02.01.03. Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3. Contains a Third Argument in Favour of the Limited Extent of CHRIST’s Death
I. THE very different Appellations, which, in the Scripture, are given to Such for whom Christ died, from those which others bear, deserve our particular Consideration. They suggest to us that special and peculiar Interest, which the former have in the Compassion and Love of Christ, and in his saving Benefits; and that the latter are not the Objects of his Favour; that he had not the same Design concerning them; and that they share not in the happy Effects of his Sufferings and Death.
1. They are called, the Sheep of Christ, by, which may be signified their Disposition to wander, their Distance from God in their natural State: This is also expressive of the Redeemer’s Concern about them, and of his peculiar Interest in them, as distinguished from others. Our Lord speaks several Things of these Persons, which he no where expresses, concerning the rest Of Mankind, that may justly lead us to conclude, he had formed such Resolutions about them, as he had not taken up about the Goats, viz. That he must bring them (John 10:16.), that they hear his Voice, that he knows them, that they follow him, that he gives to them eternal Life, that they shall never perish, that none shall pluck them out of his Hand, nor out of his Father’s Hand (John 10:27-29); nothing like these Things is ever declared of others; and therefore, we have no Reason to think it was the Intention of Christ to save Such to whom this Character is never applied. We are plainly told, That for these Persons Jesus Christ died: I lay down my Life for the Sheep (John 10:15.). If it be said, This is certainly true, because he died for all Mankind, of whom they are a Part; but that from hence it is not to be proved that he suffered not for others also. I answer,
(1.) Its no where said, he died for such as are represented under the opposite Character of Goats; if this had been any where expressed, that would have been a demonstrative Proof of the universal Extent of Christ’s Death; but it falls out to the great Disadvantage of this Opinion, that no Hint of such a Nature is to be found in all the Scripture.
(2.) It is the Design of our Saviour to set forth his particular and special Regard to these Persons in Distinction from all others, when he calls them his Sheep; which upon a due Consideration of the Things before observed, cannot well be denied. And therefore, when he says, I lay down my Life for the Sheep, his Intention is to represent this Act as a singular Instance of his good Will and Favour to them, as they stand distinguished from others; of consequence others are not interested in his Death.
(3.) I suppose it will be granted, that eternal Life is only given to the Sheep, not to the Goats, who in Judgment will be placed at the Left Hand of Christ, upon whom an awful Sentence of Condemnation will be pronounced, and dreadful Punishment will be inflicted: as therefore the Omission of the exceptive Particle only, when our Saviour says, To them I give eternal Life, leaves no room to think he also gives eternal Life to others; so the Omission of that Particle when he says, I lay down my Life for the Sheep, is no just Objection to the Limitation of his Death to them; for it is here as plainly understood as there, and the whole Scope of our Saviour’s Discourse leads to that Sense, as I can’t but think must be evident to every impartial Enquirer.
2. Sons and Children are Characters given to such for whom the Redeemer suffered. From the several Places in which these Persons are honoured with these Titles, and Christ is said to die for them, it evidently appears, that it was the Intention of God to save them through his Sufferings and Death; for they were to be gathered together in one (John 11:52.), and to be brought to Glory (Hebrews 2:10.). In order to which, Christ was made perfect thro’ Sufferings, on their Account; viz. a perfect Saviour. This was by his undergoing all that the Law and Justice of God required to their Discharge. He was made a perfect Saviour to None in his Death, but to those who are Sons; and therefore None but such who are Sons, have an Interest: in his Death.
3. Church is an Appellation by which those Persons for whom Christ suffered, are distinguished from others. It will (as I suppose) be readily acknowledged, that the Whole of Mankind are not designed by this Character, but only the Church of the First-born who are written in Heaven. Now if it was the Intention of the Apostle to represent the special Love of Christ to those who are saved, (which cannot reasonably be called in Question) where he mentions Christ’s giving himself to that End (Ephesians 5:25-26), there Is the clearest Reason to think that his Death is a full Proof of that peculiar Affection which he bears to the Saved-Ones; for that alone is here produced as such an Evidence; and therefore, his Death is limited to the Church of the First-born, nor are any others interested therein.
4. Another Title given to these Persons, is the Body of Christ: This is expressive of that foederal Union which subsists between him and them. He is the Head, and they are the Members. By Way of Distinction from others, he is declared to be the Saviour of the Body (Ephesians 5:23.): Such Christ is to them, and to them only for whom he died. He cannot with any Propriety be called a Saviour of them who are not saved; he freed not them from the Curse of the Law on whom it is inflicted he redeem’d not them from Hell who suffer eternal Vengeance there, since Christ is not a Saviour to those who perish, but only to his Body, the Church of the Firstborn, who are written in Heaven, and Salvation arises from his Death as the meritorious and procuring Cause thereof; they are the only Persons for whom he died, to whom that Title properly belongs, who are not all Men is most certain.
5. The Elect is another Name by which they are known. That the Chosen of God, are the only Persons, against whom a Charge of Guilt cannot be exhibited, appears very plainly, from this Challenge of the Apostle in their Behalf: Who shall lay any Thing to the Charge of God’s Elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died (Romans 8:33-34). Others are under the Imputation of Sin, a Sentence of Condemnation; and that Sentence will certainly be executed upon them. In the Opinion of the Apostle, the Death of Christ is a sufficient Security, from a Charge of Offence, and a Sentence of Condemnation; and therefore, such for whom he died, to them, Sin is not imputed; nor, is any Curse pronounced against them, considered as interested in his Death, which Things are true of the Elect of God only, in whole Name alone, this Challenge is expressed. The same Thing is evident from two Places of Scripture compared together, the First is, Hebrews 12:23. To the Church of the First-born. The Second is, Ephesians 5:25. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it. The Church consists of such Persons only, who are written in Heaven; viz. Who are elected to Everlasting Life, for these Christ is said to die, or give himself: And to say that he died for others also, is to speak beside the Scripture.
II. Others of the human Race are as plainly distinguished from them, by very different Characters.
1. They are called The Rest: The Election hath obtained it, and the Rest were blinded (Romans 11:7.): It is expressly asserted, that Christ died for the Former, but of the Latter, no such Thing is any where intimated; and therefore to affirm that he died for Men universally, is to extend his Death far beyond what the Scriptures do. As for those general Expressions, the World, the whole World, it can never be proved, that they include Persons of these different Characters, the Election, and the Rest; and therefore, from those Expressions it cannot fairly be inferred, that Christ died for the Elect, and Reprobates also, which is the Point to be demonstrated.
2. The World is another Title under which they pass, by way of Distinction from the People of Christ: I pray for them, I pray not for the World, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine (John 17:9.). If ye were of the World, the World would love his own; but because ye are not of the World, but I have chosen you out of the World; therefore the World hateth you (John 15:19.). To establish the Doctrine of the unlimited Extent of Christ’s Death, it ought to be proved, That that World is redeemed, out of which, the Church of God is said to be redeemed (Revelation 5:9.); and therefore was not redeemed together with it.
3. They have the Character of Goats: The Sheep he will set at his Right Hand, but the Goats on his Left (Matthew 25:33.). Our Lord expressly declares, He laid down his Life for the Sheep; but he never says any thing like it of the GOATS. His Sheep he knows, bears a great Respect to them, is never unmindful of them, securely defends them, and gives to them eternal Life: The others denominated GOATS, he NEVER KNEW (Matthew 7:23.). They are not the Objects of his good Will and Favour; he gives not to them eternal Life, but consigns them over to endless Misery. How confidently soever it shall be affirmed, I do not expect to see it proved, that Christ died to save those WHOM he NEVER KNEW.
4. They are represented as Persons appointed to Condemnation, and WRATH (Jude 1:4.), which is a Character just the REVERSE of those, for whom Christ is said to die. They are (as we have seen) called, the Elect, and said to be chosen to Salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9.). Let it be clearly proved, if it can be, that Christ suffered with an Intention to save those, who are APPOINTED to WRATH; and when that is done, I shall ask some Questions, which will not admit of Answers very easy. Whether an Intention, to save, and to punish, are the same, or may consist together? If God and Christ once designed to save those, whom they eternally punish, when they changed their Purpose concerning these Persons? Whether such an Alteration of Purpose is consistent with Immutability? And to what Motives, or Reasons, we may attribute, this Change of Resolution and Design? I have always thought, that the Council of the Lord shall stand; that he will do all his Pleasure (2 Thessalonians 2:12; 15:13.); that the Counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, and the Thoughts of his Heart to all Generations (Isaiah 46:10.); that none have resisted his Will (Psalms 33:11.), or prevented the Accomplishment of his infinitely wise Determinations: But when I shall see it once proved, that God intended to save all Men, by the Death of his Son, I will readily acknowledge myself mistaken, In the Sentiments, (so agreeable to the Scripture) just now expressed, and that the Bible is not the most consistent Book, which was ever wrote: But at present I am under no Apprehension that I shall be obliged, to make Concessions so dishonourable to God, and destructive of his Veracity in his Word.