Thus will both the mercies and judgments of God be justified of all, when he shall bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts.
SERMON XVII.
"Who will have all Men to be saved,—."
"Who will have all Men to be saved,—."
In verse first, the apostle directs "prayers and thanksgivings to be made for all men;"—which he declares to "be good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved." Had salvation been provided for only a part of the human race, prayer and thanksgivings could have been, consistently made only for a part. Those for whom no provision was made, would be in like state with persons who have committed the sin unto death, for whom St. John intimates prayer is not to be offered up. "There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it." But such is naturally the state of none of the children of Adam. Divine goodness is extended to all, and salvation offered to them; therefore is prayer and praise to be offered up for all men.
It is now proposed, briefly to consider the divine goodness expressed in the text—Who will have all men to be saved—then some abuses of the revelation which is made of this goodness to mankind.
I. We are to consider the divine goodness here expressed—Who will have all men to be saved.
The salvation intended, is that of the soul. This comprehends deliverance from merited sufferings, and the bestowment of happiness which is the contrast of it.
The provision which is made for the comfort and happiness of mankind in this life, evinces strange goodness in God. When we consider what man was made of God, and what he hath made himself, the divine benevolence here displayed, is wonderful! Strange that man was not destroyed and blotted out from among God's works!
Some suppose this to have been our first parents idea of the threatening in case of disobedience, and expressed by them, when they attempted to hide themselves from the divine presence, after their fall. [55]