Answ. Very true: But if he came to redeem Believers only from all Iniquity, and not others; then he did not die equally for all men; for he died to redeem some from all Iniquity, and not others: But those that say Christ died for all, say also that he died equally, with equal Intentions of Love and Mercy for all; and if he did die to redeem all particular men from all Iniquity, why are not all particular men redeemed from all Iniquity? Will it yet be said, because they will not? why, that will not, is an Iniquity: Will it be said, Because of their Unbelief? why, that Unbelief is an Iniquity, and a Soul-disease. Now if a Physician come to cure all Diseases, and he doth not cure the most because they have Diseases, is this a good reason why he doth not cure them? You send a Servant to wash, and cleanse a pot from its filthiness, and he returns with it unwashed, uncleansed, and he tells you that he did not wash it, because there was filth in it; will you take this for a good reason from him? Surely no. Now Christ came to wash us, and cleanse us from all Iniquities, and will he not do it because of our Iniquity? Surely this can be no reason; and seeing these are the Ends of his Death and Sufferings, there is nothing that can hinder him from the obtainment of them: Therefore he shall certainly see the Travel of his Soul in the obtainment of all those Ends which he suffered for.1 Now two things there are, which do give full contentment, and satisfaction to the Soul; The obtainment of ones End, and The knowledge of that obtainment; for though I have obtained my End, yet if I do not know that I have obtained it, I have not satisfaction; but where fruition, and knowledge of that fruition do meet, there is full contentment and satisfaction. Now Christ shall not only obtain his Ends, but he shall know, and set the Travel of his Soul, and therefore he shall have full delight, contentment, and satisfaction therein. And so the main Doctrine is now cleared, in all the three Parts thereof.
Answ. Very true: But if he came to redeem Beleevers only from all Iniquity, and not others; then he did not die equally for al men; for he died to redeem some from all Iniquity, and not others: But those that say Christ died for al, say also that he died equally, with equal Intentions of Love and Mercy for al; and if he did die to redeem al particular men from al Iniquity, why are not al particular men redeemed from al Iniquity? Wil it yet be said, because they wil not? why, that wil not, is an Iniquity: Wil it be said, Because of their Unbelief? why, that Unbelief is an Iniquity, and a Soul-disease. Now if a Physitian come to cure al Diseases, and he doth not cure the most because they have Diseases, is this a good reason why he doth not cure them? You send a Servant to wash, and clense a pot from its filthiness, and he returns with it unwashed, unclensed, and he tels you that he did not wash it, because there was filth in it; wil you take this for a good reason from him? Surely no. Now Christ came to wash us, and clense us from al Iniquities, and wil he not do it because of our Iniquity? Surely this can be no reason; and seeing these are the Ends of his Death and Sufferings, there is nothing that can hinder him from the obtainment of them: Therefore he shal certainly see the Travel of his Soul in the obtainment of al those Ends which he suffered for.1 Now two things there are, which do give ful contentment, and satisfaction to the Soul; The obtainment of ones End, and The knowledg of that obtainment; for though I have obtained my End, yet if I do not know that I have obtained it, I have not satisfaction; but where fruition, and knowledg of that fruition do meet, there is ful contentment and satisfaction. Now Christ shal not only obtain his Ends, but he shal know, and set the Travel of his Soul, and therefore he shal have ful delight, contentment, and satisfaction therein. And so the main Doctrine is now cleered, in al the three Parts thereof.
- 1Delectatio oritur ex adeptione boni convenientis, et cognitione hujusmodi adeptionis. Aquin.
