A lifting up for the downcast by William Bridge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XII (A lifting up in case of discouragements drawn from the condition itself).
In this sermon Bridges teaches us that sometimes the discouragements of God's people are drawn from their condition, the condition itself.
But Bridges says that though a godly man's condition be sad, there is no reason why he should be discouraged or cast down because of his condition. For:
(i) his condition be carved out unto him by the hand of his Father, who is of infinite wisdom and love;
(ii) a man does not live upon his condition itself, but upon his call into his condition;
(iii) there be no condition that a godly man can fall into, but there is some mercy that is mixed with it.
Then Bridges addresses objections. Interestingly, one of the objections concerns the doctrine of limited atonement. Bridges then spends a significant portion of the sermon supporting particular redemption.
Particularly in this way: ' Now what saith the doctrine of universal redemption, to the satisfaction of Christ for actual sins ? It plainly tells us that a man may be, and thousands are damned for those very sins which Christ hath satisfied for, and it must needs say so ; for if Christ died for all the particular men in the world, then all the particular men in the world may be saved ; and if they may be saved, then Christ did bear their actual sins on the cross, or else a man's sins may be pardoned, which Christ did not bear on the cross ; and if Christ did bear the actual sins of all the particular men in the world, then those that are damned, must be damned for those very sins which Christ did bear and satisfy for, or else they are not damned for them. But men are not only damned for their final unbelief, but for sins against the law ; for the law is made for the ungodly. And Rom. ii. 12: "As many as have sinned without law, shall also perish without law." " And because of these things " (saith the apostle, speaking of actual sins aainst the law) " the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience." Now if men be damned for their actual sins against the law, and Christ have borne them on the cross and satisfied for them, then men are damned for those very sins which Christ hath satisfied for ; and if so, then what is this but to enervate, and make void the satisfaction of Christ ? If you pay a debt, and afterwards be thrown into prison for the same debt, doth not the imprisonment make void the satisfaction of your payment. Yet thus now it is according to the principles of this doctrine of universal redemption : surely therefore that doctrine is no friend, but a great enemy to the faith and comfort of a poor, doubting and afflicted soul. '
This is one of my favourite arguments for limited atonement. If Christ has already paid for the sins of everyone, then either no one is in hell or God is unjust in making Jesus pay and you pay.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon XIII
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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