A Confvtation of M. Lewes Hewes his dialogve, or, An answer to a dialogve or conference betweene a country gentleman and a minister of Gods Word about the Booke of common prayer set forth for the satisfying of those who clamour against the said Booke and maliciously revile them that are serious in the use thereof : whereunto is annexed a satisfactory discourse concerning episcopacy and the svrplisse.

ANSWER.

When our Church teacheth her Children to say, I believe in God the sonne, who hath redeemed me and all mankinde, she hath respect to the ample latitude of the merit of Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ; which is such, and so large, as that it extends it selfe to all: it excludes none, but hath satisfied Justice, and made a way for all men to attain unto mercy. For if God be not willing that any one should perish, as Saint Peter speaketh; but that all men should be saved, as Saint Paul to Timothy declareth: then surely the Son of God, who came to seek and to save that which was lost, and to do the will of his Father, laid down his life in common for all, that thereby a way might be made for all to attain unto mercy. Christ indeed gave his life for his sheep, and laid it down for his friends, but not for them only: For He is the propitiation for our sinnes, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world, 1 Joh. 2.2. And well might he say he gave his life a ransome for many, and that his blood was shed for many, who shed his blood for all, and gave himselfe a ran∣some for all, 1 Tim. 2.6. Nor do we but read, that Judas was one of them to whom Christ said, My blood is shed for you, Luk. 22.20. and yet Judas was a Reprobate. To which agreeth that of Saint Peter, concerning some who should bring in privily damnable He∣resies, even denying the Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. 2.1. And again saith another scripture, Of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an un∣holy thing, and hath done despite to the spirit of Grace? Hebr. 10.29. And in the second chapter of the same Epistle, the Apostle saith ex∣presly, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower then the Angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man; And again, The Lord (saith the Prophet) hath laid on him the iniquity of us all, Esa. 53.6. And I (saith Christ) if I be lifted up from the Earth, will draw all men unto me, Joh. 12.32. And in the 2 Corinth. 5.14. Christ dyed for all. And in Tit. 2.11. The grace of God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared to all men. And in Rom. 5.18. As by the offence of one, judgement came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteous∣nesse of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life: as our common translation reads it.

And will you, notwithstanding all this, deny that the price paid by Christ, was not paid for all, nor made for all? The truth is, that it hath not been beneficiall to all: and in that respect our Saviours words are manifest, that he shed his blood for many. And so the A∣postle likewise meaneth; expresly declaring, that we trust in the li∣ving God, who is she Saviour of all men, specially of those that beleeve, 1 Tim. 4.10. you see then that God excludes none, but those that exclude themselves by unbeliefe. For though Christ hath not gai∣ned all, yet neverthelesse he hath dyed for all; as Chrysost. speaketh. He hath done that which was his part to do: if therefore others will not doe that which is theirs, they must (notwithstanding Christs death) be damned. Ideo passus est, ut tolleret peecatum Mun∣di. Si quis autem in Christum non credit, generali beneficio ipse se fro∣dat: ut siquis clausis fenestris radios solis excludat, saith Saint Am∣brose: That is, Christ therefore suffered that he might take away the sinne of the world. But if any one believe not in Christ, he defrauds him∣self of that generall benefit: as any one, by having his windows shut, ex∣cludes the light of the Sunne. In medio Temple misericordia est, non in angulo aut diversorio: In communi posita est, offertur omnibus, & nemo illius expers nisi qui renuit, as saith Saint Bernard which is as if he should say, Although Christs merits are common to all, and that he keeps open house to all commers; yet those only have full benefit by them that lay hold upon him. God loved the World indeed when he gave his only begotten sonne: howbeit, they only shall not perish but have life everlasting, who believe on him, Joh. 3.16. So then, that Christs precious blood hath greater efficacy or force in some then in others, is not the fault of him who did so well impart it, but of them who do so ill imploy it. And so, all this while, no er∣rour in our Common Catechisme.

Notes

• 2 Pet. 2.9.
• 1 Tim. 2.4.
• Heb. 2.9.
• Chrysost. in Rom. 14.
• Ambr. Serm. 8. in Psal. 118.
• Bern. Serm. in purif. pag. 101.