A57966:596
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the sovereignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the soveraignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...
Edinburgh: printed by Andro Anderson for Robert Brown, 1655
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.
13. We may ask how Christ so died for the Reprobate, as his death is a remedy applicable to them by the ordination of God, so as they shall have life eternal, if they believe. For 1. there is either a jus and a Law-right to pardon and life eternal merited b• Christs death to the Reprobate, or no such thing is merited. If neither be procured by Christs merit, the Patrons of this way shall say there is no serious offer made to them: yea there is a jus, a title to life eternal and remission, which all the reprobate may challenge, ⟨p. 233⟩even a right to remission and life eternal, so they believe. Well then, it is the same right conditional to life and pardon which is purchased to the Elect: yea this must be purchased whether they believe or not. Then there is no more in the kind of the Law-right to Redemption and life eternal and remission of sins purchased to Peter, then to Judas or Cain; And therefore hath Christ bestowed as much tender love in dying for the Reprobate as in dying for his friends. And Christ saith there is no greater love then this, Joh. 15.13. As for the efficacious intention of applying of Christs death to Peter, when as God had no such intention of applying it to Judas, that is an act of eternal predestination, not a fruit of Christs death, and as for the grace of believing, it was purchased to all, Reprobate and Elect, only the Lord applies not his death, and bestows not the grace of believing upon the Reprobate, but for right to faith, to remission, to perseverance, to life eternal, this right must be purchased, but faith it self is never bestowed upon them. But there is a ransom of blood given for faith, and purchased by CHRISTS merit: But CHRIST is never called the Head of all men, Elect and Reprobate, but the Head of the Body the Church, Eph. 1.22. Col. 1.18. And whereas the Head hath merited faith to the Reprobate, and that absolutely (for a condition is not possible) he should bestow it absolutely, else there is no seriousness in the command of believing.