Salus electorum, sanguis Jesu, or, The death of death in the death of Christ a treatise of the redemption and reconciliation that is in the blood of Christ with the merit thereof, and the satisfaction wrought thereby : wherin the proper end of the death of Christ is asserted ... and the whole controversie about universall redemption fully discussed in foure parts, whereof the I. Declareth the eternall counsell, and distinct actuall concurrence of father, sonne, and holy spirit ... 2. Removeth false and supposed ends of the death of Christ ... rightly stating the controversie, 3. Containeth arguments against universall redemption from the word, with an affection of the satisfaction and merit of Christ, 4. Answereth all considerable objections as yet brought to light ... / by John Owen ...

CHAP. I.

Some precious considerations to a more particular inquirie after the pro∣per end and effect of the death of Christ.

THe maine thing upon which the whole controversie about the death of Christ turneth, and upon which [§ I] the greatest weight of the businesse dependeth, comes * 1.1 next to our consideration, being that which wee have prepared the way unto, by all that hath beene already said. It is about the proper end of the death of Christ, which who so can rightly constitute and make manifest, may well be admitted for a dayes-man, and umpire in the whole contestati∣on; for, if it be the end of Christs death, which most of our Ad∣versaries assigne, wee will not deny, but that Christ dyed for all and every one; and if that be the end of it, which we maintaine so to be, they will not extend it beyond the elect, beyond belee∣vers. This then must be fully cleared, and solidly confirmed by them who hope for any successe in their undertakings. The end of the death of Christ we asserted in the beginning of our Dis∣course to be our approximation or drawing nigh unto God, that being a generall expression for the whole reduction and recovery of sinners from the state of alienation, misery and wrath, into grace, peace, and eternall communion with him. Now there be∣ing a two-fold end in things, one of the worker, the other of the worke wrought, we have manifested, how, that unlesse it bee, ei∣ther for want of wisedome and certitude of minde in the Agent, in chusing and using unsuitable meanes for the attaining of the end proposed, or for want of skill and power to make use of, and rightly to improve, well-proportioned meanes to the best advan∣tage, those things are alwayes co-incident; the work effecteth, what the workman intendeth. In the businesse in hand, the Agent is the blessed Three in One, as was before declared; and the meanes whereby they collimed and aymed at the end proposed, was the

Oblation and Intercession of Jesus Christ, which are united, inten∣ding the same object, as was also cleared. Now unlesse wee will blasphemously ascribe want of wisedome, power, perfection, and sufficiency in working unto the Agent, or affirme that the death and intercession of Christ, was not sutable and proportioned for the attaining the end, proposed by it to be effected, we must grant that the end of these is one and the same, whatsoever the Blessed Trinity intended by them, that was effected; and whatsoever we finde in the issue ascribed unto them, that by them the Blessed Tri∣nity intended. So that we shall have no cause, to consider these a∣part, unlesse it be sometimes to argue from the one to the other; as where we finde any thing ascribed to the death of Christ, as the fruit thereof, we may conclude, that, that God intended to effect by it, and so also on the contrary.

Now the end of the death of Christ is either b 1.2 supreame and ul∣timate, [§ II] or intermediate and subservient to that last end. The first, is the glory of God, or the manifestation of his glorious Attri∣butes, especially of his justice, and mercy, tempered with justice unto us. The Lord doth necessarily ayme himselfe in the first place, as the chiefest good; yea indeed that alone which is good, that is absolutely and simply so, and not by virtue of communi∣cation from another: And therefore in all his workes, especially in this which we have in hand the chiefest of all, hee first intends the manifestation of his owne glory, which also he fully accom∣plisheth in the close, to every point and degree by him intended, he maketh all things for himselfe, Prov. 16. 4. and every thing in the end must redound to the glory of God, 2 Cor. 4. 15. where∣in Christ himselfe is said to be Cods, 1 Cor. 3. 23. serving to his glo∣ry in that whole Administration that was committed to him. So Ephes. 1. 6. the whole end of all this dispensation, both of choc∣sing us from eternity, redeeming us by Christ, blessing us with all spirituall blessings in him, is affirmed to be the praise, the glory of his grace, and vers. 13. that we should be to the praise of his glory. This is the end of all the benefits we receive by the death of Christ; for, Wee are filled with the fruits of Righteousnesse, which are by Iesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God, Phil. 1. 11. which also is fully as∣serted Chap. 2. 11. That every tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This the Apostle fully clears in the ninth to the Romans; where hee so asserts the supreame

Dominion and independency of God in all his actions, his abso∣lute freedome from taking rise, cause or occasion, to his purposes, from any thing among us sonnes of men, doing all things for his owne sake, and aiming onely at his owne glory. And this is that which in the close of all, shall be accomplished, when every crea∣ture shall say, Blessing, Honour, Glory and Power, be unto him that sit∣teth upon the Throne, and unto the Lambe for ever and ever, Rev. 5. 13. but this is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

2. There is an c 1.3 end of the death of Christ which is intermedi∣ate and subservient to that other, which is the last and most su∣preame, [§ III] even the effects which it hath in respect of us, and that is it of which we now treat; which as we before affirmed, is, the bringing of us unto God. Now this though in reference to the Obla∣tion and Intercession of Christ, it be one intire end, yet in it selfe, and in respect of the relation which the severall acts therein have one to another, it may bee considered distinctly, in two parts, wherof one is the end, & the other the meanes for the attaining of that end, both, the compleate end of the mediation of Christ in respect of us. The ground and cause of this is, the appoyntment of the Lord, that there should be such a connexion and coherence, betweene the things purchased for us by Jesus Christ, that the one should be a meanes and way of attaining the other, the one the condition, and the other the thing promised upon that conditi∣on, but both equally and alike procured for us by Jesus Christ; for if either be omitted in his purchase, the other would be vaine and fruitlesse, as wee shall afterwards declare. Now both these consist in a communication of God and his goodnesse unto us, (and our participation of him by vertue thereof) and that either to grace or glory, holinesse or blessednesse, faith or salvation. In this last way, they are usually called, faith being the meanes of which we speake, and salvation the end; faith the condition, salvation the promised inheritance: under the name of Faith we comprize all saving grace, that accompanies it: and under the name of sal∣vation, the whole glory to be revealed, the liberty of the glory of the Children of God. Rom. 8. all that blessednesse which consi∣steth, in an eternall fruition of the blessed God. With faith goe all the effectuall meanes thereof, both externall and internall, the Word and Almighty sanctifying Spirit: all advancement of state and condition attending it, as Justification, Reconciliation, and

Adoption into the family of God: all fruits flowing from it in sanctification, and universall holinesse, with all other priviledges and enjoyments of believers, here, which follow the redemption and reconciliation purchased for them by the oblation of Christ. d 1.4 A reall effectuall and infallible bestowing, and applying of all these things, as well those that are the meanes, as those that are the end, the condition, as the thing conditioned about, faith and grace, as salvation & glory, unto al, & every one, for whom he died do we maintaine to be the end proposed & effected, by the blood∣shedding of Jesus Christ, with those other acts of his Mediator∣shipp, which we before declared to be therewith inseperably con∣joyned, so that every one for whom he died, and offered up him∣selfe, hath, by vertue of his death, or oblation, a right purchased for him, unto all these things, which in due time he shall cer∣tainely and infallibly enjoy, or, which is all one, the end of Christs obtaining grace & glory with his Father was, that they might be certainely bestowed upon all those for whom he died, some of them, upon condition that they do believe, but faith it selfe ab∣solutely upon no condition at all: all which we shall further il∣lustrate and confirme after we have removed some false ends as∣signed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The end of the death of Christ as∣serted and distinguish∣ed into
• b 1.2

  Supream and ulti∣mate.
• c 1.3

  2 Inter∣mediate and sub∣servient, which is asserted.
• d 1.4

  1. Posi∣tively.