02.01.08. Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8 Contains an Eighth Argument in Favour of the Limited Extent of CHRIST’s Death THE Intercession of our Saviour, is one Branch of his sacerdotal Office, and therefore he intercedes for those Persons on whole Account, as a Priest, he offered an atoning Sacrifice. His Sacrifice and Intercession are of the same Latitude; the former cannot with any Propriety be conceived of larger Compass than the latter, as we shall quickly discover, and if not, then, if there are any for whom Christ prays not, there certainly are some for whom he died not.
1. Our Lord expressly affirms that he prayed not for the World: I pray for them, I pray not for the World, but for them which thou hast given me (John 17:9.). Those Persons who are interested in the Intercession of the Redeemer, are distinguished from others, included under the Term World, by various Things — They are the Fathers — They are given to Christ — Power is given to him, over all Flesh, that he may give eternal Life to the whole Number of them — For their sakes Christ Sanctified himself, that they also might be sanctified through the Truth — They are not of the World — They are loved of the Father, as Christ is. None of these Particulars are any where expressed concerning those, who are designed by the Term World. It can’t be said of them, that they are the Fathers, by a gracious Choice, or Ordination to everlasting Life; on the contrary they were of old appointed to Condemnation and Wrath (Jude 1:4.), as a just Punishment of their Sins — They are not given to Christ to be saved by him. For them he did not sanctify himself, and therefore for them he prayed not.
2. Such for whom Christ prays, he intercedes with the Father to communicate Grace and Glory to: He requests of the Father, to send his Spirit into their Hearts, to convince them of Sin, to apply his saving Benefits to them, and to meeten them for a State of future Blessedness, and for their actual Possession of eternal Felicity in his Presence.
3. His Intercession is certainly prevalent: The Father hears him, and grants the Blessings, he asks, in Favour of all such, for whom he makes Intercession, for which Reason the Apostle concludes upon his Ability, to save to the uttermost, from his ever living to make Intercession. Two Things fully prove this Point. (1) The Promises and Engagement of the Father to him; he required Christ to make his Soul an Offering for Sin, and promised that as a Reward far so doing, he should see his Seed, i.e. not in Hell, but in Heavens as I think, and that the Pleasure of the Lord, i.e. not the Destruction, but the Salvation of Sinners should prosper in his Hand (1 Thessalonians 5:9.), or under his Influence. Supposing therefore it was allowed that the Satisfaction of Christ, was not proper and complete, which it certainly is: Since the Father called him to suffer, and promised him the Welfare of Sinners on that Condition, and as he has suffered at that Call of the Father, it would be a manifest Violation of Right, not to grant the Favours promised upon that Condition. But what adds much weight to this is, (2). Christ’s Intercession is founded upon the Perfection of his Satisfaction. That Sin is expiated — That an everlasting Righteousness is brought in, for the Justification of those to whom Christ is constituted a Head, or for whom he was a Surety — That actual Reconciliation is made, are Things not now to be proved. Clear and sufficient Proof is, I hope, already given of each of these Particulars: And therefore the Discharge of these Persons from Guilt, the Justification of their Persons, their Impunity, and Participation of all heavenly Blessing, must necessarily be agreeable to the Justice, and Righteousness of God. Hence it follows that Christ is certainly heard of the Father in his Petitions, in Favour of all those for whom he prays: If therefore all partake not of Grace and Glory, Christ prays not for all Men, nor is his Death of unlimited and universal Extent.
4. Those for whom Christ died, he most intensely loves: His dying for them is an incontestable Proof of the great Affection he bears to them; those whom he so loves, he certainly desires the Welfare, and Happiness of. His Intercession is the Expression of that Desire; if therefore there are some, for whom he prays not, there are some whom he loves not, whose Salvation he desires not, and of Consequence, for whom he died not with an Intention to save them.
5. Typical Atonement made by the Priests under the Law, had Relation to all those, and only to those, for whom Sacrifices were offered. And thus the Intercession of the Antitype, in the holy Place not made with Hands, bears Respect to all those, and only to those, for whom he offered himself a Sacrifice infinitely pleasing to God. His Intercession is of Compass as large, as his Death, and his Death is not of wider Extent, than is his Intercession; his Intercession is limited, and his Death also is.
6. It is the Blood of Christ which speaks, and it speaks better Things than that of Abel. Now his Blood doubtless pleads in Favour of all those, for whom it was shed; if therefore there are any for whom it speaks not, it evidently follows there are some for whom he died not. The Arminians object to this Argument taken from the limited Extent of Christ’s Intercession. Thus,
Object. 1. Though Christ did not at that Time pray for the World, it is not to be concluded, that be at no other Time did or would.
Answ. 1. Christ always prays for the Salvation of all such, whose Salvation he desires; and therefore, since he then prayed not for the World, he desires not the Salvation of that World of Men; nor is it to be thought he can, for if so, he must desire, and pray the Father to save such, as he hath appointed to Condemnation and Wrath, and not agreeable to the Will, and Counsel of the Father, which is absurd to imagine.
2. It is no where else said that Christ prays for the World, that they may be saved; and therefore, there is no Reason to believe he ever did, doth, or will intercede for them.
3. That Place contains a glorious Plan of Christ’s Intercession in Heaven, we have there expressed what Favours he asks for his People, and it seems to be designed to inform us for whom he intercedes, as well as for what Blessings he asks, and if so, then, now he is in Heaven he prays not for the World; but only for those who are given him of the Father.
Object. 2. Christ afterwards prays that the World might believe.
Answ. It is not saving Faith that is intended; but a Conviction of his divine Mission and Authority: The World reproached him, as an Impostor and Deceiver of the People, he prays for the Vindication of his own Honour in those Words, and not their Happiness John 17:21. These are some of those Arguments, which I apprehend clearly prove the limited Extent of Christ’s Death, and the certain Salvation of all such for whom he died. — The Objections unto this Point, shall in the second Part be attended to, and I doubt not, but under divine Assistance, this Doctrine may be defended, from all just: Exceptions, how much soever the Force of some particular Objections may be boasted of, by those who be the Authors of them.