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

3. Furthermore, it deserves consideration, whether men can considerately go against the plain light of so many express Texts of Scripture without some reluctancy and regret of Judgment? And then, whether using a mans Judgment to such a course, to bear down the evidence of of many express texts of Scripture, be not a matter of a dangerous nature, both symptomatically and effectually. Doth it not signify a defect in our belief of the truth of Scripture? Or at least of our reverend esteem of it, when we dare use it as a Leaden rule, and Nose of Wax (as the Papists presumptuously call it.) He that can think it will endure such bending, is in danger of thinking it may endure breaking. Hath it not too plain a tendency to infidelity and disobedience? It is the truth of this word that must preserve us from both. And he that thinks so meanly of the Scripture, as that it will patiently endure such violence and stretching, is in great danger of being drawn to question whether it be Gods Word or no, and of venturing over its bounds in practicals, in case of temptation. For what have we to persuade us that Christ is the eternal God but plain Scripture? And is it plainer in this than in its affirming that Christ died for All? All tender conscionable Christians should be as fearful to adventure ⟨p. 286⟩against the plain meaning of Scripture in the matter of Faith, as to adventure against its plain precepts and prohibitions in matter of practice. And therefore I conclude that when God saith so expressly that Christ died for All, and tasted death for every man, and is the Ransom for all and the propitiation for the sins of the whole World, It beseems every Christian rather to explain in what sense Christ died for All men, then flatly to deny it.

3. Furthermore, it deserves consideration, whether men can considerately go against the plain light of so many express Texts of Scripture without some reluctancy and regret of Judgment? And then, whether using a mans Judgment to such a course, to bear down the evidence of of many express texts of Scripture, be not a matter of a dangerous nature, both symptomatically and effectually. Doth it not signifie a defect in our belief of the truth of Scripture? Or at least of our reverend esteem of it, when we dare use it as a Leaden rule, and Nose of Wax (as the Papists presumptuously call it.) He that can think it will endure such bending, is in danger of thinking it may endure breaking. Hath it not too plain a tendency to infidelity and disobedience? It is the truth of this word that must preserve us from both. And he that thinks so meanly of the Scripture, as that it will patiently endure such violence and stretching, is in great danger of being drawn to question whether it be Gods Word or no, and of venturing over its bounds in practicals, in case of temptation. For what have we to persuade us that Christ is the eternal God but plain Scripture? And is it plainer in this than in its affirming that Christ died for All? All tender conscionable Christians should be as fearful to adventure