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NUмB. XXIX. John. v. 3+

But these things, I fay, that ye might se
javed.

TH

HIS paffage of fcripture is often produced as a proof of Chrift', fericus intention to fave fome who are not faved, to whom he gave fufficient means of Salvation, which they refused, and config.endly that his father had made no decree, whereby my flood excluded from falvanos; thicke cle not die intentionally only fe fe who are actually faved, and then the work of non ve fon is not wrongitis by en breiding, and infuperable power. To whicdngy)

I It is cemals that the frus to witam Chrit here inesis, and one

ent to £lverio ; for though the team de of the father, of Fore the Best acc ti owo words and miracles wat de pro duced, were proper mods. To

to believe that he was the Mana means fufficient to liveton.

tion, an internal world a ration of the plan, ar and neceflary; wonder w

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be faved. Now it is evident, that they wanted these, fince they had not the love of God in them, ver. 42. nor his word abiding in them, ver. 38. nor so much as the knowledge of Chrift's divinity, or of his being the true Meffiah, ver. 18.

II. It is taken for granted, that these words regard a spiritual and eternal falvation; whereas they may very well be underflood of a temporal one; and the fenfe of them be this; these things I fay, h. e. these teftimonies of my father, and of John, I produce, not fo much for my own honour and glory, as for your good; that ye, through these teftimonies of me, may believe that I am the true Meffiah, and fo be faved from the temporal ruin and deftrution, which will otherwife come upon you and your nation, for your difbelief, neglect, and contempt of me. me. But,

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III. Admitting that Chrift fpoke these words with a view to the fpiritual and eternal falvation of his audience; it should be obferved, that he is here to be confidered as a preacher, a minifter of the circumcifion, fent to the loft sheep of the house of Ifrael, for whofe welfare he had a compaffionate regard and concern; and therefore published the things concerning his perfon, office and grace, indefinitely to them all, that he

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might gain fome. It arg though he did as GM vs. vere

and who were IT : VICI PALJETE him is neither in CRT 11

IV. It will be cut out innocibee to prove, that the pertins or whom Cint spoke these words, were not eternally aved; though, at the prefent time they were in► believers, and deftitute of the grace of God, yet might hereafter be converted and ena bled to go to Chrift for life and falvation ; or at leaft, there might be fome among them who were the elect of God, and theep of Chrift; for whofe fake Chrift might express himself in this manner, in order to bring them to the knowledge of him, and salvation by him; and therefore do not milie tate either against any decree or act of preterition paffed by God, refpecting any pare of mankind, or the doctrines of particular redemptica and unfruftrable grace ne verfion

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NU MB. XXX.. John v. 40.

And, ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

T

'HESE words are ufually cited together with the former, and are urged for the fame purposes; particularly to fhew that Chrift feriously intended the falvation of fuch who would not come to him for it; and that man does not lie under any difability of coming to Chrift for life; did he, his not coming to Chrift would not be criminal in him; nor would he be blame-worthy for what he could not help. To which I anfwer;

I. That what Chrift intends, he intends feriously But it does not appear from these words, that he did intend the falvation of thefe perfons, who would not come to him, but rather the contrary; fince they look more like a charge exhibited against them, for their neglect of him, as the way of life. and falvation, and trufting to the law of Mofes, and their obedience to it, and therefore did not receive him, or believe in him; and though Chrift declined bringing in an accufation directly and in form against

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Whitby, p. 52, 73, 358.

them

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