Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

manifefted God's name; who had kept his word; to whom Chrift had given the words which the Father gave him; who had known furely that Chrift came forth from the Father. All this the reader

and 8 verfes of this

fees expreffed in the 4, 5, 6, 7, chapter. Were these all, that, were given to Chrift in the covenant of redemption, the whole of this fpiritual feed? if they were, their number is very fmall. The whole number of those to whom Chrift perfonally miniftered, did not amount to a hundred. And it is as plain as any thing can be made by language, that these were the perfons whom the Father gave to him, and for whom he more efpecially prayed. It appears undeniably plain, that the persons, for whom Chrift specially prayed, in this xvii. chap. of John, were his immediate disciples and a few others, who were often with him, heard, and believed in him.

How Mr. S. could call thefe the perfons who were given to Chrift in the covenant of redemption, meaning the whole that were thus given to him, as he evidently does, is unaccountable. What fhall we think of it? If Mr. S. had never read the fcriptures, and were but fuperficially acquainted with divine. fubjects; we could eafily find fome apology, even for fo great a miftake. But for a man born in a christian land; a profeffor of chriftianity; for a preacher of chriftian religion; to be guilty of fo great a mifrepresentation of the special objects of our Sav-, iour's prayers in the xvii. chap. of John! Charity,

thou

thou brighteft gem in the chriftian crown! thou wilt overlook and cover it.

But, my kind reader, we have a harder task for charity yet. Mr. S. exprefsly affirms that Chrift does not even intercede for the world, for they hate him and his people. Read vs. 20, 21, 22, and 23. "Neither pray I for thefe alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou haft fent me. And the glory which thou haft given me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them and thou in me, that they may be made per. fect in one ; and that the world may know that thou baft fent me, and haft loved them as thou hast loved Here we have exprefs and repeated prayers of Chrift for the world; and the matter of his interceffion for the world is, that the world may believe that God hath sent him; and that the world may know that God hath fent him, and that God hath loved Chrift's disciples, and all that fhall believe on Christ through the word of his difciples, as God hath loved Chrift himself. Here then we have, not a grofs mifrepresentation only, but fomething affert ed directly contrary to exprefs fcripture.

me."

I will recommend to Mr. S. to read the 2d. v. of the 4th chap. of 2 Cor. "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiaess, nor bandling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifeftation

L

of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's confcience in the fight of God."

If these are the arts, by which the doctrine of eternal mifery is to be fupported, and reconciled with the infinite benevolence of God; I can truly fay, I wish not to employ them.

I now leave this xvii. chapter of John, to be diligently and prayerfully perused by the reader; and I wish him fuccefs in his enquiry after trath.

The commiffion our Saviour gave his apoftles is conceived in very univerfal terms, Matt, xxviii. 19 "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft." Thefe words feem too general, if the falvation of the Gofpel were defigned for but a part of mankind.

Mark xvi. 15- ་ And he faid unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gofpel to every creature." What is gofpel? good news. What is meant by every creature? all men. Then the direction of our Saviour is literally this; Goye, my apoftles, into every part of the world, and communicate good news to all men.

Whether this direction of our Saviour be moft confiftent with a partial, or with a univerfal, election and defignation to the enjoyment of the falvationof the gofpel; let reafon, iet common sense, let candor and ingenuity determine. Our Saviour proceeds to flate the terms and conditions, upon which those who heard the gospel fhould enjoy fal

vation,

vation. "He that believeth, and is baptized, fhall be faved; but he that believeth not fhall be damned.”

On the hypothefis, that the falvation of the gofpel was originally defigned for a part of mankind only; how is it reconcileable with fincerity and good faith, that the gospel fhould be preached to all men, and that the conditions of enjoying its falvation fhould, at the fame time, be ftated before all men? The gospel is not only to be preached to all men; but the conditions of enjoying falvation are general and unlimited. He that believeth, and is

Every one who believeth,

baptized, fhall be faved." and is baptized, fhall be faved. If a hundred malefactors fhould have news brought to them, from the prince, or governor, that if they would humbly confefs their crimes, and return to a loyal and virtuous course, they should be pardoned and reftored to favor; but if they remained obftinately difobedient to the offer of mercy, they fhould be condemned: when, at the same time, it was decidedly determined by the prince, or governor, that but a part of those malefactors fhould ever be benefited by the news, or the offer of grace: would this conduct of the prince, or governor, be confidered as confiftent with honor and fincerity?

This direction of our bleffed Saviour, that his gofpel fhould be preached to all men; and that the conditions of falvation fhould be stated in the most gen

eral

eral and indefinite terms; is a demonftration that he never thought of a partial election to falvation.

Another paffage of fcripture, declarative of the universality of the falvation of the gospel, and consequently of the divine benevolence, is Luke, ii. 8-14, "And there were in the fame country fhepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord fhone round about them; and they were fore afraid, And the angel faid unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all peo ple. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord. And this fhall be a fign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in fwaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. And fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hoft praifing God, and faying, Glory to God in the higheft, and on earth peace; good will towards men."

Now let fyftem, and prejudicate opinions be laid entirely afide; and let us, with minds free and unbiassed, look on this paffage of fcripture, in order to find its real meaning,

Jefus is born in Bethlehem of Judea. An angel appears to the fhepherds, whilft tending their flocks; at the fame time a celeftial and divine radiance illumined all the place, The fhepherds are difmayed and astonished. The angel difpels their fear, and bids them be of good confidence; and immediately

announces

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »