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. II.

Of the divers distinct ends of the Death and blood-shodding of JESUS CHRIST, mentioned in the Scripture, and of which of them is here meant.

THere are in Scripture set forth, and plainly affirmed di∣vers distinct ends of the death and blood-shead of Christ, in his laying downe his life.

The first end, and that which is generall and com∣mon, of the largest extent, was, to be a Ransome, a sacri∣fice and Propitiation, or a propitiatory Sacrifice for sinfull man∣kind, To take away sinne before God for men; He appeared to put away sinne, by the sacrifice of himself. Hebr. 9.36. The Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world. John 1.29. Hee dyed for our sinnes, according to the Scripture. 1 Cor. 15.3. And he is the Propitiation for our sinnes, and not for ours only, but also for the sinnes of the whole world: 1 John 2.••. And in this gene∣rall and common end are included, three distinct, yet inseparable ends: The first, in respect of God, that was offended; from whom man was fallen, and against whom become an enemy; The Second in respect of JESUS CHRIST, the Mediatour between God and man kind: The third in respect of mankind fallen, and mediated for, each of which it is meet wee should understand.

1. In respect of God offended with mankind, The end of the death of, and ransome given, and Sacrifice offered by Christ, was to fulfill the truth, and satisfie the Justice, and performe that good will of God, who would have all men saved: Mankind having sin∣ned and fallen, the truth of God will have it so, That hee that sin∣neth must the: And the Justice of God will have it so, That 〈…〉〈…〉 faileth in any thing of that Law which hee ought to performe to God, shall suffer the Curse. Gene. 2.17. and 3.19. Ezek. 18.20. Deut. 27.26. Gal. 3.10. Psal. 49.7, 8. And God may as soone cease to be

God, as faile in his truth or Justice; and mankind, if they suffer this death and curse, must perish, and never get out of it againe, so as man being under this judgement; no mercy can be shewne him, no peace afforded him, but it would be as it were crosse to the holy Na∣ture of God: But Jesus Christ by the Fathers appointment, and his owne will, becomming a second Adam. Rom. 5.14. a publike Per∣son (as the first Adam) In the room of all mankind, Hee, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. Hebr. 2.9. And suffered the curse for all, that by the Law were under the Curse. Gal. 4.4. and 3.13. And this is with God, as if all had dyed. 2 Cor. 5.14. So that now in Christ, mercy and truth are mett, righteousnesse and Peace have kissed. Psal. 85.10. Now God may bring men into a new Treaty, and shew mer∣cy, and extend Peace to them: his truth and Justice as brightly shi∣ning therein, as his Mercy and Peace: Christ his Sonne, having in mans nature and stead, fulfilled his Truth, and satisfyed his Justice: and so farre saved all men, according to his will. Rom. 8.3. 1 Tim. 2.4. And thus it is said, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself. 2 Cor. 5.19. and Christ speaking of his comming to die, and offer himself a Sacrifice, saith of this end; Loe, I come to doe thy will, O God. Hebr. 10.6, 9.

2. In respect of Jesus Christ, the Mediatour between God and man; The end of the death of, ransome given, and sacrifice offered by JESUS CHRIST, was, that he might be the Lord of All, have them all as his owne, to dispose and judge, to command, and accordingly to condemne, or forgive, as he saw fit: Christ was the Lord of all, as the Father, for all were created by him. Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. But mankind, being fallen into sinne, and so under death and curse, became without Christ, and without God in the world; Alienated from his favour and presence: Ephe. 2.1, 2, 12. Gene. 3.24. and became dead in sinne. Rom. 5.12, 18. And though God and Christ, lost not their right of Lordship over men, yet man being fallen, the liberty of exercise was on mans part barred: and there was no way but one, that God and Christ should judge and de∣destroy mankinde for the sinne, and in the verse and death, under which they were fallen; mankind being now, like a fallon and Traytor, with sentence past upon him, and upon the ladder or Tree, with the rope a∣bout his neck, and ready to be turned off, having neither benefit of Law, nor Pardon; nor freind among all the Creatures that can helpe him, and

so no way for favour, or comming into any new treaty or Judgement, or living to God any more: but onely in this new way agreed on between God and Christ. That Christ should take this cause in hand, beare this sinne, goe upon the ladder, and suffer this death and curse upon the tree; whioh he once having suffered and overcome, all mankind should be his, and he become their Lord, that they might live to him: and so be all brought out of this first death by him; And those that did in the day of grace ac∣cept him for Lord, and yeeld to his government, hee might give them æternall life, and those that would not so doe, he might sentence them to a second death. 2 Cor. 5.21. Gal. 3.13. Jo. 3.18. Also mankind in their sinne and fall, by reason of the conquest Sathan had over them therein, were become his slaves, and vassalls, and hee by his conquest and power, got such interest and mastery over man, that hee was their Lord by the right of warre: Now Jesus Christ, by his conquest over the Devill in the wildernesse, and through his life, and by his Resurrection, and in his Ascension, did overthrow the Devill, and conqvered him, and spoiled him of all his right of Lordship, and led Captivity captive, and so himselfe became Lord by vertue of his conquest also: Mat. 4. Jo. 12.31. Col. 2.15. Ephes. 4.8. so hath he redeemed all men, by purchase and ransome of his Father, and by strong hand, and conquest, from the Devills right of Lord∣ship: and so is the Lord of all men by a double right, namely of ransome and conquest, and hath all into his dispose, and for a new treaty. And all shall be made alive to stand at his judgement; and he hath a new and æternall life to bestow on all that in the day of grace doe in beleeving sub∣mit to his Spirit: And another, even a second death for such as through the day of grace rebell against him; and hee is the Judge: and so it is said, For to this end Christ both dyed, and rose and revived, that he might be the Lord both of the dead and living. Ro. 14.9.12. 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. 2 Cor. 5.15. Whether wee live therefore, or dye, wee are the Lords. Rom. 14.8. And wee must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ. 2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 14.11, 12. And then all shall acknowledge him that dyed to be Lord, and hee shall judge. Phil. 2.7, 11. Rom. 2.16.

3. In respect of mankind, for whom Christ did mediate, The end of the death of, the ransome given, and sacrifice offered by Christ, was,—To remove out of the way, all that stood between God and

man, which was as a barre that kept back all streames of mercy and peace; that none tending to salvation could be shewne to man; as, the bondage of the Law, that held under sinne, the power of death, that lay on man by reason of sinne, and the Lordship and power of the devill, that held under both: And so Christ dyed for all, that all are dead. 2 Cor. 5.14. And wee are dead to the Law by the body of Christ. Rom. 7.4. and he hath abolished death by his comming. 2 Tim. 1.10. In a word, hee hath blotted out the hand-writing of Ordi∣nances that was against us, and contrary to us, and took it out of the way, having spoiled Principallities and Powers, &c. Col. 2.14, 15.—Also he dyed, and offered himselfe in Sacrifice, To procure pardon and remission of sinnes, and favour and life into his owne hands for mankind, that hee might dispose thereof according to the Tenor of the Gospel: For without shedding of blood is no re∣mission of sinnes. Hebrewes 9.22. And hee was delivered (to death) for our offences. Rom. 4.25.—Also that hee might open a way for men to come in and partake of this grace, through his Spi∣rit in the Gospel; In which hee is set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, &c. Rom. 3.25. In which Gospel hee hath brought life and Immortallity to light. 2 Tim. 1.10. That in the Testimony thereof, all men might through him beleeve. John 1.7. and in beleeving, have life. Joh. 3.16, 17, 18.

And all these three ends, that in respect of God, that in respect of Christ, and that in respect of mankind, are all for the good of mankinde, and meet all in this one end of his death, for ransome, sacrifice, propitiation. And this is affirmed in the Scripture through∣out; And each particular in this generall, to be for the world, for all men, for every man, and so, and for such ends, and in such sense, appeares. 1 Tim. 2.4.6. Heb. 2.9. to be meant: And so the Proposi∣tion is also to be taken: yet are there other ends of his death: and so.

The second end of the Death, and blood-shedding of CHRIST was to seale, rattify and confirme the New Testament of pre∣cious Promises; whence it is called, The New Testament in his blood, which was shedd, &c. Luk. 22.20. and his blood, called the blood of the New Testament. Mat. 26.28. That Christ is come, and hath dyed for our sinnes, and rose for our justification, and is the Propitiation for the

sinnes of the World; That he is the Lord, and all men are his, and ought to live to him, and that there is life in him for them, Is the affirmation and Declaration of the Gospel, and shall one day be knowne to be true, whether men will beleeve it or no; But for such as through grace doe beleeve it, so that in that beleeving they re∣pent, and come in to Christ, and depend on him, There are for them many precious and gracious Promises from Christ, and his Father. 2 Pet. 1.4. Hebr. 8.6. contained in one generall, which is of æternall life. 1 Joh. 2.25. and branched into many particulars, as re∣million of sinnes, subduing of lusts, Sanctification, hearing of Pray∣ers, preservation in this Grace, and guidance, and protect on of spirit, through all seruices of him, and suffesings for him, and to the possession of the Inheritance, &c. as before instanced: A I which be∣ing by Covenant, or as in a Will and Testament plainly recorded, are called the New Testament: Gal. 3.17, 18. of which Testament, Christ is the Mediator. Heb. 9.15. And where a Testament is, there must al∣so be the death of the Testator; for a Testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of no strength at all, while the Testator li∣veth. Heb. 9.16, 17. but the Testator once dead, if it be but a mans Testament, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Gal. 3.15. How much more this Testament of Christ, sealed with his blood. Hebr. 8. and 9, 10. And this end peculiarly is for, and belongeth to his Called and chosen ones. That they which are called, might receive the Promise, &c. Hebr. 9.15. and 10.19. Such as have in beleeving received the Atonement. Rom. 5.1.3.11. This end joyned with the former, is the ground of their hope.

The third end of the death of Christ, was to be a witnesse-bear∣ing, and a seale of the witnesse he had borne to the Truth, in his de∣claration and ministration of the Gospel, as he saith, To this end was I borne, and for this cause came I into the world, That I should beare witnesse to the Truth. Joh. 18.37. so it's said, Hee before Pontius Pi∣late witnessed a good confession: 1 Tim. 6.13. or profession; And in this end was included the testimony of his faithfulnesse, and obedience also to his Father. Ioh. 12.50. Phil. 2.8. And the Testimony of his compassion and care for the good of All, where he had preached the Gospel. Matth. 9.35.38. And the Testimony of his more speciall love, and tender care and faithfulness toward those given him in the

heavenly Call by his ministration, watching to preserve them in the Truth, even to the Adventuring, and laying downe his life for them. Joh. 10.11, 18. which end in respect of testimony more neerly re∣spected them among whom hee ministred, and by instruction, us al∣so; But especiall is this end, and the holding of it forth also for our example, to lay downe our lives for the Brethren. 1 Joh. 3.16. P•••••• not as a Propitiation for sinnes, He only did that, and is that for all men. 1 Joh. 2.2. Nor yet as the seale of the New Testament, Hee onely did that, and his blood is that for all his called and chosen Ones. Heb. 9.12, 14, 15, 16, 17. But in witnesse-bearing to the truth, In love and testimony of faithfulnesse to Brethren: To goe on and be faithfull in all services of love, for edifying in faith and love, even to the death, and laying downe our lives for the Brethren. Phil. 2.1, 8.

Now these ends the Scripture making distinct, and offirming the first more large then either of the two latter: It is not for man to confound them, or limit the former to the latter: And understanding. 1 Tim. 2.6. Hebr. 2.9. to affirme of the first end onely, as indeed they doe, and so the Proposition likewise: This Consideration also leades to a right stating the Quistion concerning the sense: and proveth it also to be as before set downe: And answeres the Objections, that by abusing of placer speaking of the peculiar ends, are framed to gaine say that which the Scripture af∣firmes of the generall end of Christs death.