ked, or for that reason. Besides, it is one thing to say, Christ died for some that perish, as they partake the fruits of his death in themselves belonging to Salvation, which is granted, another to say, Christ died for all men, considered as fallen according to the will of God, and intention of Christ as Mediatour, with full purpose to purchase for them actuall reconciliation on Gods part, which is, that they contend for. So that this objection will be of no force, untill it can be proved, that impretation is application, they be in Covenant, who be not, nor never were in Covenant; they have the Gospell, who never heard of the Gospell; they have received the promise of Salvation, who are rejected and cast off of God, as aliens from the Covenant; Christ is amongst them, who never had possible meanes imaginable to come to the knowledge of the truth; and they are enlightned, and have tasted of the good word of God, and of the powers of the life to come, who all their life long have lived in ignorance and infidelity, and not heard that there is a Christ.
We thus judge2 Cor. 5.14,15. (saith Paul) that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose againe. Here the Apostle saith expressely, Christ died for all simply meant, in respect of the impetration of a new Covenant, and salvation according to that Covenant: common misery is concluded from this, that Christ died for all men: sc. that all were dead: which is universally true of every man. And upon this ground he exhorts men to live unto Christ, scil. that Christ died for all men. Some learned Divines not partiallSee Estium in
2 Cor. 5.14.
pag. 586. referre this to the greatnesse of the price and dignity of Christs death, which was sufficient for the redemption of man-kind, if they did repent and believe: but the Apostle rather speaks of Christs death for all in respect of application, event, or effect: for all not simply, but for all to whom the fruit and benefit of Christs death is offered in the Gospel, and received by faith. Thus Vorstius,Vorst. in 2 Cor.
5.14 loc. com.
Illud quoque hic
obiter notandum. Christ died, and was raised up for all men in generall, if we consider the amplitude of divine grace offered in Christ: but in respect of the event or effect both are done for all the elect and believers only. And in this latter sence that phrase is used of the Apostle in this place. And this the circumstances of the text will plainly enforce. For he speaks of the death of Christ, not as itwas
