The vniversallity of God's free-grace in Christ to mankind.: Proclaimed and displayed from 1 Tim. 2.6. and Hebr. 2.9. according to their genuine sense. That all might be comforted, encouraged; every one confirmed and assured of the propitiation and death of Christ for the whole race of mankind, and so for himself in particular. / Through urgent importunity, written by Thomas Moore.

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.

Christian Reader,

IF wee beleeve the great love of GOD to Mankind (fallen into sinne and enmity against him,) manifested in the gift of his Son, to be the Saviour of the World; who by the grace of God tasted death for Every man, And became the Propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world, and the fruits hereof so great for all men, that they extend as large as the heaven and the earth, bearing forth their Testimony with more brightnesse then the Sunne, and working on every mans sense, to lead to Repentance. Psal. 19.1, 7. Rom. 10.18. Acts 14.17. Rom. 2.4. and so precious in those to whom through the Gospel it spiritually ap∣peareth, That it converteth, and bringeth in to Christ, and also teacheth to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and god∣ly in this present life, &c. Tit. 3.4.5. and 2.11, 12, 13. Then I hope thou wilt not count it strange, if some be heartily grieved, when in a Church, where this great Love is testified; And set forth in the authorized Doctrine thereof, (many professing themselves zealous) to see them.

1. So denying and blaspheming this great love of God to mankind in Scripture affirmed. Joh. 3.16, 17. 1 Joh. 4.14. as if God ever, and from all eternity hated the greatest number of men, so as they neither are beholden to him for any good will, or love, nor have any doore of Repentance or meanes of life opened, and afforded by him in truth for them.

2. So contradicting, and blaspheming the plain sayings of the Go∣spel of Christ, as that he gave himself a Ransome for All Men, 1 Tim. 2.6. and by the grace of God, tasted death for Every Man. Heb. 2.9. as to af∣firme plainly and directly contrary; as, That Jesus Christ did not die, or sh••d his blood for every man.

3. Calling the Expression in the Doctrin of the Church of England, (that saith, Jesus Christ, God the Sonne, hath Redemed me, and all man∣kind,) a flat lye, affirming the truth to be, hee hath redeemed none but the Elect.

4. Running into so many long agoe condemned, evill and Papisticall wayes and arguings, to maintaine their Contradictions of Truth. Yea, I suppose, it would be grievous to thee also, to perceive the same. Nei∣ther I am perswaded, wilt thou count it strange, that this Love of God beleeved should constraine the Beleever in love to beare forth the testi∣mony thereof, and also maintaine it against opposition: yea, and when to the godly and sober-minded, the same is plainly testifyed, and the te∣stimony subscribed, and yet by others in heat and rashnes traduced. Then on the importune request of many, to permit it to more open view, that it may be rightly knowne, and so tryed, and either approved, or the er∣rours found therein, discovered and confuted, which done in love, and by faire dealing with the Scripture, will be lovingly accepted, though the fury of such as have no way, but by incensing Authority with false suggestions, and evill Reports, (however garnish'd) to overcome those they oppose, cannot be justified as Christian; Wherefore Christian and Juditious Reader, if thou conceivest me to erre; I hope thy love will leade thee in a Christian way, to shew it me by the Scripture, which I will thankfully imbrace; and if thou wilt endeavour the same; I then entreat but these foure things of thee, which I know the grace of Christ beleeved and heeded, will teach thee not to denie mee; And they are these.

First, that thou answer to the businesse about the matter affirmed: as namely, about the Redemption, Reconciliation and Propitiation wrought by Christ in his owne body for men, distinct from that he by his Spirit, in application thereof worketh in men, and so according to the distinction the Scripture maketh, and ••••ntioned in the five first Chapters of this ensuing Treatise.

Secondly that thou adde not to that I have affirmed of the Death of Christ for All Men, such things as I neither affirme, nor by any neces∣sary or reasonable consequence can be said to be included in, or to arise from my Affirmation, as some have done, As that Christ should die for all men alike; or that all men shall be Eternally saved; or that all or any man hath by Nature Free-will to that which is spiritually good, or that all that beleeve Christ dyed for All Men, shall be saved, all which the Truth affirmed, and the Treatise every where condem∣neth.

Thirdly, that in answering, thou be pleased to use spiritual weapons, and right Arguing from plain places of Scripture, compared with other like places, and so forbea•• those carnall and Popish wayes, and man∣ner of Reasonnings, faulted by so many Worthies in this Church.

As 1. Pretending insufficiency in the Scripture, to be the determiner of all matters of Faith, but that how plainly soever the Scripture af∣firmes, yet the matter is but sub judice, without some other determi∣nation.

2. Pretending darknesse in the Scripture, yea in Fundamentalls, and that of themselves, however compared with other-like places, they are full of obscurity.

3. Use of carnall Reasons, to frame absurdities to follow, if the truth, the plain sayings of Scripture import, be received and pro∣fessed.

4. Imposing strange senses, on plaine sayings of Scripture without proof.

5. Devising wayes to maintaine such senses, that they might appeare as if they were proved by Scripture: as to instance the most common of these wayes.

1. To restraine a generall sense, to be meant only of a particular, as the Papists have done in some places to maintaine the supremacy of the Pope: and the Socinians, or new Arrians have restrained those generall words of all things, and the world, made by Christ, to be meant only of a new Creation, And all things, to be only all the Elect; And the world, to mean the Church, or a World of Beleevers; thereby to denie the be∣ing of Christ, before he took flesh, and so his being God also.

2. To avoid places speaking of the same businesse, to invent reasons against the true sense, and frame another sense out of Places treating of another business, as some have done to deny the Resurrection, and others to deny their Brethren the reading of the Scriptures, and use of spirituall gifts.

3. To compare words spoken by and of God, and acts done by him, with words spoken by, and of men, and acts done by them, as of like large extent and signification, as some have done to dishonour God, and to flatter and Idolize men.

4. To addde too, diminish from, or alter and mingle the sense and sentences of Scripture, as some for their own ends doe, and the Devill did.

5. To set one place of Scripture against, and in contrariety with another, to make voide the appearing sense in one, that they might choose that which best liketh them, as hath been usuall with many Adversaries to the Truth.

6. To turne plain places, and Narrations of Scripture into Allegories, it is usuall with such as use to denie the truth of the litterall Sense of the Scrip∣ture, and of the Resurrection, and of serving God with our bodies.

7. To confound together in one, without distinction, such things, and in such respects, as the Scripture maketh cleerly distinct, as to instance some of them; The end of Christ's Death, and the Application of his Death. And the salvation wrought on earth by Christ in his own body with God for men; and the salvation in the application thereof he worketh from heaven by his Spi∣rit inmen to God; And God his love of Compassion, and his love of de∣light. And Election to Sonship, and Predestination to the Adoption of Sonnes, And Secret Election in God, and Actuall Election of and by God; And the manner of the Declaration of the Gospel, and the man∣ner of outward Worship.— The portion of Spirit sent forth before. Christ came in the flesh, and since his comming and Ascention; And spirituall gifts, graces, Administrations, Operations, and outward Cal∣lings and Offices in the Church, &c. All which the Scriptu e maketh di∣stinct, but they are usually confounded by the inconsiderate, and such as denie and darken things appertaining to the Foundation.

8. To make sayings in first and second Person, and restrictive Applicati∣ons and Propositions for example of like large extent, with sayings in the Third Person generally; and propositi ns for the ground of Faith; and usuall course of the unlearned and inconsid rate.

9. To alleadge the change of times to justifie a contrary Sense, or Do∣ctrine, or way, to that plainly appearing in the Scriptures; as an order of Fryars did for their (by them called) Eternall Gospel for these times; In which they said, That delivered by Christ and his Apostles, must give place, as the Old rights and Ceremonies did at Christ his Ascention. And other Papists doe for blotting out the second Commandement, and ha∣ving Images in the worshipping of God, because they say, No such feare of Idolatry and Superstition in these times, as when that command was given; And so doe the Rhemists for their Translation, use such Alle∣gations.

10. To invent lyes and slanders to make infamous such as will not be of the same opinion with themselves; In which the Antichristian brood abounds; And so have too many done in thi•• very businesse al∣so,

inventing and conceiting to themselves, and giving it out to others, That whosever beleeveth, and confesseth that Christ is the Saviour of the World, that he gave himself a Ransome for All men; and by the grace of God, tasted death for Every Man; and alledgeth for the same, Joh. 4.42. 1 Tim. 2.6. and Heb. 2.9. They are false witnesses against Christ and his Apostles; And they are Papists, or at the best Arminians, and Time-ser∣vers, and of loose lives; And doe, and must of necessity hold, that Christ dyed alike for all men: that all by nature have free will to spirituall good: That there is no Election: That there is no grace here attaine∣able, but what a man may fall from: That whosoever beleeveth, that Christ dyed for all men, shall undoubtedly be saved, and such like loathsome opi∣nions, as the Doctrine such slanderers oppose, condemnes, and the slan∣dered abhorres. In use of which corrupt wayes and dealing with the Scripture, and with Beleevers, and that all under colour of Allegation, and right Interpretation of Scriptures, how God is dishonoured, and the Scripture made of no force, I hope thy self discerneth: But when this is done, so to shut the door of Repentance and Faith against All Men, as withall, to teach them to abuse Scriptures, to denie Gods Crea∣tion of all men, and to deny that All men have sinned, and shall dye, and rise againe, and come to Judgement, or that it is their duty to speake the truth, and render their dues to every man: and withall opens a way for ushering all manner Heresies, and Popish Superstitions, as in the ensuing Discourse will in some measure appeare, this is still worse, for which cause I have to my utmost shunned all these wayes, and observed carefully all I have requested of thee. And this being granted, thy an∣swer will be very acceptable, and received so farre as truth appeareth in it to me, and all others that desire not to close our eyes, or harden our heart against any truth testified by Scripture fairely dealt withall.

Lastly, I desire thou take not this I have said as a challenge of thee, or any to answer what is written in this Treatise, but onely as a Testimony of my willingnesse, to 〈…〉〈…〉 I have written, to be by Scripture thyed, and if errour be the 〈…〉〈…〉 to be discovered, that I may see and con∣fesse it; that so nothing may be done through strife and contention, ••••ri∣ving not for Victory but truth; nor desiring any Victory, but from be∣ing also encouraged hereto likewise, by this perswasion, That in some sort duety doth engage me: for by Authority I was lead to make Pro∣testation to maintaine so farre as lawfully I may, the true Protestant Re∣ligion,

as it is exprest in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations: To which both the Tenet of Christ not dying for every Man; and the abuse of Scripture, and manner of arguing, by which some would prove that contradictory Tenet, doth set wide open the doore, which is shut by the Doctrine of the Church of Eng∣land, which saith expresly. Article 6. Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary for salvation, so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be beleeved as an Article of the Faith, or be thought requisite ne∣cessary to Salvation.

Article. 20. It is not lawfull for the Church, to ordaine, any thing that is contrary to Gods Word. Neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another, wherefore although the Church be a witnesse and a keeper of holy Writt, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besid••s the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be beleeved for necessity of Salvation.

Article. 2. One Christ, very God, and very man, who Suffered, was Crucifyed, dead and buryed, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a Sacrifice, not onely for originall guilt, but also for all Actuall sinnes of men.

Article 15. Christ in the truth of our Nature, &c. he came to be the Lambe without spot, who by the Sacrifice of himself, once made, should take away the sinnes of the World; And sinne was not in him; But all wee, the rest, &c. offend in many things. Article. 31. The offering of Christ, once made, Is that perfect Redemption, Propitiation, and Satisfaction for all the sinnes of the whole World both Originall and Actuall; And this ex∣presly testified against a grosse Popish Innovation.

Which Doctrine, had I not beleeved, I would not so have Protested to main aine, And for the maintenance hereof I have gone in as order∣ly a way to avoide all the aforementioned abuses of Scripture, and to make the Scripture sole Judge, and testify the truth in the words there∣of, as I could. An I so have divided the 〈…〉〈…〉 in 24. Chapters. The first five of Premi••ees, for better understanding the businesse, and the rest to proveit: And so

• Chap. I. Of the distinction between the Salvation Christ ••ffected in his owne b••dy, with God for men; And that hee effects by his Spirit, in men to God. from pag. 1. to pag. 15.

• Chap. II. Of the divers distinct ends, of the Death of Christ set forth. pag. 16. to p. 20.
• Chap. III. Of the divers manner of mentioning those ends in Scripture. pag. 21. to 25.
• Chap. IV. Of the divers waies of propounding the death of Christ in Scripture. pag. 26, 27.
• Chap. V. Of the difference of the extent and force of the same words in Scripture. pag. 26. to 30.
• Chap. VI. An Assaye for right stating the Question. pag. 32. to 36.
• Chap. VII. The Question opened and answered by Scripture. p. 37, 38.
• VIII. The proof from the Consideration of Christ, as the Publike Person. pag. 40. to 48.
• Chap. IX. The proof from the joint-mentioning of Creation and Re∣demption by Christ. pag. 49. 52.
• Chap. X. The proof from the distinction and change of Person in the Scripture. pag. 53, 54.
• Chap. 11. The proof from the force of words, scope, and circumstances. 1 Tim. 2.4.6. pag. 55. to 62.
• Chap. 12. The proof from the like in Heb. 2.9. pag. 63. to 65.
• Chap. 13. The proof from like places of Scripture, speaking of like things. pag. 66. to 70.
• Chap. XIV. The answering of the 1. Objection, and 4. Reasons to it. pag. 71. to 88.
• Chap. XV. The answering of a 2. Ob••ection. pag. 89. to 94.
• Chap. XVI. The answering a 3. Objection. pag. 95. to 103.
• Chap. XVII. The answering a 4. Objection. pag. 104. to 112.
• Chap. XVIII. The answering of a 5. Objection. pag 113. to 124.
• Chap. XIX. The answering a 6. Objection. pag. 124 to 128.
• Chap. XX. The Proposition againe proved by 6. Arguments, and 18. Proofs. pag. 129. to 137.
• Chap. XXI. An Addition of Proofes more peculiarly for the effectual∣linsse of the Ransome, with the remoovall of a double stamble to some. page 138. to 143.
• Chap. XXII. A removeall of a Doubt, seeming to be raised from three pla∣ces of Scripture. pag. 144. to 153.
• Chap. XXIII. Some discovery of the profitablenesse of this Doctrine, to be beleeved, and holden forth. pag. 153. to 154.

• Chap. XXIV. That Profit further discovered, and pressed in 10. Ʋses. pag. 155.
  • 1. Use. To the Profane. from pag. 155. to 158.
  • 2. Use. To the Civill onely. from pag. 159. to 161.
  • 3. Use. To the Superstitious. from pag. 162. to 164.
  • 4. Use. To the Pharisaically Righteous and zealous. pag. 165. to 169.
  • 5. Use. To the Imbondaged. pag. 170.
  • 6. Use. To the weak Beleevers, groaning after, and wanting Consolation. pag. 171. to 172.
  • 7. Use. To hasty, feigned, and boasting Beleevers. pag. 173. to 175.
  • 8. Use. To the truly converted, wanting light in the large extent of the Ransome given by Christ to God for All Men. pag. 176. to 178.
  • 9. Use. To establish Beleevers. pag. 179.
  • 10. Use. To all whosoever. pag. 180.
• The POSTSCRIPT. pag. 186. to 194.

I pray thee, reade without prejudice, Try all things by Scripture; refuse not any thing the Scripture warrants; And shew me in love by the Scripture, any errour, wherein I have gone aside from the truth it recordeth, and prove thy sayings Affirmatively, and by faire and just dealing with the Scripture, and I will yeeld to thee, and thank thee, or else acknowledge the Truth so plainly testifyed in the Scripture, as in the main of my drift, I am sure thou canst not deny; If agreeing in the same Truth, thou see how to mend any ex∣pression, I shall thanke thee; only let us alway agree in this, That the plaine Affirmations of the Scripture, are true; and neither to be tryed, nor doubted by us, but beleeved; but all our sayings may be tryed, yea, and doubted, untill they wholly agree thereto; And thus with desire of the Spirit of truth, to leade us into all Truth, I commit this Testification of th. Truth of the 1 Tim. 2.6. and Hebr. 2.9. to thy perusall, desiring a blessing on the same; and so Rest;

Thy Well-willer. T. M.