and rofe again the third day; is afcended into heaven, and fits at the right hand of God; and will come a fecond time, to judge the world in righteoufnefs; and that by his obedience, fufferings and death, he is become the Saviour of finners, and that none can be faved but by him. Now let it be obferved, that this revelation is general, and not particular, and does not neceffarily oblige perfons to whom it comes, to believe that Chrift is their Redeemer and Saviour, and that he died for them particularly; though the Spirit of God may, and does blefs it to many, for the begetting a special faving faith; and it may, and does, lay a general foundation for fpecial and appropriating acts of that grace; yet it only requires an hiftorical faith, or bare affent to the truth of the faid propofitions. Now fuch a faith is not faving; men may have this, and yet be damned; yea, the Devils themselves have it. It follows, that men may be obliged to believe, and yet not to the faving of their fouls, or that Chrift died for them. Befides, this revelation is not made to all men; and therefore all men, fuch as Indians, and others, are not obliged to believe in Chrift, nor even to give a bare affent to the truth of the abovetaid things, much lefs to believe that Chrift died for them; and indeed, How shall they believe in bim of whom they have not heard? and how shall they faith of God's elect, the gift of God, the operation of his Spirit, and the produce of almighty power. it ; Now, according to the revelation is the faith men are obliged to, and what is produced by it: If the revelation is external, or the gospel comes in word only, the faith men are obliged to is only an historical one; nor can any other follow other follow upon and that Chrift died for every individual man, is no part of the revelation. If the revelation is internal, a fpecial fpiritual appropriating faith is the refult of it; but then this revelation is not made to all men, nor are God's elect themselves, before converfion, bound to believe that Chrift died for them; and when they are converted, to believe that Chrift died for them, is not the first act of faving faith; 'tis the plerophory, the full affurance of faith, to fay, He hath loved me, and hath given himself for me. Hence, III. Since there is not a revelation of the gofpel made to all men, and all men are not bound to believe in Chrift, much lefs to believe that Chrift died for them; it follows, that no fuch abfurdity can attend the denial of universal redemption, that fome men are bound to believe a lye: Nor will it be the condemnation of the Heathens, that they + X Gal. ii. 10. believe |