Conseq. 8.Eighthly, It takes away all Ground of Despair, in that it gives every one Cause of Hope and certain Assurance that they may be saved; neither doth feed any in Security, in that none are certain how soon their Day may expire: And therefore it is a constant Incitement and Provocation, and lively Encouragement to every Man, to forsake Evil, and close with that which is Good.
Conseq. 9.Ninthly, It wonderfully commends as well the Certainty of the Christian Religion among Infidels, as it manifests its own Verity to all, in that it is confirmed and established by the Experience of all Men; seeing there was never yet a Man found in any Place of the Earth, however barbarous and wild, but hath acknowledged that at some Time or other, less or more, he hath found somewhat in his Heart reproving him for some Things evil which he hath done, threatening a certain Horror if he continued in them, as also promising and communicating a certain Peace and Sweetness, as he has given Way to it, and not resisted it.
Conseq. 10.Tenthly, It wonderfully sheweth the excellent Wisdom of God, by which he hath made the Means of Salvation so universal and comprehensive, that it is not needful to recur to those miraculous and strange Ways; seeing, according to this most true Doctrine, the Gospel reacheth all, of whatsoever Condition, Age, or Nation.
Conseq. 11.Eleventhly, It is really and effectively, though not in so many Words, yet by Deeds, established and confirmed by all the Preachers, Promulgators, and Doctors of the Christian Religion that ever were, or now are, even by those that otherways in their Judgment oppose this Doctrine, in that they all, whatever they have been or are, or whatsoever People, Place, or Country they come to, do preach to the People, and to every Individual among them, that they may be saved; intreating and desiring them to believe in Christ, who hath died for them. So that what they deny in the general, they acknowledge of every Particular; there being no Man to whom they do not preach in order to Salvation, telling him Jesus Christ calls and wills him to believe and be saved; and that if he refuse, he shall therefore be condemned, and that his Condemnation is of himself. Such is the Evidence and Virtue of Truth, that it constrains its Adversaries, even against their Wills, to plead for it.
Conseq. 12.Lastly, According to this Doctrine the former Argument used by the Arminians, and evited by the Calvinists, concerning every Man’s being bound to believe that Christ died for him, is, by altering the Assumption, rendered invincible; thus,
That which every Man is bound to believe, is true:
But every man is bound to believe that God is merciful unto him:
Therefore, &c.
This Assumption no Man can deny, seeing his Mercies are said to be over all his Works. And herein the Scripture every Way declares the Mercy of God to be, in that he invites and calls Sinners to Repentance, and hath opened a Way of Salvation for them: So that though those Men be not bound to believe the History of Christ’s Death and Passion who never came to know of it, yet they are bound to believe that God will be merciful to them, if they follow his Ways, and that he is merciful unto them, in that he reproves them for Evil, and encourages them to Good. Our Adversaries unmerciful Assertion of God.Neither ought any Man to believe that God is unmerciful to him, or that he hath from the Beginning, ordained him to come into the World that he might be left to his own evil Inclinations, and so do wickedly as a Means appointed by God to bring him to eternal Damnation; which, were it true, as our Adversaries affirm it to be of many Thousands, I see no Reason why a Man might not believe; for certainly a Man may believe the Truth.
As it manifestly appears from the Thing itself, that these good and excellent Consequences follow from the Belief of this Doctrine, so from the Proof of them it will yet more evidently appear; to which before I come, it is requisite to speak somewhat concerning the State of the Controversy, which will bring great Light to the Matter: For from the not right understanding of a Matter under Debate, sometimes both Arguments on the one Hand, and Objections on the other, are brought, which do no Way hit the Case; and hereby also our Sense and Judgment therein will be more fully understood and opened.