CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. This might be because when Christ came into the world few of the Jews were converted to Christ comparatively to the Gentiles; For Rom. 11. you see the Apostle speaking of a Veil upon their eyes, and that hardness of heart was come upon Israel, and those former branches are said to be broken off, that new ones may be grafted in; Therefore it might well be said That Christ died for all, and that he was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, because the Nations of the world of all parts did now come in and worship Christ; whereas few of the Jews did receive him; Therefore consider the time when those passages were written, and then you will easily understand those Scriptures.

4. This might be because when Christ came into the world few of the Iews were converted to Christ comparatively to the Gentiles; For Rom. 11. you see the Apostle speaking of a Veil upon their eyes, and that hardnesse of heart was come upon Israel, and those former branches are said to be broken off, that new ones may be grafted in; Therefore it might well be said That Christ died for all, and that he was a propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world, because the Nations of the world of all parts did now come in and worship Christ; whereas few of the Jews did receive him; Therefore consider the time when those passages were written, and then you will easily understand those Scriptures.

5. Therefore the Scripture doth thus make an universal Proposition and Oblation of Christs death in the benefits of it, because now no Nations or particular persons are excluded, For although there be an Election of some only, and Christ had a special love in his death only to those that the Father had given him, yet because who these individual persons are is not manifested by God; Therefore the outward propounding of it is universal, not excluding any, Thus all the Invitations and commands are universal; Christ calls all that are heavy laden, all that thirst to come unto him; And although it he true that many even where the Gospel is preached, are given up to blind eyes and hard hearts: That the Gospel of Christ is a savour of death unto many, yet we not knowing who are thus inwardly withered and cursed, are to hope that to all those to whom the offer of the benefits of Christs death extends, even to them the death of Christ it self reacheth, and this may be thought the main reason why the Scripture useth such expressions about Christs death.