Prop. II.A Measure of Light in all. Secondly, That for this End God hath communicated and given unto every Man a Measure of the Light of his own Son, a Measure of Grace, or a Measure of the Spirit, which the Scripture expresses by several Names, as sometimes of the Seed of the Kingdom, Mat. xiii. 18, 19. the Light that makes all Things manifest, Ephes. v. 13. the Word of God, Rom. x. 17. or Manifestation of the Spirit given to profit withal, 1 Cor. xii. 7. A Talent, Mat. xxv. 15. A little Leaven, Mat. xiii. 33. the Gospel preached in every Creature, Col. i. 23.
Prop. III.Thirdly, That God, in and by this Light and Seed, invites, calls, exhorts, and strives with every Man, in order to save him; God’s Salvation wrought by the Light in all.which, as it is received and not resisted, works the Salvation of all, even of those who are ignorant of the Death and Sufferings of Christ, and of Adam’s Fall, both by bringing them to a Sense of their own Misery, and to be Sharers in the Sufferings of Christ inwardly, and by making them Partakers of his Resurrection, in becoming Holy, Pure, and Righteous, and recovered out of their Sins. By which also are saved they that have the Knowledge of Christ outwardly, in that it opens their Understanding rightly to use and apply the Things delivered in the Scriptures, and to receive the saving Use of them: But that this may be resisted and rejected in both, in which then God is said to be resisted and pressed down, and Christ to be again crucified, and put to open Shame in and among Men. And to those who thus resist and refuse him, he becomes their Condemnation.
Conseq. 1.First then, According to this Doctrine the Mercy of God is excellently well exhibited, in that none are necessarily shut out from Salvation; and his Justice is demonstrated, in that he condemns none but such to whom he really made offer of Salvation, affording them the Means sufficient thereunto.
Conseq. 2.Secondly, This Doctrine, if well weighed, will be found to be the Foundation of Christianity, Salvation, and Assurance.
Conseq. 3.Thirdly, It agrees and answers with the whole Tenor of the Gospel Promises and Threats, and with the Nature of the Ministry of Christ; according to which, the Gospel, Salvation, and Repentance are commanded to be preached to every Creature, without Respect of Nations, Kindred, Families or Tongues.
Conseq. 4.Fourthly, It magnifies and commends the Merits and Death of Christ, in that it not only accounts them sufficient to save all, but declares them to be brought so nigh unto all, as thereby to be put into the nearest Capacity of Salvation.
Conseq. 5.Fifthly, It exalts above all the Grace of God, to which it attributeth all Good, even the least and smallest Actions that are so; ascribing thereunto not only the first Beginnings and Motions of Good, but also the whole Conversion and Salvation of the Soul.
Conseq. 6.Sixthly, It contradicts, overturns, and enervates the false Doctrine of the Pelagians, Semi-Pelagians, Socinians, and others, who exalt the Light of Nature, the Liberty of Man’s Will, in that it wholly excludes the natural Man from having any Place or Portion in his own Salvation, by any acting, moving, or working of his own, until he be first quickened, raised up, and actuated by God’s Spirit.
Conseq. 7.Seventhly, As it makes the whole Salvation of Man solely and alone to depend upon God, so it makes his Condemnation wholly and in every Respect to be of himself, in that he refused and resisted somewhat that from God wrestled and strove in his Heart, and forces him to acknowledge God’s just judgment in rejecting and forsaking of him.