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

The 4. What is meant by [Believeth in him] we need not here stand on.

And for the first some say by the World, is meant the Elect part of the World: some say (as Dr. Twiss and others) it is meant of Mankind as distinct from Angels, excluding none, and not of the Elect only; and withal that it speaks only of the sufficiency of Christ's Satisfaction; which if it were not sufficient for All, there were no place for the General Promise, Whoever believeth shall be Saved. There is more truth and soundness in this exposition, than will stand with some other contradictory passages in the same Authors. For my part I stand to this exposition of Dr. Twiss (as you may find him industriously explaining this text, Vindic. Grat. lib. 1. part. 2. § 7. pag. (mihi) 203.) I will repeat part of his words, [Ad locum illum (Joh. 3. 16.) quod attinet, negamus ex his evinci posse [Mundum] eo in loco significare [Electos] in mundo degentes. Ad cujus loci majorem elucidationem, observandum est cum decrevisset Fidem & Rescipiscentiam electis suis non modo concedere, sed & easdem modo naturae ipsorum rationally convenientissimo, nempe per Suasionem & exhortationem in ipsis operari & consequenter Evangelium sub generally invitationis formâ proponendum esset in hunc modum [Quisquis crediderit, salvus erit: qui non, damnabitur] ⟨p. 288⟩hinc evincitur mittendi Mediatoris duplicem Deo habendam fuisse rationem, alteram Pretii; alteram Efficaciae Nam & Pretium oportuit sufficiens esse redimendis omnibus; alias enim tam generali promissioni [quisquis crediderit salvus erit] locus nullus fuisset: & rursus oportuit efficax esse redimendis electis: alias enim frustra fuissent constituti ad obtinendam salutem per Jesum Christum, si salutem per Christum non fuissent assecuturi. His hunc in modum constitutis, apparet fieri posse ut quaedam loca Scripturae de Christo mediatore tractent, quoad pretii ipsius sufficientiam, alia vero quoad mortis ejus efficaciam. Locum autem hunc de quo agimus existimo, significare tantum pretii ipsius sufficientiam. Ratio est quia agit, non de efficacia Spiritus sancti, in danda hominibus fide, sed de modo quo fides dari solet, nempe per predicationem Evangelii & Generalem omnium invitationem ad fidem in hanc formam [Quisquis credit in Christum, non peribit, sed habet vitam aeternam] Hujus autem invitationis Generalis fundamentum, est pretii a Christo soluti sufficientia.