Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/234

 222

his paraphrase, he giveth this sence of the Text; Wherefore let him consider, that the Lord Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, as who hath purchased full remission of them all for us: And not only for us, who at this time embrace his doctrine, but for all men of the whole world, as many as by faith receive or appehend the blessing of the Gospell offered unto them. In this sence the world is taken, as they themselves confesse, Rom. 11. 12, 15. Their fall is the riches of the world, and their casting off the reconciliation of the world, that is, of the Gentiles converted to the faith, which did make a great part of the world, and before conversion were worldly and profane men. The rejection of the Jewes was an occasion, by which the Gentiles, hitherto without that gratious communication, was made rich, and being converted to the faith, did returne into favour with God. And the same argument they bring out of the former Text to confute the distinction of Christs death effectually for some, sufficiently for all, because then the adversative particle, doth loose his emphasis, if the Apostles words be thus understood, Christ died effectually for us, and not only so, but sufficiently for the sinnes of the whole world, doth confirme the other interpretation; for the adversative should loose it weight, if the sentence be thus resolved, Christ is our propitiation by faith, in whom God is actually reconciled, and not only so, but he is reconcileable to the whole world that lieth not in infidelity.

The maintainers of universall redemption thinke it may strongly be proved by this reason, All men are bound to beleeve in Christ: but Christ died for all men, that are bound to believe in him; which some propound in this forme; Every man is bound to beleeve, that Christ died for him: but whatsoever a man is bound to beleeve that is true: therefore he died for every man. But if by beleeving in Christ they understand nothing but bare assenting to this proposition, that Christ died for all men, and for me as a man, for the impetration of righteousnesse quantum in se, or to purchase the grace of the Father and pardon of sinnes, no man is bound to beleeve it, because it is not revealed in Scripture, much lesse made knowne to every man in the world by meanes sufficient. Every man called, whether he hearken to God calling or not is bound to beleeve that Christ is offered unto him as a Saviour, so as if he beleeve he shall be saved: but that Christ died for him in particular for the impetration of righteousnesse, and for every