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. XV.

Of Answering a second OBJECTION.

Objection II.

SAint JOHN makes it an infallible marke of the love of CHRIST, to them for whom he laid down his life. 1 Joh. 3.16.

But God hath not loved every man in the World; For he hated Esau, Rom. 9.13. but his Church, and his owne, whom he loves to the end. Ephes. 5.25. Joh. 13.1. Therefore Christ dyed not for Every man.

ANSWER.

1 Joh. 3.1. Being spoken in the first Person: and applicatively of perception of love in the Death of Christ: propounded for example and motive: It is much abused, in being cited to this end; as may be seen, Chap. 3. and 4. and 5. and so the Proposition is of no force: for it is a proof of the Love of God to the World, That hee sent his Sonne to be the Saviour of the World, Joh. 3.16. and 1 Joh. 4.14. and so of the Love of Christ to mankind. To give himself a Ransome for all men. 1 Tim. 2.6. and yet a proof of more especiall Love. To choose, and bring any in the perception of this Love, to Union and Fellowship with himself. Joh. 15.15, 16. and Tit. 3.4, 7. as in our Types, the bringing out of Egypt was a proof of his Love to all so brought out; but yet more especiall love to those that hearkened to his Judgements, and did them. Deut. 7.8, 12, 13, 14.

Besides, the Apostles doe not there propound the Death of Christ, to shew how many he dyed for; or as the foundation, to bring in unbelievers to beleeve, or to shew how many God loves; but onely speaking of the perception of Love by Beleevers: He sheweth where∣in

they perceived it; and that was, in that he laid down his life for us. (and this was sure, when wee were his enemies, and so found when he called us also. Rom. 5.8, 10. Ephes. 1.2, 4. And that to this end, to move us even so to love our Brother (who without question is be∣loved,) whereas this Objection shuts the door of loving any, till, or farther then we know his Election, Though the Gospel (this Obje∣ction opposeth) giveth a certaine ground, for loving all men with Love of Compassion. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Tit. 3.2, 3, 4. and for Loving Be∣leevers with Love of delight. Psalm. 16.2. Coloss. 1.4, 5. Phil. 1.3, 4, 5, 8, 9.

This Assumption is full of infidelity and Blasphemy; If it had been, that God doth not love every man in the World: It might have been granted and proved; But to say, God hath not loved any but his Church, and chosen, whom he loves to the end; is a blasphemy so great, that the same may be said of it, which is spoken of that Apostacy, Jere. 2.10, 11, 12. For this, with one breath, both blasphemeth, and contradicteth our Saviours affirmation of Gods love of the World, some part whereof will notwithstanding perish. Joh. 3.16, 17, 18, 19.

The Prophets affirmation, That the Lord is good to All; and his tender mercies are over all his Workes. Psalm. 145.8, 9. and 136.25.

Yea, the truth and force of all Gods earnest Expostulation, Inti∣mation of Love, Exhortations, and Call to such as refused. Deutr. 5.29. Hosea 5. and 7.1. Isa. 5.4. Prov. 1.23, 24. Luke 19.42. Matth. 23.37. Hos. 13.19.

Yea, the truth and force of our Saviours Exhortation to his Di∣sciples, for being like their heavenly Father, in Love and mercy to ene∣mies. Matth. 5.44.48.

The Testimony of Gods goodnesse in all his Works. Act. 14.17. Rom. 2.4.

Yea, this Assumption goeth yet further, in that it doth not onely say, God doth not now love them, (while they walk in sin) But God hath not loved every man in the World; no, not any time since Adams fall. So as to give any Ransome for them; and so denyeth. Heb. 2.9.

Nay, it stops not here, (except his Elect, whom he loves for ever;) It saith, Hee hath not loved any other of mankind; no, not when he made and beheld them all righteous in Adam, as the Publick Person; and bles∣sed them, and avouched all his workes good. Eccl. 7.29. Gen. 1.27, 31.

It saith, God hath not loved, but hated them: (oh fearfull! To say, that God hateth the Righteous, Psal. 45.7.) and so they could not fall from the love of God, in the fall of Adam; since his Love was never to∣wards them: nor could they fall under the hatred of God, by sinne, either Originall or Actuall, since they were under it before, (if this Assumpti∣on were true;) for it saith, hee hath not loved them: and if any should tell them, Their sinnes are very great, for offending so loving a God; for despising so rich a Ransome, and refusing the grace offered them in the meanes; and giving way to serve sinne, that cost Christ Jesus his blood, to satisfie for them; And that they forsake their owne mercies, by following lying vanities: And so warne them of the great condemnation that will befall them for the same, if they perish in their evills, and en∣treat them, by all the Mercies of God, and sufferings of Christ for them; To hearken to the Gospel, Repent, and beleeve, and turne unto Christ. This assumption holds them back, and saith, It is all Lyes; for God hath not loved them: Oh whether will this blasphemy reach!

But to give some satisfying Answer to this Objection; Let the Scripture be viewed, what it saith of Love, or Hatred, which there appeares two-fold. First the Scripture mentions a divers kind or degree of Love in God towards men, shewne in the fruits thereof: as to say;

1. A Love of Compassion, Pitty and Mercy, Psal. 136.25. and 145.8, 9. Such a Love, as extendeth it self so farre for the good of man, (loved) in good things afforded, That a man is made saveable; and so much is done for him, and to him; That in accepting, and holding the same; and yeelding thereto, and therethrough, to God: Hee might be saved, Psal. 36.5, 6, 7.

And lesse love then this, was not to the Angels, before they fell. Jude 6. Nor lesse love to all Mankind, before they fall. Eccl. 7.29. Gen. 1.2. Yea, it was not taken away from Mankind, upon the fall: though the fall deserved it. Gene. 3.15. but in this Love, Did God give his Sonne to be the Saviour of the Worid. Isa. 4.14. Joh. 3.16. And in this Love doth GOD, for his Sonnes sake, who gave himself a Ran∣some for all men, preserve them. Col. 1.16, 20. and therein giveth a witnesse of his Mercy. Act. 14.17. and that to lead them to Repen∣tance. Rom. 2.4.

2. A love of delight and pleasance, taking in the beloved, an aboun∣ding,

flowing, and honouring Love, that resteth not till the Belo∣ved be brought into Union, Fellowship, and Possession of it self, and all its own Priviledges. Num. 14.8. Psal. 18.19. and 36.8. And in this Love doth God love his Son Jesus Christ. Pro. 8.30. Isa. 42. 1 Jo. 5.20. & 16.15. And in this Love doth Jesus Christ Love all his Elect and chosen Children. Psal. 149.4. and 147.11. Joh. 15.9. and 17.21, 23. yet so, as this peculiar love, is not manifested to them, till in sight and belief of the former Love, their hearts be overcome to beleeve in JESUS CHRIST, and to love Him, and their Brethren, and to walk in that love. 1 Joh. 4.14, 16, 19. 1 Cor. 2.9. Joh. 14.21, 23.

Secondly, the Scripture mentions a divers kind or degree of ha∣tred, both in God and man; Shewn in the fruits, as to say;

1. A not so much loving, as others are beloved: and this expres∣ly called Hatred. Genes. 29.30.31.33. and so intimated, Luk. 14.26. and thus it is said of God; Hee refused the Tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the Tribe of Ephraim. Psal. 78.67. and so he is said to abhorre Israel. vers. 59. and to have been an Enemy to Israel. Lam. 2.5.

2. An Hatred that is furious, positive, tending to, and moving for the overthrow and destruction of the hated. Deut. 19.11. Psal. 78.76.

Now the love of Compassion, and the Hatred, that is in a lesse de∣gree of Love, may very well stand together, both in God. Hos. 11.5.8, 9. and in man, Jere. 9.1, 2. and so God may Love, with the Love of Compassion, and shew tender mercies, waiting with long suffering and patience for, and towards such as he hides himself from: and is angry with; and speakes in words and workes against. Isai. 57.17, 18. and 63.10, 11. Jere. 18.7. Isa. 31.2.

And such kind of Love are his People commanded to follow, and be like him in, even towards such, as for whom they cannot but mourne, and with whom they cannot have intimate Union and Fel∣lowship, with Gods allowance, who yet bids them love them. Prov. 14.7. and 23.20. Ephes. 5.11. Matth. 5.44.48.

And to say, whosoever God Loves with this Love of Compassion, hee loves for ever, or to say he hateth with any other hatred, then that which may be in that lesser degree of Love, any, before they have hardned their hearts against him, and turned from him, in abusing of, and rebelling against the fruits of his Love vouchsafed, is plainly contrary

to the Scripture. Hos. 9.10. I found Israel like grapes, &c. to vers. 15. All their wickednesse is in Gilgall for there I hated them for the wick∣ednesse of their doings, I will drive them out of my House; I will love them no more; So Zach. 7.11.13. and 1.18, 28. and 2.4, 5.

And that this Love to mankind may not be undervallewed: This I adde, that the discovery of this love of God to mankind, (in the gift of, and Propitiation made by his Sonne, and fruits thereof,) is, That in and by which the Holy Spirit doth, (usually) first overcome a man, convince him, and enable him to beleeve; and s••renew, and bring him in to God. Psal. 36.5, 6, 7. and 107.1.8.15. So Christ set the same before Nico∣demus, to that end. Joh. 3.5.15.20. and Paul the same to the Corinthi∣ans. 2 Cor. 5.19, 20, 21. and confesseth himself, and the rest of Be∣leevers, to be so brought in to God. Tit. 3.3, 4, 5. And those that have experimented this, can set forth the same Hope for others, that are in no worse case, then themselves once were. 1 Tim. 1.14, 16. Tit. 3.

And as for the love of delight, that is peculiar, and appeares not usually to any, till in beliefe of the former, they be brought to love God, and therefore, even so to be waited for. Joh. 14.21.23. and so intimated toward Brethren. Ephe. 5.1, 2.

But now for such, as while the love of Gods Compassion flowes towards them, in his use of meanes to them, and moving his People with Compassion to endeavour to doe them good, and by his Spi∣rit knocks at their hearts; If some of these doe, and will persist in rebellion, till he give them up to Satan; such are Reprobated of God, and so hated of him; yea, and so farre as they are known to be such, they are so accounted, and hated of his People; And none but such set forth in Scripture to be so hated of God. Prov. 1.23.33. Ezek. 24.13. Iere. 6.16.27, 30. 1 Joh. 5.18. which overthrowes the Assump∣tion, and the Objection.

As for the instances, Rom. 9.13. although for the Elder to serve the younger, be hated, in respect of peculiar love (Psal. 78.67.) yet it stands well enough with the love of Compassion, and as for any other hatred of Esau, the Scripture mentions none, untill it was for the contempt of his Birth-right, Heb. 12.17. like that Hos. 9.14, 15. which is used to warne us, that wee slight not the Grace of Christ: As for the Hatred mentioned. Rom. 9.13. If laying his Mountaines waste,

(which was the fruit of it) did witnesse such hatred. Did not the be∣fore giving him those Mountaines, Testify like love, though not such as to Iacob? Mal. 1.2, 3.

As for Ephe. 5.25. It speakes of the peculiar love of Christ to his Church, and so of higher ends of giving himself, then Ransom and Propitiation which the Church hath received, even of the speciall•• fruits of Spirituall Application, vers. 26. Nor is this here set forth as a Proposition for faith; But for an example, for beleeving Husbands and Wives to follow in love, and if he had been exhorting to love of Compassion and patience, towards the unjust and enemies: Hee would have said, who suffered, the just, for the unjust, 1 Pet. 3.18. So that here he was not shewing how many God loves, and Christ Dred for, which other Places shewn to be All men, of which before, Chap. 4.

As for Ioh. 13.1. will any argue hence, That because our Saviour lo∣ved his Apostles and his Disciples; that by the heavenly Call, were drawne in to him, and followed him in this World, and that as hee having loved them, so he loved them to the end; and shewed it in his care of them, ministration to them, and Prayers for them: for of those, and such love, it is evident he meanes, Ioh. 13.14. and 15. & 16. and 17. Therefore he neither did, nor doth love any, but his Called ones: and so all must first love him, before they be at all loved of him: (which is contrary to 1 Ioh. 4.10, 19.) The Citation of Ioh. 13.1. to this Assumption, implyeth so much: but falsly, for it cannot be pro∣ved; That Judas Iscariot was none of those that were Adversaries to Jesus Christ, for his Love, and rewarded him evill for good, and ha∣tred for his Love. Psal. 109.4, 5. Joh. 6 70. and 17.12. and so the As∣sumption abides false.

To let passe the confounding, the Love of God, and the precep∣tion thereof in one, without distinction: and the making the extent of the Love of Compassion, and fruits thereof, and the extent of the love of Delight, and fruits thereof, one, and of like largenesse, with∣out distinction: Both which the Scripture distinguisheth, besides the shutting the doore against any more comming in to God, or loving any which are not already come in, &c. which are the least evills of this Objection.