Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/230

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redemption that Christ hath purchased, every man might perish, and be condemned for ever. But if reconciliation potentiall or a possibility of remission only be purchased by the death of Christ, how is this made actuall by application? If it be actuall and effectuall, why is it not applyed and given to every man? will not God give to every man, that which Christ hath merited and purchased for every man? The merit of reconciliation by Christ, and the application thereof must be distinguished: but for whomsoever eternall redemption is purchased, for them he hath obtained grace and glory, and upon them he will actually conferre that grace and mercy, sanctifying them to be a peculiar people to himselfe. Heb. 9. 12. Matth. 1. 21. Joh. 4. 14. Application is as necessary an effect of redemption or reconciliation purchased, as burning is of fire; and there can be no redemption, but of necessity it must bring application, both in respect of Gods justice, and Christs sacrifice. Dan. 9. 24. Heb. 10. 10, 14. Therefore there is but one reconciliation, and that actuall and effectuall, though it may be universally proposed in the Gospell: and that particular actuall reconciliation is none other but that very same, which God meritoriè and impetratorie hath proposed by the death of Christ. As for the present Text alleadged, reconciliation is not predicated of the whole world, taking the world for every man in the world, nor reconciliation put for reconcileablenesse. For it is manifest the Apostle speaks of the world as it was to be considered in the times when Christ suffered, or after, when in respect of present state the farre greater part were impenitent, if not obdurate sinners, aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, without God in the world:Eph. 2.12.
Rom. 3.8,17.
Gal. 3.26.
Eph. 2.3,4. and I desire to see that Text of Scripture, where God is said to reconcile unto himselfe the whole world of impenitent and obdurate sinners, as such; or where we shall find, that all such be brought under a new Covenant. It is also as plaine, that he speakes of the surrogation of the Gentiles in the place of the Jewes, and is to be understood of the world opposed to the Jewish Nation. That world concerning whom the Lord had spoken before to Abraham, saying,Gen. 12.3.
and 18.18.
Psal. 2.8.
and 22.27,28.
Isai. 11.9,10.
Psal 72.11. In thy seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed: That world, which the Prophets foretold should be added to the Church, and given to the Messiah; This world, I say, which God hath promised to blesse, and adde to the Kingdome of the Messiah, he hath reconciled unto himselfe,to