of great moment and necessity for the right understanding of this matter. 1. And first and above all, we must both distinguish between the divers Effects or Ends of Christs Death; and rightly consider the Reason and the Order of each of them. For to know only in general that Christ dyed for us, is so far from being a sufficient knowledge for a Divine, that it is not sufficient to denominate a man a Christian; seeing it saith no more of Christ than may be said of Stephen, Peter, Paul, or one another: For we must, if called to it, die for one another, saith John, 1 Epist. 3. 16. Yet I confess the right ordering of this whole work in our Conceivings is a matter of great difficulty though of great moment. At the present time will permit me only to give you this brief Account of my thoughts herein.