THE UNIVERSAL REDEMPTION OF MANKIND THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. BY THE REV. RICHARD WATSON. INEVITABILIS illa sententia, Discedite a me, maledicti! a piissimo Deo ideo FOURTH EDITION. AUGUSTINUS. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN MASON, 14, CITY-ROAD; 1840. THE following pages are taken from the third volume of the Author's" Theological Institutes," and are published separately to meet the wishes of several friends. On a subject so long and so ardently disputed in the church of Christ, no man can pretend to offer any thing new. Happily the controversy has generally subsided into the milder form of calm discussion; and in this spirit the following condensed view of the leading points which it embraces, it is hoped, will be found presented. Still some great truths are involved in the inquiry, and right views of others; so that with all who are anxious to conform their opinions to the holy Scriptures it can never lose its interest, until we approach more nearly to "one mind and one judgment." If this should not take place in this world, it will in one more perfect; and it may minister to our modesty to recollect, that as when "that which is perfect shall come, that which is in part shall be done away," we shall all have, not only much to learn, but much to unlearn. Perhaps we shall then be surprised at our mutual mistakes; certainly we shall be humbled that our differences have not been held with greater charity. LONDON, October 1, 1830. THE CALVINISTIC RESTRICTION OF THE EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT, EXAMINED AND DISPROVED. SECTION I. It is proposed in the following pages to inquire into the extent of that atonement for sin which was made by the death of our Saviour; and whether salvation is rendered attainable by all to whom the Gospel is proclaimed. This inquiry leads us into what is called the Calvinistic controversy: a controversy which has always been conducted with great ardour, and sometimes with intemperance. I shall endeavour to consider such parts of it as are comprehended in the question before us, with perfect calmness and fairness; recollecting, on the one hand, how many excellent and learned men have been arranged on each side; and, on the other, that, whilst all honour is due to great names, the plain and unsophisticated sense of the word of inspired truth must alone decide on a subject with respect to which it is not silent. In the system usually called by the name of Calvinism, and which shall subsequently be exhibited in its different modifications, there are, I think, many great errors; but they have seldom been held except in connexion with a class of vital truths. By many writers who have attacked this system, the truth which it contains, as well as the error, has often been invaded; and the assault itself has been not unfrequently conducted on principles exceedingly antiscriptural, and fatally delusive. These considerations are |