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to others judging in charity, to be true beleevers, when in deed they are nothing lesse. But it seemes more simple, if we say, that some who after fall away, for a time doe truly beleeve: which Christ doth therefore call Temporaries, Math. 13. 21. And then concludes, to take away the shew of repugnancy, which seemes to be betwixt this and the former places. We must hold, that Christ in act and very deed is the redeemer of the faithfull, as long as they be such: although in power, yea and in will he be the Saviour of the whole world. To let passe other things which pertaine not to this question, it is plaine the Apostle speakes of them for whom Christ died in act, event or application, in which sence they confesse he died not for all men, but the faithfull only as such. And as these false teachers were called into the Covenant, accepted the condition, beleeved in Christ, for a time rejoyced in him, and brought forth some fruite, so we confesse they were bought by the blood of Christ, because all these were fruits of Christs death, whereof they were made partakers. As in the Parable, the Lord is said to remit to his servant a thousand Talents, when he desired him, sc. inchoately or upon condition,Math. 18.25. which was not confirmed, because he did not forgive his fellow servant: so the false Prophets are bought by the blood of Christ, sc. in a sort, as they beleeved in Christ, but not sincerely and unfainedly. We reade of some Apostates,Heb. 6.5,6,7. that they had been enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and been partakers of the holy Spirit, who afterwards did revolt from the faith. To these men, their sinnes were remitted in a sort in this world, and in a sort they were bought by the blood of Christ, but inchoately only, and as they tasted the word of life. Had they eaten the word of life, that is, had they soundly and truly beleeved in Christ, they had received perfect and consummate remission of sinnes, both in this world and in the world to come; they had been perfectly redeemed and reconciled unto God:2 Pet. 2.22.
Ut generalis, vox acquirere, pro emere, Act. 7.16.
cum Gen. 25.10.
sic specialis, emere pro acquirere vicissim usurpatur,
Apo. 3.18.
2 Sam. 7.23.
Psal. 26.11. but because they did not eate, tasted only, they received not perfect remission, they were not perfectly redeemed. To this taste answereth the Sowe that is washed, and returneth againe to the wallowing in the mire: washed and so redeemed, washed with remission of sinnes, and so redeemed from sinne, inchoately: but because she returneth to the filth of sinne, that remission is confirmed, neither in the houre of death, nor at the day of Judgement. The false Prophets were bought as theybeleeved.