Wesley Corpus

v. 14) namely, all that were dead in sin, as the words immediately following fix the sense: Here is the fact affirmed. (2.) “He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,” (1 John ii. 2) even of all those for whom he died: Here is the consequence of his dying for all. And, (3) “He died for all, that they should not live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them,” (2 Cor. v. 15,) that they might be saved from their sins: Here is the design, the end of his dying for them. Now, show me the scriptures wherein God declares in equally express terms, (1.) “Christ” did not die “for all,” but for some only. (2.) Christ is not “the propitiation for the sins of the whole world;” and, (3) “He” did not die “for all,” at least, not with that intent, “that they should live unto him who died for them.” Show me, I say, the scriptures that affirm these three things in equally express terms. You know there are none. Nor is it possible to evade the force of those above recited, but by supplying in number what is wanting in weight; by heaping abundance of texts together, whereby (though none of them speak home to the point) the patrons of that opinion dazzle the eyes of the unwary, and quite overlay the understanding both of themselves and those that hear them. 40. To proceed: What an account does this doctrine give of the sincerity of God in a thousand declarations, such as these?--“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deut. v. 29.) “My people would not hear my voice, and Israel would not obey me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts, and let them follow their own imaginations. O that my people would have hearkened unto me! For if Israel had walked in my ways, I should soon have put down their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” (Psalm lxxxi.