02.02.06. Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Contains Answers to the Absurdities charged on the Opinion of the limited Extent of CHRIST’s Death, and a Vindication of Calvin from a Misrepresentation

LIMBORCH charges the Doctrine of the particular Extent of the Death of Christ, with several Absurdities, from which, I shall here attempt to vindicate that important Truth.

Absurd. 1. All to whom Christ is revealed, art bound to believe, that he died for them: If therefore he died not for all Men, they are obliged to believe a Falshoodf43.

Answ. 1. If this was admitted, it would not prove, that Christ died for all Men; because he is not revealed to all Men by a great Number. The Obligation to believe, cannot exceed in Compass, the Extent of the Revelation of Christ, and since that is not universal, but limited, it is impertinent, to argue from a particular Obligation, to an universal Conclusion, in which, all Men are included, as well those not under the Obligation, as those that are under it.

2. It is certain not only, that all Men to whom Christ is revealed, ought to believe that he died for them, but it is equally certain, that they cannot disbelieve it, if he died for all Mankind: The Reason is most evident, in Order to a Belief of an Interest in his Death, no more is necessary, than understanding, this very plain Proposition, Christ died for every Man without Exception, and Mens allowing themselves, to be of the human Species, of which they cannot doubt, without falling into a strange Delirium, and losing the proper Exercise of their Reason: Hence it appears, that the full Assurance of Faith, is no extraordinary Attainment. Upon this Principle, it must necessarily be allowed, that a Persuasion of an Interest in a suffering Redeemer, is not proper to Believers, for it is, and must be in such, who are unregenerate. And therefore why, the Faith of primitive Christians, and of the Martyrs since, as consisting in a Persuasion, of an Interest in the Death of Christ, should be accounted a great Favour, no Reason can be assigned: For the most wicked Man upon the Earth, who hears the Gospel, has the same evident Foundation, for such a Confidence, as they had.

3. That all Men who hear the Gospel, are bound to believe in Christ, I humbly apprehend, is not very easy of Proof. They are indeed obliged to various Things, in consequence of enjoying the great Advantage, of a Revelation from God. They ought to search the Scriptures, and that diligently. It is their Duty to meditate upon the Scriptures, and use their Powers of Reasoning, in the best Manner they are able, in order to discover their true Meaning and Sense: They are not to enquire into the Modus, of the mysterious Things therein revealed, and embrace or reject the Doctrines of the Word of God, either as they can comprehend them, or as they exceed the narrow Limits of their shallow, and imperfect Understandings. The Part which Multitudes act, of this Nature, must one Day be accounted for. Again they ought to pray to God for Direction, in the reading of his holy Word. Farther they will be found inexcusable, in an awful Time approaching, in neglecting to hear the Gospel, and for a Disregard to the Worship of God. Moreover as Opposition to the Truths, and Interest of Christ greatly heightens their Guilt, and will increase their Punishment hereafter. But that they are obliged, to believe in Christ, and take him as theirs, without, or prior to a Conviction of their Need of him, and of his Suitableness to their Condition, as Creatures lost, miserable, and helpless, is much questioned, and I think, as yet wants Proof. The common, and external Revelation of Christ, obliges not, to special; but a common, and historical Faith, agreeable to the Nature of the Revelation: A special Revelation of Christ, obliges in a special Faith in him, which as I conceive supposes these Things.

1. A Sinner by the Infusion of divine Light sees himself to be guilty, vile, and without any spiritual Strength.

2. That he is condemned by the righteous Law of God, and that his Condemnation, is strictly just.

3. That he is obnoxious to inconceivable, and endless Penalty, for his numerous Sins.

4. That he cannot, by any means, deliver himself from Wrath, and secure his future Welfare.

5. He views Christ to be the only Saviour, and his Mind is furnished with delightful Ideas, of his infinite Merit, everlasting Righteousness and Strength. He discovers incomparable Beauties, and Excellencies in his Person, and beholds that Riches unsearchable, and ever durable, are lodged in his Hand, for the Supply of the Wants, of such needy indigent Creatures, as he now sees himself to be. In a Word, he is fully convinced, that such an high Priest, and gracious Redeemer, as Christ: is, becomes him.

6. On this special Revelation of the blessed Jesus in him, he stands obliged, to put forth Acts of special Faith, Hope and Love, towards Christ, for it seems reasonable, to suppose, that this additional and superadded Light, to the external Revelation in the Word, obliges to new Duties, which are suited to the Nature of this superadded Revelation. And what those Duties, arising from such a Revelation should be, unless those just now expressed, it may prove very difficult to shew, And therefore I cannot but conclude, that Men to whom the Gospel is barely preached, or without the Supperaddition of an internal Revelation, are not obliged to a special and supernatural Faith.

Absurd. 2. If Christ died not for all Men, then no Man, when Christ is preached to him, can be certain, that he is bound to believe in him, which is most absurd (Ibid.),

Answ. Every Man is bound to believe, according to the Nature and Degree of the Revelation made to him. The external Revelation in the Word, is of itself insufficient to convince Men of their Need of Christ, and to furnish their Minds with an experimental Knowledge of Christ’s Glory and Suitableness as a Saviour: And therefore, it follows not from the Nature and Degree of this external Revelation, that Men must know themselves bound to believe in Christ, or to put forth supernatural Acts: The Things revealed, are supernatural: But the Mode of the Revelation, is natural, and obliges not to acts above Nature.

Absurd. 3. Then no Man wilt be condemned for Incredulity (Ibid.)

Answ. Men will be condemned, for not yielding such an Assent to the Gospel Revelation, as the Nature of it requires: Thus the Jews were; and all other Opposers of it, under what Pretences soever, will find their Punishment increased, as their Guilt is aggravated and heighten’d by an Opposition to it. A special and internal Revelation of Christ, fails not to produce a Supernatural Faith: Hence those, who are the Subjects of it, are passed from Death to Life, and shall not come into Condemnation. Such who enjoy it not, are not obliged from the Nature of that Revelation, which is afforded to them, to this special Faith.

Absurd. 4. Baptism is a sealing of the Covenant of Grace, and may be only administered to such, who are in that Covenant: If Christ died not for all Men, then those, who only make a Profession of Faith, may not be baptized: God and Christ could not require their Baptism, for they not being in the Covenant it cannot be sealed to them (Ibid.).

Answ. Baptism is not a Seal to the Covenant of Grace, that only is, or can be a Seal to this Covenant, by which it is confirmed; and that ALONE is the Blood of Christ: This Covenant therefore hath not, or can have any other Seal, than his most precious Blood. Again, if all Men are in the Covenant of Grace, why do not all Men partake of the Benefits therein promised? Its Mercies are sure, and all its Promises are yea and Amen, to the Glory of God by Jesus Christ: And therefore, never was that Man in the Covenant of Grace, whether he be the Son of Abraham, or the Son of Pharoah, who partakes not of ALL the Blessings promised in that Covenant. Before I conclude this Chapter, I shall vindicate Calvin from a Misrepresentation, which the Author of the Ruin and Recovery of Mankind, gives of his Sentiments, relating to the Extent of Christ’s Death. He represents it as the Opinion of Calvin, that Christ died for all Men, and produces several of his Comments on divers Texts of Scripture, to support that Representation. In Answer to which, I observe as Spanhemius does, its no Wonder, if before the Controversy arose he wrote with less Guard, on this Subject. I add, that if his general Expressions in those Comments, are to be interpreted of all Men, and that, if at the Time of his writing those Comments, he was of Opinion, that the Extent of Christ’s Death is universal; it is evident he afterwards changed his Sentiments, in this Point, on farther Enquiry: His Note on 1 John 2:2. is a full Proof of this: A Part of which Note, this Gentleman presents the Reader with, but suppresses that Part of it, which acquaints us with the real Sentiments of that great Reformer, on this Subject: The Truth is, a more partial, unfair, and disingenuous Quotation of an Author, to serve a Turn, will not soon be met with: I can hardly allow myself to think that the Gentleman, whom I have Reason to believe, is the Author of this Book, would descend to so low a Piece of Artifice to gain Countenance to his own Opinion; I should rather imagine that he took it from Mr. Baxter, as it stands in his Catholic Theology, but that I observe some small Variation from his Manner of quoting it. However, it is certain, when Calvin wrote this Note, he no more believed that Christ died for all Men to save them, than he believed, that he died for Devils; for he says expressly, under the Term all, Reprobates are not comprehended The Reader may please to take a View of his Note entire, and he then will see, that Calvin’s Opinion was, Christ died for the Elect and Church of God only. The Note runs thus, not for ours only: This he adds for illustrating or enlarging his Subject, that Believers might really be persuaded, that the Expiation effected by Christ, is extended to all who receive the Gospel by Faith. But here a Question is moved, how the Sins of the whole World can be expiated? I omit the Ravings of frantic Men, who admit, with this Pretence, all REPROBATES, yea, and Satan himself to Salvation. This monstrous Figment is unworthy of any Refutation. Some to avoid this Absurdity, have said Christ suffered sufficiently for the whole World, but effectually for the Elect alone, This Solution commonly obtains in the Schools, although I confess this to be true, yet I deny it agrees to this Place. The Design of John was no other, than to shew, this is a Benefit common to the whole Church. Therefore under the Term all he includes not REPROBATES; but he designs those, who as they believed, were also dispersed through various Parts of the World. For then is the Grace of Christ truly illustrated, as it is meet it should be, when it is published as the Salvation of the Worldf44. This Gentleman favours the Reader only with this imperfect Part of Calvin’s Note: How can the Sins of the whole World be expiated? Some have said Christ suffered sufficiently for the whole World, but effectually for the sins of the Elect alone; this is the common Solution of the Schools, and though I confess this to be true, yet I don’t think it agrees to this Place (Page 237.). Was ever any Author more unfairly quoted, to serve a Turn in a Point of Controversy? I am of Opinion, that the Reader wilt think with me, no Author can well be cited in a more partial Manner. The true Sentiments of Calvin, are entirely kept from View; if they had been brought to Light, the Reader would have seen, that by the general Terms, he makes Use of in some other of his Comments on several Texts, he did not intend that Christ died for REPROBATES, or if he did then so intend, that he had now changed his Sentiments in this Matter. Thus we see, that a Gentleman of great Ingenuity, in Heat of Controversy, may be guilty of very great Unfairness and Partially, in the Citation of an Author, whom he is desirous to represent as a Favourer of his own Opinions.