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.

CHAP. XIII.

Of the Consideration of like places in Scripture, speaking in like manner.

NOw other places of Scripture, that speake of the same bu∣sinesse, namely of the death of Christ, as the Ransome and Propitiation only, and that which is the fruit of that only, And this propounded in the third Person generally, and as the ground of Faith, and of Preaching the Gospel to all men, and praying for all men, and inviting them to Beleeve, and waiting for the same, &c. must be viewed.

2 Cor. 5.19. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.

Two things are here evident: First, that there is a Reconciliati∣on and Pardon for the World, which God hath already wrought in Christ, while the world lies still in enmity, and under sinne, for not receiving the same, so as it might reconcile them to Christ, and so to God, in, and through Christ, that they might receive that Not∣imputation mentioned, Psal. 32.1, 2. Rom. 4.5, 6. which yet they have not; for he saith not, God is, or God will be Reconciling the world to himself, as speaking of the worke of his Spirit, in the word of his grace, with and in men; nor doth he say, God was in the World reconciling them, as speaking of the spirituall application of the Blood of Christ in the hearts of men, reconciling them to God, but God was in Christ, reconciling, &c. as speaking of the worke of God in Christ, the Reconciliation hee hath already wrought in Christ for men, (as that Col. 1.20.) and true, though they beleeve it not: And this expresly distinct from that Reconciliation effected in Men by his Spirit (in beliefe of the former,) reconciling them in their hearts and Powers to GOD; of which before, Verse 18. Col. 10.21.

Secondly, the Gospel of this Reconciliation wrought by God in Christ, was Preached by Christ in the world, that men might have beleeved it, and in beleeving, have been by him reconciled to God. Joh. 1.4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11. And now Christ is gone up to heaven, he hath left his Servants in the Work, in his place, for ministrati∣on, and hath put his Word in their hearts, that they might declare it in, and to the World; that men might beleeve this Reconciliation wrought with God for men, in Christ, and therethrough, be reconciled to God by Christ. verse 20, 21. and chap. 6.1, 2. compared with. Joh. 17.15.18.21, 23.

So that this Reconciliation, already wrought by God in Christ, to be declared for so gracious an end, Is without all Controvercy, for the world, but what World, let the Text shew, — The world of mankind. verse 11. Wee perswade men: and that those men that must all appeare before the Judgement-seat of Christ. verse 10. that were dead. verse 14. and ought to live to Christ. verse 15. whereof, in hear∣ing this report, some are Reconciled to God by Christ. vers. 18. some not. vers. 11. some begun to be, vers. 20. some receive the grace of this Tidings profitably; and some, (it's to be feared) receive in vaine. Chap. 6.1, 2.

Joh. 1.9. He is the true light, which lighteneth every man that com∣meth into the world; here againe it is evident, That through the Ransome given, and propitiation made by Christ, and the life, light and redemption in him thereby for men, There is life obtained, and a doore of hope opened, and some mercy extended, and some light at some time vouchsafed to every one that commeth into the world: But what World? Let the Text shew. The world of Mankind. vers. 4. which God made by Christ. vers. 3.10. Into which Christ came, and which know him not. vers. 10. which were his owne by Creation and Purchase, and mercy vouchsafed, and yet received him not, vers. 3, 4, 5, 7, 1••. To as many of whom, as did receive him, he gave Power to become the Sonnes of God. vers. 12.

But that this matter may yet more plainly appear, let us view what the holy Ghost saith of the World, in this respect; and that,

1. Of the world in generall. Joh. 1.29. Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world. Joh. 3.17. God sent not his Sonne into the world, to condemne the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Joh. 4.42.

This is indeed, The CHRIST, The Saviour of the World. 1. Joh. 4.14. Wee have seen and doe restify, that the Father sent the Sonne to be the Saviour of the world. Joh. 6.51. My flesh, which I give for the life of the world. Joh. 12.46. I am come a light into the World.

2. Of the World, distributed into it's parts. Some beleeving on the Sonne of God, when the Gospel comes, and some not beleeving. Joh. 3.16.18. God so loved the World, that hee gave his onely begotten Sonne, that whosoever beleeveth on him, should not perish, but have ever∣lasting life, (proved, vers. 17.) and then it followes, Hee that beleeveth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, is not condemned, but hee that beleeveth not, is condemned alrea∣dy, (he saith not, Because Christ died not for him, or came not to save him, but) because hee hath not beleeved in the Name of the onely be∣gotten Sonne of GOD. vers. 19. And this is Condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darknesse rather, &c. and so verse 36.

3. Of the World, opposed to Beleevers in the World, whether Jewes or Gentiles, both being the whole World. 1 Joh. 2.1. Wee have an Advocate with the Father, JESUS CHRIST, the Righteous (and this is true of Beleevers, and peculiar to them, but common to them all, whether Jewes or Gentiles.) And he is the Propitiation for our sinnes, and not for our sinnes onely, but also for the sinnes of the whole World.

4. Of the World divided, and such particulars set out, as cannot be the Elect and chosen Sonnes of God. Joh. 18.47, 48. If any man heare my words, and beleeve not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the World, but to save the World: He that rejecteth me, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and receiveth not my words,—The Word that I have spoken, shall judge him at the last day: Sure then, this Word and Gospel of his was true, and they shall be rightly Judged by it. John 3.16.20. and 16.8, 11.

5. Of the World, as the Elect are in due season, chosen and cal∣led forth of the state and fellowship of the World, and so distin∣guished from it, while many of the Elect are yet in, with, and of the World, Joh. 15.19. I have chosen you out of the World; therefore the World hateth you: And thus of the World distinct, it is said of it. That it lyeth in wickednesse, 1 Joh. 5.19. and doth not know the Sonnes of God. 1 Joh. 3.1. Seeth not the Spirit, nor knoweth him. Joh. 14.17.

nor can perceive or receive the things of the Spirit. 1 Cor. 2.14. but doth persecute those that are led by that Spirit. Joh. 16.1, 2.33. Yet even a∣mong these, and even in Fellowship with them also, are many of the Elect Ones, to whom yet all these sayings agree: Though in due season they shall be called out of the Fellowship of the World, as the Called ones have been, who were once of them, as these now are. Acts 9.1, 6. 1 Pet. 3, 9, 10, 12. Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. Tit. 3.3. and so All men in generall, and Beleevers, and Unbeleevers, Elect and Nonelect, together, called and uncalled, to be called the World, is frequent in Scripture; And of it every way so called, CHRIST is called the Sa∣viour of the world, and said to come, That the world might be saved.

But the Elect, called and chosen out of the World, distinct, they are called, A peculiar People, A chosen generation, A Royall Priest∣hood, An holy Nation. 1 Pet. 2.9. The heavenly Jerusalem: Zion, The City of the Living God, The Church and House of God. Hebr. 12.22, 23. and 3.6. Ephes. 2.19, 20. The Sonnes and Daughters of Almighty God, 2 Cor. 6.18. A people chosen out of the world. Joh. 15.19. Of whom Christ is not onely the Saviour, but the head and Husband, &c. but that the Elect only, or distinct, should be called the world, is such a thing, as I never found in Scripture, nor met with any, that could produce the place where, and prove it so.

And now, if we couple with the death of Christ, as the Ransome and Propitiation, This end of it, That he might be the Lord of All; and that all might live to him, and therein become saveable, and so be made alive before him, as to receive Absolution, or condemnati∣on from him; what saith the Scripture?

Rom. 1 4.9. To this end Christ both dyed, and rose and revived, That he might be the Lord both of the dead, and of the Living.

2 Cor. 5.14, 15. VVee thus judge, that if One dyed for all, then were all dead: And that he dyed for All; that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that dyed for them, and rose againe.

1 Cor. 15.22. As in Adam All dye, so in Christ shall All be made alive, and wee must All appeare before the Judgement-seat of Christ. 2 Cor. 5.10.

And if wee look on them that stumble at Christ in his Gospel and refuse and denie him, doth not the Scripture say, Such (2 Cor. 8.11.) perish, for whom Christ dyed. 2 Pet. 2.1. even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction; And are they not said, To have troad under foot the Sonne of God, and count the blood of the Covenant, wherewith they were sanctified, an unholy thing, and to offer despight unto the Spirit of Grace. Hebr. 10.29. and to be trees twice dead, Jude 12.

And if wee look upon the accomplishment of this end of the death of Christ, doth not the Scripture say. Before him shall be gathered all Nations, &c. Matth. 25.32, 40. and that even because, to that end hee dyed. Rom. 14.9.11, 13. Phil. 2.8, 11. and rose: And so, in the Name of JESUS, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confesse, that JESUS is the LORD, &c. Isai. 45.23. Psal. 86.9.

And if we look on those, to whom the Gospel is to be preached, saith not the Scripture. Matt. 28.19. Teach all Nations. Mark. 16.15. Goe yee into all the World, and Preach the Gospel to every crea∣ture.

And doth not all these places of Scripture, hold forth, and explaine and confirme the same sense, that 1 Tim. 2.6. and Hebr. 2.9. importeth; and so confirme the truth of the Proposition.

That JESUS CHRIST, by the grase, good-will and favour of God, did tast death for every man, and so gave himself a Ransome to God for all men, and so is become the Propitiation of the sinnes of the world; and the Saviour of the world; Yea, that the world through him might be saved.

There is no one thing in all the Scriptures, more fully and of∣ten, and in plain Sentences affirmed, then this.