The examination of Tilenus before the triers; in order to his intended settlement in the office of a publick preacher in the Common-wealth of Utopia. Whereunto are annexed the tenents of the remonstrants touching those five articles voted, stated and imposed, but not disputed, at the synod of Dort. Together with a short essay (by way of annotations) upon the fundamental theses of Mr. Thomas Parker.

What the Remonstrants hold.

I.

THey hold, that the price of Redemption which Christ tendred unto his Father, was not only in it self sufficient for the Re∣demption of all mankinde, but was also accor∣ding to the decree, the will and grace of God the Father, paid for all and every man.

Proofs out of Scripture.

For all and every man: 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransome for all: Chap. 4. 10. We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, Iohn 3. 16. John 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God

that taketh away the sin of the world: 1 John 2. 2. [John 6. 33, 51.] We have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. He tasted death for every man: Hebrews 2. 9. For the unjust: 1 Peter 3. 18. &c. For the ungodly, for sinners, for his enemies: Rom. 5. 6, 8, 10. See the places cited before for Christs satis∣faction.

According to the decree, the will and grace of God, &c. John 3. 16. So God loved the world: &c. 1 John 4. 14. We have seen and do testifie, that the father sent the son, to be the Saviour of the world: Romans 8. 32. He spa∣red not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all: 1 John 4. 9, 10. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us; and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, for God sent not his Son into the world to con∣demn the world; but that the world through him might be saved: John 3. 17. That he by the grace of God should tast death for every man: Heb. 2. 9.

Col. 1. 19, 20, 21. It pleased the father—by him to reconcile all things to himself: Tit. 3. 4. After that the kindness and pity of God our

Saviour towards man appeared. Iohn 12. 47. For I came not to judge the world: but to save the world. Iohn 15. 13. Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. Rev. 1. 5. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. The love of Christ Constraineth us &c.

II.

They hold, that Christ by the merit of his death, hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankinde, that the Father, by reason of his Sons merit, both could, and would, and did enter and establish a new and gracious Covenant with sinful man liable to Condemnation.

Proofes out of Holy Scripture.

2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself; not imputing their tres∣passes unto them. Col. 1. 21, 22. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works, yet now hath he recon∣ciled, in the body of his flesh through death. Isa. 49. 8. I will give thee for a Covenant of the peo∣ple. [i. e. A mediator and foundation of the Covenant of grace. Deodat: Annot:] Isa. 53. per tot. verse 10, 11, 12. When thou shalt

make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed—and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands:—by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many. Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. See Ier. 31. 31, 33, 34. & ch. 33. 8. Mich. 7. 18, 19, 20. with Hebr. 8. 6. &c. He is the Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established upon better pro∣mises, viz. I will put my lawes into their minde and I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness &c. Hebr. 9. 14, 15. &c. How much more shall the blood of Christ—and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the trans∣gressions, that were under the first Testament, they which are called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. See chap. 10. per totum chap. 7. 22. chap. 12. 24, 25.

III.

They hold, that though Christ hath me∣rited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins, for all and every man, yet according to the tenour of the new and gracious Covenant, none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ, otherwise then by faith; nor are a mans sins pardoned,

before he actually believes in Christ.

Proofes out of holy Scripture.

None made partakers otherwise then by faith. Romans 3. 24, 25. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud. Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God. Romans 9. 33. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded: 1 Timothy 4. 10. He is the Saviour, specially of those that believe: Col. 1. 19. to the 23. For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself—And you hath he now reconciled—to present you holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight, If ye continue in the faith &c. Heb. 3. 6, 14. We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold fast &c. Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator that by means of death, they which are called [Cum Eventu] might receive the promise of eternal in∣heritance. Iohn 1. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. See Gal. 3. 22.

Nor are a mans sins pardoned before he believes: Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name whoso∣ever believeth in him shall receive remission of

sins: See Acts 26. 18. Chapter 13. 39. [See John 3. 36.] Rom. 3. 21, 22. The righteous∣ness of God, without the law is manifested—even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them, that believe: Romans 4 3, 24. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and it shall be imputed to us also, if we believe. See the whole Chapter.

Gal. 2 26. We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ: Gal. 3. 11. [See Gal. 3. 22.] The just shall live by faith: Romans 5. 1. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God: See Acts 2. 38. Isa. 53. 11.

IV.

They hold, that only they for whom Christ died, are bound to believe, that Christ died for them; and if there were any for whom Christ died not, they should not be bound to believe he died for them, or condemned for not believing; yea, if there were any such Reprobates, they should rather be bound to believe, that he died not for them.

Proofs out of Scripture.

Only they bound to believe, &c. 1 Pet. 1.

18, 19. with 21. ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, who was manifest for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. Iohn 14. 1, 2, 3. Believe also in me. Why? I goe to prepare a place for you, and I will receive you to my selfe. See 1 Cor. 15. 2, 3. with the 14 verse. Whence it followes, that they for whose sins Christ died not, and for whose justifi∣cation he rose not again; to them, preaching is vain, and their faith is vain, for they do but believe an untruth, and lean upon the staffe of a broken reed. Accordingly (as was alleaged above) Maccovius saith, A man must first be∣lieve Christ to be his Saviour (which he cannot be, unless he hath died for him) and that must be the reason why he placeth his faith in him.

Rather believe that he died not for them. For Deut. 29. 29. Those things which are re∣vealed, belong to us. And Luke 24. 25. O fooles and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken. If it be a revealed truth, that Christ died not for the Reprobates; then are they bound to believe, he died not for them. But if it be not a truth revealed, why is it then preached, and urged, as an Arti∣cle of faith?