to wit, as they are blessed in Abrahams seed, actually and effectually.
This is the Priviledge of the New Testament,Synod. ubi supra.
Illi hoc loco per vocem Mundi, intelliguntur, ad quos sermo reconciliationis pertinet. that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himselfe, as is most apparent in the words next following, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation, and by the sentence it self; God was in Christ. But what is proper to the times of the New Testament cannot be attributed to every man in the world, even those that sate in darknesse and the shadow of death, before the light did shine upon them. The reconciliation here mentioned is actuall, effectuall, particular reconciliation, purchased by Christ, published by the Apostles to the world of Jew and Gentiles, and received by them in the Covenant of grace.Meritum Christi subordinatur gratiæ dilectionis generali, ex ea enim fluit ordinatio hujus medii, &c; non enim ut vellet nostri misereri fecit Christus, sed ut salva justitia nostri misereri posset. Stegma. pag.54 For it is explained by the non-imputation, or remission of sinnes, (at least as one part or branch of reconciliation) which is a transient act, conferred in time, and inferreth a change of state and condition in the partie justified or reconciled, and of other reconciliation betwixt God and man the Scripture speaketh not. And it is to be observed, that the Apostle saith not, Christ hath purchased that God is reconcileable, or actually reconciled on his part, as if before he were irreconcileable: but God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, where the world is the subject or matter of reconciliation, which is changed in respect of state or condition, now received into actuall favour, whereas heretofore it lay under wrath. In another placeRom. 5.9,10. the Apostle puts reconciliation by the death of the Sonne of God, and justification by Christs bloud for the same: where justification cannot be taken for possibility of justification, but for actuall justification by faith in the bloud of Christ, wherewith Salvation is joyned, whereby we are acquitted from the guilt and punishment of sinne: and so the justified or reconciled are opposed to sinners, ungodly and enemies.vers. 6,8. In respect of our antecedent state,In Scriptura, ut saepè res dicitur, quod paulò antè fuit, ut coeci vident, surdi audiunt, claudi ambulant, Matth. 11.5. esurientes, qui prius miserè victitabant in solo sterili, Psal. 107.36. Joh. 9.17. leprosus, qui jam mundus est, Matth. 26.6. Virgo, quae jam nupta. Matth. 10.35. baculus, qui est serpens, Exod. 7.11. publicanus, qui est Christi discipulus. Matth. 10.3. & discipulus Christi, qui eum reliquit. Joh. 6.66. Sic contra saepè in sacris literis res describitur, qualis futura est, non qualis nunc est. Ephes. 5.20. Ita Christi oves dicuntur, qui tunc adhuc erant lupi. Joh. 10.16. Dei filii, qui tum adhuc erant filii diaboli. Joh. 11. 52. Tarn. exercit. l. 2. Job. 3.2. 561. we were enemies, when reconciled to God by the death of his Son: but by reconciliation we are received into grace, and of enemies made friends and sons. In these passages we cannot find reconciliation put for reconcileablenesse, nor predicated of all the world, nor all the enemies of God, nor in any other Scripture. For thoughall
