A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 1.10…

But secondly, there may be a more distinct answer given to this place. God will have all men to be saved. All, is taken sometimes in a distributive sense, and sometimes in a collective sense. In a distributive sense, for every man under heaven; and so God wills not all men to be saved. But secondly, in a collective sense; for all sorts and degrees of men, and so God intends to save all; that is, some of all sorts, and of all degrees of men in the world. And this appears if you mark the context. He will have all men to be saved, that is, some of all sorts. Some Kings, and some great men, some rich, and some poor, some Princes, and some beggars. And therefore the Apostle bids them pray for all men. Pray, saith he, for Kings, and for them in authority: for God will have all men to be saved. As much as if he should say, Pray for Kings, because God of his grace may save Kings, as well as poorer men, that have less incumbrances, and less employments in the world, and less withdrawings in their own soul, then they have. God will save all: salvation shall come to all sorts of men, and therefore you may lawfully pray for them. And so Calvin judiciously expounds this place; that God will have all sorts of men to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ: but is not to be extended universally, as if every individual man and woman should be saved. 3. These words are to be taken with those that follow after, God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now that God will be willing to save those that come to the knowledge of the truth, is unquestionable; all that repent, Acts 17.30. all opposition to the time of the old Testament, Rom. 16.25.

But secondly, there may be a more distinct answer given to this place. God will have all men to be saved. All, is taken sometimes in a distributive sence, and sometimes in a collective sence. In a distributive sence, for every man under heaven; and so God wils not all men to be saved. But secondly, in a collective sence; for all sorts and degrees of men, and so God intends to save all; that is, some of all sorts, and of all degrees of men in the world. And this appeares if you mark the context. He will have all men to be saved, that is, some of all sorts. Some Kings, and some great men, some rich, and some poore, some Princes, and some beggars. And therefore the Apostle bids them pray for all men. Pray, saith he, for Kings, and for them in authority: for God will have all men to be saved. As much as if he should say, Pray for Kings, because God of his grace may save Kings, as well as poorer men, that have lesse incumbrances, and lesse imployments in the world, and lesse withdrawings in their own soule, then they have. God will save all: salvation shall come to all sorts of men, and therefore you may lawfully pray for them. And so Calvin judiciously expounds this place; that God will have all sorts of men to obtaine salvation by Jesus Christ: but is not to be extended universally, as if every individuall man and woman should be saved. 3. These words are to be taken with those that follow after, God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now that God will be willing to save those that come to the knowledge of the truth, is unquestionable; all that repent,