SERM. the rewards thereof, whatever is important for us to LXXIII. know in order to happiness,) he did plainly discover, and bring to light; he did with valid sorts of demonstration assert and confirm. The doing which, (as having so much efficacy toward salvation, and being ordinarily so necessary thereto,) is often called saving; as particularly by St. James; when he Jam. v. 20. saith, He that turns a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death. And by St. 1 Tim. iv. Paul; Take heed to thy word and doctrine; for so doing thou shalt save thyself and thy hearers. 16. 22. 2 Tim. iii. 15. opia is σωτηρίαν. 12. i. 9. That our Lord hath thus (according to his design, and 1 Cor. ix. according to reasonable esteem) saved all men, we Rom.xi.14. are authorized by the holy scripture to say; for he is there represented to be the light of the world; the true light that enlighteneth every man coming into John viii. the world: the day-spring from on high, which Luke i. 79. hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide Tit. ii. 11. our feet in the way of peace. By him the saving 2 Tim. i. grace of God hath appeared unto all men. By him (as Isaiah prophesied, and St. John the Baptist Luke iii. 6. applied it) all flesh did see the salvation of God. Of him it was also foretold, as St. Paul teacheth us, Acts xiii. I have set thee for the light of the nations, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of Eph. ii. 17. the earth. Coming he preached peace toîs pakpàv iii. 4. 10. 47. Kai Toïs éyy`s (longe lateque) to them that were far, John ix. 5. and them that were near, that is, to all men every where. While I am in the world, said he, I am the light of the world; shining, like the sun, indifferently unto all; and when he withdrew his corporal presence, he further virtually diffused his light, for he sent his messengers with a general commission and 19, 20. 15. 47. 15. xxvi. command to teach all men concerning the benefits SERM. procured for them, and the duties required from LXXIII. them; Going into the world, make all nations dis- Mat. xxviii. ciples, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. Going into the world, preach the Mark xvi. gospel unto every creature, (or, to the whole creation: so it ought to be.) That in his name should Luke xxiv. be preached repentance and remission of sins unto all nations. And such was the tenor of the apostolical commission; Thou shalt be witness for him to- Acts xxii. ward all men, said Ananias to St. Paul. Accord- 17. ingly, in compliance with those orders, did the apostles, in God's name, instruct and admonish all men, plainly teaching, seriously inviting to, strongly persuading, and earnestly entreating all men to embrace the truth, and enjoy the benefits of the gospel, and consequently to be saved: The times of ignorance, Acts xvii. saith St. Paul, God having winked at, doth now in- 30. vite all men every where to repent: and, We are 2 Cor. v. 20. ambassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God-We pray you, you as members of that world which God was in Christ reconciling to himself; and, We preach Christ- -warn- Col. i. 28. ing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, (or, render every man a good Christian.) Thus was the gospel, according to our Sa- Acts ii. 40. viour's intent and order, preached, as St. Paul saith of it, ἐν πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει τῇ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν, in the whole Col. i. 23. creation under heaven; thus did God shew that he would have all men to be saved, and to come to the 1 Tim. ii. 4. knowledge of the truth; whence our Lord (in re gard to the nature and design of his performance in LXXIII. SERM. this kind) is the common Saviour, as the common master of truth, and enlightener of the world, and John i. 18. proclaimer of God's will to mankind. If now it be inquired or objected; why then is not the gospel revealed unto all men? How comes it to pass that no sound of this saving word, no glimpse of this heavenly light, doth arrive to many nations? How can so general and large intention consist with so particular and sparing execution? What benefit can we imagine them capable to receive from this performance of our Saviour, who still Luke i. 74. do sit in total ignorance of the gospel, in darkness, and the shadow of death? How can they call upon him in whom they believe not? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Matt.iv.16. Rom. x. 14. To this suggestion I answer, 1. That God's intentions are not to be interpreted, nor his performances estimated by events, depending on the contingency of human actions, but by his own declarations and precepts, together with the ordinary provision of competent means, in their own nature sufficient to produce those effects which he declares himself to intend or to perform. What he reveals himself to design, he doth really design it; what he says, that he performeth; he (according to moral esteem, that is, so far as to ground duties of gratitude and honour, proceedings of justice and reward) doth perform, although the thing upon other accounts be not effected. Thus, for instance, God would have all men to live together here in peace, in order, in health, conveniently, comfortably, cheerfully; according to reason, with virtue and justice; and in the best state toward happiness: for these purposes he hath endued them with reasonable faculties, he hath en- SERM. LXXIII. graven on their minds a natural law, he hath furnished them with all sorts of instruments and helps conducible to those ends; he promoteth them by dispensations of providence, and, probably, by internal influences of grace: yet often all those means, by the perverseness and stupidity of men, do prove ineffectual, so that wars, disorders, diseases, vices, iniquities and oppressions, troubles and miseries, do commonly abound in the world. Likewise God desires, that in his church, knowledge and piety, peace and charity, and good order should grow and flourish; to which purposes he hath appointed teachers to instruct, and governors to watch over his people he hath obliged each man to advise and admonish his brother; he hath declared holy precepts and rules of practice; he hath propounded vast encouragements and rewards, and threatened dreadful punishments; he hath promised and doth afford requisite assistances; being himself always present and ready to promote those ends by his grace: yet notwithstanding, by the voluntary neglect or abuse of these means, (the guides being blind, negligent, unfaithful; or the people being indocile, sluggish, refractory; or both perverted with bad affections,) often ignorance, error, and impiety prevail, love is cool and dead, schisms and factions are rife in the church. Which events are not to be conceived derogatory to God's good-will and good intentions, or to his kind and careful providence toward men; but we are notwithstanding to esteem and acknowledge him the author and donor of those good things; in respect to them no less blessing and praising him, than if they were really accomplished SERM. by man's concurrence and compliance; he having LXXIII. done his part in that due measure and manner which wisdom prompts; having indeed done the same, as when they are effected. So God having expressly declared, that he would have all men to know and embrace the gospel, having made a universal promulgation thereof, having sent forth apostles to disseminate it every where, having obliged every man to confer his best endeavour toward the propagation thereof; if by the want of fidelity, zeal, or industry in them, to whom this care is intrusted, or upon whom this duty is incumbent ; or if by the carelessness and stupidity of those, who do not regard what is done in the world; or if by men's voluntary shutting their eyes, or stopping their ears, (as the Jews did of old to the prophetical instructions and admonitions,) God's heavenly truth becometh not universally known, it is not reasonable to impute this defailance to God, or to conceive him therefore not universally to desire and design men's instruction and salvation consequent thereon. Let me, for the illustration of this matter, put a case, or propound a similitude. Suppose a great kingdom, consisting of several provinces, should have revolted from their sovereign; disclaiming his authority, neglecting and disobeying his laws; that the good prince, out of his goodness and pity toward them, (and upon other good considerations moving him thereto, suppose the mediation of his own son,) instead of prosecuting them with deserved vengeance, should grant a general pardon and amnesty, in these terms, or upon these conditions; that whoever of those rebels willingly should come in, acknowledge his fault, and promise future loyalty, or obedience to |