But if this be not? Pray what is obtained by the death of Christ? Whyd a potential, conditionate reconciliation, not actual, and absolute, saith Corvinus: But yet this potential reconciliation, being a new expression, never intimated in the Scripture, and scarce of it self intelligible, we want a further explanation of their mind, to know what it is that directly they assign to the merits of Christ: wherefore, they tell us, that the fruit of his death, was such ean impetration, or obtaining of reconciliation with God, and redemption for us: that God thereby hath a power, his justice being satisfied, and so not compelling him to the contrary, to grant remission of sins, to sinful men, on what condition, he would: or as another speaketh it,f There was by the effusion of Christs blood, a right obtained unto, and settled in God, of reconciling the world, and of opening unto all, a gate of repentance, and faith in Christ: But now whereas, the Scripture every where affirmeth, that Christ died for our good, to obtain blessings for us, to purchase our peace, to acquire and merit for us, the good ⟨p. 100⟩things contained in the promise of the Covenant, this opinion seems to restrain the end, and fruit thereof, to the obtaining of a power; and liberty unto God, of prescribing us a condition whereby we may be saved: but yet it may be, thus much at least Christ obtained of God in our behalf, that he should assign faith in him, to be this condition, and to bestow it upon us also: No, neither the one, nor the other, gafter all this, had it so seemed good unto his wisdom, God might have chosen the Jews, and others, following the righteousness of the law, as well as believers, because he might have assigned, any other condition of salvation besides faith in Christ: saith Grevinchovius: Notwithstanding then the death of Christ for us, we might have been held to the old rule, Do this and live: but if this be true, I cannot perceive how it may be said, that Chrid died to redeem us from our sins, to save our souls, and bring us unto glory: neither perhaps, do they think this to be any great inconvenience, for the same Author affirmeth, that hChrist cannot be said properly to die, to save any one.
But if this be not? Pray what is obtained by the death of Christ? Whyd a potentiall, conditionate reconciliation, not actuall, and absolute, saith Corvinus: But yet this potentiall reconciliation, being a new expression, never intimated in the Scripture, and scarce of it selfe intelligible, we want a further explanation of their minde, to know what it is that directly they assigne to the merits of Christ: wherefore, they tell us, that the fruit of his death, was such ean impetration, or obtaining of reconciliation with God, and redemption for us: that God thereby hath a power, his iustice being satisfied, and so not compelling him to the contrary, to grant remission of sinnes, to sinnefull men, on what condition, he would: or as another speaketh it,f There was by the effusion of Christs blood, a right obtained unto, and settled in God, of reconciling the world, and of opening unto all, a gate of repentance, and faith in Christ: But now whereas, the Scripture every where affirmeth, that Christ died for our good, to obtaine blessings for us, to purchase our peace, to acquire and merit for us, the good ⟨p. 100⟩things contained in the promise of the Covenant, this opinion seemes to restraine the end, and fruit thereof, to the obtaining of a power; and libertie unto God, of prescribing us a condition whereby we may be saved: but yet it may be, thus much at least Christ obtained of God in our behalfe, that he should assigne faith in him, to be this condition, and to bestow it upon us also: No, neither the one, nor the other, gafter all this, had it so seemed good unto his wisedome, God might have chosen the Iewes, and others, following the righteousnesse of the law, as well as beleevers, because he might have assigned, any other condition of salvation besides faith in Christ: saith Grevinchovius: Notwithstanding then the death of Christ for us, we might have beene held to the old rule, Doe this and live: but if this be true, I cannot perceive how it may be said, that Chrid died to redeeme us from our sins, to save our soules, and bring us unto glory: neither perhaps, doe they thinke this to be any great inconvenience, for the same Authour affirmeth, that hChrist cannot be said properly to die, to save any one.
- dReconciliatio potentialis & conditionata non actualis & absoluta, per mortem Christi impetratur: Corvin. ad. Molin. cap 28. sect. 11.
- eRemissionis, justificationis, & redemptionis, apud Deum impetratio, qua facto est, ut Deus jam possit, utpote justitia cui satisfactum est non obstante hominibus peccatoribus peccata remittere: Armin. ubi sup.Remissionis, justificationis, & redemptionis, apud Deum impetratio, qua facto est, ut Deus jam possit, utpote iustitia cui satisfactum est non obstante hominibus peccatoribus peccata remittere: Armin. ubi sup.
- fAutoris mens non est alia, quā effuso sanguine Christi reconciliandi mundum Deo jus impetratum fuisse, & inito novo faedere & gratioso cum hominibus, Deum gratiae oftium, omnibus denuo poenitentiae ac verae in Christū fidei, lege adaperuis•e: Epistol: ad Wala•. sol. •3.Autoris mens non est alia, quā effuso sanguine Christi reconciliandi mundum Deo jus impetratum fuisse, & inito novo faedere & gratioso cum hominibus, Deum gratiae oftium, omnibus denuo poenitentiae ac verae in Christū fidei, lege adaperuis•e: Epistol: ad Wala•. sol. •3.
- gPotuisset Deus, si ita sapientiae suae visum fuisset, operarios, Judaeos, vel alios etiam praeter fideles eligere, quia potuit aliam salutis conditionem, quam fidem in Christum exigere, Grevinch. ad Ames. p. 415.
- hChristus non est proprie mortuus ad aliquem falvandum. idem, ibid. fol. 8.
