the efficacious power of thy blood, but may I speak of thy goodness, and of thy loving kindness unto all generations, and may thou, my blessed Saviour, be the desire of all nations, from this time, henceforth, and for ever, Amen, and Amen.

END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK,

BY EDWARD CROOK.

BOOK THE NINTH.

Christ Died for all; or, that he is a sufficient Saviour for all.

Now many people differ in their opinion concerning this; but one would think that it must be owing to their weakness, or ignorance, or stupidity. Now this Work is selected and collected out of the Holy Scriptures, and drawn up in one view, by Chapter and Verse, and it contains some very strong convincing arguments and clear proofs, and that by the Holy Scriptures, that Christ died for all, or that he is a sufficient Saviour for all; and also, the Author's serious thoughts and reflections.

Observe that some of the first part of this Book is only my thoughts and reflections concerning the effect and result of Christ's Sufferings and Death. By way of an Introduction to this Work, or as a propositon to my Readers, as a thing to be considered upon but still all that tallies or corresponds with the word of God, may be depended upon for truth.

And now, seeing that I have, by the help of God, exhibited to your view, my Readers, a short sketch of the Sufferings of Christ, therefore, it may be, since there are so many different opinions and sentiments in the world, it may be said or doubted of by some, whether the effect of his sufferings and death extends to all, or avails for all, or in other words, whether he died for all-or whether he is a sufficient Saviour for all. Therefore, seeing and knowing that these things are so, I will therefore endeavour, by the help of God, to point out to you in a short way, the effect of his Sufferings and Death, as far forth as my capacity and understanding will allow, which thing I hope, through the grace of God, may prove a comfort and satisfaction to all your souls. There

fore, in part, what follows, my fellow sinners, are my thoughts and reflections of the effect and result of Christ's Sufferings and Death, composed as near as I can tell, according to the Holy Scripture.

And now, my bretheren, we plainly see, that as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men; for that all have sinned; therefore, as by the offence of Adam, judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the Righteousness of Christ, the free gift, came upon all men unto justification of life, (see Rom. v.) and that is as much as to say, as far as the wound of sin did go by Adam's transgression, so far Christ's holy life, sufferings, and death, is sufficient for the cure; and so it appears to me, that his holy life, sufferings and death, grace and love, extends to all; because, by his holy life, sufferings and death, he hath merited our salvation, and can claim a measure of the love and grace of God, of which he giveth to every man to profit thereby; for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; for Godsent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. (John iii. 16, 17.) And now my Readers, hear my word, and despise me not, for I would feign talk with you in a right spirit, even as a father talketh to his children, and call you my son; and now it may be, that some one may doubt, and say to me-but if Christ hath died for all, then why are not all saved-why my son, because they will not all come unto him that they may have life: but then you perhaps will say, that they must all come, and will all come, if Christ hath died for all-no my son, I cannot find it in all the Holy Scriptures that they must allcome, or will all come, although Christ hath died for all, then you perhaps will say, if it is not so, then Christ hath died in vain-no, my son, I believe that he hath not died in vain any more for their not all coming unto him. It appears to be true, that there are some that will not let his blood avail, or profit them any eternal happiness; but yet he did not die in vain, for behold it is said, that he shall see his seed and prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand, and that he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; but yet you may say, granting, although it be so, yet still he must have died in vain, if he hath died for them that are lost; no my

son, I cannot believe that he died in vain for any, but in love for all, for he is love, and his tender mercies are over all his works; therefore, I cannot believe that Christ was puffed up with vain ideas of imaginary accomplishments, or empty frivolous ostentations, and how can any dare as to limit the precious and free blood of Christ to a certain number. But if you say that it is so, I say then how can this tally with his love and justice--for behold, we have all sinned, one as well as another; but then probably you may say to me, but then what doth that passage of Scripture mean, that you have before mentioned, where it is said, he shall see his seed and the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied, (see Isaiah liii. 10. 11.) Oh my son, I find that this is an important, and a momentous text, and thou hast asked of me a hard thing, therefore bear with me a little, and I will endeavour by Divine assistance to bring it about, and that by way of an introduction, and also by serious thoughts and reflections. Now, when Adam had disobeyed the command of his maker, and that by the craft and subtilty of the devil, he then became dead in trespass and sin, and likewise all his posterity; now I say, when this was the wretched and miserable case of Adam, then which way was he to look for salvation or deliverance from his sinful state and misery; if he looks to himself, he sees and feels that he is wretched, miserable, and naked, and stript of all, and that he cannot merit any thing that is good, for if he looks unto that holy Being above which had made him, he sees and knows that he is just, and that he had before told him, if in case he should disobey his charge or command, he should surely die; then I say in this case he is dead in sin, and all his posterity. And now we see that the holy law of God is broken, and Adam cannot make it good, because it is he which broke it, and is the offender; so we plainly see, that all the whole race of Adam, or all the world stands guilty before God, and that we all stand in need of a Saviour, one, as much as another, because no one can save himself. Therefore the Almighty, that wise and blessed Being, looked down from heaven, and seeing his creature man in this pitiful, wretched, and miserable condition, and that there was no intercessor upon earth, and that he could in no wise help himself except there was a sufficient Saviour provided for him. Therefore through his tender love and merey, he saw it good that his holy arm should bring forth salvation, and so provided

means whereby his banished be not expelled for ever. (See Gen. iii. 24.-2 Sam. xiv. 14.) Therefore, now observe my serious thoughts and reflections. And now it appears, that when God was first about to create man upon the earth, that there was something like a counsel called in heaven upon this occasion, when God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness. (Gen. i. 26.) And so in like manner it may be after the fall of man, so that his soul may be reclaimed again to his heavenly love and favour. Therefore, as the whole Trinity of heaven is of mercy as well as of justice, I believe, therefore, that the whole bowels of heaven yearned for the salvation of fallen man, so as to deliver him out of the belly of destruction, and who can tell, it may be, that there was something like a counsel held in heaven upon this occasion, and that all the whole armies of heaven came forward on this occasion to see if there was any means whereby his creature man, or the world could be recovered from its fall. Not as I believe, that the Lord needeth any counsel, only this may be the way of his condescension, and what is the case brought forward? Why, it may be something like this, that is to say, O heaven be astonished. (See Isaiah i. 2.) I, the Lord, have created man upon the earth pure and holy, with a stamp of the image of my glory, and that they should multiply and increase many souls for my glory. I have also created the earth for him, even for his support, use, and service, and have given him all good things in it most richly to enjoy, and yea, I have blessed him, and that he should hereafter enjoy the pleasures of heaven with us for ever and ever. But, alas! that old serpent, the devil, which is an enemy to all which is good, hath by his subtilty defiled and beguiled him, and marred his soul and defaced this image of my glory, and so hath brought him into a snare of sin and death, which leadeth to destruction. And so if there be no way whereby his soul can be reclaimed, he must perish for ever. Therefore, now, what must be done for my creature man, to rescue his soul from the belly of destruction, and it may be that all the noble armies of heaven come forth, even the holy Cherubins and Seraphins, and all the high Arch Angels of God, and stood in awe, and that with filial or loving fear and watchfulness, to see what could be done for fallen man, so as to deliver him from the great enemy of his soul. And then me thinks, stood up the most high and holy one, whose glory filleth the whole heavens,