Gods Decree is Not the Cause of Any Mans Sin or Condemnation

To all that wait for salvation by Jesus Christ▪ Grace and peace from God.

W Hereas we formerly in a little treatise / entitled a Declaration off Faith, of English people remaining at Amsterdam, have in the fifth Article in short set down our faith / of Election and Reprobation, concerning salvation and condemnation: there having been some eprivate opposition since we writ it / the love of God and unto his truth constraineth us to speak thus much more as we are able / for the mainteynance of this clear light of truth / that God hath not in his eternal decree appointed some particular men to be saved: and some particular men to be condemned and so hath redeamed but some: But that Christ is given a ransom for all men, yea even for the wicked, that bring swift damnation upon themselves, denying the Lord that hath bought them. 2. Pet. 2.1, It may and will seem straing that we of all others should take in hand to deny in a cause of so great controversy / and so deep a mystery: to which we answer / that it concerns us as much as any / and therefore though we be not so able as we desire we were / yet because we ought we are ready to show ourselves willing with the best ability we have: and in that it is a deep mystery / (as the whole truth of God is) the more need had we to search into i • : that by the grace of God we might find the depth of it / so far as God hath revealed in his word / as all men ought to do. And we pray the Godly Reader not to be deceived by that old deceit of the mystery of iniquity / the man of sin which is / to persuade / that it is to high a point / and to deep a mystery for thee to enter into / for by this deceit hath the mystery of iniquity prevailed / and doth to this day prevail / with thousands / and ten-thousands not to search into any part off the Scriptures at all.

But to rest upon the faith of the Church: and though many (blessed be God) be broken out from that depth of darkness / yet they are not come to that clear fountain of light / to know / profess / and practice / that the Lord doth require at their hands to search into and know / his whole truth / revealed in the scriptures. And for this mystery in had / let it be plain unto the that if thou oughest to know that a Savior is sent / then thou oughest also to know to whom he is sent: and if thou think to satisfy thyself in that thou knowest he is sent a savior to thee / therein dost thou not seek the glory of God / nor the good of thy brother / and then the love of God is not in thee. Therefore cast away all excuse / and apply thy heart / withal care full diligence / and faithful uprightness / to search / and find out the depth of this high point and mystery / that thou mayest give glory to God / for sending his son a Savior for all Men.

And so praying the God of light to make this truth also to break forth and increase amongst you / as (blessed be his name) it hath done / and doth daily break forth and increase / in these partes / and that amongst them / which yourselves accomt best reformed Churches. We require thy loveing patience to bear with our wants / and thy conscionable consideration of that which is spoken to the / from the word of God / whose Spirit be upon thee / Amen.

AMonge the rest of the fearful works of the mystery of iniquity, this is not the least (if not the greatest) that men seduced by Satan, & sin (through ignorance) are grown to that hight off evil, as they do call the Creator (who is a Spirit) to account: & they will have a natural reason off all his works. And to come to one particular, they will have a reason how sin came, & who or what was the first cause thereof? the word off God cannot restrain these men, they will not be kept within the bounds thereof: But they will enter into the secret counsels off God, & by their vanie Philosophy, measuring God's thoughts by their thoughts & his ways by their ways, they will find out a cause off sin before the World was: & finding that the Almighty hath decreed all things that come to pass, & that off him, & through him all things are, they will & do conclude most blasphemously that God hath foredecreed that sin should come to pass: & not content to stay thenselves here, they run on with an high hand, & because they see sin enters by actiō, & that God is the moving cause off all things. For in him we live / and move / and have our being. Act. 17.28. These men by their natural art, & from their harts that are carnal, must, & do necessarily conclude that God is the moving cause in the action off sin. But yet by the craste & subtiltye off Sathā who lieth in wait hereby to deceive under a culler, they say that God is not the author off sin, nor actor off sin: But he is the author & actor off every action, & they Will have God's providence in every action, although the action be sinful, but not God's providence in the sin off the action, as in Adams eating off the forbidden 〈…〉 , & moving cause in the action off eating, but not in the sin, not seeing that that action was the sin.

Thus do they walk by their own ymaginations and intents deceiving, & being deceived pretending not to lay sin upon God, when (indeed & in truth) they directly make God the author off sin. Our best thoughts off them is, that they do it ignorantly: the Lord give them harts to repent all whose conversions should be the joy off our souls.

To deal in this high point & mistery off godliness who more unfit then we: & to deal with these men off all we are most unfit: but yet to show ourselves Faithful with that talent that God hath given us, we have through the grace off God taken in hand to do our best service unto the Lord herein, hopeing off his assistance & acceptāce

And first thus much to these their reasons & conclusions, to show wherein we differ from them, & they digress From the truth.

We confess that God hath decreed all the good that cometh to pass, & that off him, & through him are all good thinghs: & that the Lord is the author, actor, & moving cause in, & to every good action: & that his providence is in every good action. (But God hath not decreed that any evil should come to pass: neither is he the author, actor, or moving cause, to, or in, any evil action: neither is his providence over, or in, any action, wherein is evil. I am. 1.13—18. Al these forealleged reasons, & collections, (& how many mo we know not) are brought to maintain that Faire glorious deceiving opinion off particular Election, & particular reprobation, & so off particular Redemption: which (to speak to the understanding off the simplest) is, that God hath out off his eternal decree & will, especially chosen & appointed some particular mē to be saved, & they off necessity must be saved; & out off his own Fore purpose & will, he hath cast away some to be daned which he would not should be saved, & they of necessity must be damned: & so hath particularly redeamed some, & left others to perish,

To conclude, & utterly destroy, under one ground off truth, a these & all other distinctions, conclusions, & devices produced to maintain this opinion, we will (by the grace off God) take the most plain, easy, and short way that by the direction off his Spirit, our harts can device, which is a way most fitting our own capacities, & (we hope) will be most profitable for the vprigt hearted reader.

And to proceed to this, we will first set down what is the cause off condemnation, & that is shown in these words off the Apostle. Rom, 5.12. Death entered by sin & verse 18. by Offence the fault came on all men to condemnation. Whereby it is proved, that Syn / is the cause off cōdamnation, which all will grant that know God. And all that fear God might grant here & seek no Further, that iff sin be the cause off condemnation. then God's decree is not the cause, this we know will not give satisfaction. But to give full satisfaction, we must seek to find out, who, or what, is the first cause off sin, and this must be found out, by the first sin in the first sinner. In the which passage (by the grace off God) we will labor, withal our poor endeavors to show, that the Almighty hath cleared himself, by his word & works. That he did not decree, nor was the author, actor, nor moving cause, in, or to the first sin, & then off no sin, which being proved, we hope it will appear unto all, that do not either willingly, or necligētly shut their eyes, that no man is condemned because God hath decreed him to condemnation: man's sin being the cause off condemnation, as is proved, & the Holy one being no cause off man's sin.

To prove that God did not decree, nor was the author actor, nor moving cause in, or off the action off sin, let us be guided by the holy word & works off God, both which. will prove this so evidently, as it shall never be gain said with any cullor or show off truth.

First then to come to a due consideration off God's work in the Creation off Adam▪ which though all men know, yet it should appear few do thoroughly consider off.

God Created him a perfect man / according to his own image and likeness. Gen. 1.26.27. in righteousness and true Holines. Ephes. 4.24. Giveing him free power over his own will, as is proved when he saith. Thou shalt eat freely of every tree of the gardē. Gen. 2.16. But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil / thou shalt not eat of it: For whensoever thou eatest thereof / thou shalt die the death. Thus giving him free power over his own will & body, to eat, or not to eat, yet the Lord restraning him off the forbid̄ Fruit by his commandment, & threatening judgment, but not by his omnipotent power.

This perfect Holy work off God: & this perfect Holy word off God, doth show not to be gain-said, that God did not decree Adam should sin: & then was God no author, actor, nor moving cause in, or off the action off sin.

In that we purpose not (because we think we have no need) to stand upon any otherground, for the whole trial off this great & weighty cause, we will strive to make it as plain, as possibly we can by God's assistance that in these few words it is proved that God decreed not that Adam should sin, thus then we proceed.

It is proved here that God gave Adam free-will & power to eat, or not to eat, & this all men do confess, how then can it be said, with any Spiritual understanding, that God decreed he should sin: For God's fore counsel & decree, must off necessity come to pass, as the Propheth David showeth. Psal. 33.11. The Counsels of the Lord shall stand forever: and the thoughts off his heart throughout all ages.

The Lord cannot be prevented by men or Angels. but what in his Eternal decree before all beginnings he hath decreed, it must off necessity come to pass: Now therefore it could not be the decree off God, that man should sin, seeing that God gave him Fre-will & power not to have sinned: & iff man had not sinned, as it was in his own free choice, then God's decree had been prevented, which cannot be. Therefore off necessity it must need be yielded, that God did not decree that man should sin, except any will deny, that mā had not free will: & that were to speak directly & plainly against the Holines off God, which though men do, (in maintaining this opinion, that God hath appointed off his own will, some to condemnation) yet they do it under a cullor.

Is it not then plain, that everyone that hath an eye, may see. That to give Adam a Free will not to sin, & an Eternal decree off God that man should sin: can never stand together in the Almighty / that is one and the same / with whom there is no variableness / neither shadow of turning. jam. 2.17. Can men make Freedom & bondage in one & the same action, all in one man, & all at one time, how shall men be able with any good conscience to make things so contrary hang together.

Moreover we see the Lord, by his commandment commanded Adam that he should not sin, & will any notwithstanding this, say that it was God Eternal purpose & will, that Adam should sin: doth God command any thing against his Eternal will. In the fear off God let men take heed how they go about (by subtle arguments) to prove God contrary to himself, which they Plainly do, when they say, it was the eternal will off God that man should sin, & yet God commands he should not sin.

Thus doth it appear by the excellent, perfect, & holy work off God in man's Creation, that God hath freed himself From decreing that Adam should sin: as also by his holy word, in that he cōmaunds him not to sin, & lays death before his eyes for a judgment, iff he sinned What could the Lord do more for Adam then he hath done, He made him a perfect mā, in righteousness & true holiness: he blessed him, & gave him his commandment with power & ability in himself to keep it. And will mē for all this say, that God decreed he should sin, & be condemned, or that God was any actor, author, or moving cause in, or to his sin.

And iff men will deny, & say, they do not hold, that God hath decreed: or was the author, actor, or moving cause in Adams sin: then let them also deny that their opinion that God hath decreed, any man especially, to condemnation: For iff God decreed not man to sin, then God decreed not man to condemnation, in that sin is the cause off condemnation: For iff sin had not been, there had been no condemnation.

This then is the decree off God concerning condemnation, that God decreed, that iff man sinned he should die the death: but God in no wise decreed that man should sin, as we have shown both by the word off God, & by the works off God, which we wish mē to hold them unto, iff they will still contradict, & not run after vain inventions.

We will now set down the fairest deceiving show, that all the contrary minded have for their opiniō: that God hath decreed & appointed some to condemnatiō, & they must be condemned, making God's decree the cause off their condemnation: But let it always be remembered, that it is proved by the word off God, that sin is the cause off condemnation, & not God's decree.

This is thē the whole substance off that they say. That God hath decreed to forsake & leave those that he hath appointed to condemnation, to themselves, & with holdeth his grace from them, leaving them to sin, & so to perish for their sin, we will not put thē to prove this because we know they cannot, but we will show by the mercy off God that it is an old conceived ymagination, & hath no ground off truth.

In this their feigned ground we must understand thē that they hold that God leaves, & forsakes man first. And this we have utterly disproved already in that we have shown & proved that God did not leave Adam first, who was the first that fell under condemnation: By whose Offence the fault came on all men to condemnation: This will seem straing (but let God have the glory) that God hath decreed no man's condemnation no otherwise then he decreed Adams, For both God's mercy, & his justice in all things & particularly concerning salvation & condemnation is one & the same to all man-kind as it was to Adam after his fall: For God's decree was before the World was,

To make this plain, & so by the grace off God to make an end off all: Lett us consider with holy & upright harts, & with willingness to be informed From the Word off God, by the meanest earthen vessel that God shall strr up For the witnessing off any parte off his truth. Lett us I say consider, the estate off Adam affter his Fall.

First he was Fallen, & by him all man-kind. Roman. 5.12, 18. Under the condemnation which God had pronounced against him. Genes. 2.17. And can any man device or imagine, that any off his posterity, who were yet all in his loins, and had not yet sinned: affter the same manner off transgression, were fallen Further under the Condemnation off God then he: It could not be that any should: Although it may be that some may imagine that they did fall further But it could not be that any should fall further under the decree off condemnation then he, in that he fell under the depest judgment off God's decree off condemnacion, which God had, or hath declared by his word: For we know no deeper decree off judgment then the decree off condemnation, & under this was Adam fallen: And this went over him, & over all by his transgression.

When Adam was thus fall̄, & had off his own Freewil first forsaken God, did God yet leave him? No: such was the mercy off God (everlasting glory & praise be given to his name) as he would not yet leave Adam, but gives him Freely off his own grace, deliverance by the promised seed Gen. 3.15. And as the Apostle hath shown Rom. 5.12.—21. That by Adams sin the fault came on all to condemnation, so doth he in the same Chapter & verses equally show, with equal like words & reasons, yea with the self same words & reasons: that as by the offense off one (that was Adam) the Fault came on all to condemnation: Even so by the justifying off one (that is Christ Jesus) the benefit abounded towards all men to the justification off life. That as sin reigned unto death, even so might grace also reign by righteousness unto Eternal life by Jesus Christ. How hath the Lord by the unspeakable evidence off his truth, proved to men's consciences that will believe his word, that he did not leave & forsake Adam, nor for his sin any mankind under that condemnation which by Adams offense went over all. But by grace in Christ, hath Freed Adam, & in him all man-kind From that sin off Adam.

To make it yet more plain, that as Adam was Freed From that sin, so all man-kind was Freed: And as the promise off Christ the promised seed was made & sent to Adam, evē so was he promised & sent to all the world for the same end, which was to save him, as the Lord showeth by his own words (iff he may be believed, & the Lord give men harts to believe him) John. 12.47 I came not to judge the World / but to save the world: And John. 3.17. God sent not his Son into the World that he should condemn the World / but that the World through him might be saved. Now let the Godly hearted Reader judge, whether the promised seed Christ was not promised & sent to all the world For the same end, for the which he was promised and sent to Adam, which was to save the World & as he was promised & sent for the same end to all the World as to Adam: So was he promised & sent under the same condition to all the World as he was promised and sent to Adam.

The Condition was, that Adam should believe, and under this same Condition was Christ promised and sent to all the World, as is shown by Christ's own words. joh. 12.46. I am come a light into the World / that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness. And joh. 3.16. God so loved the world / that he hath given his only begotten Son / that whosoever believeth in him should not perish / but have everlasting life. Where is now this conceived device that God should decree to leave & forsake some, that they might perish? Who hath told men off such a decree? that God hath or doth with hold his grace from any, & so leave them to sin and to perish for their sin: Where have they found it out & learned it so perfectly? The word off God hath not taught it them; And the works off God hath not shown it unto them thus to teach men: That the Lord's decrees and ways are unequal, either in his justice or in his mercy: as they do judge and teach, which judge and teach that God hath decreed (for Adams sin) to forsake and leave some, & to with-hold his grace from them, that they might perish: & hath decreed to save other some, by giving thē Grace. Whereby they would make the Lord more just to some then to other some in condemning: And more merciful to some then to other some in saveing, and all For one & the same Synne. The Lord complaynes off Israel, because they say his ways are unequal. Ezech. 18. The whole Chapter throw, showing them how unjustly they accused him in using that Proverb. The Fathers have eaten sower grapes / and the Children's feeth are set on edge. Charging the Lord herein, to punish the Child, For the Fathers Fault: And the Lord in that whole part off his word, even strives to prove his ways equal in punishing the soul that sinneth: And that the son not shall bear the iniquity off the Father. Saying Furthermore. That he hath no desire that the wicked should die / but that they should return and live.

And iff the Lord had great cause to complain off Israel For this so unjust accusation, which they laid upon him: how greater cause hath he to complain off all you / that charge him to have condemned all the souls that are condemned From the beginning off the World unto the end thereof For Adams sin. Sayinge, that God decreed to leave them under Adams sin: And not to give them a Savior: And to with-hold his grace that they might perish, making Adams sin the cause off all their condemnation: For it being the cause that the Lord doth leave & forsake them, it is then the cause off their condemnation. And under this condemnation, to bring so many thousands off millions off poor infants that die before they have done good or evil. Rom. 9.11. As he Holy Ghost testifieth, to be be their condition. And our Savior Christ. Luke 18.16. in commendation off the condition & quality off Babes, saith. Suffer the Babes to come unto me / for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. And Matt. 18 3. Except ye be converted and become as little Children / ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. & verse. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself / as this little Child / the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. In all this showing, that the Children off Christ's Kingdom must be off such humble quality & condition as infants: & I hope none will deny, but all infants are off one quality & condition, even the infants off the Turks. Our Savior Christ speaks off all infants generally: & will men yet judge some infants condemned.

And of such infants the Lord showeth his great compassion, when he saith to the Prophet Jonah. Jonah. 4.11. Should I not spare Nyneueh that great city: where are six score thousand persons / that cannot descerne between their right hand and their left / and also much Cattle? Whereby the Lord showeth that they had not sinned, neither were guilty off their Fathers sins. And will you yet charge the Lord to condemn so many infants, & all for Adams sin, are not your ways unequal thus to say & teach mē to hold & think off God. Doth the Lord say, that that soul that sinneth shall die: And dare men say, that the souls off infants shall die / who have neither done good nor evil. Upon these rocks, and many moe doth your opinion off particular redemptiō cast you: And little do you know the mystery off iniquity in this point. And who doth know the depth off the mystery off iniquity herein. Yet give us leave to show you some high degrees off the mystery off iniquity in this your opinion.

First it makes God's decree / the cause off sin, & cōdēnation: & so makes God / the author & cause off condemnation, & sin, which is high blasphemy against the Holy one. And hereby is all the sin in the World, (that ever hath been, is, & shall be committed) laid upon God, which is high iniquity & the sin off sins.

Secondly it restraineth the love off God to the world, in giving his Son for a Savior: and whereas our Savior Christ saith John. 3.16 God so loved the World that he hath given his only begot̄ son / that whosoever believeth in him should not perish / but have eternal life. This opinion off particular redemptiō saith. That God did not so love the World, but he loved some few particular persons, as he gave his son for them, & they only shall beleve & shall be saved: & the greatest part off man-kind God loved them not, but hath decreed, they shall be damned, & he hath not given his Son for them, but hath left them to perish. Thus denying the greatest parte off the World, to have any means off salvation, & that there is no Savior for them. And so was it to no end, that our Savior Christ commanded his Disciples. Mark. 16.15. Go ye into all the world / and preach the Gospel to every Creature. And whereas our Savior Christ saith. Mat. 10.14.15. Into what City or Town ye enter / if they receive you not nor hear your words / shake of the dust of your feet: truly it shall be easier for them of the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment / then for that City. And were he also saith, John. 16.8. When the comforter cometh / he will reprove the world of sin / because they believed not in me. By all these places & all the gospel through-out showing, that their judgments shall be increased, that receive not Christ nor his word: And yet this lamentable opinion off particular Redemption and Reprobation saith they can have no part nor portion in Christ, so is their judgment enlarged for not receiving Christ, with whom they have nothing to do: & thus do they make Christ to offer himself to thē that he would not have receive him, & which he hath decreed shall not receive him, nor believe in him: & make the words off the Lord feigned words, & words off dissimulation, Deu. 5.29. Where he wisheth concerning all Israel. O that there were such an heart in them to fear me / and to keep all my commandments always / that it might go well with them / and with their Children forever. As also those words off our Savior Christ Luk. 13.34. Where he speaketh with such unfeigned earnestness. O Ierusalē Jerusalem / which killest the Prophets / and stonest them that are sent to thee / how often would I have gathered thy Children together / as the Hen gathereth hir brood under hir wings / and ye would not. What impiety is this to accompt these words feigned: & if any shall say they do not accompt them feigned, then must they be forced to confess that God would have had all Israel & all their posterity in uprightness off heart, to have Feared him, & kept his commandments, that it might have gone well with them For ever: & so did not decree any off them, nor off their posterity to be condemned, & iff our Savior Christ's words were not feigned words then would he have gathered the Children off Ierusalē together which would not be gathered: & so would have had them believe in him that would not. And yet they that hold this fearful opiniō, hold that God would not have some men, yea the most men to believe, but hath decreed their condemnation And though the holy ghost say Act, 17.30. That now God admonisheth all men everywhere to reap̄t. Yet they off this opinion that hold that God hath decreed to Reprobate some, say, he would not have all, but some to reap̄t. And if they would speak plainly, & not halt betwixt opinions, they must say that God would have some to be unbelievers, & wicked, and disobedient, & that were the highest blasphemy, it were above the wickedness off the Fool▪ that saith in his • ere their is no God. For it were to say there is a wicked God that hath decreed wickedness.

Furthermore this opinion doth exceedingly diminish & lessen, that great work off grace wrought by Christ's redemption, making Christ a particular private redeamer for some private men, whereby Christ is highly dishonored in that his great sufferings are not accounted sufficient to take away Adams sin, & so hath he not utterly broken, but only bruised the Serpents head, making Adams sin, to abound above the grace off God by Christ, overthrowing that word off God, Rom. 5.20. which saith. Where sin abounded grace abounded much more speaking off Adams sin.

Moreover this opinion, that God hath by his decree Elected some particularly to salvation, & that there neither is, nor ever was, nor ever can be condemnatiō unto them, works presumption in men, for iff mē cā but once get a perswation in thenselves, that God hath Elected them then they are secure, they need not work out their salvation with fear & trembling: For God having decreed thē to be saved, they must be saved, they need not fear: Iff they increase & grow in knowledge & grace, it is well but iff they do not it is all one, for it is decreed they must be saved, & this causeth all slothful careless, & negligent profession, & these are they which shall say we have by thy name prophesied / Cast out Devils / and done many great works. Mat. 7-22 We have eaten and drunk in thy presence / and thou haist taught in our streets: But for all their presumption, it shall be said unto them, I know you not / depart frō me all you workers of iniqujtie. Luk. 13.26.27.

And this opinion, that God hath decreed & rejected some to be damned, & that there neither is nor ever was salvation for them by Christ, (for they were as you say decreed to condemnation before Adam fell) makes some dispare utterly, as thinking there is no grace for them, & that God hath decreed their destruction: & it makes others desperately careless, holding that iff God have decreed they shall be saved, thē they shall be saved: & iff God have decreed they shall be damned, they shall be damned, & so in a desperate carelessness run head-long to destruction.

To conclude by this opinion, the Fal off Man (in respect off the world, which hereby is held not to be redeamed) is all one with the fall off the devils: & then the Gadarenes Mat. 8.29. Might have said with the devils. Jesus thou son of God what have we to do with thee. Here is all Faith in preaching the Gospel to the World distroyed: For what Faith can a man have to preach the Gospel to such as (by this opinion) he hath more cause to suspect that God hath decreed to condemnation then otherwise: & what faith can there be to preach the Gospel, when we know not whether Christ belong to thē or no: Al faith in praying one for another is overthrown, for how can a man off faith pray for any man, when he cannot know, whetheer God God have decreed him to condemnation, & so he pray against God decree. In deed & in truth holding this opinion, that God hath particularly by his decree, decreed some particular men to condemnation, & they cannot but be condemned, doth make that a man cannot have faith in his own salvation, for when he cannot have Faith in another man's salvation, that bringeth forth as good, or better Fruyts then himself, how should he have Faith in his own salvation, seeing he may as well fall away as any other, & can no more know God's decree concerning himself, then concerning another. And if a man's soul come to distress, betwixt fear & doubting, as the Holy Prophet David's did many times. In the 40. psalm he saith. My sins have taken such hold vpō me / that I am not able to look up: Yea they are no in number then the hairs of my head / therefore my heart hath failed me. Iff thou fall under such an estate & condition, (which the most Godly do) where shall be thy comfort In the mercies off God? Why, thou knowest not whether God have decreed to show mercy on thee or no: Wilt thou say thou knowest God hath decreed to show mercy on all that believe? so say we: but how knowest thou that God hath decreed that thou art one off those that shall believe seeing thou haist much more cause to fear thou art none off them: thou mayst imagine thyself to be one, but this opinion that God hath decreed some especially to be saved, & some particularly to be condemned, overthrows thy Faith utterly: For thou canst not certainly know it, & then thou canst not believe it. And let, this be well observed off all that have any understanding, or love off God's truth that this opinion sets Faith before knowledge, For thou must first believe that Christ is given a Savior for thee before thou canst know that he is a Savior for thee, which cannot be, that a man should believe that he knows not: For how shall they believe in him off whom they have not heard Roma. 10.14. And iff a man must first know that God hath sent his Son a Savior For him, before he can believe it, which iff men be not void off all religion, they must confess, then lett the mystery off iniquity the man off sin himself devise (whose device this particular redemption is) how any man shall know by the word off God that Christ is given a Savior For him, but by knowing that he is given a Savior for all men, except he can show his name especially set down in the Word. They that see not this (let it not offend) are blind & cannot see at noon day. These are some off the Fearefull proper Fruyts off this opinion, That God hath decreed some particular men to salvation, & they cannot but be saved, & some particular men to be damned, & they must be damned and cannot be saved, because God hath decreed their condemnation, And thus Far off that.

Now will we endeavor to show what understanding God hath given us in this high mystery & great work off Redemption, & iff we can prove by plain evidence off Scripture, that Christ by his death & sufferings hath redeamed all men, then is this whole cause at an end.

And First to prove that the first promise concerning Christ was general to all it is evident. Gen▪ 3.15 Where the promise off Christ is made off Adam & Hevah, which were all mankind, & in whom were all mankind in whom all had sinned, & for the takeing away off the condemnation due for that sin, Christ was there promised & given, & not for a parte which is Further proved. 1. John. 22 And he is a reconsiliatiō for our sins / (speaking off all the Faithful to whom he writ) and not for ours only / but also for the sins off the whole world / how is it possible that the holy ghost should speak more plainly, to show that Jesus Christ is a reconsiliation for the Faithful which are not off the world, and For the unfaithful which are the World. Moreover. 2. Cor. 5.15. Thus reasoneth the Apostle to prove that all were dead, in that one was dead for all. That if one be dead for all then were all dead / and he died for all / and verse. 19. God was in Christ and reconsiled the world to himself not imputing their sins unto them. and 1. Tym 2.5.9. There is one God and one Mediator between God and man / the mā Christ Jesus / who gave himself a ransom for all mē. Thus we se, Christ is a reconsiliatiō for the sins off the Faithful, & not so only but also of the sins off the whole world: & that all were dead, & he is dead for all: & that God in Christ recōsiled the World to himself: & that Jesus Christ hath givē him self a ransom for all men. This might be sufficient to satisfy every upright heart, but let us yet see Further.

The Holy Ghost by the Apostle Peter. 2. Pet. 3.9. speaketh thus unto those Mockers which said where is the promise off his coming. The Lord of that promise is not slack (as some men count slackness) but is patiēt towards us / and would have no mā perish / but would all come to repentance. Here doth the Apostle show that it is not slackness in the Lord that he comes not to judgment, but it is his patience, & the reason off the lords patience is, because he would have no man to perish, but would all men come to repentance, therefore certainly he hath redeamed all▪ &. 1. Tym. 2.4. God will that all men shall be saved and come to thee acknowledging of the truth. Furthermore. Col. 2.20. and through peace made by that blood of that his cross / to reconsile to himself through him / through him I say / all things both which are in earth / and which are in Heaven.

What shall we need to allege any moe grounds of scripture to prove that Christ hath redeamed all men, & that he would have no man perish. These may suffice, oh that they might suffice what gladness should come to our souls to see men tractably minded to submit thenselves to the Word off truth which is so evident in this point: Far be it from any feareing God either off a Froward or necligent mind to pass by this great point, though hand led by so weak means, by reason off which exceeding weakness, we are not able to the full desire off our souls to discover the depth off the mystery off iniquity in this opinion off particular Election, & Reprobation, & so off particular Redemption: nor to show forth the great mystery off Godlines in the true & holy understanding off universal, or the general Redemption off all by Christ: yet let us in a few words show unto you how greatly the mercy of God towards mankind, is advanced by Christ's redeaming off all.

In that when man had off his own Fre will, (being tempted) yielded unto the temptation off the serpent, neclecting the comaundement off his God & Creator, & brought condemnation upon himself, & all mankind: God of his infinite mercy, would not leave Adam & in him all mankind to perish under that condemnation, but hath sent a Savior to redeame Adam & all mankind frō that sin showing himself equally merciful, & equally just unto all being no respecter of persons, not perdoning Adā & giving him a Savior▪ & condemning the greatest part of his posterity for that his sin: but hath givē his son a Savior For all, iff through unbelief they deprive not 〈7 letters〉 ves.

And what a comfortable doctrine is this unto all, whē every poor soul may know, that there is grace & salvation for him by Christ, & that Christ hath shedd his blood for him, that believing in him he may be saved, and that God would not the death off him, but that he should repent & live. Thus is all despair taken away, For the grace off God that bringeth salvation unto all men hath appeared. Tit. 2.11. And all careless presumption cut off. For he that will not believe shall be damned Mark. 16 16. & Revel. 2.25. That which ye have already hold fast til I come / for he that overcometh and keepeth my works to the end / to him will I give power over nations. and Heb. 3.14. We are made partakers of Christ if we keep sure unto the end that beginning wherewith we are upholden.

What gracious heart can ever disaprove off this understanding. That Christ hath redeamed all. It is most straing, that men fearing God shoule be so full off indignation against it, why should men think much, that Christ should be a Savior for all men, as well as for them, especially it being agreeable to the whole word off God, & being a doctrine that doth so magnify & set forth the mercy off God to all man kind, in giving a Savior, that all believing in him might be saved: as also advācing the justice off God, in condemning unbelievers seeing he hath left them without excuse, in that he hath given them a Savior, in whom because they believe not, they are justly condemned.

Much more might be said for the advancement of the great mystery off Godlines in this point off Christ's general redeaming off all men, but we especially desire that the true ground of the cause may prevail with you: & we doubt not the comfort will follow aboundātly. Iff we have in any thing led you from the first ground we have vttetly gone besides our purpose, for the some off all we purposed to speak, is this. That Adam having freewill, (which no man that knows God to be Holy, may deny) then God could not decree any man particularly to be saved, nor any man particularly to be condemned for life & death, salvation & condemnation were in the Freechoyce off Adam, & depended not upon God's decree, but upon Adams own will, in that God gave Adam power in & over himself, to choose life or death, not decreing him either to life or death: For iff God had decreed him either to life or death, then had his Freewil been taken away, For God's decree must needs come to pass: therefore this most easy & plain to be understood, that Adam having Free-will & power, not to have eaten off the Forbidden Fruyt, & so to have lived forever, God did not decree he should die: And Adam having Freewill & power in, & over himself to eat off the Forbidden Fruit & die, God did not decree that Adam should lyve. This then is the decree off God (as he hath declared in his word to Adā) Obey and live. Disobey and die. This is the Law off works, which Adam had Freewil & power in him self From God perfectly to keep, God not decreeing, (as we have shown) that he should obey or disobey, live or die. And let it be well observed, that all the decrees off God concerning life or death, to man & man-kind were made with Adam, & therefore we produce him for all. And we have shown that as Christ the promised seed was given & sent to Adam to be his Savior, for the same end he was givē & sent to all the world as also under the same cōditiō, which was that he should believe in him: for iff Adam had not believed, he must have been condemned, & iff all the world had not believed, all the world must have been condemned, & as Adā believing in the promised seed, was (though the Grace & mercy off God in Christ) to be saved, even so all the world believing in the promised seed was (through the grace & mercy off God in Christ) to be saved.

And whereas the Holy Ghost Roman. 5.14.15. Speaking off Infants, saith.

That death reigned also over them that sinned not after the like manner of thee transgression of Adam / the Grace off God / and gift by grace / which is by one man Christ Jesus hath abounded much more to thē. Hereby also is further confirmed that all infants are freed by the universal redemption off Christ From that condemnation, which you (by your opinion off particular redemption) would cast upon the most off them, as is also before shown,

What else hath been spoken, & hath the Word of God for warrant thereof, we earnestly beseech all that fear God, & love his truth, with the Holiest thoughts of their harts to consider off, and the Lord give you all understanding harts. And our harts desire and prayer to God for you all is, that you might be saved, & come to the acknowledging off the Truth.

It is a custom amongst men to conclude that free will must needs follow this understanding of universal redemption: and if there meaning were freewill in Christ / and that we have free power and ability through Christ / to work out our salvation / and that through Christ we are made able to every good work: such a freewill we hold: But that man hath any freewill or power in himself to work his own salvation / or to choose life / we utterly deny / having learned of Thappostli Ephes. 2.8.9. That by grace mē are saved through Faith, & that not off themselves, but off the gift off God not off works least any man should boast himself: But this grace of God (which is his mercy by Christ) hath God given to all / but all receive it not as appeareth. joh. 1.10.11. He was in the World, & the World knew him not. He came to his own, & his own received him not. And Act. 13.46. Paul and Barnabas pake boldly and said it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spokē unto you / but seeing you put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life / loe we turn to the Gentiles. And Stephen saith Act. 7.51. Ye stifenetked and of uncircumcised harts and earesryee have always resissed the holy Ghost.

Thus Christ offering himself / man hath power and doth reject Christ: Put the Word off God from him: Resist the Holy Ghost / and freely off his own will work his own condemnation: But he hath no power at all to work his own salvation: And so much only to clear ourselves from that gross and fearful error of freewill / from the which the Lord in great mercy hath freed us.