Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the late learned Mr. Richard Barter [sic] ; whereunto is added a short account of Special redemption, by the same author.

Arg. 25. A differentiâ status damnatorum & via∣torum.

If Christ dyed not for all men, then the state of most men (all that he dyed not for) were as de∣plorate and remediless as the State of the Dam∣ned: But the consequent is false, therefore so is the Antecedent.

The Consequence of the Major proposition is plain, in that the state of all men that Christ dyed not for must needs be utterly hopeless, and re∣mediless, for there is no other satisfaction to be hoped for besides that made by the blood of Je∣sus, and that is nothing to them, nor is there any hope or possibility that ever they should have part in a satisfaction that is no satisfaction for them; without blood there is no remission: If they should believe, and repent, and pray for mercy night and day, it would be but as the Rich Epi∣cure in Hell pray'd for a drop of water, all in vain,

for betwixt God and them is so great a gulf or distance by sin, that nothing without a Re∣deemer can do them any good, as to the least hope of Salvation. If you say, it is not to be supposed that they can believe, repent, and pray, I answer, that is (in your own sense) because it is supposed they are not redeemed, and the im∣possibility of their not repenting and believing shews the more fully the impossibility of their Salvation. And the reason why they do not actually despair, is not because they have any more remedy than the Damned, or cause to hope; but only because they are yet ignorant of the hopelesness of their own Condition, and as soon as they know the truth they will fully despair. So that there is no more possibility that a Man for whom Christ dyed not should be pardoned or sa∣ved, than that the Damned should, for both are equally impossible; If any say that God can find out another remedy besides and without Christs satisfaction, though he will not, and therefore it is not impossible. I will not examine the truth of that now, but if it be true of them on Earth, why not also of them in Hell? When once Men are in that state that there is no Sacrifice for their sin, then there remaineth nothing but the fearful expectation of Judgment, and Fire that shall de∣vour the Adver••ary.

Object But doth not God's foreknowledge and de∣cree make mens Salvation impossible, as well as Christs not Dying for them? and so your argument is as much against them.

Answ. No, They do nihil ponere in Objecto; nor are the removal or denyal of any efficient cause of Salvation, they infer only Necessitatem Conse∣quentiae, they make no Mans Salvation impossible,

but only prove it not future: And as it is not omne Possible that is futurum, so neither omne non futurum that is Impossibile. And it is agreed that foreknowledge presupposeth the futurition or non futurition of the thing foreknown. But there is much more necessary to be said to resolve this doubt which I may not now insist on, only I add, that the matter of God's Decrees, and the futuri∣tion of things as depending thereon, are so high, and so far above us, that it becomes us not to be too inquisitive into them, much less so peremptori∣ly to determine of them as some do, and least of all to try plainer Cases by such determinations, and reduce certainties to uncertainties, when we should tather reduce uncertainties to certainties.

And for the Minor, (that the state of most men even in the Church, is not so hopeless, deplo∣rate and remediless as is the case of the Damned) I prove it thus. They might be saved who are yet on Earth, if they would but receive the love of the truth, 2 Thes. 2. 9, 10. If they would believe they might all be justified, and should not perish, but have everlasting life; whoever of them will, may have the water of Life freely, and it is of∣fered them, and they intreated to take it, and if they have it not, it is because they will not, and not because there was no object or ground for their willing, or no Sacrifice for their sin. God offers them pardon and Salvation, but God offers no other Pardon or Salvation but what is purcha∣sed by Christ's Blood: He that tells us there neither is nor can be any other Remission or Salvation, but what Christ purchaseth, will not offer any o∣ther to men, and urge them to accept it, yea, Pardon and Life (as purchased by Christ) are in Gods deed of gift, together with Christ himself,

conditionally bestowed on all, even if they will have them, (a Condition which among men is seldom thought worthy the name of a Condi∣tion, it being supposed in nature that every man is willing of his own good, and so of all excellent advantages thereto.) Is all this so with those in Hell? Christ is neither given, nor Pardon and Life offered to them; they are not commanded to repent and believe to this end, that they may be justified and saved: But those on Earth are, and therefore their Pardon and Salvation is pos∣sible, for God will not command them to seek or to accept of an impossibility, and then Condemn them for not seeking and not accepting it. If the Damned could repent or believe, it would not save them, but it would save them on Earth. Nor is their belief it self such an impossibility, as is the Damneds believing. Moreover, Christ saith now, how oft would I have gathered you? But he would not gather the Damned. God would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth, but he saith not that he would have the Damned to be saved. This Life is called the day of their Visitation, the day of grace, the acceptable time, the day of Salvation; and they are called on to hear the voice of God, to day, while it is called to day, and not to harden their hearts, least he swear in his wrath that they shall not enter into his rest; that is, least their case become desperate, and their Salvation im∣possible, therefore it was not so before. They are warned to take heed, least sinning wilfully af∣ter the knowledge of the truth▪ there remain no more Sacrifice for Sin, &c. Implying, that before there is a Sacrifice for their sin, it is said that it

is impossible to renew them by repentance, who tread under foot the blood of the Covenant, and do despight to the Spirit of Grace, implying, that before it was not impossible; and also that they might have had (if they had not) a share in that blood and that Spirit. They have a promise left them of entring into his rest, Heb. 4 1. and a Salvation proclaimed to them, and if they pe∣rish, it will be for neglecting so great Salvation, Heb. 3. 2. They are invited to come in because all things are ready; they are commanded to seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near: None of this is so with the Damned, God is not near them, nor may be found of them, nor have they any day of Grace, Visitation or Salvation, where the word is preached, it is [that they might be saved,] 1 Thes. 2. 16. Paul sought the profit of many, and to please all men, that they might be saved, 1 Cor. 10. 33. Even when men are delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, it is that the Spirit might be saved, 1 Cor. 5. 5. yea, God sent his Son into the World, that the World thro him might be saved (that World which consi∣steth of Believers and Unbelievers) Joh. 3. 16. 17. when Jesus was proving his Mediatorship to the Jews, he saith [These things I say that ye might be saved] Joh. 5. 34. so that Mens Salvation is possible while they are on Earth (till they have sinned against the Holy Ghost, or totally Apo∣statiz'd by abrenunciation of Christ,) else what business have Preachers with them? Why do we intreat them to be reconciled to God? Do we not tell them daily (and truly) that yet there is time, yet there is hope, and advise them to take

time while they have it; and let not slip the Day of Grace and Salvation, 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2. We beseech them that they receive not the Grace of God in vain: for behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of Salvation. And Christ saith, weeping, over Jerusalem, If thou hadst known, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy Peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes, &c. Because thou knewest not the time of thy Visitation, Luk. 19. 41, 42, 43, 44. An hundred places more might be produced to prove, that men on Earth are not left as desperate, deplorate, or remediles as those in Hell, which yet they must be if they had no Redeemer, or no Sacri∣fice for their sin.