In the chapter Owen answers yet more objections of Arminians against particular redemption. The arguments are that:
(i) which every one is bound to believe is true; but every one is bound to believe that Jesus Christ died for him: therefore it is true, namely, that Jesus Christ died for every one;
(ii) doctrine which fills the minds and souls of poor miserable sinners with doubts and scruples whether they ought to believe or no, when God calls them thereunto, cannot be agreeable to the gospel. But this doth the doctrine of the particularity of redemption. It fills the minds of sinners with scruples and fears whether they may believe or no, and that because they are uncertain whether it was the intention of God that Christ should die for them in particular or no, seeing it is supposed that he died not for all, but only for his elect; whereupon the soul, when it is called upon to believe, may justly fall a-questioning whether it will be available or no for him so to do, and whether it be his duty or no, seeing he knoweth not whether Christ died for him or no;
(iii) Universal redemption serveth exceedingly to set forth the love and free grace of God;
(iv) Universal redemption exalts the merit of Christ;
(v) Universal redemption gives gospel consolation.
What grabbed me
Yet Owen was also wise to write: 'The truth is, the measure of the honour of Jesus Christ is not to be assigned by us, poor worms of the dust; that he takes to be honour which he gives and ascribes unto himself, and nothing else.'
Jesus chooses the way he is honoured, not us.
Next week's reading
Read 'Some few testimonies of the ancients'
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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