A SHORT AND PLAIN proof by the Word/ and works off God/ that God's decree is not the cause off any Man's sin or Condemnation. AND That all Men are redeemed by Christ. As also. That no Infants are Condemned.  Collos. 2.8. 
Beware lest there be any man that spople you through Philosophy/ and vain deceit.  Psal. 119, 113. 
I hate vain inventions: but thy Law do I love.  
Printed 1611.   

To the lady Bows, Grace, and wisdom, from above.  
WOrthy Lady, when I began to consider to whom I might best commend the care of this so great a cause; my heart could conceive of none so fit as you, & that for two causes & the third may not be wanting. The first is, because I know your faithful unfeigned love to God & his truth, & that in many things according to knowledge: The second because I know there is none in that Land that hath better means to procure a cause of religion, to be handled according to the judgement of the best: The third is the faithful reverend loveing respect I bear to you; & that from your own worthy deserts in the best things, & in all good unto me. I pray & beseech you by that love of God, that hath been in you of long time: (the which I wish may abound in you more & more) that you fail not my hopes herein which are: That you will either plainly see an upright consionable sound answer from the word of truth to this ground here propounded: or else give glory to God, & receive it for the blessed truth of God. The ground is easily & plainly set down, which is that God giving Adam free-will/ and power in himself not to eat of the forbidden fruit/ and live: or to eat/ and die/ could not in his eternal decree; ordain or appoint him to life, or death, for than had his free-will been overthrown: & if Adam had not eaten & sinned (which was to his own power) then had not death entered: Therefore God did not decree that death should enter: & then God's decree is not the cause of any man's condemnation. I now pray you Lady, with all the love off my soul ' entertain this great cause off God, into your thoughts, & let it take up your best meditations, that good thereby being produced, you may still be an instrument to advance the gospel off jesus Christ: & you shallbe sure off an high recompense off reward at the hands off the most high in heaven, & your remembrance shallbe blessed among the Saints upon earth, Thus praying the Lord to bless you, and to give you his holy Spirit with a gracious, wise, understanding heart, to descorne a right the things that differ. I take leave▪ withal the grace & faithful honesty off my heart, (as I have cause) desiring your best good.  
Tho: Helwys. june 2. 1611.  Psal. 111.2. 
The works of the Lord are great, & aught to be sought out off all them that love them.   

To all that wait for salvation by jesus Christ▪ Grace and peace from God.  
WHereas 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 redeemed 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 straying 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 practise/ 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 Saviour 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 saviour 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 mayst give glory to God/ for sending his son a Saviour 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 parts/ and that amongst them/ which yourselves accomt best reform Churches. We require thy loving 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.   

Among 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 Gods 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 themselves here, they run on with an high hand, & because they see sin enters by action, & 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 hearts that are carnal, must, & do necessarily conclude that God is the moving cause in the action off sin. But yet by the craft & subtlety off Satan who lieth in wait hereby to deceive under a colour, 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 Adam's 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 imaginations 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 hearts to repent all whose conversions should be the joy off our souls.  
To deal in this high point & mystery off godliness who more unfit than we: & to deal with these men off all we are most unfit: but yet to show ourselves Faithful with that talon that God hath given us, we have through the grace off God taken in hand to do our best service unto the Lord herein, hoping off his assistance & acceptance  
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. jam. 1.13— 18. All these forealleged reasons, & collections, (& how many more we know not) are brought to maintain that Fair 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 men 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 redeemed 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 hearts can device, which is a way most fitting our own capacities, & (we hope) willbe most profitable for the uprigt hearted reader.  
And to proceed to this, we will first set down what is the cause off condemnation, & that is showed in these words off th'apostle. Rome, 5.12. Death entered by sin & vers 18. by Offence the fault came on all men to condemnation. Whereby it is proved, that Sin/ is the cause off condemnation, which all will grant that know God. And all that fear God might grant here & seek no Further, that if 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 labour, withal our poor endeavours 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 necligently 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 colour 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 Holiness. Ephes. 4.24. Giving him free power over his own will, as is proved when he saith. Thou shalt eat freely of every tree of the garden. 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 forbidden Fruit by his commandment, & threatening judgement, but not by his omnipotent power.  
This perfect Holy work off God: & this perfect Holy word off God, doth show not to be gainsaid, 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 than 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 Gods fore counsel & decree, must off necessity come to pass, as the Propheth David showeth. Psal. 33.11. The Counsels of the Lord shall stand for ever: 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 Frewil & power not to have sinned: & if man had not sinned, as it was in his own free choice, than 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 man had not free will: & that were to speak directly & plainly against the Holiness 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 colour.  
Is it not then plain, that every one 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 wil 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 commands him not to sin, & lays death before his eyes for a judgement, iff he sinned What could the Lord do more for Adam than he hath done, He made him a perfect man, in righteousness & true holiness: he blessed him, & gave him his commandment with power & ability in himself to keep it. And will men 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 if men will deny, & say, they do not hold, that God hath decreed: or was the author, actor, or moving cause in Adam's sin: then let them also deny that their opinion that God hath decreed, any man especially, to condemnation: For if God decreed not man to sin, than God decreed not man to condemnation, in that sin is the cause off condemnation: For if sin had not been, there had been no condemnation.  
This then is the decree off God concerning condemnation, that God decreed, that if man sinned he should die the death: but God in no wise decreed that man should sin, as we have showed both by the word off God, & by the works off God, which we wish men 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 opinion: that God hath decreed & appointed some to condemnation, & they must be condemned, making Gods 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 then 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 them to prove this because we know they cannot, but we will show by the mercy off God that it is an old conceived imagination, & hath no ground off truth.  
In this their feigned ground we must understand then that they hold that God leaves, & forsakes man first. And this we have utterly disproved already in that we have showed & 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 straying (but let God have the glory) that God hath decreed no man's condemnation no otherwise then he decreed adam's, For both God's mercy, & his justice in all things & particularly concerning salvation & condemnation is one & the same to all mankind 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: Let us consider with holy & upright hearts, & 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 part off his truth. Let us I say consider, the estate off Adam after his Fall.  
First he was Fallen, & by him all mankind. 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: after the same manner off transgression, were fallen Further under the Condemnation off God than 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 than he, in that he fell under the deepest judgement off God's decree off condemnation, which God had, or hath declared by his word: For we know no deeper decree off judgement then the decree off condemnation, & under this was Adam fallen: And this went over him, & over all by his transgression.  
When Adam was thus fallen, & had off his own free-will 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 showed Rom. 5.12.— 21. That by Adam's 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 offence 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 Adam's offence went over al. But by grace in Christ, hath Freed Adam, & in him all mankind From that sin off Adam.  
To make it yet more plain, that as Adam was Freed From that sin, so all mankind was Freed: And as the promise off Christ the promised seed was made & sent to Adam, even 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 hearts to believe him) joh. 12.47 I came not to judge the World/ but to save the world: And joh. 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 showed 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 showed it unto them thus to teach men: That the Lords 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 Adam's sin) to forsake and leave some, & to withhold his grace from them, that they might perish: & hath decreed to save other some, by giving than 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 saving, and all For one & the same Sin. The Lord complains off Israel, because they say his ways are unequal. Ezech. 18. The whole Chapter throw, showing them how unjustly they accused him in useing that Proverb. The Fathers have eaten sour grapes/ and the children's feeths are set on edge. Charging the Lord herein, to punish the Child, For the Father's 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 if 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 Adam's sin. saying, that God decreed to leave them under Adam's sin: And not to give them a Saviour: And to withhold his grace that they might perish, making Adam's 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 Saviour 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. & vers. 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 Saviour 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 Nyneveh that great city: where are six score thousand persons/ that cannot discern 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 Father's sins. And will you yet charge the Lord to condemn so many infants, & all for Adam's sin, are not your ways unequal thus to say & teach men 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 more doth your opinion off particular redemption 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, & condennation: & 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, & shallbe 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 Saviour: and whereas our Saviour Christ saith 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 eternal life. This opinion off particular redemption 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 believe & shallbe saved: & the greatest part off mankind God loved them not, but hath decreed, they shallbe damned, & he hath not given his Son for them, but hath left them to perish. Thus denying the greatest part off the World, to have any means off salvation, & that there is no Saviour for them. And so was it to no end, that our Saviour Christ commanded his Disciples. Mark. 16.15. Go ye into all the world/ and preach the Gospel to every Creature. And whereas our Saviour 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 shallbe easier for them of the Land of Sodom and Gomorah in the day of judgement/ then for that City. And were he also saith, joh. 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 throughout showing, that their judgements 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 judgement enlarged for not receiving Christ, with whom they have nothing to do: & thus do they make Christ to offer himself to them 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 alway/ that it might go well with them/ and with their Children for ever. As also those words off our Saviour Christ Luk. 13.34. Where he speaketh with such unfeigned earnestness. O jerusalem jerusalem/ which killest the Prophet's/ and stonest them that are sent to thee/ how often would I have gathered thy Children together/ as the Hen gathereth her brood under her wings/ and ye would not. What impiety is this to account these words feigned: & if any shall say they do not account 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, & if our Saviour Christ's words were not feigned words then would he have gathered the Children off jerusalem together which would not be gathered: & so would have had them believe in him that would not. And yet they that hold this fearful opinion, 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 every where to repent. Yet they off this opinion that hold that God hath decreed to Reprobate some, say, he would not have all, but some to repent. 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 redeemer for some private men, whereby Christ is highly dishonoured in that his great sufferings are not accounted sufficient to take away Adam's sin, & so hath he not utterly broken, but only bruised the Serpent's head, making Adam's 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 speakeing off Adam's 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 condemnation unto them, works presumption in men, for if men can but once get a persuasion in themselves, that God hath Elected them then they are secure, they need not work out their salvation with fear & trembling: For God having decreed them to be saved, they must be saved, they need not fear: Iff they increase & grow in knowledge & grace, it is well but if 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 hast taught in our streets: But for all their presumption, it shallbe said unto them, I know you not/ depart from 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 despair utterly, as thinking there is no grace for them, & that God hath decreed their destruction: & it makes others desperately careless, holding that though God have decreed they shallbe saved, them they shallbe saved: & if God have decreed they shallbe damned, they shallbe damned, & so in a desperate carelessness run headlong to destruction.  
To conclude by this opinion, the Fall off Man (in respect off the world, which hereby is held not to be redeemed) is all one with the fall off the devils: & then the Gadarens 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 destroyed: 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 them or no: All 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 an other man's salvation, that bringeth forth as good, or better fruits than himself, how should he have Faith in his own salvation, seeing he may aswell 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 upon 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. if thou fall under such an estate & condition, (which the most Godly do) where shallbe 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 hast 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 Saviour for thee before thou canst know that he is a Saviour 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 if a man must first know that God hath sent his Son a Saviour For him, before he can believe it, which if men be not void off all religion, they must confess, than let 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 Saviour For him, but by knowing that he is given a Saviour 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 Fearful proper fruits 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 endeavour to show what understanding God hath given us in this high mystery & great work off Redemption, & if we can prove by plain evidence off Scripture, that Christ by his death & sufferings hath redeemed all men, then is this whole cause at an end.  
And First to prove that the first promiss concerning Christ was general to all it is evident. Gen▪ 3.15 Where the promiss off Christ is made off Adam & Hevah, which were all mankind, & in whom were all mankind in whom all had sinned, & for the taking away off the condemnation due for that sin, Christ was there promised & given, & not for a part which is Further proved. 1. joh. 22 And he is a reconciliation 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 reconciliation 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 al. That if one be dead for all than were all dead/ and he died for all/ and vers. 19 God was in Christ and reconciled the world to himself not imputing their sins unto them. and 1. Tim 2.5.9. There is one God and one Mediator between God and man/ the man Christ jesus/ who gave himself a ransom for all men. Thus we see, Christ is a reconciliation 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 reconciled the World to himself: & that jesus Christ hath given he 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 promiss off his coming. The Lord of that promiss is not slack (as some men count slackness) but is patiented towards us/ and would have no man 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 judgement, 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 redeemed all▪ &. 1. Tym. 2.4. God will that all men shallbe 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 reconcile to himselff 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 more grounds of scripture to prove that Christ hath redeemed 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 themselves to the Word off truth which is so evident in this point: Far be it from any feareing God either off a Froward or negligent 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 Godliness 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 F will, (being tempted) yielded unto the temptation off the serpent, neglecting the commandment 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 Saviour to redeame Adam & all mankind from that sin showing himself equally merciful, & equally just unto all being no respecter of persons, not perdoning Adam & giving him a Saviour▪ & condemning the greatest part of his posterity for that his sin: but hath given his son a Saviour For all, though through unbelief they deprive not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ves.  
And what a comfortable doctrine is this unto all, when every poor soul may know, that there is grace & salvation for him by Christ, & that Christ hath shed 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 shallbe damned Mark. 16 16. & Revel. 2.25. That which ye have already hold fast till 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 redeemed al. It is most straying, that men fearing God shoule be so full off indignation against it, why should men think much, that Christ should be a Saviour for all men, aswell 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 Saviour, that all believing in him might be saved: as also advancing the justice off God, in condemning unbelievers seeing he hath left them without excuse, in that he hath given them a Saviour, in whom because they believe not, they are justly condemned.  
Much more might be said for the advancement of the great mystery off Godliness 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 abundantly. if we have in any thing led you from the first ground we have uttetly gone besides our purpose, for the some off all we purposed to speak, is this. That Adam having free-will, (which no man that knows God to be Holy, may deny) than 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 Adam's 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 if God had decreed him either to life or death, than had his free-will 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 fruit, & so to have lived for ever, God did not decree he should die: And Adam having Free-will & power in, & over himselff to eat off the Forbidden Fruit & die, God did not decree that Adam should live. This then is the decree off God (as he hath declared in his word to Adam) Obey and live. Disobey and die. This is the Law off works, which Adam had free-will & power in he From God perfectly to keep, God not decreeing, (as we have showed) 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 & mankind were made with Adam, & therefore we produce him for al. And we have showed that as Christ the promised seed was given & sent to Adam to be his Saviour, for the same end he was given & sent to all the world as also under the same condition, which was that he should believe in him: for though Adam had not believed, he must have been condemned, & if all the world had not believed, all the world must have been condemned, & as Adam 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 them. 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 showed,  
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 hearts to consider off, and the Lord give you all understanding hearts. And our heart's 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 free-will 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 free-will we hold: But that man hath any free-will 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 men 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 spoken unto you/ but seeing you put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life/ lo we turn to the Gentiles. And Stephen saith Act. 7.51. Ye stifenetked and of uncircumcised hearts 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 free-will/ from the which the Lord in great mercy hath freed us.  
The End.