A27064:466
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the late learned Mr. Richard Barter [sic] ; whereunto is added a short account of Special redemption, by the same author.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1694
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If any shall make the common objection, viz. The Non-elect, or the Elect not yet converted are bound to love and gratitude to Christ for satisfying for all that will believe, I have answered this oft already.
1. The Doctrine which I oppose is that Christ hath not only died for Men if they will believe, but died only for the Elect that they might believe; so that it is determined by name for whom he Died, and the rest he Died not for at all; and therefore his Dying for another, is not that which obligeth a man to Thankfulness: And their Ignorance that they are excluded, I have showed, can add no obligation.
1. The Doctrine which I oppose is that Christ hath not only died for Men if they will believe, but died only for the Elect that they might believe; so that it is determined by name for whom he Died, and the rest he Died not for at all; and therefore his Dying for another, is not that which obligeth a man to Thankfulness: And their Ignorance that they are excluded, I have shewed, can add no obligation.
2. Mens believing will not cause Christ to Die for them, nor is it a condition of it, as if Christ would Die for Men if they will believe; Believing presupposeth Christs Dying for us, and what then can be their meaning that say Christ Died and Satisfied for all men if they will Believe? When they say absolutely withal, that he Died not for all at all, but only for the Elect, that they might believe. Will they say that he Died for the Non-elect, if they will believe? Then either they must mean that he underwent the Penalty, and left it undetermined quorum loco, in whose stead and for whose sins it should be, till their believing determine it: But 1. This is as much denied by those whom I oppose, as by me. 2. And it is a contradiction. For it is Essential to Punishment to be propter peccatum; that Relation is its formal Nature, as it differs from Affliction in general; And therefore Christ suffered no Punishment, if it were not determinately for Sin: And the meritorious cause is considered as before the effect, and not after it; Or else if they speak of [Believing] not as any condition on mans part, but a Divinely-infused Character of those for whom Christ Died, then the sense of their words is but this [Christ Died