Pk^ck ke»ces-^*v

M

28

:hrist glorified XX

r k
The Salvation and final Reftoration of all Mankind :
. t
OK,
THE Wto atrt IHeto^ettatnent EVIDENCE
O F
5-£f£ POC TRINE OF
UNIVERSAL SALVATION:

Set forth in
two SERMONS,
On i TIM. iv. 9, io, ii.
fl — '
TO WHtCH IS t REFIIED
AN I NTRO&UCTORr PREFACE,

By The Rev.. FRANCIS LEICESTER, A.B.
Formerly of Peter-houfe, Cambridge.

vi* Kin 5»nu>*i w Rin nm* J&*nbi* %k nin* B'n1* b«— —Jo*h. un. 24.
Seeing, then, that we have fuch Hope, we ufe great Plamnefi of Speech.
z Cob. iii. 12.

L O N D 0 2t>

HUNTED FOR THE AUTHOR t
And fold by W..NicotL, No. 51, St. Paul's Church- Yar<&
Tl Scollick, City-Road, Moor- Fields; and,
The Pointer, No. 57, Wych-ftreet.
m.dcc.lxxxvii;.
{PRIQE ONE SHM.LING.J

A N

INTRODUCTORY
P R E F A C E.

THE Author of the following Difcourfes,.. is
fenfible he is taking a feirioys, and very impor
tant ftep, in thus coming out to the world, onafub-
je<£t that has not been frequently handled, efpecially
in the form which this appears in. 'He Aloes' it
with no view to aggrandize, or fignalize himfelf; biut;
in vindication of what he apprehends the truth and/
glory of the Gofpel; and in jufUce' to himfelf and
the Public' Hepoffibiy may fuffer for it, from thefe-'
who do not yet believe this , view, of things ; But
upirightnefs and integrity prefetyes.. Spmeyears,, i^
has' engaged his attention ; in confefljUepcp of ^that^ ,
his affection; and' now, his .more pul^c. acknowkdgn
rhent 'and confejjiori. \ ' . . r.'..<y,,[h.  rr„;,f
Natural difpofition would, and did' for a long'
time, induce hirtf to^ keep fifebffi ran'd to' this (fay
it might have been the cafe, lia'd' fjotth'e force and
excellence of the' truth itfelf, beeh'fB' prevailing as
to have overcome. ; Even now, h& could not; hayt
faxe&tQ haw^garfeftas ^WrMn^ wiVnofsY liaS
•.":!: A * " he

itf PREFACE.
he not firft^ and often, confultedthe Great Counfelhr,
been frequently at his throne, and as many times at;
his bar ; and ftill remaining in a waiting pofture,
till he fhould, countenance, and give leave.
Friends havefametimesfolicited, and others have
faid—' Whj^not write, in a caufe diat feems to lie
* fo much at heart ; and which, right or wrong,
' may, in fuch libera^ times as thefe, be fubmitted
' to the judgment of the Public ?' Nothing of this
prevailed. Idifcourfed, indeed,, upon , the fubjeft;
but could' not think of writing : But when God is
pleafed to have a thing, he has ways of letting us.
Kn6w it'; and that, without vifions or voices.
2l truft, J lam flfleafing <IfcV», and would willingly"
hope, no ojie ejfe.will.be difpleafed. Man-pleafmg
ft-andsib?andgd in Scripture : and if we would pleaf€:
ifleft, aniy. otherwife ithanl fbr itheir good,- to edifieat*'
aoijrj! we, are ;not the fervants of Chrift, i -»'^' "' '5
-^'Ih that day which' fhall try every man's work,
oFVhat foft it1s;^th'e'iro/J and imperfection of this'
ft&ll be burnt iiB: "But a fubftance, I truft, will re-
rria3h1';'->'hbr^wBl,'-'it, I "believe, appear againft me,
when the righteous an(l juft Judge fhall appears
Confcignceasiajfecret: thing ; and wiirinflUence¥ur
public, as well fas. private .adtions and proceedings,.
It matters little \yh3t the unbelieving world think ;of
us, oneway or. toother. The efteern and good
opirfipn of the wifeaja^ difcerniug part of mankind, is
to b| defied j I pij?? it. gut if even this, ftands in
thq

S R E t A C E. V
the "way- of our fpiritual growth and improvement,
in any refpeft; it muft be facrificed", and given up.
It is enough, that we fta'nd approved in God's
fight. I have convoked this : and now, upon the.
moft mature deliberation, cannot but think it right,
to appear publickly in a caufe he hath gracioufly
entrufted with me ; and which, at prefent, hath fo
little of man's approbation, and fo much of God's.
The evidence for this doftrine, is, to numbers
befides myfelf, far iuperior to that brought for Re-
probation, or what fome would rather call Pretention.
If fome only are chofen of God, and the reft arc
paffed by;, it is certain, thefe reft are not chofen : But
does it therefore follow, they are not redeemed? If
fome only are chofen, the reft .tnuft be left ; but
ftirejy, not without remedy, any more than church-
officers being chofen, the reft of the church are left
to wreck and ruin, and . without any ufe or benefit
by, them.. ... ,. '.,.d,: .
The univerfal view here, hath moft juftly the.
preference; an<J yet, with but too many, the partial
One prevails ftill. Time, and the force of this
noble and geherous'dodtrine, may, perhaps, alter
this. Ahd fay what men will, of 'the licentious tendency
of this do&rine; it is plainly a falfe charge: For
experience fhews, the wicked themfelves diflike it,
when fcripturally ftated and underftood. They muft
own,.

. ij.jv.-Va.4ii 'A"..

VI PR E\ F A C Z«
own, it ha? humanity, reafon, zadlovtr, in it :"but fy
corrupt are they at prefent, J and determined fo tb
be ; that it: hurts and chagrins them, ? at times, to
perceive they are going againft it all, and 'that even
fpeeh kindnefs cannot gain them. It exdfpfrattS, but' does
not humble therh ; ; and fo proves the innocent occajion,
bat not the caufe, of their waxing worfe and worfe.
Natttrally, and in it felf, the goodnefs of God. leaded*
tb repentance ; but it may, through men's perverted
mefs, lead them to fin. But, where lies the blame
here ? in the ftnrier- or the doSlrine ? This latter
ftands --clear ; the finner only is to blame. There.
hmbrty with God1, that he may be feared, not .of-i
foiMed, or affronted. How ftrange, then, that any.
flfodld. think, fpeak, or aft otherwife' j or even to'
injaigine', that men's eye may be evil, becaufe God
isgood. That many will <be the Worfe for it, is a
rriohmfol refle&ion, to a ferious Mind-; but not more
fo,than to confider that all t'h^dfhe/dioftfes of grace
are equally liable to this abufe. But are they, on-
that account, to be given up ? The, way to prevent
the' evil, is not to deny the doftrines ; but *to~let
them come fcripturaljy out. ", Do but, oy thiidodcrinej
as' the" Church has done by that of the Incarnation
of Chrift ; arfd it' may be fafely "ventured abroad:.
that is; ftate it rightly. When Satan, by working
upon 'Herod's jealous1 heai;t, could not crufh Chrift
in. thc: cradle,, nbr'deftroy him in his infancy; he>
tried,, at it another ; Way ; biz. by corrupting the.*
doftrine .of.. hffeM&h. j Accordingly^ , foxne arife,
, .'..wi and

PREFACE. VU
and deny his humanity ; others, his divinity : Upon
which, Athanafius fteps forth'; and fays— 'Tt is
* heceffary to everlafting falvation, that a man be-
' lieve rightly, the Incarnation of Our Lord Jefu»
' Chrift : and the right faith is, that we believe
' and confefs, that ovir Lord Jefus Chrift, the Son
' of God, is God and man' Thus is it refpefting
the doftrine of future fuferings. Some deny there
will be any fuch fufferings at all; others fay, they
will be endlefs, and without ceafing ; Whereas, the
true faith feems to be, they will he equitable, and pro
portionate — long enough, to anfwer all the ends of
God's threatenings and moral government, and till
all are made fubjeft unto Chrift — but no longer*
This is to believe rightly, concerning the future punifo-
ments of the wicked ; and more likely to reftrain
vice, than ftretching things beyond the line and. the
truth. And one advantage this dotlrine has, above
the gloomy one of Reprobation, is, That while that
feeds defpondency, and increafes hard thoughts of God ;
this fets him forth in an amiable view, and tends to
engage our love tp him.
Sorry I am, to have, any juft reafon to differ
from any of my Friends and Brethren, either in or
out of the Miniftry, concerning, the Salvation of
the Gofpel, I would humbly hope, they will not
{' r : r .*, it is for the fake of differing, or being unne-
7 Jingular. , This I account a fault, which I
w .;•<,.. in yilljogiy be,- guilty o£ .; And if I. have
reafon

Viii p r e fa c7 e*
reafon for this diffent; why not, with kindnefly
attend to it ? Shall I fay, with Job, (xii. 2.) * No
' doubt but ye are the people, and wifdom fhall die*
' with you*?' No ; That Arabian had more reafon
than I have, for 'thus fpeaking tohisfriends, and much
morefor the following verfe : But it is both natural
and agreeable* to wifh to do juftice to oiirfelves.
Greater, better, and abler men than I am, have had
the fame views, before me : and in every age of
the Church, there have always been fome witneffes
of the fame good confefnqm They have fuffered^
indeed, for it : It is part of the patrimony of the
genuine advocates of truth ; and fome ar£ more
eminently called to this, than others. The higher
we ftand in God's counfels,- the more expofed are
we to the winds and ftorms of perfecution ; and
that, not only from the world, but even from the
Church too. Some, like their forefather Abraham,
are called, in their day, to make a great facrifice to*
God ; while others, of the fafhe family, to offer
little or nothing— Some to make a daily facrifice of
their intereft, reputation, and comfort j while others^
fcarce any at all ; or, if any, a yearly facrifice, in
comparifon. Be it more or lefs, let us account it
our honour ; and rejoice that we are thought worthy
to fuffer at all, for his name, his truth, or his
righteoufnefs fake. A belief of the1 univerfal Truifcj
with liberty to confefs it, obliges me to fuffer, rather
than be filent. I could yield, I believe, in moft
things, to moft men ; but cannot give* up, what 1
appre-t

PREFACE. VX
apprehend to be faith, and a gbod confcience,
to pleafe any. We are called here, many times, to
be fufferers for Chrift ; but can never, in the end,
be real fufferers by him: that fhould be our con-
fplation. In denying effential truths, there is juft
fault to be found ; but fure it becomes a builder to
fet off his building to the greateft advantage he
can. So he hurt not the foundation, or the fuper-
ftrufture in any refpeft, he may be allowed to be
ornamental, and fiipply the defefts he may fee :
The owner of the building to be judge:
, St. Paul, (that wife mafter-builder) forbids us
ftaying in firft principles, and always laying founda*
tion-truths ; he bids us go on, to perfection ; Heb. vi.
i, 2, 3. But for this we meet with cmfures from
fome, as though nothing was neceffary to know,
or declare, but what was necessary to sal
vation. There is no occafion, fecondary truths fhould
take place of,' Or fwallow up the primary; but
neither yet are they to be negletled, or kept entirely
out of fight, if revealed .'they grace,, and add to the
beauty of the whole, or they would not have been
made known unto us. As every thing is beautiful
in its feafon ; fo is every truth.
Some, in fpeaking of the love of God to finners ;
and of the love of Chrift, in dying for them ; will
warm and charm, and delight you to hear them :
but before they have done, they will chill, and
B throw

X PREFACE.
throw a damp" 'upon your fpirits, by limiting this love,
and ''giving, you to underftand, that, however large
arid eXtenfive in the exhibition and manifefiatwm, it
Was intended o nly for fame.
In fpeaking of the o6"sp'£l-election, they
will dwell fo much; upon its being perjondi as to
forget it is alfo official : for the good pf thofe, who
may not be chofen, as well as for their greater
good wno are' And '*$ &e appointment of the
deft, as kings and priefts unto 'God ; it is only to
rule themfelves, '"and pray for themfelves chiefly ; and
other private and perfonal facrifice Of their -fubftance,
and other things, unto' the Lord'. You fhall fel-
dprn. or ever hear fotSe,; who handle this fubjeft,
fpeak of the eleft < in their -"public char-abler, or as
men in office, as thofe who fhall one day judge angels,
and the.word.dy as public executioners of God's orders
and judgments ; or as thofe, that fhall rule over many
things. _ And yet, all this the Scripture fpeaks- of,.
in different 'parts of its' records : See, iCoiwi. 2,3.
Pfal'. cxltx. 6, 7, 8, 9. Matt. xxv. 21, 23. The
kingly office of the faints, is rather nominal tHan'«tr-
eutive, at prefent ; the time for the. full difcharge off
j£ is to come; they don't reign yet as kings on tlie
earth, as theyare to reign,; they are only inaugu
rated, not crowned; bat the* time is coming, in
which they fhall be both kings and priefts unto
God, irvthe fulleft fenfe it was promifed them.
..Squw.

, S$r»e wh® have only partial views of other doc
trines ofthe gofpel, feem a]£&fhort-fighted here, in
fuppofing only fome of the eleft will aft in an offi
cial- charafter : Pfal. exKx. 9. feems contrary to this,
which fays, " This honour have all his faints."
Under ppetence of keeping to plain truths, fome
have curtailed God's word, and made many things
they- have not liked' or underftood, speculative
Vnly, and mere matter of opinion, as though any
thing God had fpoken; was ufelefs or in vain, S,e>-
«ret things, they fay,: belong unto the Lord ; for
getting that no revealed truth can be fecret. Every
truth has fomething in it hidden and wkntrttiri to us ;
but no trath in Scripture, that has not feme revealed
part ink; and revealed things belong unto us.— -.
'Tis pity men fhould fet limits to their underftand-
jngs, or bounds to God's truth, where "he has not
done iti or perfuade themfelves a thing is income
freheafibk, becaufe they, at prefent, cannot compre*
hend it. Grecum eft, non poteft legi, was the faying of
a. noviciate, and not of a wife man. The fear of hurt*
pig. weak, minds, is certainly tp be got over, without
'becoming ourfelves weak. Weak to weak, to gain
die weak, is a noble and apoftoiic faying ; but furely,
the agoftle could not mean ignorance or folly » by
^eakifefsf ( But, they will abufe the doftrine.' —
Guard, then, againft this, by a friptural, fair, and
proper ftatement of it, and the worft-, if they do, wil^
be thgirs. Butdo not rejeft it on this account :--r
pjen- may pervert the truth, hold it in unrighteoufnefs,
" B 2 andj

X" PREFACE.
and make it a cloak for their fins ; and yet, it is the
truth, notwithftanding.
And this is great and mighty^ above all things b
decided by the mouth of a king, and the fhout of
his people; i Efdras, iii. and iv. Where it has
commended itfelf, it cannot eafily . be given up ;
nor muft it be facrificed. It will, however, hear,
and ftand theftrifteft fcrutiny with patience, which
blended truth will not. Such are her native charms,
that fhe fhines the brighter for infpeftion, and has
majefty and beauty attending her :r but, like them both,
flie has her tender feelings, and is properly fenfible,
of all unjuft Jlights, and abufes. She will not. be
proftituted, nor -yet degraded : but, with a becoming.
fpirit and madeft addrefs, fhe will plead, and make
her defence ; and then retire with decency, to be
approved by her proper judge. Let injured truth
be but patient, and fhe will fhine in due feafoh,
with tenfold brightnefs : Her advocate is Judge of
the whole earth ; the ¦ great Arbiter of men and
things. Human ftandards, and codes of faith, are, like the
makers of' them — all imperfeft ; and though they'
have been convenient, yet have done harm; they
have narrowed the mind, biaffed the judgment, and
fo ftraitened the bowels of fome who have embraced
them, that they have fcarce had any love and afi-
fetlion, but for themfelves and die party they be
longed to.— Truth has hereby been fettered and itn-
prifoned\

PREFACE. XU*
' prifoned ; and not above half-feen and brought to
view. In a word, liberality offentiment, and all frit
enquiry, is hereby put a flop to ; contrary to Prov.
xviii, i. " Through defire a man having feparated
himfelf, feeketh and intermeddleth With all wifdom;'*
and to what the apoftle hath faid, i Theff. v. 21.
" Prove all things, hold faft that which is good."
God's word has has been hereby abridged. Suck
liberties are taken with men's writings, and one
another's books; but the Book of God fhould ftani
free ; it is its own interpreter, and wants no altera
tion from men. If they do it, they are fure to
fpoil it: it is beft to let it fpeak for itfelf. Now,
its own voice, authority and language, are uni
verfal; the grace and falvdtion it brings, is to alii
and none are exprefly faid to be finally excluded
from it : However, for a-while, fome fail of it,
and miferably exclude themfelves. Men may, and
often are, ftraitened in their own bowels ; but, the
word of God is not bound. He hath borne with,
and been patient towards all men, and let all par
ties have their way : By this means the whole truth
has corne out, God's forbearance, and man's to
leration, have been great bleffings to numbers.
Men now, have had time to look about them;
to confider, and digeft, what they have heard and
read; and truth has had fair-play. Each party has
gone to the length of its chain ; and after all, there
;s found a defeft. IJniverfality has fupplied this ;
Jcept many from the ftupor of indifference; and more,
perhaps, from the danger of infidelity. Corrupt minds,

XIV £. R. 3 * A C B«
minds, have been hurt by this liberty'; but upright
p/ies, benefited and improved* Good, upon the
Wjbple, has preponderated; the evil is to be de
plored and lamented, Liberty is a bleffing; but it
may be afrufed, and then k proves hurtful to fuch
performs, There is need we fhould watch unto
prayer, and be looking to our Guide and Direftor.
Some cay.not, fome will not, fame, dare, not, and.
fome may not, enquire into, this univerfal view of
the Gojp.el grac? and falvation, : But where thefe
fhackles are taken off, and obfi&cles, removed, and;
there be difpofition, opportunity, and ability for it ;
there appears no good and fufficient reafon againft
it. Men, certainly fhould ufe the. powers and tar.
lents. God. has. given them, with a view to glorify
his. hply, name.
So we do but lie open to this, and all truth, and
come into the fpirit, love and power of it, and walk
therein with fidelity, it matters little, who is firft,
or who laft, to perceive it; and yet 'here, fome*
times, the ftrefs is laid. Some are fecretly in
clined to believe it, and perfuaded the doftrine is
true ; but, they did not perceive it before ! or, they.
were not the firft'' to fee it ! they will therefore fet.
themfelves againft it ; oppofea and publickly decry
it, before, perhaps, they have half exarnine-d or
looked into it. So long as diis fpirk is indulged,.
it will exclude it from their fight. The meek he
will guide in judgment, the meek he will teach his

PREFABS. 3ft
liis way ; the fecret df the :Lord is with them thai
fear him, and he Will fhew them his covenant, irt
all the particulars and fullnefs of it. . He reveals it
unto babes. Man has a proud heart, and his na
ture does not eafily ftoop : even when convinced, he
does not immediately own it always ; and when he
finds he muft, it is in an unbecoming manner,
often. Few are to be found, who perceiving they
were miftaken, at once, and with all humility, ac
knowledge it; " We die hard," in fuch cafes ;
but better thus to die, than live.
If the. evidence of this truth rifes gradually upon
the mind ; this fhall be made an argument againft
it: '¦' It is too long, and tbo much to. fee ahd at
tend to, before we can come at it :" it is therefore
laid, afide and neglefted, as unworthy of further
notice. The mind here is not ingenuous, or well-dif-
pofed; nor the perfon at all willing to believe, it;
the evidence in fuch cafe, would be rapid and in-
creafing, and much fooner come at, than imagined.
But we are faithlefs, as well as ftout-hearted. In
fidelity is an injurious bar ,tO this doftrine. ;' What
reafonings have we upon the firft hearing of it !
How do we debate, and objecl to it ! "What fears and
apprehenfions about it ! and how alarmed to think it
fhould come out i — Thefe are the anxious' thoughts
and cares of unbelieving hearts ; but not that
credit and confidence due to a revealing God. The
apoftle would have us men, and not children, va
the

3m p R#E F a e ti
the truth; and endeavours to fhame us but of fuch
weaknefs. Brethren I fays he, be not children 'in
underftanding : however, in malice be ye children*,
but in underftanding be men. And finds fault with
the Corinthian Church, for their backwardnefs in
the principles and knozvledge ofthe GofpeL
c But, there are yew only in this view of it, efpecially ,
among the Prophets of the Lord ; and are the mi
nority, in this cafej to determine ?' Nq j neither the
Minority, nor majority; but, the word qf God alone.
— e Well; but as to the true fenfe of that word >'
Every one deterrnihe for themfelves. Mea argue as
though the confcience was to be determined by an
authority and power, lefs than that of God's : but
it cannot, muft not bet Were numbers the teft of
truth, king Ahab would have had it on his fide ;
but not liking this, and finding it alfo againft- him,
he was againft that ; andfo perfecuted the- meflenger
of it, — Micaiah, who yet was the faithful witnefs.
And let not this feem invidious, nor my meaning ;
* {trained beyond my defign ; which is only to fhew,
that fometimes truth has three hundred to one
againft her. As infallibility is with no church or
perfon upon earth, I may be allowed to fay, that
numbers may be ftoort-fighted in this one point of
doftrine, who otherwife are wife and great; and
the true Prophets of God.
Writers on this fubjeft, even of the . tontratleJ
kind, will fay and allow, that if the redemption be
univerfal,

PREFACE. Xvif
univerfal, the falvation muft be fo too-; but thofe
of a more enlarged turn,' maintain the one, but deny-
the other. While the firft of thefe fchemes feems
to want mercy in it, and the fecond confiftency; the
univerfal view, harmonizes both ; and on this acT
count is more eligible, and worthy of attention and
reception. And yet, whoever falls, in with it, is
fore, more or lefs, to fuffer for it ; and let them en
dure it as a trial of thek faith and patience, and as
a tax that truth muft pay. It will be found an.un-
juft one; for there \%, youth and age in the fpiritual,
as well as in the natural body ; and a growing in
the theory, as well as in kepratjice and vital .part
of Chriftianity. Chrift grew in wifdom, as well as
in favour; and are we to grow only in grace.? It .
fhould feem fo, according to fome. , , For if we
look into revealed truth, beyond the fhort^fiehted-
nefs of fome, it is checked, it is difcouraged^-, it is
going beyond what is written, it is even herefy in thek;
eyes. As though truth had no chain in it ; or every
other link, but that ojE 'univerfal love ; and all other
happinefs, but the final happinefs of all men.
Parties, as well asfyftems, have all had their xiie^ .[
and ftill have them. They have brought on, and
brought forward, a fuller and more Jxtenfive. view
of the Gofpel-grace and Salvation* than their own ;
and have fubferved the univerfal caufe, without de-
figning" it. For having gone to the full extent of
thek own views ; and after all, left difficulty, per-'
C pkxity,

S.VU1 P R £ ¦ F A G £ .
plexity, and diffatisf action, behind them; it, has in>
duced the fair and full Inquirer, to go as far as his
fcripture-licence would warrant him ;. by . which
nieans, God's ' fulleft defigns of love have been
difcoyered; and all his cofrtpaffiOnate heart laid
open to human view. To quarrel with any> for
their npt feeing yet, the fuUnefs of the Gdfpel-plan
or* Salvation^ would ill become a' ; Univerfatift ; as
they, all make way for himfelf. Though people go.
oppofite ways j yet they all may be going to Church ;
and though fomb mifrike' their way, and" others'
through fioth and Mtering^'tbnie too late for the
Service, ahd To; fuffer a fofs.they may never be
able to repair ; yet, after proper counfel, •Warning,
and difcipline, they may do better another time,
arid nctt be eXcdfnmunieated, "or for ever excluded
it.c "We ma(y fuffer eternal lof s, arid yet not "be end-
lefsly -titiferabte.' ' Saul loft his kingdom, but who has
{aid ^his/^Jf '''-Sampiiwv through fin, loft his
ftr^ngih'^ and hVy 'eye'-fi^ht, and his life alfo; with
the lives of < his enemies; bilt this is no where faid
of his fdlvatioh. Some are delivered unto Satan,
for the deftruftion of the flefh ; but with this- view
in die Purpofe pf God, that their fpirits may be
faved in the, day of „the(LQrd Tefus. In that day,
ho doubt, there,will be fomp who will not be im
mediately r ¦eftored, by . him: awful, painful, and tre
mendous times, .muft firft of all pafs over them.
"But befpre it finally clofes, no doubt remains with
me, (rhat even thefe fhall return, and >r/>e«r, and fall

PREFACE. XUJ;
fall down in fubmiffion to Chrift; in willing bonds,
1 mean, beneath his feet. But till it comes to this,
ftroke upon ftroke will they have ; and all that re-
morfe and anguijh of mind the Scripture exprefies
by weeping, and wailing, and gnafhing of teeth.
Though reftowd and faved, yet fo as by fire; they
fhall ftill fuffer lofs, and that will be endlefs. The
Church of the firft-born, which are written in
Heaven, fhall endlefsly retain that pre-heminence :
Reafon, Scripture, and every thing is oh the fide of
it. Thefe Jecond-born themfelves, will approve of it.
What means God will take, in the future ages,
to reftore men, after all, muft be left to himfelf.
Sufferings -feem to be a part of his plan. Chrift's
fufferings are expiatory and atoning : which" cannot be
faid of what we fuffer : and yet,- oaf fufferings are
fpoken of in Scripture, as having their place and ufe.
And if here, to thofe who are benefited by them,
both before and after their converfion ; why not here
after, if God fo pleafe and appoint? There is
nothing abfurd in the fuppofition. Under Divine
influence, they may have afoftening quality in them ;
and, after that, other means may be ufed. Is it faid,
'.Chrift' hath purged and wafhed us from our fins, in
'-hisown^biopd?' (Heb. i. 3. Rev. i. 5.) It is alfo
faid, f By this fhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged ;
* and this fhall be the fruit, of all, to,takea,way, his fin :*
(Ifa. xxvii. 9) : fpeaking of fmitings, andfiaughterSf
jand the rough difpenfations of his providence, (v. j,
$!f*See alfo, Ifa.iv.4.— Ezek. xx. 47, 48. xxii,
C a jS^-23.

XX PREFACE.

*¦

i8r— 23. and xxiv. 13. All whicfy was tempo
rary ; and out of all w hich they are, in other places, *
fpoken of as delivered, and fet free. This muft and
will be allowed of the />r^£/tf fufferings of Cj6d's chil- »
dfraz in this life. But as all are to offspring, though
iiot his adopted ones, (Afts, xvii. 28, 29',) is it with
out all reafon, that the future fufferings of the wicked
may be fanBified, and turn out to their profit, if God
will, though the fufferings of Chrift are alone in their,
falvation > Efpecially, if, to the above Scriptures, we
add, Pfal. cvii. 10- — 15. and think as fome do, of
Matth.v. 26. that the uttermoft farthing may be
paid by many, in a fenfe God knows, and will ac
cept; without derogating from Chrift, and his work.
This is fubmitted to the judgment of the fpiritually
iifcerning. The doftrine of "the Refioration ftands defen
sible without it. If we muft totally fet this afide, and
throw it away, becaufe of fome difficulties attending
it ; .we muft bid adieu to moft other doftrines too ;
for there is fcarce one recorded in Scripture, but has
fome clouds and darknefs about it. *So far as it is
dear and light, let us not rejeft, but fall in with it»
We do fo in other matters ; and wait believingly,
for more evidence : not abufing the light upon it,
we have. Let us, therefore, as many as be ^erfeft,
be thus minded ; and if, in any thing, ye be other-
wife minded^ God fhall reveal even this unto you.
The friends of all truth, will not defpife thfe
apoftoUc counfel ; But others, -it is lik-ely, may treat this

PREFACE. XXI
. - - - - • ..*
this doftrine of theReftoradon, as the Jews ftill do the
Meftiahjhip of Chrift ; rejeft it, for want 6f ev idence ;
when great and ftrorig evidence has been given : as
much, perhaps, as is confiftent with the moral agency
of man, and his being a felf-determining creatuTe,
except where God fhall interfere. It is tookiuch the
fpirit of all men, to judge before they try; to deter*
mine, before they examine : efpecially, in a matter
they diflike. lam not.to have this opinion of all
my Readers ; nor of thofe who love truthj. for its
own fake. Satisfied with their approbation* • and
the Smiles of a juft-judging God ; I would now clofe ,
this long Preface, with a very liberal and benevolent
quotation.-—-— ' Thofe who take pains to .inform mankind, and
' to illuftrate the difficulties and obfcurities of the
* Sapred Volume, (in the meaning of which all $M
' deeply interefted, and in which nothing- can. be
* xfelefs) ; deferve, at leaft, the thanks of the Pubhc.
' And, if they fhould fail of giving full fatisfaftion ;
'yet, we ought to efteem them, for their good
intentions, and candidly overlook what we cannot
heartily approve*. Fpr in fo intricate a path*
' where ^he moft enlightened may err; no wonder,
' if the duU and ignorant lofe their way.'

SPA.FlELDS.Np. 8.
Sejpt. *8, .178 «U

| FRANCIS LEICESTER^-

CHRIST GLORIFIED, » *
The Salvation and final Reftpration of all Mankind.
SET FORTH !»
TWO SERMONS,
On i Tim. Iv, 9, 10, it.
This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all ac
ceptation. For therefore we both labour and fuffer- reproach ;
becaufe we truft in the living God, who is the Saviour
¦of all men, fpecially of thofe that believe,
Thefe things command and teach. —

SERMON I.
THOSE who have* not, as yet, feen to the
full extent ofthe Gofpel-grace and Salvation,
(the dbftrine that feems contained in this paffage)
ufually/onneft die firft verfe of it with the pre
ceding, and not with that which follows. They
fuppofe, tlie apoftle mea-nt to affert, that godlinefs,
being profitable" unto all things, ; was a faithful fay^
ing, and worthy, of all acceptation; and here to
confine it ; left, 'if it fhould be applied to the fuc->
ceeding verfe, it fhould feem to favour, and give too
much countenance to, the doftririe of Universal'
Salvation, which they cannot fo much as fup*
pofe is the doftrine of Scripture. But no good
- reafon appear^ why it may not, with equal pro
priety,

SERMON I. 2«
priety, be applied to both ; as there can be no trub
godlinefs, without ' trufting in the living God, the
* Saviour of all men ;' any more than' true labouring,
and fuffering reproach, without it. It being . equally
true of both, it fhould be underftood of both ; and
particularly, not exclufive of the latter, or ioth
verfe ; as we find the very words themfelves, ap
phed to ' Chrift's coming to fave finners,' in the i jjdx
verfe of the firft chapter of this epiftle. Thus fup-
ported, I need fay no more on this particular ; but
conclude^ it is as faithful a faying, that ' the living
' God is the Saviour of all men ;' as, that ' Godli-
* nefs is profitable unto all things.'
¦ A greater difficulty than this, lies in this paffage,
to fome; and this of a two-fold nature.
'::.,, 2.
¦ I. In what'-fenfe the living God is here called
a Saviour ? And,
II. In what fenfe the Saviour of all men jr\
It will be my prefent- purpofe to fet this in as
clear and full a light as. 1 am able, according to the
grace of God, that, is given me. -  :•
' But, before 1 .attempt the difcuffion of thefe great
queftions, let me obferve, that, by the living God, is
not only meant tjhe God that lives, and reigns above,
in' oppofition to I dead, and dumb idols; but the life*
f.~,Y . .jilK.... -: ¦•¦
giving God,a\{o>:, the God that quickens, and ani
mates, and communicates, the life he ^ enjoys. 1 And tbiq

±% S fi Tt H 6 N t
this character Chrift takes to himfelf, inth^6rTr
chapter of St. John ; who alio, in his . Gofpel, a$
well as iri his Epiftles, echoes his matter's voice,
and fpeaks of him iri the fame fti.le and language. —
'I am the living Bread, (fays Chrift) which came
« down from' Heaven ; if any man eat of this Bread,
' he fhall live for ever : and the Bread .that I will
* give, is my flefh ; whi£h I will give, for the life of .
' the world* And again — ( As the living Father .
' hath fent me, and I live by the Father ; fo, he
e that eateth me, even he, fhall live by me/ And ,
John---' In Him was life;, and the life was the light ,
* of men. For the life was manifefted ; and we
' have feen it, and bear witnefs, and fhew unto you
* that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
* manifefted unto us.* Chrift then, in union with
the Fadier and the Holy Ghoft, is thej living God;
in whom we. are to truft : and fo trufting. and' be- .:
lieving, we fhall find life through his name; life, and
vktue, from him.
Btit (let it be obforved) prior to, and independent
of, bur believing, he is" the light and the life of men,
even of the unbelieving world : bur, believing, we
come to the enjoyment of that life. * Ye are. dead ;
* arid ybuVJifeis hid with Chrift, in' Gob! ;' fays the
afaRM1 John; ro~ tHofe' who did believe. Oh ! what
a fotindation is here laid, for a rifirig, living race,
of; at prefent, fpiritUaUy dead', arid rebellious creatures ! "
The Lipvf the world, he 'exprfefly call? himfelf : and -
what 'is chisQ iH-'oSWerwbrds,. blit falling in with the
expreffion

S ft ft M 0 N I. 2j
..¦.>• 4
expreffion of the text here ; of his being « the Sa-
* Viour of all men; fpedallly, of thofe that believe.
But now for the word Saviour.
This word has fometimes a lower, and fometimeS
an higher acceptation. When it is faid, * The Lord
raifed up Othniel, the fon of Kenaz, Caleb's younger
brother, to be a Saviour to the Children of Ifrael ;' —
it is properly translated Deliverer. And again, at
the 15th verfe of the fame chapter, Ehud is alfo
called their Deliverer,, which is Saviour ;• in the ori
ginal. :And>- 2 1 ft verfo ofObadiah, Saviours, it is
faid, fhall coipe upon mount Zion, and judge the
mount pf Efau. Here alfo it has the fame fenfe
and meaning, and ;muft fignify Prefervers, and
temporal Deliverers, not Saviours, in the higheffc
and fuheft fenfe of the word. They could, and
did refcue their fellows-creatures from the malice
and power of their enemies, and from die dangers
they were in ,from, other quarters; but they could
not deliver fjpm fin, or fave from hell, and the
fecond death. But who will fay this is the beft and
moft exalted meaning of the expreffion, when ap»
plied to, and fpoken of Chrift? He, indeed, de
livers from temporal fnares and dangers; faves us
from our enemies, and from the hands of thofe-
that hate us : But this is the leaft and loz&eft part
of his Salvation. He is in fuch a fenfe, a Saviour,
as no other is, or can be; he faves from fin and
fatan, from deattr'vaA hell. And after men have
D been

z6 9. £ R M 0 N 1.
been viftims to them all, and long the fubjefts of
thefe four grand tyrants, both in this world and the
other ; he is ftill ftrorig to deliver, and mighty to
fave; yea, and will fave, even to the uttermoft,
not only thpfe who now come unto God by him ;
But' all others alfo, (in their time and feafon) who
at prefent rejeft him, and become fubjefts of the
fecond death, before it can be brought about : as I
fhalL#ndeayour to make appear by and by.
' The word ufed in the text for Saviour, is 2o>i%
in the Greek, which fignifies a Reftorer, and con
veys an idea ftronger and fuller' than that of a Sa-
-Siour ; a Saviour, and one remove beyond *, I
dould not perhaps, ftriclly and critically Cay, All men
yJri\l"he faved : Becaufe, before it comes to this, with
j$me, they will firft be condemned, or wretched
a&id miferablefor thek fins, -even for ages and ages.
But I would not fcruple to fay, They will be re-
ffbred; as God is able to raife men from their ruins,
ifed has given us reafon in Scripture to believe he
intends it. This fufficiently diftinguifhes the ideas
$ Saviour and Reftorer, though, in the event, they
wSjll come to one and the fame thing.
•3
af| Looking into Symfon's Greek, Latin., and. English Lexicon,
Ijjnd the following remark, at the word a Saviour, or <r-xmf, ' It
*^s a word which cannot be fully exprtfled in one Latin word ; fig-
««iu£ying as much as a moft abfolute Deliverer from, all danger, and
« all tevil wiiatfoever. Such a one, as doth not only once deliver, but
'eifc«klfo the author of perpetual Salvation. It is more than both
'iSer&ator, and Salvafor ; and maybe fitly, rendered, Sofiitator.'  •
But mis point is more amply confirmed in Leigh's Criiica Sacra..
svc.^ .
«« The

S E R M 0 N t. 2)-
Tlie import of the word Saviour, then, as here
tffed, being thus fettled ; I am next to confider, in
What fenfe he is the Saviour of all men P
Here, the advocates of partial Redemption are
obliged to go off, from the common acceptation of
the word Saviour, and to reduce it fo low, as to
mean only a prefent and temporal Deliverer, a Pre- '
ferver of all men, from many evils, dangers, and
deaths; and efpecially the righteous, and thofe who
believe : and, over and above this, that all men
lhould have many prefent bleffings, and temporal
good things, and enjoy alfo, the fame outward pri
vileges and means of grace, in common with Be
lievers——— But here they reft  Or if they fup
pofe there is any thing higher, and more exalted in '
the idea ; then, by Chrift's being the Saviour of alt
men, they underftand a fufficiency in his death for the
falvation of all men, but no intention in God that it
fhould ever come to any thing more. Though
thofe who hold general redemption, but partial falva
tion, believe a poffibility of all men's being faved —
now, — under the prefent difpenfation of the Gofpel,
or the light of the difpenfation they are under; but
none hereafter, or in any future period, if they die
in fin and unbelief. Thus Partialifts ftate the gof-
pel-plan of life and falvation ; and confine the Sa
viour, and his falvation, to the narrow limits of this.
prefent life : There is no grace, rio hope (it feems)
teyond" it, for any that mifs or fail of it here, None,
7 P'j indeed^

a8 SERMON u.
indeed,, it muft be allowed, till: they are humbled'
and brought down, made fenfible of their paft fins,
and rebellion, and to accept that degree of ptinifh-
, ment that was meet : But then, the golden fceptre
feems ftill to be held out by the. Gofpel ; and Chrift,
in fuch a fenfe, the Saviour of all. men*-- as but few-
can, at prefent, believe. This, I muft. confefs, has
been my fettled faith for fome time; and I would.
now, as a modeft and faithful witnefs, come out for
it, and bear my written and' public teftiinany.
To one that is happy in this belief, it feems as
though all, upon the firft view, would come iato
it ; but, no ; Nature and unbeliefhave thek manifold
objeftians, and rife up in alarm againft it, as they
do againft other things, whofe evidence they; have
' not yet feen, or attended to. ,
I would now, then, proceed to fhew, what proof
from Script trftE there appears to be for it.
And here it feems taughf us feveral different
ways. Firft of all, typically.
The After -fruits and full-harveft of corn, arid
other things, under the Law, typified the nature and
extent of the falvation under the Gofpel. It was
firft of x all, partial. A fbeaf, or handfull of the
barley (fpr that preceded die wheat-harveft, in thefe
days) [Exod, ix, 31.] wa? to be gathered, arid
brought

3 E R M O N I. £9
Brought to the prieft,' which he was to wave, and
get accepted, in vktue of a he-lamb, without ble-
mifh, of the firft year, to b.e offered the fame day,
and at theffamfe tinie :. See, Lev. xxiii. 10  15,
How truly does this, typify the eleft of God — the
fpecialiy in the text — .- thofe who believe ! But as the
firft-fruits of the Jewifh haryeft, did not exclude*
but enfured the whole crop ; fo is it here.
The eleft, who are Called in Scripture the Firft-
fruits of his new-Creatures, (Jam. i. i8») and are
gathered- in before the reft ; are fo far from fetting
afide the non-eleft part of mankind from being the
after-fruits of his Grace, that they typify, and are
the earnefi of it. If the firft-fruits are holy, fays the
Apoftle, (Rom.xi. i;6.) the lump is alfo holy ;
fpeaking not of parents, and their children, (as
fome accommodate thefe words) but of one part of
mankind as connefted with the other : and not only
of feme. Jews, in refpeft to feme Gentiles ; but of aU
Jews, one time or other, (all being Tithe, till the
mediatorial kingdom be given up); in relation to
all Gentiles, in its due and proper period. Rom. xi. .
23—26, %
And fo, agajn, the year of Jubilee; Lev. xxv. 8;
&c. This was a nptable type of the truth I am
upon. Every fiftieth year the trumpet was to be
blown, anpl liberty .proclaimed throughout all the
Jand, unto all the inhabitants thereof, and every man
to return to his poffeffion and his family. :' Mvpry

3o S E ft M o n t;
feventh year, was a year of rekafe, to the Jews : all
debts were to be cancelled, and remitted ; and all
fervants (that chofe it), were to be releafed from
their fervkude, (See Deut. xv. i , &c.) and have their
freedoiri. But this was peculiar to that people:
the ftranger, or reft of the nations, had no fellow-
fhip with them in this.
But the year of Jubilee was unlimited, and had no
fuch contraction in it. The reft of the nations were
to have the privilege of this : it had no fuch Jewifh
bounds. The ftranger, and the foreigner, were to
have the benefit here, (v. 35) ; and none excluded
from the happy effefts ofthe quickening, joyful found,
of the Jubilee-trumpet. And herein it typified, the laft,
great event, of the Gofpel of the grace of God ; in
virtue whereof, (with any other means God may fee fit
to ufe) all rational, fallen, and intelligent creatures,
fhall return to God, by Chrift ; come out of their re
bellious fpirit and way ; fubmit, and yield diem-
felves, to the Lord ; and be put among the chil
dren and firft-born, though in a lower place.
Thefe fhall fing, (and that loudly too) ; faying,
* Salvation to our God, which fitteth upon the
< throne, and unto the Lamb'; (Rev. vii. 10.) But
fome fhall fing louder .• * The redeemed from among
f men ; being the firft-fruits unto God, and the
'Lamb;' fhall tune their notes to higher ftrains,
and fing, as it were, a new fong, "before the throne;
$nd no man can learn that fong, but tlie hundred and

S fi R M O N I. «j
and forty and four thoufand, which were redeemed;
from the earth: Rev. xiv. 3, 4.
What is faid, (Lev. xxv. 29, 30.) of a dwelling-
houfe, fold in a walled city, and not redeemed
within a year, going out in the year of Jubilee^ has an
awful fenfe and warning in it ; to take heed, how
we negleft and fell our fpiritual birth-right, or trifle
away our prefent day of grace ; or, in cafe we have
done it, to redeem it, as foon as may be '; left if
we delay it, it prove unredeemable, and we fuffer
eternal lofs : But it is no obj eft ion to Universal
Grace and Restoration ; fince that may ftill
be, though the lofs we fuftain be endlefs. It is an
argument againft fin, and its indulgence ; but not
againft a Universal Restoration.
^Further; This doftrine is fhadowed out to us, in
the after-born children of the patriarchal age, as they
ftopd connefted with the firfi-born, or primogeniture.
Through the good pleafure of God, and his ap
pointment, the firft-born males, among the patri
archs, are diftinguifhed, and made peculiarly his ;
Exod. xiii. 2. ' But we may obferve, that this ap-
pdintment was not altogether a detached one, or
merely on thek own account : for, though they were
to be heads and leaders, and have pre-heminence over
their brethren ; yet their families, and others, were
to be the better for them ,' and that fpiritually, as
well ?is otherwife. The firft-born were diftinguifhed,
and had a double portion given them ; but not an
exciufivt,

ii' S" E 'ft M o &

o

exclufive right, or a feparate intereft', from the reft4/
They were &'»g-j and priefts, in their houfinlds, and
flood forernoft, by divine inftitution s but thek te/£-<
&o/is were- God's people, and care too, and; were to
reap the benefit of this order pf his; which only
was ordained, and lafted, for a time ; when families;
kept together, and; dwelt in the fame place. When
they feparated, this- rite loft its force, and the primo
geniture abated of ks privileges ; being fwa]lqwed up
almoft of the after fons and daughters, and refolved,
by God, into the hands and management. of the tribe
of Levi. See this change and alteration clearly fet
forth, Numb. viii. 6— 14: alfo, v. 41.45. and ch.;
viii. v. 5.. to the end : .^here we %d, this- was alfo-.
temporary, (17.25.) and calculated for the good of the-
reft, befides their' own perfonal .benefit. The other
eleven tribes, are alfo greatly benefited by this
choice and exchange : for it was ah official choice,J
an eleftion,1 to a charge and office. When this tribe-
of Levi, then,, is.coniidered.as, connefted with the
other tribes, and in its official charafter ; it is fo far
from countenancing partiality and fovereignty only,
that it is a further and additional type and figure,
of ¦Univerfality, and benevolence in the Deity; of
his general good-will^ 3nd intention that all fhould
be faved, and come to the knowledge of the truths
Was not this diftinguifhed and chofen tribe of Levi,
tp minifter unto Aaron ; fo keep his charge, and the_
charge of the whole congregation ; ,to do the fervice of
the tabernacle f Arid, can this be" doiie, and others,
t :. *• : ¦ . .. ¦ ' ,. .;-;¦! as

S E R M O » i; $|
as well as themfelves^ not benefited by it ?. And,
though not all others, at prefent; yet, by and '.fy
before the mediatorial kingdom is delivered up.
For the whole earth is to worfhip him, fing of him,
and praife his name; all kings are to fall down- be
fore him; all nations to do him fervice: The
jewi/h nation i &ci\ of all; the obedient part of
yfhom, are (Exod. xix. 5, 6.) faid to be ' a pecu-
' liar treafure unto God, above all people : a king-
* dom of priefts ; and an holy nation :' and yet, not
tykhjout adding—' All the earth is mine.*
But, to keep to Levi, at prefent' j «
What this tribe was, to the whole "body of the
Ifraelites; the elecl, in all ages, are, to the whole
bulk of mankind— Chofen out of them; and alfo,
jas minifters and •witneffes unto them. Chofen, in
deed, to Salvation in Christ JesVs ; but not
in a felfifh, monopolizing, or engrqffing fenfe; and fo,
as that the reft of mankind are to have no faving
benefit by his death, or the choice God has made of
them. The election of fome, is for the advantage of
all; and the whole are in God's view,, when apart,
only, are diftinguifhed* The eleSl may be the whole
of his choice, but not the whole of his purchafe:
for the Redemption is more extenfive than the elec
tion: and while a few only, are faid to be chofen i
all are declared in Scripture, to be ranfomed, and re
deemed, by the precious blood of CJhriiU

§4 S E I M 'o S I.'
Arid is it\rio further, nor otherwife, made known
to iis? in the Old Teftame'rit ? Yes : it is h i stor i -
cally taught -us, (or typically, if you will)' in the
account we have of Jofeph, in the Book of Genefis.
It is allowed of all, he was aftriking arid eminent
type of Chrift. Many parts of his hiftory fhew this..
But, perhaps, the latter part has" not been fo atten
tively cohfidered by fome, as were to be wifhed.
This, in at very beautiful manner, feems to fet forth,
that great, "and glorious, arid Coricluding period of
the reign ofXhrift ; when he fhall not only have put
all his, and his Father's, enemies under his feet ;
tfut'lhall fo have;fulJdued.th^m, as to have made
them willing, ready, and cthediejtt .fubjefts.
Gen. xii* 40., we read— c And Pharaoh faid unto
* « ''•'-¦ ..¦-''-
•* Jofeph, Xhoufhal^be over my, houfe; andaccord-
', ing unto thy -word*, fhall all my people be ruled ;
-' only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
'^3 See, I have fet thee over all the land of Egypt.
'/¦And he made -him to ride in the fecond chariot
' which, he had ; and they cried before him, Bow
¦?' the kji<[l-^ And- he made him ruler over all the
•f land of EgyptA— (Seethe three following verfes.)
But, is k enough that Jofeph be* thus exalted ?
that he have oihward refpecl and reverence, paid him ;
and go "through all the land of Egypt, as deputy-
ruler and governor ; without gaining fubjeRs to-r'ha-
*f3oh, and triumphing as4ie goes along ? Or, is it
( enough,

$ E R M O N - I., JJ5
enough, that his brethren after, the flefh,. bow them?r
felves to him, to the, earth,, (ch. xliii. 26.) and not
fT p,E R s do him homage. ? Are Ifraelites only to bow%
and fubmit. .themfelves; and not- Egyptians, alfo ?
If ; we'; look forward to chap, xlvii. we fhall there
find, at ver. 11, that after Jofeph had ' placed his,
father and.his brethren^ and gave them a poffeflion
in the land of Egypt, in the beft of the. land, in the
land of Ramefes, as Pharaoh had commanded ;' and
' nourifhed .his father, andhis brethren, and all his
father's houfhold, with bread, according ro. their fa
milies,;' that others are in want, and. made to feel
their, neceffities. Egypt if felf, \s diftreffed. :. . fhe is in
ftraits, 'There was np bread -in all. the land :, for
' the famine was very fore;.fo that, the .land; qf
' Egypt, and all the land of Canaan, .fainted, by
' reafon of the famine.' But is there" any relief?
any wifdom, goodnefs, or power in Jofeph, tbw'ards
thefe ? any way of efcape and deliverance, for thofe
who were not the peculiar, chofen people ^ 'and- nation ?
A way is found, even for their prefervation, anf!
-falvation : For,;(u. 14.). Jofeph gathered. up all the
money, found both in Egypt and ,„Ca»£uui, and
brought .it into Pharaoh's houfe. Wheq money
failed, diey ftill cry,, and fay---? Give us bread.'
fThen Jofeph faid---f.Giy.e your cattle.' -When
this was donp, and -they are ftill,: after .a7while, in
.want again, and have nothing but themfelves,, tjheir
perfons, and their lands, to offer for fuftenance^anjl
V E * ^

$6 S £ R *n 6 k I.
life ; this is accepted : ' And Jofeph bought all the
land of Egypt, for Pharaoh ; for the Egyptians folct
every man his field, becaufe the famine prevailed
fever them : fo the land became Pharaoh's;'
' And as for the people, he removed them' to cities ;
from one iend of the border of Egypt, everi to th&
bther end thereof: Orily, the land of the priefts j
bought he not.' Pharaoh hirrifelf, was their por
tion. Read the whole account^ (I have only-
abridged it) ; and you will fee a moft charrriing and
admirable defcription of Jofep'h's administration,- arid
government ; how faithful he was, in all Pharaoh's
houfe; providing for, and caring, not only for his
own particular family, and thofe of nearer kin, and
given in charge to him by Pharaoh; hut, for the whole
land of Egypt.
And how ftrong and .lively a type hereini was he
of Jefus Chrift ! who, as the High-Prieft pf our
profeffipn, was faithful to him that appointed him;
and that not only as a Son, over his own houfe, (for
whom he peculiarly cares arid provides) ; but for all
, others, alfo ; on whofe account, his houfe and farniiy
Were firft, and particularly, taken care of and
adopted. For the Egyptians fared the bttter for the
Ifraelites ; arid through their means, as Well as the
forehefs oj t fhe famine, were brought, at length, to
fubjeftibn '; r/o give up every thing, and to be fully
and wholly Pharaoh's, and at his ferVicfe arid com
mand,

* E ft -M ONI. §J
*»*His ;%&£ *£* ri^o/i? lahdj for Pharaoh; how
clearly does it typify Ghrift's giving himfelf a ran\
font for all, to be teftified iri due time ; a pr'apitid,
tion for the fins of the whole world, and redeeming
them to God, by his blood ! arid, at laft, his deli
vering up the kingdom to God, even the Father!
And their faying to Jofeph, with a heart-felt, fenfe
of his kindnefs, for purchafing them and their land,
' Thou haft faved our lives ; let us find grace in
' the fight of my lord, and we Will be Pharaoh's
* fervants ;' clearly fets forth the happy and holy effect
the grace of Redemption will have, when it is per
ceived by the Redeemed. Not a loofe and lawlefs
effeft ; but fuch as engages the whole man, in the
"will and fervice of his kind Beriefaftor.
One more typical way, we feem to have thisdoc-
tririe taught us, in the Old Teftament : From the
account we have of Solomon, and his temple, arid
the manner in which it was dedicated by him.
His being wifer than all men, ( i Kings, 1V.3 1 .) was
being typical of Chrift ; and his reigning over all
.kingdoms; (v. 21.) was typical of his reign, ( Zec.xiv^
9). The temple itfelf, was a ftriking type of Chrift ;
taking in not only Jews and profelytes, but uncon
verted Gentiles, and fir angers too : and had its porch,
and outer court, as well as its inner and middle one, and
the Holy of Holies. And when it is to be dedicated, how
npble and enlarged was tjiisj 1 Kings, viii. 22—62.
Wht

$8 SERMON I,
' Who has not feen the pebble eaft into die peace
ful bofom of fome fpreading pool ? At firft a little
dimple, but, wider and wider it expands, , untill it
Jkiffes the graffy margin. So, in the prayer of the
¦dedication. Firft of all, an acknowledgment that he
was a Covenant-keeping God, with his fervarit Da*
vid, and all his obedient fervants, ver. 23, 24.— -
Secondly, That there might not fail a proper per*
fon to fill the throne of Ifrael, v. 25, 26. — Next;
that his eyes and ears might be ever open to him,
and his praying people of Ifrael, v. 28^ '29;, .30. — >-
Then for judgment and jufiicer, , in cafe of perfonial
injury and trefpafs, v. 31 j 32  Theri: for [captive
Ifrael, <in cafe they fhould be banifh'ed for thek .fin*,
and turn again-and repent, v. '33, 34.— rThenifor
them, in trouble, fhould they be, otherways punifhed
for their fins, i». 35---41. And now, a more en
larged, and' extenfive petition, ftill, ' Moreover, "cbrf-
' cernirig a" ftranger,. that ' is not' of thy people Ifrael,
but cometh .out' of a far "country , for thy name -lake ;
r ( for . they fhall heap of , thy . great name, . and of- thy
ftrong hand, and of thy ftretched-out arm j), when.
,, he fhall come, and. pray towards this houfe: Hear
¦ thou in Heaven thy;dvvellirig-place, and do accord
ing to all that the ftrdnger calleth to thee for : that
all people' of the -earthy may know thy name, to fear
thee, as do thy people/Ifrael.' , Here, it feems typi-
. cally eyident, that? all -.mankind: are to -have faying
benefit by.'.Chnft. ; though the eleft are prayed, fpr
firft, and the reft come in afterwards, through their
* medium.
The

ar e r m o » "ij 39
¦ The prayer goes on, enlarging itfelf for reftoring
'backfiiding Ifrael, repenting iri diftant lands; pray*
ing to God to maintain the caufe of his fervant, and
fhe caufe of his people Ifrael^ at all times + as the
matter fhall require ; (v. 59.) And all with this ge
nerous view, that all the people of the eaph ~r may
have the benefit of it, and know that the Lord is
God, and that there is none elfe, v. 60. But as this
prayer, in the fulnefs of it, has never yet been heard ;
nor, in the fpirit of it, likely to,be anfwered during
the fhort period of this life; we conclude it has re
ference to the ages after death ; and, in connection
with the preceding arguments, look uppn it as a
prefumptive and collateral evidence of the refioration
of all men. I fay, prefumptive and 'collateral Only :
for fo far from being the full proof of it, ,that it is
at prefent only one third part of the evidence ; fo
far from being of the cleareft kind, that it is the
leaft clear of any kind we have for it ; and yet clear
enough for the time and difpenfation under which it
¦was. given. , .*,,
• * It fhould feem as thqugh. the Cornjpilers of our Liturgy, ha<^
their eye upon this prayer of Solomon's, in cbmpofing what is called'
Vie Litany i- which is fo full, fo compleat, and fo every 'way calcu
lated for all thp wants of mankind in- general, and the neceffities of
individuals in particular, as "to attract' every pious, difcerning mind.
Like this, it prays him to blefs and keep all his people : Like thi*„
it goes on to befeech hjm ' that it may pleafe him to have mercy upon,
' all men.' It is both' particular ancfunrverfal. This laft petitidA
tvould with great impropriety1 have been put into the mouths of thfj
Church-members, if there, had npt teen Scripture-foundation for. it i
ind not the prayer of fmth, if the word of God had not warranted it.
Types,

40 S E r to 0 9 I.
23p<tt, in the very nattire of them, muft have o£*
fcurity attending thenS, till the anti- types themfelves
appear; but, like fhades in a pitture, they help to fet
it off, and make it, upon the whole, more beautiful
than it could haye been wjthput them.
Before Chrift himfelf appeared in perfon, He came
to us in prophecy, and in all the types and jhadows
of the Ceremonial and Mofaic law. Thefe were a pic
ture of Him. • And the fame is found true of his
Salvation. It is firft ritually and typically fet forth
to us in Holy Writ ; then prophetically ; and, at
length, more clearly and exprefly ; and, even under
New Teftament light, clearer and Clearer, unto the
p'erfeft day. The light of divine truth, breaks in
upon the mind, as the light of the natural fun a-
rifes on the hemifphere. His going forth, is pre
pared as the morning ; which increafes from day
break, to noon-day light.
In proportion as the heart is weaned from eiarth,
and earthly things, and the mind prepared to re
ceive the full truth of God, it has it. It is only
becaufe we are unfitted by one thing or other, that
the whole counfel of God does not appear to us at
once. In the letter, it is revealed to us in his
Word ; but we have not eyes to fee, ears to hear,
npr a heart to underftand it, fo it comes not to us-
in Spirit. Pride, felf-will, and a thoufand other
evijs prevent. Then fhall we know, if we follow
on to know the Lord: and he fhall come unto
'"• us

S * E R. H Cf M Ii 4t
Us as- the rain; as the latter and former rain unto
the earth. It is only evil that ftahds iflrfche way of
this, or any other 'good' coming :< unto us:"oMy
darknefs* that dbf cures the'iight of : life to our view.
Let "but -thefe "be 'tem6ved-*and expelled^ -'and all
God has, fear ihali. re veal, will be clear and manifeft.
A felf-determined perfon, and one that indulges the
finful defires of the flefh, and of the mind, will be
excluded from a faving fight of this and every
other doftrine, he thus wilfully fets himfelf againft,
fo long as he thus continues. None of the wicked
fhall underftand, but the wife fhall underftand.
The Chriftian ehurch| in every period of it, has
its eye opened wider and wider, to fee the full truth
of things, which yet begun in the preceding. Suc
ceeding ages may have it to fay of us, what we have
faid of preceding ; and the Apoftle, of Old Tefta
ment faints and worthies ; that fome among them
all, have obtained a good report, through faith, but
not yet received the full promife: God having pro
vided, or forefeen, fome better thing for us, that
they, without us, fhould not be made perfeft. —
Whofo is Wife, then, and will obferve thefe things;
even they fhall underftand the loving kindnefs qf
the Lord.
1 fhould now proceed to the Prophetic, and New,
Teftament-evidence of this doftrine; but here, at pre
fent, I muft flop; giving glory to Him, who is not
only, the God ofthe Jews, but of the Gentiles alfo;
F and

4$- s:e R M 0 N t,
and'lneans, in his own good time* to unite them
bothi in the clofeft bonds of Chriftian fellowfhip
and love ; and caufe every intelligent creature he
hath made, to afcribe bleffing, and honour, and
glory, and power, unto Him that' fitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever 1

END OF THE FIRST SEKMOtf.

SERM.

, 'i<tyi

S E R M ON II.
t Tim. iv. 9, 10, ix. v/
«¦  •" :  V "iti'i'm . 1 '11
This is a faithful faying, and worthy of all ac
ceptation,. . ...
For therefore we both labour and fuffer reproach;
becaufe we truft in the living God, who is th£ Saviour
of all men, fpecialiy of thofe that believe,
Thefe things command and teach.——
: .:..: JI , -. . L
IT is four times faid in Scripture,- c This is a
1 faithful faying'-.— andt twice, out of that four,
* worthy of all acceptation.' , See, i Tim. i- -15.
iv. 19. — 2 Tim. ii. ii.-'— and Tit.' iii." 8.
The text is one of thofe paffages to which this
addition is made ; and fure, none more worthy of
it,. Chap. i. 1 5. of this epiftle, we read, ' This is a
f faithful faying,, and worthy of all acceptation,
' that Chrift Jefus carrie. into the world to fave fin-
* ners.' But as fome have interpreted this, how
ever true and worthy of their reception it may be,
they have not fuppofed it, either intended by God
-td be favingly believed by all; or any way in the
power of all, fo to have accepted it, as to be changed,
and converted thereby, .
But the words of the text fuppofe this, as.-^ell as
that ; and fay, in exprefs terms, that he is the Saviour
F a 'of

^4 SERMON II,
of all men ; 'ancTnbf only of ffierrllfiailrelifve.' By
which, weare not. to think Chrift will fave unbelievers
in their fins and unbelief; or take them, as rebels, to
fit with him, in -fife kingdorh r "bat/ by one means
or, other, and eithe^here or hereafter, he will fp^ope,
rate, aiid0wpjjk,, ^pon, their, hearts and. minds,,, that
that they fhall readily, and willingly, drop thek*?«$/7y
to him, and ; thfeir prejudice againft him ; and be "fo
perfu'a'decl of his good-will and kindriefs towards
them, as to bow and fubmit themfelviesy unfeign-
edly, to -him; -and- be4aved in- the Lord, wkh an
everlafting falvation, fo as not to be confounded,
world without end, - .; /,:,:,'•".'"
i , ¦• ¦ ¦j v. ¦!> :.. 7 , : ¦.•/.' — -',. . i 7 . i i: .'¦ . .."..
This T have rnore.than glanced at, in the pre-!J
ceding difcourfe : I have brought what I believed
typical evidence of it, But as that will not fuffice,
of 'itfelf, nor give full fatisfaftion, on fuch: a point as
this, (nor, indeed, muft it ever Hand unconnected).;
I erigage'd to produce ftrongerireafons of tjrisfdaufe^
$nd would now fulfil the engagement. I '.¦h.U'C •
i <7... ., - .7 -.; ;. .... 1 v.. i '
We have additional proof, then, from prophecy.
The law has favoured it-; the, prophets feem to cofifirt^
it. Let us, t then, attend to their teftimony ; thalj
out of the mouth, of thefe two witneifes, this. TJ^ii
versax Doctrine may be eftablifhed,
And the firft prophecy of the Meffiah, feems"
ibrongly to include this. A<iKl£he promife, 'that the
, : -feed

S - E R 1^. O N II, 4J
feedsof; the woman, -fhould -bruife, or overwhelm*,
(-as. theMWord is in the original), 'the ferpent's head;
woi^ld not be true, if, in Jhe end; hcfiftedit up, and
for ever, triumphed oyer .a great part of mankind.
His power, at ¦Leaft,; (or^r/V)?, ;r ather, in him); wpuld
be equal to the power of Chrift, if he did not reign
a greater potentate than he : for a much greater
part of men apparently die the Haves ..of ;fin and
Satan, than the fervants and difciples of Jefus Chrift*
And if thefe are endlefty miferable, the ferpent's head
was not fully and totally crujhed ; nor are the works
of the devil deftroyed ; And yet, for this purpofe
was the Son of God manifefted. If any, then, are
finally tormerited ; this prophetic promife is partial,
and Chrift's power over the devil, limited and re
trained. 'But who cari'believe this, of the God of
wifdom, goodnefs, and power ? It is making him
more juft than: merciful; and yet, ymefty is made' his
laft and i^r/z/zj- attribute, in. Scripture V Exod. xx. 6V
James,- ii. 13-, <
Befid^s, , as this, firft prophecy .clears and opens
kfelf, in the. Old Teftament; we find , the bleffing it
holds forth, not confined to any one people, or nation,
whatever : but the Salvation it brings, to be a com-,
mon falvation. In thee; and in thy feed, (fays Got!,
to .Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in their refpeftive
generations) fhall allthe nations,. ## the families,, of
the earth be bleffed.
'* t\v, iii"kal, fignifies, to cover, ox overwhelm, as with dtetnpefl.and
¦darknefci as appears from Job, ix. 1 7. But, for fuller fatisfaftipjj;,
fee Parkhurft's Hebrew Lexicon, on the word,

4-6 S E R M O N II.
To < limit this, to all kindreds and -tonguiss in their
national capacity only, feems neither fcriptural nor
true. For, all nations (as nations) have never yet
had Chrift explicitly made kno\vn to them ; nor is
it likely this fhould be the cafe, fo long as the
prefent world endures.
And to fay, it means only fome of all nations, h
conjehure, rather than proof; and favours more of
&ianys -explanation, than of Godys declaration.
r Had God indeed any-where exprefly faid, that
feme only, of all nations, were - to he bleffed in
Chrift; that Chrift died only for fome, and not for all
men; we muft have bowed to that. decifion, and
fat down, in fUent fubmiffion before, hjm. Brit as
he has :r\p where exprefly faid. this, and it is man
alone that, ventures to declare it, (from feeing only
fame perfons faved from their fins, from the. love,
power, and dominion thereof, and delivered from
this prefent evil world, and a vain converfation in
it); we are at liberty to demur, and refufe it,' as not.
fo agreeable to the oracles of God in other places,
Thefe indeed, fpeak of feme only, being re
deemed I from 'among men: but it is, Redemption by
power, as wel'l as by price, that is here meant, and
-underftood ; hot Redemption by price only. .
TheRanfom-vrice of Chrift's. Blood, was given
for all, and every one of the fallen and enflaved race

SERMON II. 4>)l
»f mankind ; as appears from Rom. v. 1 8. z Cor.
V. 14, 15. 1 Tim. ii. 6. Heb. ii. 9. But it is only
feme from among the reft, that are, for the prefent, re
deemed by price and power too : and this has
caufed many to miftake, and occafioned corifufion
in their minds and judgments ; fo that when pro*
phecies are declared in Scripture of Jefos Chrift,
though in ever fuch general terms ; when Salvation
through his name is proclaimed, and faid to be •
tidings of great joy to all people ; they interpret them
of all people indeed, but not of all perfons ; or of every
individual among thofe people.
Even thofe who maintain general Redemption, rc-fi^
fpefting the price that was paid, do not corifefs and •
plead for univerfal Salvation. The price, though
paid for all men, will only avail but for feme, they .
fuppofe : part of the purchafe will be loft, and fall
into the hands of another. Great and good men-
are in this judgment ; but ftill there feems fomething
beyond it. Right reafon fays, A wife man would
not purchafe property, and let an enemy run Iway
with a part of it. If he did, at^leaft for a time, he
would not always admit of this; but, at one time
or other, would arife, and do juftice to himfelf, if he
could. The Scripture falls in with this, nay goes
further, and fays ; ' God will have all men to bq..
faved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
But this is entering on New Teftarnent evidence,
before I have done with the Old.
The

4?* s 'E r M 6 N

ii.

The Pfalms, tli^ri, come next to our aid. Arii
here we find many great a-itd- precious prtmifes, as
Well as prophecies, niade of this matter*
Pfalm ii. 8; lays a glorious ground of fuch' hopej
* Afk of me, and I fhall give thee the heathen for
* thine inheritance ; and the uttermoft parte of the
c earth for thy poffeffion.' This, in a degree, is al
ready fulfilled ; and remains, in its fuUnefs; to be
more fo. For taken in connexion with Pf. lxxii*
(to which the note in the margin refers) we there
find tliis matter amplified, and enlarged Upon : AU
.kings are to fall down before Chrift ; all nations are,
tone day,- to ferv'e him. Not feme of all kings, and
fome of all nations, as is commoiily underftood and
interpreted, (though that is the truth onlyat pre
fent) but all0 and every king, and every individual
of all nations, in the due and proper feafbn ; ac
cording to the. analogy of faith, and other part's of
Scripture : For they are to feme him, it is faid
lier§. And again,. Pfal. lxvL 4. "All the •earth fhall
¦zvofflrip thee'; and fhall fing unto thee ; they fhall
fing to thy name'; (and that with the higheft note)
Selah. Now, numbers, both jews and Gentiles,
are'd'eaH and gone, ' who have never yet done this*
They have departed this life, but not in the faith
and fear .of Go'd's moft holy name. All kings, and
nations,, have not-, yet ferved him; it is, therefore!,
a thing to come. But, is, not this contradicted, in thefe
very Pfalms themfelves ? Is not it here &id,\ V2$.
^ . His

S E R M 0 N II. .g
His enemies fhall lick the duft ? And Pf. ii. 9. Thou-
Jfcalt break them with a. rod of iron ; thouftialt dap
them in pieces, like : a potter's veffel?. It is not only
faid,- but will alfo certainly be done." No rebel, no
enemy of . God, fhall enter into, Heaven, while he,
Continues rebellious; he muft hefubdued firft. And
there is a.promifepfj this : He muft reign, till he,
hath. put all enemies , under his feet, Not as a-
merciless tyrant, but as a kind and merciful king.;
When the veffel made of clay, was marred.in the
hands of the potter, and broken to-pieces, (Jer.
xviii. 4.) it was not thrown. away, extinSl, or thought.
no more. cf; but came into fight again. So he made
it again, another veffel, as Teemed good to the
Potter to make it. , And verfes 7, 8. evidently
fhew, -that people,} as weUas veffels, who are plucked
upjpuneddown, and deftroyed, may yet be recovered,
and rife from their ruin and deftruftion. Not at- ,
tending to this, many have curtailed, and unne-
ceiferfly contracted their views of God's grace and
mercy ; and flopped fhort of the fuUnefs of the
bleflirigs of the Gofpel of Chrift, as -they refpeft
the whole race of mankind. i
We find again, another prediction of this matter,
in Pfal. viii. which begins and ends with the fame
words, • giving glory to God, for his excellent,,.
greatnefs and goodnefs, at prefent apparent, and to
be yet more manifeft in . all the earth. Struck with
the glory of the vifible heatens, and dazzled with
G theij:

JO S E K M O IT II.
* their, luftre, the Pfalmift ftands aftohlfhed at the
divine'condefcenfioris towards tndn. That he mould
be madeTLorl of the creation; have' the anitoial,
feathered, arid finny world, all in fubordination unto
hirri ; filled David's mind with wonder, and his
mouth with praife. And how much more reafon
have we to admire and rejoice, at finding this^pfalm
prophetic of Jefus Chrift, and uniVerfal- Salvation
by him. Iri the epiftle to" the Hebrews, chap. ii.
5— id. he is exalted far above all creatures- —An
gels, though mihiftering fpirits- to men,- have not
the honour to be their Saviours ; this is referved for
Chrift, arid- him alone. Befides hirii, there is no
Saviour. For unto the angels, God hath not put
ift/fubje<f&on-'/&f world to cofoe, but unto Chrift he
has. Even angels, authorities/ and powers, are one
day to be made fubjeft untO him. All things fhall
be $e^'hekde#in him. No6 few Of all; bit all,
unequivocally; all, univerfally. This appfe&rS from '
the apoftle's manner of fpeeeh, v. 8. He hath ex- !
prefled it,- both negatively arid pofitively. ' Thou haft -
p&t all things' under his feet'— here it is pofitiwelyde-''
ciared. * In that he put all in fubjection unto him, v
he left nothing that is not put under him'— here
it is negatively exprefled; and the word 'off, fettled
arid afcertained, beyond a doubt. ' But we fee not
yet, all things put under him.' Tis true : but we'
obferve the foundation laid for it. For e we fee Jefus,.;
crowned with glory and honour,* (and -every' way
qualified for it) 'that -he, by the grace of God, fhould '
• * infix

S.:g R.;M 0 N II, $£
fafh? death for every «ian *.' "The pmverfality of his,
diath, implies the wfefyerfality of his. Salvation ; and:
if fo, the v'mth Pfalm is predidtive pf if.
The xxii^ Pfalm again, feems a prophecy of this.
From v, 22. to the end, lies contained a fummary'
of this doctrine. Chrift is aUowed here to be ther
fpeaker ; and at v. 22, he fays, * 1 will declare thy
name unto my brethren ; in the midft of the "con*
gregauon will J praife thee/ To his Jewifli brer
thren, his apoftles, and rnore immediate difciples, firft j
and then to others, as connected with them. The
eleB, and chofen of God, from v, 23 — 27. At the1
27th v. All the ends of the earth are to remember and
$ urn. unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the na
tions are to worfhip before him ; and that in confe*
quenceof his being king, and the government tipop
his fhoulders; (v. 28.) By thefe are rneant the -Genr
tile nations, in their firft-fruits. Thefe 'fhajl hear,
and come, contrary to Jewifh expectation, But
the mean, the poor, and leafi thought of, chiefly;, not
the principal ones, at firft. Shepherds, and the
loweft of the people, were the firft part ofthe Gentile?
unto Chrift. But the higher, and more exalted ones
foUow, All they that be fat upon earth, fhall eat,
* The wqrd man, is not in the original; it is only, -j*\i vm-rls)
which is ftronger ftijl ; and may mean, every thiifg, as well as every
man. Some fay, the original reading was not x«?'T<' StS, by thf
Grace of God; but, x,£& i^t God .exfepiecf. Chrift lafted death,
for every thing, excepting Gpd.
JSengelius., has more largely Jtetfidled this,— See his Gaomatt.
G % and

5& s as R M O K II.
and worfhip. The higheft, as well as the touoejt
ftations, are to reverence and adore him — and, to'
complete the prophecy, the very dying,, arid 'the-
dead, are to be converted unto him. ,F.or * all they
that go down to the duft, fhall bow before him.'
But as that is not the cafe now, it muft be the work
and expectation of the ages to come, and of the fu
ture periods, after death .- or the infidel triumphs.
In the meari time, Chrift has always a feed toferve
him, privately, perfonally, and as touching themfelves,
firft of all — but afterwards, in a more public and
general way, and as it refpedts others alfo. It fhall
be accounted to the Lord, for a generation. They
(haU generate, and be found inftrumental in gain-,
ing others to Chrift. Their character is both public
and private. The following verfe confirms this,
They fhall corneas Minifters and Commiflione,rs of
his, and fhall declare his righteoufnefs, (his way
and method of juftifying finners, as well as the
righteoufnefs 'by which they are. juftified) unto a^
people that ftjall be born, (in virtue of this decla
ration they fhall make) that he hath, done this.
That is, appointed this way, and wrought out this .
righteoufnefs, and fulfilled this promife, by which they
are thus faved and recovered here, in fome mea
fure in this world, according to their refpedtive
gifts, and abilities ; and hereafter, ' i Cor. vi. . 2, , .3 .
Rev. v. io.(as their office is future, too) in the
world, or age, to come. Whatever loiver fenfe
may be fiut by fome upoh this paffage1; it is ca*
,y pable

S"1 E R M O N" II. |J
jbatele of a higher, and more exalted one,- in pro
portion as we fee and enter into .the fuUnefs of the
Gofpel, and its Salvation. 7 . ;
Pfalm Ixxxiiw?, feerns further. prophetic of this
matter; and is a key (fo to fpeak) whereby we may
unlock, and interpret more folly, many others.
From the ift verfe to the 13th, the enemies of
God, and his people, are pictured and fet forth,
at full-length. Their rage and enmity ; their fobde
fchemes and devices'; their combinations and con-
foltations ; and the wicked alliances, they form ; are
drawn in ftrong and ftriking colours, and are for
midable to hear and read. At v. 9, begins thek
prophetic doom ; and it is denounced in a variety
of expreflions, and with reference to manifold evils
and vifitations, that befel fome former enemies, at
different times and places. The imprecations are
fearful, and the denunciations againft them, many,
and heavy — ' Make them (fays the Prophet) like a
wheel; as the ftubble before the wind ! As the fire
burnetii the wood, and as the flame fetteth the
mountains on fire ; fo perfecute them with thy
tempeft, and make them afraid with thy ftorm.
Fill their faces with fhame, O Lord !'— But, to whaj
end? and with what view ? Not to gratify revenge;
not out of malice and wrath ; not to exult and tri
umph over an enemy; not to glorify juftice, in the
endlefs mifery of a creature, when lefs mifery will
do; or, delighting to fee him unhappy ; but, with a
nobler

|4 $ S R M O if II,
noblerr^nji asd view ; with a defign tb reckim*. and
reftofe, arid bring: the culprit to fupplimtim, and fub"
ptijfion. « Fill their faces withlhanie, that they may
« feek thy name, O Lord.' How noble! how gene
rous Pho# gjodlikef Here is the excellency of the
prophecy. Future fufferings, according to tlie re*
ceived doctrine, have no fuch generofity in them,
Nor are we to expect it, fay you : the ne^t words
are directly againft it. Is it not faid—' Let them
* be confounded, and troubled for ever- § Let then^
* be put to fhame, and perijh ?"
Thefe, irideed, are the wards; but the fenfe is
different from the found; For, what follpws ? ' That
* they* may know, that thou, whofe name alone is
* Jehovah, art the Moft High, over all the earth/
May know ; that is, may fo know.and believe, as to
bow down, and acknowledge Thee to be the Lord ; and
worfhip and adore fhee, with all readinefs of mind ; as.
Manafleh (thatonce rnonfter in iniquity) did, after he
had been foreiy troubled, arjd deeply in the furnace of
affliction, and humbled thereby. Then, (fays the hif-.
tory of hjm) Mamffeh knew, that the Lord he was.
God : (2 Ctiroh. xxxiii. 13.) —Knew, fo as to honour,
ferve, and obey Him ; as the continuation of his,
chronicle fhcws, ver. 14, 15, 16. Or, as k^g Ne-,
* Thus it reads, ii) the other tranflation ; tl\at They, thefe felf-fame
etieimes, may know ! Not that ''men may know, as it is here rendered.
The original does not require this.; nor would the Tranllators, it is
likely, have fupplicd the word »?«,' if they had feen the utmoft exy
tent of the grace and hope of the Gpfpel. - - - But, as the Gofpel-day
ad varices,, the Jight cjf it ipcreafesv . , .; ^ . .>
_: buchadhezzar,

.SERMON ill. 53
tfochadnezzar, that haughty monarch, as high in.
fpirit as in ilation ; yet,, when he was driven froni
the fons of men, and his heart was made like the
beafts, and his' dwelling Was with the wild afies ;
when he was fed with grafs, like Oxen, and his
body was wet with the dew of heaven, and feven
times had paffed over him : Then, he knew that the
moft high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and
appointed Over it whorrifoever he will : (See, Pan.
v. 21.)— Knew, fo as to dbafe and humble himfelf;
zxxdpraife, and extol, and honour the King of Heaven,
as much as he had difhonoured and defied him before :
(ch. iv. 37.) In this fenfe we are to underftand
the word know, here in this pfalm; as the pre
ceding verfe determines. 1 here, they are to be
afhamed, ' that they may feek the Lord :' here,
confounded, and troubled, and put to fhame, and
even perifh; that they may' know Him, as the
Lord God omnipotent, that reigrieth, till they, and
all other enernies, are put under his feet, fo as to be
willingly fubjedt. And, to fhew this cannot, and
muft not, be confined to the narrow limits of this
prefent life ; but be partly future, too ; it is faid,
(ver. 17.) ' Let them be "Confounded, and trou-
* bled, for ever : yea, let them be put to fhame,
'and perish/ This is a thing to come : For
none are here troubled, long, enough to anfwer to the
full meaning of thefe expreffions. Yet, in -the other
ftate, they will ; neverchelefs, not fe longj ai never
to efcape, or come -out, of thek mifery, and fuf-
, firings;

5^ S £ R M O N If.
firings*; as feems to appear, from othfcr parts of
Scripture, to be produced in their feafon*
This fenfe of prophecy feems again to meet us, in
reading Pfal. cxivth. Taken altogether, it leaves a.
fweet favour upon the mind, of the univerfal love
and good-zvill of God, to man. It difiinguifhes, in
deed, (as all other Scriptures do, upon this point) ;
but it aggregates alfo, and Jays the foundation of
our hope, that all men will finally be fave'd.
If his faints are to blefs him, to, fpeak of the glory of.
his kingdom, and talk of his power > and his grace
herein ; if this is difcriminating, others, even
all, are to hear of it : Not to fill them with
envy, . rage, and " ceafelefs malice, and enmity, .
againft him and them,, for this diftinction ; (which..
muft be the cafe, if no provifionwas ever, made-,
for their falvation, no mercy intended them) but,
with nobler views, even to provoke them to a godly
jealoujy : That when they are come to themfelves^ .
* The reader of the Engfilh Scripture, fliould here be informed, that
.what is teni^Ki for ever, in this paffage, is, tl; fov Aiwya ri aii'yo?, in the ¦
Greek ; which fignifies , to the age ofthe age ; a period beyond this prefent
ftate of things ; but not ok eridlefs one. It is likewife fo ift the Hebrew ;
"IP *1V, rendered, by Buxtorf, ufque in feculum—to thenge, or certain ,
fixed period, known to God. But they are to perish ; it is further
laid.' This word, I know, conveys an idea, to moft people, either of
extinction and annihilation, or of cndlifs mifery and torment. But *
there is a medium between thefe 5 and the word is capable of an inter
pretation different from thetti both, arid feems to require it here1- —
"Tifeyf^allftrifli; that is, be turned, out of favour— -out of all prefent. eri- .
joyment—outofUfe—-out of the prefence of God, and. all happy inter -
courfe with faults ami' angels: (They and their memories fi all rot, as •
oijtier thihgs do that perifh ; but not without ri^'iving :• ^Jtrf, as weU
as things, pay and do rift out of their ruins. This feeins the Ibnic. be

SERMON II. 117
be it here or hereafter: firft, they may th«n, the
more readily and unfeignedly, fubmit themfelves,
and rejoice to be faved, by grace, through faith.
For the Lord is good to all, ver. 9. and his ten
der mercies are over all his works,; and all his
works are to praife him, in their refpedtive ways ;
which perfons in endlefs torments are not capable of
doing, (in the fenfe that feems here to be meant) :
for allflefh are to blefs his holy name, for ever and
ever. They are to praife and glorify him ; not He
glorified, in the conftant and endlefs miferiesof any
of his creatures. This. feems a forced,' and foreign
fenfe, of fuch expreffions. If allfleft) then, are, at one
period or other, to blefs the name of God, and that
for ever; it is plain, from prophecy, thatdiere muft
beUNiVERSAL Restoration: for none are thank
ful for being miferable, if it does not iffue in thek
happinefs. The concluding verfe of the Pfalms, is a fimilar
paffage to this, and may fitly clofe the evidence
from this quarter., ' Let every thing that hath
' breath, praife the Lord !' or, as it might.be ren
dered from the original — < Every thing that, hath
« breath, fhall * praife the Lord.' Thus ends the
* The Englifh, Latin, and other languages, have mifhing, or optfr
tive moods : But this is nor the cafe vv th the Hebrew. What we
have tranflated Let, fhould have beea rendered shall, or will.
The Hebrew has an imperative, or bidding mood And if this be the
fenfe here; it ftill favours the Universal Scheme: for what
God bids, or commands, either by himfelf or another, comes to pais in
its feafon. When he faid- -' Let there be light:' there was l^ght.
And as he fays -' Let every thing that hath breath, praife the Lord :*
*v« bave as good, reafon to believe it fhall be fc.
H Pfalms 1

$$¦ 5 E R M O V It.
Pfalms : and thus, we; have reafon to believe, it
will one day end, with all fallen and apoftate crea
tures. Sin fhall be done awayi eradicated, and de-
ftroyed, out of the whole creation ; and all, arid every
intelligent creature, fhall blefs and adore the Lamb.
One more proof from prophecy, and I have done
with this kind of evidence. It is, that memorable
paffage in Ifa. xiv, 22, 23. — e Look unto me, and
* be ye faved, all the ends of the earth : for lam
' God ; and there is none elfe. I have fworn by
* myfelf. The word is gone out of my mouth; in
* righteoufnefs, and fhall'not return; that unto me,
* every knee fhall bow, every tongue fhall fwear.'
Thofe to whom the Universal View hath not
yet commended itfelf, arfe ufed to interpret thefe
words, of a forced fubmiflion, and a forced
fubje£tion : But this feems far fhort of its meaning.
Iri this fenfe; the prophecy is already fulfilled: for
all yield and bow, (though foreiy againft their will)
if he only give the word of command. But it i®
willing' obedience, and a ready allegiance^ the prophet
here means and foretels; and fpeaks of it as afuturt
'thing, and of every Intelligent under heaven- This
appears from Rev, v. 13. where every creature, in
every place, is to fing and give praife unto God; which
"never could be the cafe, if any one creature was un-
ceafingly tormented.
This paflage is quoted twice in the New Tefta
ment j viz. RoBiiJxiv, 11. and Phil, ii, 10, 1-**
And

3 E R M O N II, 591
And nothing there determines it a forced fubmiflion ;
but a ready, rational, and free confeffion of Chrift,'
as Lord and Judge;, and as conne&ed with this,,
inlfaiah, and that in the Revelations ; a; yielding.
themfelves unto him, as liege and loyal fubjedts ;
willing from henceforth to be his, and his alone ;
ajid. no longer f ngaged in a foreign fervice. Like
foldiers, in military contracts, fwearing allegiance^
and all good fidelity ; and engaging to be true and,
faithful to the Captain of their falvation, and die
Prince of thek peace. The concluding verfes of
this paffage, in Ifaiah, fhew this to be the fenfe and
meaning ; for all felf-righteoufnefe, and mrighteouf-
pefs, is here renounced; Chrift, alone, exalted;
men coming to him for falvation; and hone ex
cluded, and afhamed, but' continued rebels, and ene
mies ; and they, no longer than till thek enmity is
flain, (according to other Scriptures) arid Chrift has
fo long and; triumphantly reigned over therri, as to
have brought them to temper and fubntiffion, and to
thefpirit and difpofition of true children arid friends;
They then, being no longer incenfed againft him,
fhall nolonger be miferable. If Chrift muft reign j
till he hath put all enemies under his feet ; none
can he finally miferable : for they would ftill be
enemies, though they were in hell. And if keeping
under, without changing them, was all that was
meant, by making them his footftool; this promife
of ftill feigning over them, is improperly eXpreffed,
( For this point was gained, and manifefted; both -to
H a angels

60 SERMON

II.

angels and men, when he hung upon the crofs.
There he fpoiled principalities and powers, and
made a fhew of them openly ; triumphing over them
in it. We conclude, therefore, fomething more
than external rule and conqueft, muft be meanty
by putting all enemies under his feet : even fub-
duing them to himfelf, and transforming them int<*
his own image and likenefs. It is the glory of, Chrift,
to reign over fubmiffive and willing fubjefts; and
not over thofe who are endlefly rebellious.
But let me now come to the New Teftament Evi- ,
Hence of this doftrine. And here, it is becoming,
to.let the SaViour himfelf, begin to fpeak of his fal
vation : he certainly beft knows, both the .nature
and extent of it. Now, (John xii. 32.) he fays —
t'; And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
' ah men unto me,' Such are the attratlive charms
of a crucified Saviour, that though, at firft, they
prove repulfive, by reafon of a rejefting fpirit in man ;
and, with fome, even beyond the grave ; yet they
triumph, in the end, over every fallen creature ;
and the ftouteft of all rebels, will feel and fall under
the force of them. Not like Julian, the Apoftate,
¦finding Chrift only ftrpnger than he, and fo yielding,
becaufe he muft; but from the force of ,hi§ dying
, loye, his rifing and afcending power, and becaufe
they will; being fweetly overcome, by his kindnefs.
---.At the 47th verfe of this chapter, we hear him
faying--*' I came not to judge the world, but to fave
'the

S E R* m o n; ii. 6v
* fht'wortd :' Andwiirhe be difappoihted of his
defign ? Will not the world be faved. by him ? At
firft, and at once, it will not :. a lafting and fevere
judgment will precede. But, in the end, we have
reafon to believe it ; becaufe, the Father fent the
Son to be the Saviour of the world.
In the 6th chapter of this Gofpel, by St. John,
we hear Chrift calling himfelf — * The Bread of
* God, which cometh, down from Heaven,, and
* giveth light unto the world :' And again, ver. 5 1.
¦ — * The Bread that Isiwill give, is my flefh ; jyhich
* I will give for* the life of the world.' The ele^
are ne vet called the world, in Scripture; but thofe
chofen out of the r world. Shall tins -life, then, be
given for .the world, and the world never lively him ?
— John -the Baptift came to bear wknefs .of the
light; that AtL-men, through him, might .believe :
not some, only. , ,
As Chrift^ then, was fent hot to cohdenin, but t«
fave the world; John, iii. 17. — as he 'Came ta
give life to it ; John,.vi. 33, 51'.— and alfo prayed,
thai the world might know and believe in him, as
the Sent of God;' John, xvii. 21, 23. ---Why
fhould it be thought a thing incredible, that God
fhould perform this ; and the World, at length,
fhould be fayed? — efpecially, when other Scrip
tures are confidered. Joh»

6»" SERMON II.
John xvii. 2. it is faid, ' Thou haft giv;en bin*
*' power over allflejh, that he fhould giye eternal lifo,
* to as many as thou haft given him.' If by all fiefh,
are meant all mankind, at leaft, (which inoft people^
I believe, will allow) then a//*Ktf«&«^:willbe faved. j
for Chrift is to give eternal life tb all the Father
hath given him ; fo it is in the original * ; not, tt
as many as the Father has giveri hkri. Btit if we
allow a peculiarity hfcre, and the meaning to.
be, * All the Father had gheit him aswitneffes, an$
* thi firft-fruits of the travail of bis foul, the elecl only?
yet other Scriptures, as well as the 21ft and 23d
verfes of thi§ chapter, clearly fhew, the world,' and the
reft of mankind, are not entirely excluded, but will have
that life, in their feafon. Matt. xi. 27. Chrift fays,
^Allihings are delivered unto me of my Fadier, ' And|
again; Johriiij. 35. 'The B'athCr loveth the Sdn,.and
hath given all things into his harid,' And into good
hands were they given : for when he. acknowledges,
faying, '.AU powder is given unto me,, in Heaven, and
in earth,' he makes a noble, generous, arid uhponfined
»fe, of it, bidding them go and teach all nations-—
or,, if poffible, more unlimited ftill, 'Mark xvi. 15*
* Go into, all the world, and preach the Gofpel to
* every creature ? And as lie is not willing that any
fhould perifh, but that aU fhould come \o repen*
~ * Why the Tranflators rendered the word, tw, as many, is to be;
accounted for, from the partial Jyflem of truth they had embraced.
Being Calvinifts, they fpoke their own fenfe, and according to their
¦ erwri judgment in this matter, rather than according to literal truth.tance,

SERMON I IV 6$
tanee, with a view, no doubt, jto their Salvation,
and not to their condemnation. Condemned indeed,
foriie are, and will be,r for thek negUB, ¦ 'difbelief;
and abufe of this glorious Gofpel ; but not without
end, we may Hope. For, a further ground of this
hope appears, 2 Cor. v. 1 9. It is there written, ' God
* was in Chrift, reconciling the world unto himfelf.'
The Church are actually, and perfonaliy reconciled 1
they have heard, and believed, arid are at peace
With God, through Chrift. They have received;
flie atonement, or reconciliation ; and the world are:
reconciling: That is, the foundation is laid for their
return to God, by Chrift. At prefent they ftand
out, pull away the fhoulder, and refufe to retunv
But he has ways and means of bringing them to
ftbmiffion, and 'gaining their hearts to himfelf;
awful indeed, and tremendous to confider j but,
reftoring and falutary in the end.
Ephef. i. 10. feems another, and frefh proof of
this point. ' That in the difpenfation ofthe fulnefs
* of times, he might gather together in one, all
'things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, (or
* the heavens, as the margin reads it) and which
* are on earth ; even in him.' Some interpret this,
of Chrift feeing the head of confirmation only, to holy
angels, and holy men, or the ek& of God, both
under the Old and New Teftament difpenfations*
There is truth in this, but it does not feem, the
•whole truth : for, all things, bere^is very ftrong and
expreffive;

$4 sermon iii
expreffivfe; arid feems to mean more than feme of
all things lonly : and if we compare this with Col. i*
20. where Chrift is faid to have made; peace, by
the blood' of his crofs; and God, by him, to recon
cile alLthings to himfelf, , whether things in earth,
or things in heaven; and take in, 2 Cor. v. 18.
it appears to refer to Redemption, and not to confir
mation ; and, in confequence of that, to refioration,
more than. .to recapitulation; though to this latter, in
the final iffue. To reconcile, is more than to gather
together, or recapitulate; and implies, want of peace
and concord at prefent. Things, and perfons, may
be reconciling, that are not actually reconciled, though
fome. too: often; miftake the one for the otiier. In a
found and good fenfe, even the unbelieving worJd
piay be faid to be reconciled to God, and God to
them; as appears from Rom. v. 10. and 2 Cor. v.
19. but not in the fenfe they hold and maintain it.
Fain would many perfuade themfelves, they are at
peace with, and reconciled to God, who are in
dulging their finful lufts and paffions; and whofe
hearts are at enmity againft him. Numbers are
crying Peace to themfelves, to whom. the Lord is
faying, There is no peace. Thefe are reconcikable
indeed, but not as yet reconciled. But, all things
are to be actually reconciled to God, whether they be
things in* earth,., or things in heaven. Here in
this world, it is not fo ; therefore, iri fome diftant
period hereafter. Things

SERMON II. 6^
Things in earth may be reconciled, fay you;
but all is harmdny in Heaven. How is this true,
of that? It fhould be remembered, that part of
Heaven is fallen, but yet confidered as part of
it. The angels which kept not their firft eftate,
but left their own habitations, are referved in ever
lafiing* chains, under darknefs, unto the judg-
inent of the great day. Thefe are things in Hea
ven, to be reconciled. And what is ftrongin fa
vour of this, is, the ftyle and manner in which thek
mifery is expreffed. Referved in everlafiing chains,
under darknefs, unto the judgment of the great day.
Not indiffbluble chains, or endlefs -f- woe, beyond the
great day of judgment ; but unknown, or indefinite,
or rather limited, as it ftands connected with the
next verfe : For unto, as well as until, is a word of
Hmitation, fometimes ; and feems to require to t>e
fo underftood, in this place. Sodom and Gomor
rah, in this 7th verfe, are fet forth as an example ;
fuffering the vengeance of eternal fire, (wffs a.**).,
aionian fire) and cannot irjean endlefs : for fhe is to rife
* The word in the Greek, we have tranflated everlafiing, is, uthltf
-— which would hare been more , properly rendered unfeen, or un.
known ; from a, priv. and Utim, fcio ; or, htu, video. It is ufed once
more in the New Teftament, Rom. i. 20 ; and there tranflated eternal;
but with more propriety, according to iu etymology, unfeen, or un
known. — It is once more ufed in the Apocrypha ; viz. Wifd. vii.
a 6 ; and, with the fame juftice\ might have been rendered as above,
inftead of everlafiing.
t It is obfervable, the -word ENDLESS, is ufed /-but twice in the
Englifh Scriptures i Once, in a figurative and improper fenfe; viz.
t Tim. i. 4. -—and once, in its true arid proper meaning; Heb. vii,
»6. — And then, applied to life ; and not to mifery, or death.
I again,

4& 3 E R M O H II.
again, from her allies ; her lake is to be healed £
(Ezek. xlvii. 8— -ii. Zech. xiv. 8<) — She, and
her daughters, to return to their former eftate, (chap.
Xvi. 55) — and to be received,and embraced again,
by her fillers, Samaria and Jerufalem; (ver. 61*)
~--and to come into the bonds of a new C&venant
with God. Eternal fire, then, is not endlefs fire, nor
• everlafiing chains, indiffoluble ones: For, even as,
conriects One of thefe verfes with the other, arid
makes the punifhment of them both to be finite. And
that better anfwers to the nature of an example ; to
which the latter is faid to be of the former.
We may next attend to 1 Tim. ii. 4. — ' Who
will have all men to be faved, and come unto the
knowledge, of the truth.' This verfe, as it ftands
connected, is allowed, by even Calvinift Expofitors,
.to have Univerfality in it : but not of Redemption ;
much lefs, of Salvation. A univerfal call, offer, or
propofal: but no faving power to obey. Who,
hat well weighs and confiders it, can be fatisfied
with this*1 Tlie word all, and the word will,
here, are ftrangely contracted by fuch writers ; and
made to fignify much lefs, than the apoftle feems
to mean by them. Prayer, and giving of thanks,
are to be offered up for all men ; the ranfom Chrift
gave, was alfo given for all : and it is exprefly faid,
he will have all men to be faved. And yet diis is
to mean only feme ; or, if all, as to offer, propofal,
and an unaccountable fort of will, in God ; yet, with
ao

SERMON H. $*
no purpofe^ no defign, no- real intention, on his fide,
that more than the ele£l fhould be faved. The face,
and fimpiicity, of the paffage, is againft this : it can
. onfy be admitted, by a firain. If: Gpd will, and
men will not ; there is fenfe, and Scripture in this.
But it does not feem his whole will, k will do for
the prefent ; and experience fhews, it is true, But
there is a will in Gpd, that performs what it will;
an irrefiftible, energetic will : and from this, we
have every thing to hope for ; even the Refioration
pf all men, to his favour, likenefs, and kingdorq :
efpecially, as it is here faid, he will * have all men
to be faved, and to CQtue tQ th? knowledge of the
truth, I now come to that paffage in St. Peter, which
fpeaks of Chrift's going and preaching ' unto the
* fpirits in prifon; which fometkne were difobe-
* dient, in the days of Noah, while the ark was a
* preparing;' i Pet. iii. 19, 20, Different fenfes
have been put upon this parage ; and1 all have had
fomething "to fay : the IMiverfalifis, perhaps, moft;
of all ; and with more confiftency than any. Chrift, *
in the perfen of Noah, feems hardly confiftent with
the preceding yerfe : He fuffer ed \n his own perfen. ;
was perfenally put to death — And only preach im-
* John, xvii. 44^-— Where our Lord prays for the final happinefs
pf his firft difciples : he makes a demand, rather than a prayer : and
fays — fllxw, I wili, — (that they whom thou haft given, be with
me, &cj — It is the fame word here, m the, Greek : which gives
. room to believe, it is more than a conditional will in God, that gll
men fhall be finally faved..
*v. I * ferfonally!

68 S E R M O D I),
perfenally! This neither founds fimple, nor plain. —
And to finners, only Jpiritua}ty dead ? This but ill
accords with chap. iv. 6. where the dead are oppofed
to the quick, in the'former verfe ; and means corpo*
rally, and naturally dead. — That he '" defcended into
hell,' may be underftood ofthe place of the damned,
as well as of the place of the dead : for Skeol, (the
word in the Original) fignifies both hell and the
grave : And with a view, no doubt, to thek Salva
tion. For, having juft fuffered for fin and finners, it
is not to be thought he would go directly to the
' fpirits in prifon;' to make the wretched more
miferable ftill; but with a view to reclaim and re-
ftore them ; and make fome of them, at leaft, the
firft-fruits and trophies of his death. This, we muft
confefs, would be a defign worthy of him, and
agreeable to his character, as a Saviour : And it feems
highly probable, this was his defign, from what
is here faid about it ; and becaufe he delighteth in
mercy. And, if fome are releafed, we may look
upon it as the earneft of all, in due time *. ¦
But the Scripture that crowns all, and the laft
!' mail' bring into proof, ' is Rev. v. 13. Here,
' Every creature, which is in heaven* and on the
* The opinion of the Church of England, on this difficult paflTage,
is very clear ; from the appointment flie has made of it, for the epiftle
on Eafter Eve. Who .could be in prifon, bvit loft (becaufe difohc-
.dient) fpirits ? When did Chrift preach to them, ; but after his death ?
And, if Chrift did preach to them;' wha( could 'he preach, but the
; glad fiding> of great joy : that the powers of hell were brought into
ftlbjeftion, and a way opened into the Holieft of all ? earth,

SERMON 1$. 69
fearth, and under the earth, and fuch as are in the
fea, and all that are in them,' are heard ; faying,
' Bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power, be
* unto Him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto
' the Lamb,, for ever and ever.'
Here, all creation is at his. feet, and before his
dirone ; and that, not with tears in thek eyes, or
petitions ia thek hands : not with crying, and,fup-
plications, or weeping, with John here, (at the 4th
verfe) becaufe things were hidden and -kept fecret :
but with joy in their hearts, and praifes in .their
mouths; with melody on their lips, and hallelujahs
on dieir tongues; with looks, and countenances fuU
of fatisfaftion and delight ! And their faces, inftead of
gathering blacknefs, turning into palenefs, or being
covered with fhame and confufion, (as once was
the cafe with fome of them) they all now fhine as
the fun, replete with light, fife, and love; full of
extacy and rapture ! And that, becaufe the book,
written within, an<J on the backfide, and foaled
with feven feals, is now opened and unfealed ; , and
all things revealed, and explained. Their own cafes
. particularly unfolded to thek view ; with all the
ways and means their loving Saviour took, to bring
them to< the fituation they are now in ; with other
miracles of grace and love. All this is the burden
of their fong; which the four beafts, and four and
twenty elders, (whoever are meant by them) both
begin, and end : Angels uniting their voices, and
every

yo SERMON II.
every creature joining iri chorus. ¦«. See, Rev. v. 5.
to the end.
Where, then, there is univerfal praife, and thankfe
giving ; univerfal harmony, and love ; and both hea.-
ven and earth founding, and refoundirig, acclama
tions of joy and peace; there,' muft- be univerfal
Salvation, And would not one rationally think, that this »
would be good news to all that heard it, and caufe
.them to rejoice and fing; nay, even to leap for
joy ? But at firft hearing, it has another, and dif
ferent effect upon fome. With the fhepherds, they
are fere afraid. It charmed the hofts above, and
they fuddenly join the firft angel, with an anthem,
and notes of praife: but the legions, and fome
men below, feemed filled with ferrpw, more than
withyoy: and if the , Salvation, and peace that, is
proclaimed, are to be univerfally efficacious, it is
fad, rather than glad tidings in their ears ; and the
meffage is reprefented as dangerous, hurtful, ' and
delufive. But, fear not,
It muft be allowed, this dodtrine has objetlions
in its way, and fome of them very formidable, at
firft view ; but they vanifh, as they are brought to
the light, and examined by the law and the tefti-
mony *. In fo far, as the heart fhall object to it, it
* This has been lately attempted,, in a volume juft come tct Jight,
entitled, '< The Univerfal Refioration, exhibited in a feries of
" Dialogues,

S E R M • N II. 7»
it iriuft get changed, and purified, by faith ; no ar«
guments rectify this. But if through want of light
and evidence, men object, (as very frequently is
the cafe) they do well to attend to the evidence
that appears for it ; it will grow and increafe upon
them, in fo doing — if their heart incline not to
wickednefs. How far it may be with-lield frorft
fome, for reafonS beft known to God, rttuft be left
to him to determine, when the fecrets of all hearts '
fhall be difclofed. It is an indulgence, and hap
pinefs, that fome are here favoured with, for which
they fhould be thankful, humble, ahd faithful. .«-
Objections arifing from unwillingnefs, for the moft
part, are left unanfwered with unintelligence i Not
liking to know, they never come to underftand, in
the fenfe it is revealed and made known. If they
take it up as a doSrine, they have no joy~and peace
in believing it ; nor do they live in the love and
fpirit of it ; it remains a' floating notion in the brain :
and fuch, only fin upon, and abufe it. But where
it is taught us of God, and received as a doctrine
from him, it comes in the demonftration of the
fpirit, and of power ; and is attended with very
noble effects. Weaknefs of judgment, and flownefs of
" dialogues, between a Mlnifter and his Friend ;" by Elhanan
Winchefter. It appears to be written with candour, and a'digefted
view of the fubjeft ; and wfll commend itfelf, no doubt, to thpfe who
wilh well to the whole race of mankind. It is free from all abufe,
and inve&ive ; ftrikes profefledly at bigotry; and all forbidden li
berty ; and Philanlhrop/ty muft be allowed to be the fpirit pf it. The
objeftions are ftated in their ftrozigeft form, with replies to them ;
and collected in one view; whjj,h particularly endears, and reconu
mends the Look. ....'.. .,
capacity^

JZ S £ R M O JJ It.
eapacity, will never be imputed as a crime, < where
the mind does not wilfully rejeft a thing. Obfti-
nacy, and felf -will, are difpleafing to God ; but he
pities our weaknefs and imperfections.
There is a time for some truths, to He hid ; and
a time for all truth, to come out. Wifdom is pro'
fitable to direct, when this, in particular, may be fea-
fonable. Suppofing it a truth, I would never declare
it, fay fome ; but this is being wifer than God.
See, Jer. xxiii. 28. — Shall man be a monopolift,
where He is an Univerfalifi ? or engrofs that to him
felf, which was given for the general good ? He
forbid this to his firft difeiples ; (Matt. x. 27.) By
what authority, then, are his after-ones to counter
mand it?
TflESE THINGS COMMAND AND TEACH--- fays
the latter claufe of the text. Timothy would have
been but an undutiful fon in the Gofpel, to have
declared fome things, and kept conftant filence as
to others. And Paul himfelf, not pure from the
blood of all men, if he had fhunned declaring to
the Church at Ephefus, all the counfel of God. He
kept back nothing that was profitable unto them •
fure, then, not the doctrine of Salvation. Prefent
Salvation he taught ; future Salvation he declared ;
and the text (to mention no other) is his teftimony
for univerfal Salvation. And would he have given
it here, in charge to Timothy, to teach and preach
the fame doctrine, if others were to haye been filent oa

S-£ R'-M^O' N II. ' 73
on that fobject ? ' Our authority, then,' is fcriptural,
and clear t It remains that -we be faithfiiland judi
cious.'; Every truth, in its place;- and: every dex
trine,, in its turn : giving -to each their portibh in
due feafon.. ¦.'¦ We may fuffer reproach for fo doing;
our name rnay be eaft out, as evil, and we may be
accounted; as the off-fcouring of all things: but let
Us endure this, trufting in the living God.' Excel
lent advice, is that Of Paul's to Timothy, .when he
was perfecuted, and in borids for the Gofpel; -. " Be
not thOu afhamed of the teftimony of ourrLord,
nor of me; his prifoher; but be thou partaker of
the afflictions, of the;. Gofpel, \ according to the
power of God."
Christ, and his-, apoftles, preached this Uni
versal Grace; as."ha.s Ukbidy been iriade to ap
pear": and for this, as well as for other parts 'of
their Jdo£tririe, they met with reproach, fc'orn, and
coriternpti Nay, fo far did the Jews once Carry it,
towards our Lord himfelf, for hinting at d common
Salvation, as to bring, him to the brow of the hill on
which the city pf Nazareth was built ; and would have
thrown him down headlong, if he had not mkacu-
loufly1 efcaped. Luke,.ivl 23 — 31. we have an ac
count of this rhatten — - T^e will furely fay unto.rri'e,
(fays Chrift) this proverb — Phyfician, heal thyfelf.
Whatfoeyer we have heard done in Capernaum, (a
Gentile city) do alfo here, iri thy country. You are
a native of Judea — a Jew, by birth and nation — .
confine your regards unto w^ahd k^ep to yoUf own
country. Our Lord's reply, was — No prophet is ac
cepted

74 s.-b R mon" II.
cepted in his own country. This charity began at
hoine : but it would not do :'. in general, it was re
jected, among you. — He proceeds, in telling them
two ftriking anecdotes : — Many widows, were in
Sfrael, in the days of Elias, when the heaven was
fhut up,; ihree years and fix mondis ; when great
famjne was throughout all the land : But unto none
of them, was Elias fent, fave unto Sarepta, a city of
Sidon-; (n. b. belonging to the Gentiles) unto a Wo
man that was a widow. And many lepers were in
Ifrael, in the time of Elifeus, the prophet;, and none
of them was cleanfed, faving Naaman, the Syrian-
This, it feems, filled them with wrath, and caufed
them to treat him as they did — For hinting at dif-
tinguifhing-, fovereign grace, fay fome.. However
that may be ; it appears alfo, for its being more than
this : for its not being confined to themfelves. For
Naaman^ the Syrian, and the Widow of Sarepta,,
were both of them Gentiles. And, perceiving this,
they eafily forefaw, the reft of the nations., might,
one day, perhaps, be made feUow-heks of greater
bleffings than thefe : and thjs they could not think
upon with .any. temper.;- and fo, accordingly,, would
have persecuted him, even unto death. Had he
meant foyereignty qnly, he might, and, moft likely „
would, have inftanced in two Jews f. but being Gen
tiles, caufed this fad outrage and . proceeding. And f
fo it is now, frequently. If the Salvation of the Gof
pel is npt limited, it occafions outer ies,. contention, and
jQnfufm.t but this muft .bevpatieuitly endured. .
According

5 e r m,o- N , j4y 7j
According to Ecclefiaftieal Hiftory*, thisShaa.
flood, a univerfal truth, for about two centuries*'
after Chrift's death. At the, end of that time, the
Clergy engroifed. it, to themfelves, and began ta,
hide if from the Laity ;< as they, afterwards did thci,
cup, in the facramenh In about 200 years, more, it-
was condemned* in a General. Council; and all.
writings upon the fubje&i were commanded to be>
fuppreffed, and; deftroyed. This, caufed a convulfion, •
in. the Church; and brought on a contraction in her
bowels, known by the name ;of Reprobation. This.
* ;It may be worthy the confideration of fome warm admirers of
the Church of "England — whether flie does not tacitly app'rove thi*
benevolent ar& glorious doftrine, of the final liappinefs}of aio, men.
Her Articles, in the reign of King Edward VI. were forty-two.
One of thefe roundly condemned this opinion, as heretical.. But .
when they were reviled, in the fucceeding reign; this article was
omitted. Now, why omit it, if it contained fo clear and certain a
truth ? The Revifers, perhaps, modeftly doubted. Certain it is, that
they, .difplayed an inftance of candour; which is not always to be?-
found, where authority has been engaged on the fide of eftabliftied
opinions. Thus, liberty is given to examine ; and good- men, of
either- fentiment, may hontftly remain .in the Church.
Thofe who can argue, that endlefs punifhment As the doftpne.-o/ thff
Church of England, becaufe foconce maintained it ; may as well en
deavour to brand her with the dafifc decree of keprobatiott, becaufe
this was contained in the Lambeth Articles j whiqh' were; defervedly i
reje&ed. Surely, now, the day begins, to dawn; when all the traditions of "
men, will be-feparated from the truth of God I— wheiifahe trap
pings of Ignorance, Superftition, and Bigotry, will no longer disfigure
the fimple and benevolent fpirit of Chriftianity ! The, morning already
appears ; when men will dare to open their eyes, and admit the rays
of heavenly light.
But, after all, Truth is Truth —whether fupported or oppofed,
by all the Churches and Councils in the world.
K z abated,

7#- «3$ R M O N- II.
abated, in fome meafure; but iffued in the corn -
plaint, called Arminianifnii Thefe two diforders have
preyed» more or lefs, ever fihce, till the Church has
been brought to difiraSlion ; with fome lucid intervals,
at times. Univerfalifm appears to be the remedy ;
the alterative proper for her coriftitution. \ Some
fear a total relaxation from this : but, it feems the
weaknefs ofthe faith of fuch perfons. In the hands
of the:Healer of her breaches, it is likely to bring
health, and cure : For He is the Phyfician of the
Church ; arid fo wife, fo good, and fo powerful,
that if he uhdertake the cafe, and employ <and com#
rriiffion his own fervants ; the work will be properly
done j and fuch medicine only adminiftered, as will
before to heal her ficknefs, and, in the end, effedt,
a cure. Leaving then, his own Truth, to his own Care ;
we need not fear, but, in his own Time, it will have
free courfe, and be glorified, and all that fuccefs
that is meet. For he is not only the Author, but ,
alfo the Finiftoer of our Faith ; and, in cafe of any
danger, the Defender of it, likewife : and has pro*
mifed, thatj in the*day in which it fhall more fully
fpread and appear, on all the Glory thpre fhall be
a'Def^nce ; — which may he grant, for his name
and mercy's fake I

<F I : if i s.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 01349 7962
1