OF THE

DEATH OF CHRIST:

THE

PRICE HE PAID, AND THE PURCHASE HE MADE:

OR,

THE SATISFACTION AND MERIT OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST CLEARED; THE UNIVERSALITY OF REDEMPTION THEREBY OPPUGNED; AND THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THESE THINGS, FORMERLY DELIVERED IN A TREATISE AGAINST UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION, VINDICATED,

Of all the controversies wherewith the disciples of Christ through the craft of Satan, and their own knowing but in part, have in several ages been exercised; there have been none of so great weight and importance upon all considerations whatever, as those which immediately concern the person and grace of him, by whose name they are called. As his person was almost the sole subject of contest (of any moment) for the space of many ages succeeding his converse in the flesh with the sons of men; so in these latter days, through the darkness of their own spirits, and the seducements of the spirit of darkness, many in an especial manner do draw forth variety of uncouth thoughts, concerning his grace, and the dispensation of the love of God towards mankind in him. Yet have not these things been so distinctly managed, but that as they of old with their oppositions to his person, did also labour to decry and disannul the work of his grace; so many of those who of latter days have been led away into dangerous misapprehensions of his grace, both as to the foundation and efficacy of it, have also wrested the things concerning his person to their own destruction.

Of those that have entangled the spirits of the men of this generation, turning aside many from the simplicity of the gospel, and the truth as it is in Jesus; none have been obtruded upon the saints of God with greater confidence, nor carried out to a more unhappy issue, than such as, assisting corrupted nature to unbend itself from under the sovereignty of God, and loosening the thoughts of men's hearts from their captivity to the obedience of the gospel, do suit the mystery of God in Christ reconciling sin

ners unto himself, to the fleshly wisdom and reasonings of a man. It was in our hopes and expectations not many years ago, that the Lord would graciously have turned back all those bitter streams which issuing from the pride, unthankfulness, and wisdom, of the carnal mind, had many ways attempted to overflow the doctrine of the grace of God, that bringeth salvation; but finding now by experience, that the day of the church's rest from persecution, 's the day of Satan's main work for seducing and temptation, and that not a few are attempting once more to renew the contest of sinful, guilty, defiled nature, against the sovereign distinguishing love, and effectual grace of God, it cannot but be convenient, yea necessary, that the faith once delivered to the saints, be contended for and asserted from the word of truth, in the like public way wherein it is opposed.

It hath been the constant practice of all persons in all ages, who have made it their design, to beget and propagate a belief of any doctrine contrary to the form of wholesome words to begin with, and insist mainly upon, those parts of their beloved conception and offspring, which seem to be most beau- · tiful and taking, for the turning aside of poor, weak, unlearned, and unstable souls: knowing full well that their judgments and assertions being once engaged, such is the frame of men's spirits under delusion, that they will choose rather to swallow down all that follows, than to discharge themselves of what they have already received. Upon this account, those who of late days have themselves drank large draughts of the very dregs of Pelagianism, do hold out at first only a desire to be pledged in a taste of the universality of the merit of Christ, for the redemption (or rather something else, well I wot not