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

Ans. They are bound immediately in the same instant to love Christ as to believe; and not to delay their love till they try their Faith, or by discerning it get assurance of Gods favour. They are bound to accept Christ as good for them, when he is offered them: And that acceptance is essentially love, as it is said to be in the rational appetite. He that loveth not truly, believeth not truly. And how can any Man prove Gods ⟨p. 151⟩special love by the evidence of a false Faith? Must Men first believe without love that by the Mark of such a Faith they may have ground for love? That will be a deceitful ground, as it is a deceitful Mark.

Ans. They are bound immediately in the same instant to love Christ as to believe; and not to delay their love till they try their Faith, or by discerning it get assurance of Gods favour. They are bound to accept Christ as good for them, when he is offered them: And that acceptance is essentially love, as it is said to be in the rational appetite. He that loveth not truly, believeth not truly. And how can any Man prove Gods ⟨p. 151⟩special love by the evidence of a false Faith? Must Men first believe without love that by the Mark of such a Faith they may have ground for love? That will be a deceitful ground, as it is a deceitfull Mark.

Object At least, Men are bound to be humbled first, and believe that there is no other name under Heaven but Christs, by which they can be saved; and then to rest on him, and love him.

Ans. This is answered before. If the humiliation and Assent that they mention be proper to the Regenerate, and so be a true note of Gods special love 1. Then it will follow that other Graces go before that Faith which unites us to Christ, (Which few will grant) 2. Then Men must find special Marks Antecedent to Faith that from thence they may gather a warrant to believe: Which is false Doctrine, I think, in the judgment of all 2. But if these Antecedent Acts be common and such as reprobates also may perform, then either every Man that performs them is bound to love Christ as his Redeemer (And to rest on him for pardon) Or only some: If every Man, then some reprobates are bound to love Christ as their Redeemer (And to rest on him for pardon by his Blood-shed for them) And to be thankful for his satisfaction: And then certainly Christ did Redeem them by satisfying for them. If but some, then how shall any Man know that he is one of them. So that I think I may conclude, that they that deny universal satisfaction by Christs bloodshed, do leave Men no ground for their first special love to Christ as