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

9. It is the description of wicked men, that they seek not after God, Rom. 3. 11. Psal. 14. 2 God looks to see if there be any that seeks him.

10. Many Texts in the Prophets show it to be all mens duty to seek the Lord, in order to their finding mercy; (and to deny it, is to turn out the remnants of obedience, or all seeds of Religion from the World:) And that God calls them all to Repentance, and to that end that they may not Die, but escape his wrath and be recovered. And that he hath sworn That he hath no pleasure in the Death of him that Dieth, but rather that he Repent and Live. So that I think it is clear that God appointed even to those that hear not the Gospel, certain means toward their Recovery: Much more evident is it of all those where the Gospel is preached.

10. Many Texts in the Prophets shew it to be all mens duty to seek the Lord, in order to their finding mercy; (and to deny it, is to turn out the remnants of obedience, or all seeds of Religion from the World:) And that God calls them all to Repentance, and to that end that they may not Die, but escape his wrath and be recovered. And that he hath sworn That he hath no pleasure in the Death of him that Dieth, but rather that he Repent and Live. So that I think it is clear that God appointed even to those that hear not the Gospel, certain means toward their Recovery: Much more evident is it of all those where the Gospel is preached.

I say not that he commandeth all the former, or any directly to believe in Christ; but it must be understood, that all men are many degrees distant from Christ, before he draweth them effectually to himself. Now the Pagans are more degrees from him than professed Christians (mostly:) It is not Christs way to bring men to himself per saltum, but by those Degrees of Recovery, which are the particular cure of their degrees of distance. One wicked man knows of Christ and doth half entertain him, but sticks at some pleasing Sin. Another knows not that he is miserable by sin, nor ever considered how to be recovered, nor ever prayed God to show him a way to escape his wrath, nor ever heard of Christ: This latter must receive much of Christs mercy before he be brought so near to Christ as the former. Christ loved one wicked man as not being far from the Kingdom of God; and some with Agrippa, are almost persuaded to be Christians. Those that be not come so far must (ordinarily) by degrees be brought to this, before they can go further. If you be in a higher room, and call your Servants to you, you intend they shall come up the stairs step by step; and if one be two stories distant from you, and another but one, the former must go up all the first stairs before he come as near you as the latter is. The Gentiles that believed not, are further off, and more strangers to God than the common Jews were. Now God hath not given them that hear not of Christ sufficient means or help to Believe (nor hath he given any believer sufficient Grace for Salvation, till he saveth him.) But he prescribeth some means to all men in the World