children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity, every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Jer. xxxi, 29, 30.

REJECTION III.

They do utterly DENY, that "the sacred laver of baptism and the prayers of the Church, can no ways avail such infants unto salvation."

THE REASON.

"The sacred laver of baptism," &c. Go ye therefore, and disciple all nations, baptizing them, &c. Matt. xxviii, 19.-The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us. 1 Peter, iii, 21.-He saved us by the washing of regeneration. Titus iii, 5. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. Ephes. v, 25. 26.-Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins; for the promise is to you and to your children. Acts ii, 38, 39; xxii, 16.-As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ; and there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. Gal. iii, 27; Rom. viii, 1.

"And the prayers of the Church," &c. This the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us,-whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life, for them that sin not unto death. 1 John v, 14-16. And shall not God hear the prayers of the Church in behalf of Infants?

REJECTION IV.

They do utterly DENY, that "some of the faithfuls' children, baptized in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST, while they live in the state of their infancy, are reprobate by an absolute decree."*

THE REASON OF THIS,

Appears sufficiently in the Reasons of those Negatives forementioned.

* At the close of their First Article, the Dutch Remonstrants thus address the members of the Synod, of which they were themselves allowed to form no part, but were called the CITED PERSONS: "Most reverend Fathers and Brethren, you have now before you the proposition of our opinions respecting the First Article on Election and Reprobation. These sentiments we are

THE STATE OF THE CONTROVERSY

TOUCHING

PREDESTINATION, OR ELECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE, OR REPROBATION THEREFROM.

I.

Whether of Divine and peremptory Election to [glory or] eternal life, the first and adequate object be "all and only "those which persevere in true faith unto their lives' end, as "such: or certain particular persons not at all considered as "believing and persevering in faith, as such.”

See all the Texts alleged for Conditioned, and against Absolute Irrespective Election, pages 95—110.

prepared to defend; we are also prepared to combat the contrary opinions, which are those of the Contra Remonstrants. We think it greatly concerns the Truth itself, the glory of God, our own conscience, and the edification of the Churches, for us to propose these opinions in this order, and to explain and defend them as much as we are able and as far as we shall think needful."

In the Acts of the Synod, it is stated, "In addition to this, the Synod declared it to be displeasing to them, that the Cited Individuals, in the propositions exhibited, had employed themselves more in rejecting the opinions of other people than in stating their own; that they disclaimed ⚫ those sentiments which were not their own, rather than asserted what were really theirs; and that they had mixed many topics in their First Article, which belonged more properly to those which had to succeed.' It was therefore resolved to admonish the Remonstrants, that in their subsequent Articles they might beware of these grievances, and pay a stricter attention to the commands of the Synod."

The next day, which was the 14th of Dec. 1618, the Remonstrants were enjoined to have their other Four Articles ready to exhibit on the 17th of the same month. "It was also the pleasure of the Synod to warn the CITED PERSONS to prepare their propositions in an affirmative rather than in a negative manner, that a judgment might be the more easily formed concerning their sentiments: Were it afterwards their wish to refute the contrary doctrines, they should be at liberty to add their Rejections.' When the Remonstrants had been called in, they received these injunctions from the Synod. The President also reminded them, that they ought in preference to apply themselves to a discussion of those questions which related to the sweet doctrine of ELECTION, and not in an odious manner agitate that of REPROBATION.' The Remoustrants answered, that they would take into consideration the admonitions which had been given by the "President.""

6

This was very good advice; but it was not the most disinterested, when proceeding from men who were the great teachers of UNCONDITIONAL REPROBATION. The result of this admonition will be seen in a note, at the close of these Five Articles.-EDITOR.

fperemptory Reprobation unto everlasting tor~st and adequated object be, "all and only unbedying in their unbelief, as such; or certain "particular persons (the greatest part of mankind,) not at "all considered as impenitent, unbelievers and disobedient, as "such."

See the Texts fore-cited for Respective and against Irrespective and Absolute Reprobation: (pages 98-110) to which you may add Isaiah xxvii, 11. "Because this people have no understanding, therefore," &c. Ezek. xviii, 13, 23.

THE SECOND ARTICLE CONTROVERTED,

CONCERNING

THE UNIVERSALITY OF CHRIST'S DEATH.

WHAT THE REMONSTRANTS HOLD.

TENET I.

THEY hold, that the price of Redemption which Christ tendered unto his Father, was not only in itself SUFFICIENT for the Redemption of all mankind, but was also (according to the decree, the will, and the grace of God the Father,) PAID FOR ALL and EVERY MAN.

PROOFS OUT OF SCRIPTURE.

"The price of Redemption Christ paid for all and every man."] For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all: 1 Tim. ii, 5, 6.—We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men. iv, 10.-Behold the Lamb of God that taketh) away sin of the world. John iii 16; i, 29.-We have an Advocate

the

with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John ii, 2. See John vi, 33, 51.He tasted death for every man: Heb. ii, 9.-For the unjust: 1 Pet. iii, 18, &c.-For the ungodly, for sinners, for his enemies. Rom. v, 6, 8, 10.-See the places cited before for Christ's satisfaction. (Page 96.)

"According to the decree, the will, and the grace of God,” &c.] So God loved the world, &c. John iii, 16.-We have seen and do testify, that the Father sent the Son, to be the Saviour of the world. 1 John iv, 14.-He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. Rom. viii, 32.—In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his onlybegotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us; and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John iv, 9, 10.-For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved: John iii, 17.-That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Heb. ii, 9.-It pleased the Father......... by him to reconcile all things to Himself. Col. i, 19, 20, 21.—After that the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared. Tit. iii, 4.-For I came, not to judge the world, but to save the world. John xii, 47.-Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. John xv, 13. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Rev. i, 5.-The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, &c. 2 Cor. v, 14, 15.

TENET II.

They hold, that Christ by the merit of his death, hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankind, that the Father, by reason of his Son's merit, both could, and would, and did enter [into] and establish a new and gracious covenant with sinful man liable to condemnation.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Cor. v, 19.-And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death. Col. i, 21, 22.-I will give thee for a Covenant of the people. "That is, a Mediator and Foundation of the Covenant of Grace." DIODATI'S Annot. Isai. xlix, 8.-When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his

.........

seed......... and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many. Isai. liii, the whole chapter, 10, 11, 12.—To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whoso ever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. Acts x, 43. -He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises, viz. I will put my laws into their mind and I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, &c. See Jer. xxxi, 31, 34; xxxiii, 8; Micah vii, 18, 19, 20; Heb. viii, 6, &c.-How much more shall the blood of Christ.........and for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. ix, 14, 15, &c. -See Heb. x, the whole chapter; vii, 22; xii, 24, 25.

TENET III.

They hold, that though Christ hath merited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins for all and every man, yet, according to the tenor of the new and gracious Covenant, none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ, otherwise than by faith: Nor are a man's sins pardoned, before he actually believes in Christ.

PROOFS OUT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

"None made partakers of Christ's benefits otherwise than by faith." Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. Rom. iii, 24, 25.— But without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. xi, 6.— Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded. Rom. ix, 33.-He is the Saviour,-specially of those that believe. 1 Tim. iv, 10.-For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself.-And you hath he now reconciled-to present you holy and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight, if ye continue in the faith, &c. Col. i, 19-23.-We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold fast &c. Heb. iii, 6, 14.- He is the Mediator, that by means of death they which are called [cum eventu might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. ix, 15.-But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John i, 12.-See Gal. iii, 22.

Nor are a man's sins pardoned before he actually believes."] To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins. Acts