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claration and surveyal of those respects according to which Christ is represented the Saviour of men, as also by considering how useful and conducible to piety this doctrine is, as ministering grounds and obligations, encouragements and motives to the practice of most considerable duties required But these things must be reserved to another

from all men.

occasion.

SUMMARY OF SERMON LXXII.

I TIMOTHY, CHAP. IV.-VERSE 10.

IN general we may say, that our Lord is the Saviour of all men, for that he hath rendered all men capable of salvation, and designed to salvation, removing all obstacles and procuring competent means thereto : this topic dilated on.

But if we view more nearly and distinctly the respects in which he is a Saviour of all men, it may be observed,

1. That he is so, as having effected that Almighty God, who was most justly provoked against mankind, hath laid down his wrath, and cast a favorable aspect on them, being thoroughly reconciled to them by our Saviour's mediation.

2. Jesus is the Saviour of all men, by satisfying the divine justice, and repairing God's honor in their behalf. The intensity of his love in this respect dilated on, and the fulness of the satisfaction made: hence if we inquire what he redeemed, the consideration of what he paid may help to inform us: this point enlarged on.

3. Our Lord is the Saviour of all men, as having in behalf of mankind transacted and ratified a new covenant, very necessary for, and very conclusive to, the salvation of men; whereby salvation is made attainable, and is really tendered to all on feasible and equal conditions. This covenant was predicted and proclaimed by the prophets of old: this our Lord commanded his Apostles to declare and propound to all mankind go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

4. Our Lord is so, as having purchased and procured for

all men competent aids, whereby they are enabled to perform the conditions required of them in order to their salvation; to acquire a sufficient knowlege of their duty, to subdue their lusts, to withstand temptations, to repent of their sins, &c.: the truth of which point, taking in the consideration of man's natural state, may be inferred from the truth of the points preceding this topic enlarged on, and illustrated from holy writ.

SERMON LXXII.

THE DOCTRINE OF UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION ASSERTED AND EXPLAINED.

I TIMOTHY, CHAP. IV.-VERSE 10.

-The living God; who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.

THAT our Lord Jesus is the Saviour of all men, we have before from plain testimonies of holy Scripture, and from some arguments grounded there, assayed to show. The same will be made farther apparent by considering the respects according to which he is such; and those we may first consider generally and in the gross, then survey them more particularly and distinctly.

In general we may say that our Lord is the Saviour of all men, for that he hath rendered all men salvabiles, capable of salvation; and salvandos, designed to salvation. For that he hath removed all obstacles peremptorily debarring men from access to salvation, and hath procured competent furtherances to their attainment of it. For that he hath rescued mankind out of that dead and desperate condition, wherein it lay involved; being the bread of God,' who hath descended from heaven, that he might give life to the world,' as he saith of himself. For that he hath performed whatever on his part is necessary or fit in order to salvation, antecedently to the acceptance and compliance with those reasonable conditions, which by God's wisdom are required toward the instating men into a full and immediate right to salvation, or to a complete

and actual fruition thereof. He made the way to happiness plain and passable; levelling the insuperable cliffs, and filling up the chasms, and rectifying the obliquities, and smoothing the asperities thereof, as the prophet foretold; so that all men who would, might conveniently walk therein. He set the doors of paradise wide open, so that who pleased might enter in; all the bonds and restraints under which men lay, he so far loosed, that any man might be free, who would concur to his own liberty and enlargement. All the protection, aid, and encouragement which was needful toward obtaining salvation, he afforded and exhibited to every one, that would embrace and make use of them. In respect to which performances he might be justly esteemed and truly called a Saviour, although all men do not in effect become saved. For the estimation and denomination of performances are to be grounded on their own nature and design, not on events depending on the contingent and arbitrary behavior of men. As he that freely offers a rich boon is no less to be accounted a benefactor and liberal, although his gift be refused, than if it were accepted; as he that opens the prison is to be styled a deliverer, although the captive will not go forth; as he that ministers an effectual remedy, although the patient will not use it, deserves the honor and thanks due to a physician; so is our Lord in regard to what he hath performed for men, and offered to them, (being sufficient to prevent their misery, and promote their happiness,) to be worthily deemed, and thankfully acknowleged, their Saviour, although not all men, yea although not one man should receive the designed benefit. Accordingly we may observe that in the Scripture-style those persons are said to be saved, who are only in a way toward salvation, although they do not arrive thither; and the means conducing to salvation are said to save, although their effect may be defeated; owóμevol and σeowoμévot are terms applied to all Christians, and Christ is ó owcas, he that hath saved them;' and faith is said to have saved them, although some of them eiкn πioтevoar, have believed in vain, or to no effect, forsaking and renouncing their faith; and baptism saves them who partake it, although being washed, they return to their wallowing in the mire. And as our Lord is so termed a Saviour in respect to them who are,

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