George Swinnock (1627–1673) on Christ's Death, His Willingness to Save and the "Well Offered" Gospel

Consider friend, did Christ esteem Regeneration worth his blood, to merit it; and is it not worth thy prayers, and tears, and utmost endeavours to obtain it? Did Christ come to destroy the works of the Devil which is sin, 1 Joh. 3.8. and wilt thou build them up? did the Lord Jesus Come to build up the temple of holiness, and wilt thou pull it down? did Christ think it worth the while to be reproached, condemned, crucified, and all to make thee holy; and wilt thou be such an enemy to the cross of Christ, as by continuing in sin, to deprive him of that which he earned so dearly? Why wilt thou bind thy self to be a slave to Satan, when he redeemed thee with such a vast sum?

Did the merciful God send his Son into the world to bless thee, in turning thee from thine iniquity, and canst thou look upon that great blessing as thy bondage? Act. 3.26. Believe it, God had servants enough (even Angels, that are ever ready to do his will) to send ordinary gifts by, surely them twas some extraordinary Present that he thought none worthy to carry, and would trust none with but his only Son. God sent him to bless you, in turning every one of you from your iniquities. I hope, Reader, thou wilt have higher thoughts of holiness, and worse thoughts of sin all thy days: Surely the Son of God was not so prodigal of his most precious blood, as to pour it out for any thing that was not superlatively excellent.

George Swinnock, The Door of Salvation Opened by the Key of Regeneration (London: Printed by A. M. for Tho. Parkhurst, 1671), 171–172.

Reader, What dost thou think of this third subject of Consideration, The excellency of Regeneration and Holiness, which God requireth of thee for the avoiding of Hell, and attaining of Heaven? Tell me, Doth God require any thing to thy wrong? If God required of thee to live a thousand years on earth, and to spend all thy time in hunger, cold, nakedness, disgrace, pains and imprisonment, or otherwise thou shouldst not escape unquenchable burnings, and enjoy eternal life; thou wert worse than mad if thou didst not accept of, and obey such a command. How hearty and thankful then should thy acceptance be of Jesus Christ to be thy Lord and Saviour, of dying to sin, and living to, and delighting thyself in his blessed Majesty, which is all he desireth of thee! O do not refuse when thou art so well offered.

Ibid., 177. See this post (click) on Nathaniel Vincent for the same expression.

Thirdly, I answer, That thine impotency lieth in thine obstinacy. Thou pretendest that thou canst not, but the truth is thou wilt not, Luke 19.41. John 5.40. Thou art resolvedly evil, and then fliest out against God himself, that thou canst not do good, Eccles. 8.11. Jer. 44.16.

Thy disease is deadly and dangerous; the Physician of souls offereth thee his help, and he is both willing and able to cure thee: Now thou wilfully throwest away his Physick, feedest on such things which thou (canst forbear, and) knowest will increase thy disease; and then tellest the world, that thou art not able to cure thy self. Is this honest or rational dealing?

Ibid., 236.

Answer me this question, or else never more make this objection: Art thou willing to turn from sin unto God? Art thou willing to take the Son of God for thy Saviour and Lord? If thou art willing, I am sure God is willing; he hath confirmed it with an oath, Ezek. 33.11. Jesus Christ is willing that sinners should live, or he would not so willingly have died such a death; he hath paid the price of thy ransom, and offereth thee an happier estate than that of which Adam deprived thee. If thou art willing to accept of thy freedom, thou mayest have it; if any man will, let him drink of the water of life freely, Rev. 22. and if thou art not willing, why dost thou complain.

Ibid., 237.

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Note: The Puritans Oliver Heywood, Nathaniel Vincent, James Janeway, Joseph Alleine, Richard Alleine, John Rogers, and Thomas Barnes also use the terminology "well-offered."