A practical discourse concerning God's love to mankind written for the satisfaction of some scrupulous persons / by Edward Pelling ...

CHAP. II. The Point to be insisted on; (viz) God's unfeigned Love to all Man∣kind. Proved, First, from the Command touching the Universal Promulgation of the Gospel.

AND now the Point which ariseth hence, is this, That the Son of God's coming into the World, was a strong Ar∣gument, and an evident Expression of God's sincere and boundless Affection to all Man∣kind.

FOR the clearing of this important Article, there are Two things for me to insist upon.

First, The Amplitude of that Com∣mission which was given the Apostles and their Successors, for the Promulgation of the Gospel to all the World.

Secondly, The Extensive Merit of our Holy Redeemer's Death.

1. FIRST, The Amplitude of that Commission which was given the Apostles and their Successors, for the Promulgation of the Gospel. The Directions given them when the Lord was ready to depart from them, according to St. Matthew's Account, runs thus, Go ye and Teach all Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teach∣ing them to observe all things, whatsoever I have Commanded you: And loe I am with you always, even unto the end of the World, Math. 28. 19, 20. Though by all Nati∣ons here may be meant Primarily all the Tribes of Israel, and Christ's Purpose might be, that the Apostles should begin their Preaching at Jerusalem, and thence Pro∣ceed to the Jews that were dispersed among the Heathen; yet no Nation under Heaven was to be Excluded; but from Age to Age, and from one Nation to another the Ti∣dings of Peace were to be carried over all the Earth, until the Consummation of all things. Therefore not the Apostles onely, but also their Successors for ever were in∣tended in this Commission, because the Lord's Spiritual Presence and Assistance was to be not for the Apostles time only, but Perpetual, to the very End of the World. Which shews the Universality of

the Divine Grace, and that the Gospel was to be Preached every where before the close of all things, that at the Day of final Account, God may Judge the whole World by Jesus Christ in Righteousness; according as they have obey'd or disobey'd the Gospel sent unto them. Hence the Account St. Mark gives is this, Go ye into all the World, and Preach the Gospel to every Creature, Mark 16. 15. to shew, that God's intenti∣on was, that no People, no not in the Hea∣then part of the World, should be passed by, But that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached in Christ's Name, among all Nations, begining at Jerusalem, as St. Luke hath it, Luk. 24. 47. Accordingly the Apostles went forth and Preached every where, saith St. Mark; meaning, to all People and Nati∣ons within their reach; because they were to be Witnesses unto Christ, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in all Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth, saith St. Luke Act. 1. 8. And because God Commanded all Men every where to Repent, saith St. Paul, Act. 17. 30. And were it needful for me to Collect Observations to this purpose, out of the Ancient Writers of the Christian Church, I could shew you particularly, when the Apostles parted Solemnly from one another to Execute their Redeemer's Commission; how they took their parti∣cular

Provinces, and went every one into the Country that was assign'd him; and how those Apostolical Persons. who were engaged in the same weighty Employment; some in the Apostles Days, and many af∣ter, all Travell'd into distant places and Territories, that the sound of the Gospel might go forth into all Lands, and that there might be no People, Nation, or Language, but the good News of it should be heard among them. Indeed it was the great End, for which the Miraculous Gift of Tongues was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, and continued for several Years after; that no means of instructing People in any Nation might be wanting any where.

NOW whence could all this come, but from the Astonishing and Tender Love of God, to a miserable and forlorn World; and to every Generation of Men that then was, or should be to the World's End? And what could be the good God's design in all this, but that every one should come to the Knowledge of the Truth, and so be Converted and Live? It was the End of John the Baptist's Preaching, to give Knowledge of Salvation to his People, for the Remission of their Sins, through the Tender Mercy of God, whereby the Day∣spring

from on high visited them; to give Light to them that sate in Darkness, and the shadow of Death and to guide their Feet into the Ways of Peace, Luk. 1. 78, 79. The same was the end of our Saviour's Preaching, that all People might come unto him, and by him might have Life; because God sent not his Son into the World, to Condemn the World; but that the World through him might be Saved, Jo. 3. 17. And the very same was the end of the Holy Apostles and their Successors Preaching, that they might Save that which was Lost, and Save all to the uttermost; Because God's desire was to Bless them, in turning away every one of them from their Iniquities, Act. 3. 26. And because He Commanded all Men every where to Repent, Act. 17. 30.

AFTER all this, so expresly and plain∣ly told us in the Holy Scripture, for Men to say (as some have had the great Confi∣dence to Publish to the World) That God hath Absolutely, and Irrevocably consigned the greater part of Mankind to Eternal Tor∣ments; that he sendeth his Word to them, that they may be yet more Deaf; that he sets up a Light before them, that they may be the more Blind; that he gives them Re∣medies, that they may refuse to be Healed; that he knocks at their Hearts, that they

may deny him Entrance; and this, that in the end, they may be all Damned, and render'd Inexcusable. These and many other the like bold Assertions, do fix such a foul Imputation upon the Divine Being, and are such an horrible Reproach to his most Glorious Attributes (especially his Goodness, Holyness, Mercy, Justice and Truth) as I almost Tremble but to think of, and can never Wonder sufficiently, how it could enter into the Heads and Hearts of any Christians, to Conceive such Abominable and Blasphemous Notions of God, Blessed for ever more.

JUSTIN MARTYR tells us of some Princes, who have been so Salvage, that least Axes and Gibbets should be Idle, they have laid Traps and Snares in Men's Way, on purpose to sport and divert them∣selves with their Destruction. And among divers base things which have been told of Tiberius the Emperor of Rome, two barba∣rous Stories fall here into my Memory. One was, That having a vehement Desire to hang some Virgins (because the Roman Government had that Honour for Chasti∣ty, that they would not suffer Virgins to die after that Shameful manner) he Order'd the Common Executioner first to Cor∣rupt and Deflow'r them, that then he

might have them Strangl'd with a Non-Ob∣stante to the Laws. The other Story is, That intending to Kill both the Sons of Germanicus, he used all possible means of Provoking them to Defame him, that he might have some Colour and Pretence for his Villainous Resolution.

MANY such Scandalous Instances there have been of Men, who have so far put off all Humanity, as to thirst for Blood, and to delight in Acts of Cruelty and Op∣pression. But they have been abhorred as so many Botches, and plague Sores a∣mong Man-kind: And for Men who are called by the Name of Christ, to repre∣sent that most Perfect Being, the Father of Spirits, and the great Lover of all our Souls so, as if he used Arts to draw his Poor Creatures into Eternal Perdition, and then think to excuse it by a fulsome Distinction between God's Secret (as con∣trary to one another) and his Revealed Will. This is such Vileness and Blasphemy, as I must beg all good Peoples Pardon for Offending their Ears by mentioning it on∣ly. Indeed it is said that God giveth some a Spirit of Slumber; Eyes that they should not See, and Ears that they should not Hear. But these, and the like Expressions, though at the first hearing they sound harsh, yet

they do not relate to any Antecedent De∣cree or Desire, or Work of God; but are only Declarative of the Event which some∣times falls out accidentally, by the just Judgment of God upon Obstinate People, who harden themselves so, that in the End God gives them up to themselves, so that they become Stupid, Blind and Deaf. But the Original of this is their own Willful Temper and Sinful Courses; whereby their Hearts wax gross, and their Ears become dull of Hearing, and their Eyes they close themselves by repeated Acts of their own; as if they were afraid, least at any time they should See with their Eyes, and Understand with their Hearts, and should be Converted and Heal∣ed. Such Phrases import the Perverseness of some Peoples Minds; but nothing of a∣ny presumed purpose in God, that they should be Eternally Miserable: No, far be that from the Righteous Judge of all the Earth: Let God be True, though all Men are Lyars. Where the Word of God is Preached, and People thereby are called on to Believe and Reform their Lives, the call on God's part is Serious and Unfeigned; and they that Disobey it, will be severely Punisht at the last, for despising the Rich∣es of God's Goodness. We are Embassa∣dours for Christ (saith St. Paul) as though God did Beseech you by Us; We pray you

in Christ's stead, be ye Reconciled to God, 2 Cor. 5. 20. This is the great End of the whole Work of the Ministry, to make Peace between a wronged and good God, and wretched Men; that they may be everlastingly Happy in the Fruition of God; and if this End be not Accomplish'd, Foolish and untoward People have none to blame but themselves. In the Parable of the Sow∣er, the Fault was not in the Seeds-man, nor in the Seed, but in the Stony-ground; it is for want of an Honest and Good Heart, that the Devil and the World pre∣vent a Crop. In the Parable of the great Supper, the Epulator was Kind, and the Feast ready, and nothing hinder'd an Happy Meeting, but the Foolish Obstinacy of the Guests that were Invited.

BY these common and familiar Repre∣sentations, our Saviour was Pleased (in Condescention to the weak Capacity of his Hearers) to shew the Mysteries of God's Kingdom; that God is Essentially, and in his Nature Good; and in his Actions Good, and seeketh to do Good to all the Children of Men: And in order thereunto, sendeth out his good Word into the whole World, and his Good Spirit along with it, that all the Earth may be full of Good People, and of his Glory: That they may be prepared,

and fitted to Participate of his Infinite Goodness and Glory in another Life: And if after all this, any come short of that Glory of God, and of their own Happyness, that they may have no reason to accuse any, but their own Perverse and Wicked Selves. This is the real way of leaving all Men without Excuse: They are not Inex∣cusable, for not doing things which are out of their Power; or for being Miserable when they cannot avoid it, for Impossibi∣lities would excuse all Mankind. But this renders Wicked People Inexcusable, that Salvation is Tender'd them, and means gi∣ven them of attaining to it, and they will∣fully neglect the things which belong unto their Peace. This is the Condemna∣tion, That Light is come into the World, and Men love Darkness rather, because their Deeds are Evil, Joh. 3. 19.

AGAINST all this which hath been said, to prove the Universality of God's Love to Mankind, from the Universality of that Grace, which hath been exhibited to the World, by the Preaching of the Gospel every where, I foresee it may be Objected,

THAT the Gospel is not yet Publish'd to the whole World.

ARE there not divers parts of the Earth that are yet Undiscover'd? And in those we know, or have heard of, are there not multitudes of Blind and Idola∣trous poor Wretches, without any Foot∣steps of Christianity among them? And if so, how then was the coming of Christ an Argument and Expression of God's Un∣feigned Love to them; and especially to those their Ancestors, who since Christ's time have Dyed in a State of invincible Infidelity?

TO this I presume to say these four things.

1. FIRST, That it is impossible for Us now, to tell where the Gospel hath not been Preached: And consequently, it is not a certain Principle, that neither any of the Apostles, nor yet any of their Succes∣sors, Publish'd it in those Countries, which are unknown to us at this distance; or in others which are known to be addict∣ed still to Heathenish Idolatries and Super∣stition. How probable soever Mens Con∣jectures may be, 'tis impossible for them in this, as in other Cases, to prove a Ne∣gative.

2. SECONDLY, Nor can we tell but that in those Regions of the World which are now Infidels, the Christian Faith hath been formerly rejected upon the Preaching of it. Nothing is so contrary to the Perswasions, Customs, and Vices of Heathens, as the Christian Religion; and therefore it is no Wonder if it hath not been Received by People every where. The Gergesens desired Christ himself to de∣part out of their Coasts. He came unto his Own, and his Own Received him not; and so it is no Wonder, if his Disci∣ples found ill Usage at the Hands of Stran∣gers. When he sent them out, he foresaw that they would not find the Sons of Peace every where; and therefore he Command∣ed them to leave Obstinate People, and to shake off the Dust of their Feet, as a Testi∣mony against them. St. Paul told some of the Jews, that they put the Word of God from them, and Judged themselves unworthy of Eternal Life; And for that Rea∣son that he would turn to the Gentiles, Acts 13. 46. Nor were all among the Gentiles disposed to Believe: Though the Apostles had generally better success among them, than among the Jews; yet among some of those too, they met with unconquerable Opposition.

3. THIRDLY, Suppose some, whose Office it was to propagate the Faith, were wanting t o some People; either through Carelessness▪ or for fear of Death and Per∣secution: This doth not Argue any want of Love in God, whose Intentions were, that all Men should come to the knowledge of the Truth; and whose Commands were, that the Gospel should be Preach'd to every Creature.