A47542:1082
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 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.
4. That Grace, Love, and blessed Price that doth not procure Universal Salvation, is not, cannot be an Universal Redemption. But God never showed such Grace and Love by the Price of Christ's Blood that doth procure Universal Salvation; therefore there is no Universal Redemption: for that Price or Payment which doth not actually pass or terminate in Salvation, is no Redemption at all: an Attempt to redeem unless it be effected, is no Redemption.
4. That Grace, Love, and blessed Price that doth not procure Universal Salvation, is not, cannot be an Universal Redemption. But God never shewed such Grace and Love by the Price of Christ's Blood that doth procure Universal Salvation; therefore there is no Universal Redemption: for that Price or Paiment which doth not actually pass or terminate in Salvation, is no Redemption at all: an Attempt to redeem unless it be effected, is no Redemption.
5. Brethren, is Christ an Universal Saviour of the Souls of all Men? Why there can be no Universal Redemption, unless there be an Universal Redeemer, (as I said before) but there is no such Universal Redeemer.
Object. We do not plead for an absolute Universal Redemption, but for a Conditional; and that Condition is to be performed by the Creature, and many perish because they do not perform it; the Condition is Faith, Regeneration, Sincere Obedience, and Holiness, &c.
Object. We do not plead for an absolute Vniversal Redemption, but for a Conditional; and that Condition is to be performed by the Creature, and many perish because they do not perform it; the Condition is Faith, Regeneration, Sincere Obedience, and Holiness, &c.
Answ. The Condition they say is Repentance, Faith and Regeneration. Now were it thus, as these Men affirm, then how is Christ rendered, even more weak and inconsiderate than any Man of Understanding? For what Man would lay down ten thousand Pounds to redeem a Captive out of Slavery, when he knew a cruel Tyrant had him in his Hands and in strong Chains, and would not let him go, nor regard at all the Sum laid down for his Ransom, there being no treating with him: he' I take no Price; but unless he is conquered, and the Person redeemed by Power, the Money is lost. This is the Case, Christ's Blood is the Ransom that was laid down to satisfy the Law and Justice of God; but all and every Man and Woman in the World is under the Power of Sin and Satan: and unless Christ delivers the Soul out of the Hands of these Enemies by the Power of his own Arm, his Blood would be of none ⟨p. 251⟩Effect to redeem any one Soul. Therefore God by this Conditional Universal Redemption, rather seems to mock Men, according to these Mens Notion; for this is the purport of it, You are redeemed, Sinner, yea all of you by Christ's Death, if you can redeem your selves. Do but your part, and you are redeemed: What is that? Why answer the Conditions, viz. change your own evil Hearts, make you a new Heart, believe in Christ; get out of Satan's Chains; raise your selves from the Dead, and you shall be redeemed. Is this possible? Strange! doth the Righteous God make that the Condition of Salvation on the Creature's Part, which he knew the Creature was no more able to do than to give sight to the Blind, or raise the Dead?
Answ. The Condition they say is Repentance, Faith and Regeneration. Now were it thus, as these Men affirm, then how is Christ rendred, even more weak and inconsiderate than any Man of Understanding? For what Man would lay down ten thousand Pounds to redeem a Captive out of Slavery, when he knew a cruel Tyrant had him in his Hands and in strong Chains, and would not let him go, nor regard at all the Sum laid down for his Ransom, there being no treating with him: he' I take no Price; but unless he is conquered, and the Person redeemed by Power, the Money is lost. This is the Case, Christ's Blood is the Ransom that was laid down to satisfy the Law and Justice of God; but all and every Man and Woman in the World is under the Power of Sin and Satan: and unless Christ delivers the Soul out of the Hands of these Enemies by the Power of his own Arm, his Blood would be of none
2. Besides, it renders Christ to be but a Conditional Redeemer, could the Creature answer the Condition; yea, and it puts Christ but into a possibility also of being a Redeemer, (as one well observes) he is not actually so whilst he stands under that Conditionality; 1for the Conditionality doth not only lie upon the Person to be redeemed, so that he cannot be a redeemed One, till the Condition is performed: But it puts also a Bar to the Purchaser, he can't in any good sense be called the Redeemer of such a Person, 'till the Person hath performed the Condition. As for Example, if I lay down an hundred Pounds for the Redemption of a Person in Slavery, upon this Condition that he yield to serve me seven Years after, I must have his Consent to these Terms before I can redeem him; and therefore upon this Condition I am certainly suspended from being a Redeemer, and am no Redeemer to the said Person, if he refuse the Terms; all that I have done is but a Proffer of Terms. Hence (saith the said Reverend Author) for Christ to be a Conditional Universal Redeemer, is a Contradiction; for it's to be but a Redeemer of some that perform the Condition, and no Redeemer to them who do not.
6. To which let me add, this Notion of Conditional Redemption, renders Salvation not to be freely of God's Grace, no not the very Purchase it self; because in the Design of it, it was not to be had without the Creatures Money, I mean without his answering the Condition of Repentance, Faith, Regeneration, and final Perseverance, &c. which to do, they deny Christ's purchased Grace and Power for all or any one; or hath he promised to perform it for them, or to work it in them? No, but it is that which absolutely the Creature must find Power, Strength, and Skill to do, or perish for ever, the Redemption being intended for ⟨p. 252⟩him on no other Terms: all depends on the Will of Man, 'tis as Man's Will determines it.
7. Moreover, who can suppose Christ would shed his Blood, and lay down such an infinite Sum, to redeem such whom he knew would not answer those Conditions propounded? Nay, and which is worse, to lay down his Life to redeem Multitudes upon such Conditions, which he knew they were no more able to perform, than to create a World? Can this stand consistent with the Wisdom and Goodness of Jesus Christ? This Assertion of theirs (saith the same Author) is as if they should say, A. B. purchased an Estate for me, and in my Name, upon Condition that I should take up the Monument and carry it over the Bridge.
7. Moreover, who can suppose Christ would shed his Blood, and lay down such an infinite Sum, to redeem such whom he knew would not answer those Conditions propounded? Nay, and which is worse, to lay down his Life to redeem Multitudes upon such Conditions, which he knew they were no more able to perform, than to create a World? Can this stand consistent with the Wisdom and Goodness of Jesus Christ? This Assertion of theirs (saith the same Author) is as if they should say, A. B. purchased an Estate for me, and in my Name, upon Condition that I should take up the Monument and carry it over the Bridg.
8. All those that have Redemption, or that Christ died to redeem, have or shall have remission of Sin: But the greatest part of Men have not, nor ever shall have remission of Sin, therefore Christ did not die for the greatest part of the World; Redemption and Forgiveness of Sins is of equal extent.
9. Again, I might argue thus; Those that Christ did not pray for, he did not die for; those that he never would put up one Prayer, one Sigh to the Father for, certainly he never purchased Remission of Sins and Eternal Life for: I pray for them, I pray not 1for the World; but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. Now it is easy to know what World it was Christ prayed not for; namely, those that were not given to him by the Father; for all that were of the World, that did belong to the Election of Grace, though then under the Power of Sin and Unbelief, he did pray for: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall 2believe on me through their Words: the Elect, whilst Sinners, may be called the World as well as any others.
10. If Christ died for all, he intended to save all: But Christ did not intend to save all; therefore he did not die for all. Strange! will any say our Lord Jesus did that which was contrary to his Purpose and Intention? And if it was his Intention to save all, who could frustrate him in it? Why then are not all saved? Sirs, the Death of Christ cannot extend to the Salvation of any one Soul, further than the Intention and Purpose of God, or the Election of the Father, and Application of the Holy Spirit.
10. If Christ died for all, he intended to save all: But Christ did not intend to save all; therefore he did not die for all. Strange! will any say our Lord Jesus did that which was contrary to his Purpose and Intertion? And if it was his Intention to save all, who could frustrate him in it? Why then are not all saved? Sirs, the Death of Christ cannot extend to the Salvation of any one Soul, further than the Intention and Purpose of God, or the Election of the Father, and Application of the Holy Spirit.
11. Those that Christ died for, he purchased Grace for, Remission of Sin for; and all things in order to make the Redemption of his Blood effectual unto, he purposed to bestow the lesser Grace and Gift upon them, as well as the greater. Would a Man give ⟨p. 253⟩a Million to purchase such an Estate for a Man, and will he refuse to part with five Pounds in order to have it made sure to him for whom he laid down so great a Sum?
12. That Purchase of Remission of Sin, and Salvation, that 1leaves Men under a Certainty of Damnation, is not esteemed Redemption at all; but a Purchase of Remission and Salvation, upon the Condition these Men talk of, leaves most under a Certainty of Damnation, because it is an impossible Condition in respect of Man, he being dead in Sins and Trespasses, therefore can't perform it; and also in respect of Christ, because he never purchased Grace for them to enable them to perform that Condition.
13. If the Death and Resurrection of Christ shall have its proper Effect, to the Eternal Salvation of all them for whom he died; as a Corn of Wheat that falleth into the Ground, or is sown in the Earth, in that respect hath its Effect; then all for whom he died shall be saved: But his Death, &c. shall have like Effect; see his own Words, And Jesus answered them, saying, The Hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Verily verily I say unto you, 1Except a Corn of Wheat fall into the Ground, and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much Fruit. See here, all that are and shall be saved, our Lord ascribeth unto his Death as the absolute Effect thereof; all his Elect being virtually in him, as all the Increase virtually is in that one Corn of Wheat that is sown into the Earth, that is produced by it.
See Reverend Dr. Chancy, 1"If (saith he) there be the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of Redemption, as of Application, as to the same Persons; then whosoever is redeemed, shall have Redemption applied, and be saved eternally: But there is the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of both; Ergo."
See Reverend Dr. Chauncy, 1"If (saith he) there be the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of Redemption, as of Application, as to the same Persons; then whosoever is redeemed, shall have Redemption applied, and be saved eternally: But there is the same Eternal and Unchangeable Cause of both; Ergo."
"3. All that are redeemed, must be saved; or if they be not saved, the Reason is from the Insufficiency of his Redemption: and whatsoever is not efficient, is not sufficient to attain the End, either from want of Virtue in the Thing, or Will in the Efficient. Now if Christ's Intention were to redeem all, he intended that which he could not do; if he intended not to redeem all, whatever the simple Virtue of his Obedience might have done, had it had an Intention of the Agent annexed to it; yet having it not, it is limited by it, and becomes insufficient."
"3. All that are redeemed, must be saved; or if they be not saved, the Reason is from the Insufficiency of his Redemption: and whatsoever is not efficient, is not sufficient to attain the End, either from want of Virtue in the Thing, or Will in the Efficient. Now if Christ's Intention were to redeem all, he intended that which he could not do; if he intended not to redeem all, whatever the simple Virtue of his Obedience might have done, had it had an Intention of the Agent annex'd to it; yet having it not, it is limited by it, and becomes insufficient."
"4. If the Death of Christ be sufficient to redeem all, and all are not actually redeemed, so as to be saved, it is Nonsense to talk of Universal Redemption; for an Universal Redemption, without Universal Salvation, is an Absurdity of the first Rate."
