§. XXII.
Let us then observe, That this Seed of the Kingdom, this saving, supernatural, and sufficient Word, was really sown in the stony, thorny Ground, and by the Way-side, where it did not profit, but became useless as to these Grounds: It was, I say, the same Seed that was sown in the good Ground. It is then the Fear of Persecution and Deceitfulness of Riches, as Christ himself interpreteth the Parable, which hindereth this Seed to grow in the Hearts of many: Not but that in its own Nature it is sufficient, being the same with that which groweth up and prospereth in the Hearts of those who receive it. So that, though all are not saved by it, yet there is a Seed of Salvation planted and sown in the Hearts of all by God, which would grow up and redeem the Soul, if it were not choked and hindered. Concerning this Parable, Victor Antiochenus, on Mark iv. as he is cited by Vossius, in his Pelagian History, Book 7. saith, “That our Lord Christ hath liberally sown the divine Seed of the Word, and proposed it to all, without Respect of Persons; and as he that soweth distinguisheth not betwixt Ground and Ground, but simply calleth in the Seed without Distinction, so our Saviour hath offered the Food of the divine Word so far as was his Part, although he was not ignorant what would become of many. Lastly, He so behaved himself, as he might justly say, What should I have done that I have not done?” And to this answered the Parable of the Talents, Mat. xxv. he that had two Talents was accepted, as well as he that had five, because he used them to his Master’s Profit: And he that had one might have done so; his Talent was of the same Nature of the rest; it was as capable to have proportionably brought forth its Interest as the rest. And so though there be not a like Proportion of Grace given to all, to some five Talents, to some two Talents, and to some but one Talent; yet there is given to all that which is sufficient, and no more is required than according to that which is given: For unto whomsoever much is given, from him shall much be required, Luke xii. 48. He that had the two Talents was accepted for giving four, nothing less than he that gave the ten: So should he also that gave the one, if he had given two; and no doubt one was capable to have produced two, as well as five to have produced ten, or two four.
§. XXIII.
Clem. Alex.Clemens Alexandrinus saith, Lib. 2. Stromat. “The divine Word hath cried, calling all, knowing well those that will not obey; and yet, because it is in our Power either to obey or not to obey, that none may have a Pretext of Ignorance, it hath made a righteous Call, and requireth but that which is according to the Ability and Strength of every one.” The self-same, in his Warning to the Gentiles; “For as,” saith he, “that Heavenly Ambassador of the Lord, The Grace of God, that brings Salvation, hath appeared unto all, &c. This is, the new Song, Coming and Manifestation of the Word, which now shows itself in us, which was in the Beginning, and was first of all.” And again, “Hear therefore, ye that are afar off; hear, ye who are near; the Word is hid from none, the Light is common to all, and shineth to all. There is no Darkness in the Word; let us hasten to Salvation, to the new Birth, that we being many, may be gathered into the one alone Love.” The gathering unto the one and alone Love.Ibid. he saith, “That there is infused into all, but principally into those that are trained up in Doctrine, a certain divine Influence, [Greek: tis achorrhoia theia: τις αχορῥοια θεια].” And again, he speaks concerning the “innate Witness, worthy of Belief, which of itself doth plainly chuse that which is most honest.” And again he saith, “That it is not impossible to come unto the Truth, and lay Hold of it, seeing it is most near to us, in our own Houses, as the most wise Moses declareth, living in three Parts of us, viz. in our Hands, in our Mouths, and in our Hearts. This,” saith he, “is a most true Badge of the Truth, which is also fulfilled in three Things, namely, in Counsel, in Action, in Speaking.” And again he saith also unto the unbelieving Nations, “Receive Christ, receive Light, receive Sight, to the End thou mayest rightly know both God and Man. The enlightening Word.The Word that hath enlightened us is more pleasant than Gold, and the Stone of great Value.” And again, he saith, “Let us receive the Light, that we may receive God; let us receive the Light, that we may be the Scholars of the Lord.” And again he saith to those Infidel Nations, “The heavenly Spirit helpeth thee; resist and flee Pleasure.” Again, Lib. 5. Strom. he saith, “God forbid that Man be not a Partaker of divine Acquaintance, [Greek: theias ennoias: θειας εννοιας], who in Genesis is said to be a Partaker of Inspiration.” And Pæd. Lib. 1. Cap. 3. “There is,” saith he, “some lovely and some desirable Thing in Man, which is called the In-breathing of God, [Greek: emphysêma Theou: εμφυσημα Θεου].” The same Man, Lib. 10. Strom. directeth Men unto the Light and Water in themselves, who have the Eye of the Soul darkened or dimmed through evil Education and Learning: Let them enter in unto their own domestic Light, or unto the Light which is in their own House, [Greek: pros to oikeion phôs badizetô: προς το οικειον φως βαδιζετω], unto the Truth, which manifests accurately and clearly these Things that have been written.
J. Martyr.Justin Martyr, in his first Apology, saith, “That the Word which was and is, is in all; even that very same Word which, through the Prophets, foretold Things to come.”
Auth. de Voc. Gent.The Writer of the Calling of the Gentiles saith, Lib. 1. Cap. 2. “We believe according to the same (viz. Scripture) and most religiously confess, that God was never wanting in Care to the Generality of Men; who, although he did lead, by particular Lessons, a People gathered to himself unto Godliness, yet he withdrew from no Nation of Men the Gifts of his own Goodness, that they might be convinced that they had received the Words of the Prophets, and legal Commands in Services and Testimonies of the first Principles.” Cap. 7. he saith, “That he believes that the Help of Grace hath been wholly withdrawn from no Man.” Lib. 2. Cap. 1. “Because, albeit Salvation is far from Sinners, yet there is nothing void of the Presence and Virtue of his Salvation.” Cap. 2. “But seeing none of that People over whom was set both the Doctrines, were justified but through Grace by the Spirit of Faith, who can question but that they, who of whatsoever Nation, in whatsoever Times, could please God, were ordered by the Spirit of the Grace of God, which, although in fore Time it was more sparing and hid, yet denied itself to no Ages, being in Virtue one, in Quantity different, in Counsel unchangeable, in Operation multifarious.”
§. XXIV.
1 Part.Our Theme then hath two Parts; First, That those that have the Gospel and Christ outwardly preached unto them, are not saved but by the Working of the Grace and Light in their Hearts.
2 Part.Secondly, That by the Working and Operation of this, many have been, and some may be saved, to whom the Gospel hath never been outwardly preached, and who are utterly ignorant of the outward History of Christ.