Page:Christ the saviour of the world (1).pdf/11

 he had not been a Saviour for all people, Wherefore, he himſelf teſtifies, that he came to ſave the world, John iii. 17. 'God ſent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be ſaved,' Chap. xii. 47. 'I came not to judge the world but to ſave the world.' This was his office, to ſave ſinners, but ſinners of mankind indefinitely, without exception, I Tim. I. 15. 'This is a faithful ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave ſinners;' the loſt. Luke xix. 10. 'The Son of man is come to ſeek and to ſave that which is loſt;' Cor. v. 19. 'God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world unto himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them.' To the ſame purpoſe, he declares himſelf 'the light of the world,' namely by office, John viii. 12. that whoſoever may employ him may have the light of life.

2. If it were not ſo, he could not warrantably be offered with his ſalvation to the world, indefinitely, but to the elect only; more than he can be offered lawfully to fallen angels, who were not within his commiſſion as a Saviour. For the miniſterial offer can never lawfully carry the matter beyond the bounds of Chriſt's commiſſion from his Father. But Chriſt, and his ſalvation, may be warrantably offered to the whole world of mankind ſinners, with aſſurance that whoſoever of them will employ him to ſave