man doe first believe in Christ: and according as men rest upon Christ superficially or soundly with a soveraigne and well-rooted affiance, so they believe the other. For when we reade in Scripture, that Christ tasted of death for every man, Heb. 2. 9. died for all, 2 Cor. 5. 15. is the reconciliation for the sins of the whole world, 1 Joh. 2. 2. shed his bloud for many, Mat. 26. 28. gave his life for the ransome of many, Mat. 20. 28. Mar. 10. 45. purchased the Church by his blood, Act. 20. 28. Ephes. 5. 25. gave himselfe for us all, Tit. 2. 14. Rom 8 32. for his people, Mat. 1. 21. for his sheepe, Joh. 10. 15. for them that were given unto him of the Father, Joh. 17 9, 19. In these and such like passages, by All, the World, Many and Us are meant men in Covenant, partakers of the benefits of Christ, redeemed from all iniquity, and purified unto him as a peculiar people, delivered from this present evill world, Gal. 1. 4. that they might live unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 15. Peter saith to the Jewes that crucified Christ,Act. 3.26. Unto you first, God having raised up his Sonne Jesus, sent him to blesse you, in turning away every one of you from your sinnes. But he spake to them who were in Covenant, the children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant; and as they were in Covenant, so God raised up Christ for them, which cannot be referred to the impetration of righteousnesse, but the application of Christs death in some sort. Otherwise, if it be observed, that the Apostle speaks of the Jews according to the present state, when Christ was incarnate, or actually raised from the dead, I thinke the greatest Patrons of universall redemption will not affirme, that Christ died for every man good and bad, believer or Infidell, obstinate and rebellious, to purchase for them actuall reconciliation on Gods part, according to that state wherein they stood, when Christ came into the world, or was raised from the dead.
Once againe, it is objected, that if this proposition, Christ died for all men be not the ground of particular affiance, it can have no ground at all, neither promise of mercy absolute nor conditionall, generall nor speciall. But already it hath been shewed, that bare assent or belief that Christ died for all men cannot be the ground, much lesse the only ground of justifying faith, and it may further be made evident by these reasons.
First, That is the foundation of faith, whereupon particular affiance leaneth or is immediately grounded. But no mans particularaffiance
