Benjamin Andrews Atkinson (c.1680–1765) on God’s Good-Will for All Men

2. Those who labour and suffer reproach in the service of God and the work of religion may depend upon the living God that they shall not lose by it. Let this encourage them, We trust in the living God. The consideration of this, that the God who has undertaken to be our pay-master is the living God, who does himself live for ever and is the fountain of life to all who serve him, should encourage us in all our services and in all our sufferings for him, especially considering that he is the Saviour of all men. (1.) By his providences he protects the persons, and prolongs the lives, of the children of men. (2.) He has a general good-will to the eternal salvation of all men thus far that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He desires not the death of sinners; he is thus far the Saviour of all men that none are left in the same desperate condition that fallen angels are in. Now, if he be thus the Saviour of all men, we may hence infer that much more he will be the rewarder of those who seek and serve him; if he has such a good-will for all his creatures, much more will he provide well for those who are new creatures, who are born again. He is the Saviour of all men, but especially of those that believe; and the salvation he has in store for those that believe is sufficient to recompense them for all their services and sufferings. Here we see, [1.] The life of a Christian is a life of labour and suffering: We labour and suffer. [2.] The best we can expect to suffer in the present life is reproach for our well-doing, for our work of faith and labour of love. [3.] True Christians trust in the living God; for cursed is the man that trusts in man, or in any but the living God; and those that trust in him shall never be ashamed. Trust in him at all times. [4.] God is the general Saviour of all men, as he has put them into a salvable state; but he is in a particular manner the Saviour of true believers; there is then a general and a special redemption.

Benjamin Andrewes Atkinson, “An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of the First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy,” in Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Peabody, Mass: Hendrickson, 1992), 2355.

Biographical Sketch of Atkinson:

Benjamin Andrew Atkinson [1680–1765].—Concerning this gentleman we can state but few particulars. He was son to the well-known author of “The Epitome of Navigation.” Mr. Fido being disabled by weakness, Mr. Atkinson was chosen his assistant, and ordained co-pastor. January 7, 1713. The celebrated Matthew Henry preached upon the occasion, and Mr. Jeremiah Smith gave the exhortation. For convenience, the service was conducted in Silver-street; and both discourses were published, together with Mr. Atkinson’s confession of faith. Upon the death of Mr. Fido, in January, 1715, he succeeded to the whole charge, and not long afterwards, removed his congregation to a new meeting-house in Great St. Thomas Apostle. At this time, it being proposed to finish the Exposition upon the New Testament, began by Mr. Henry, Mr. Atkinson was one of the ministers fixed upon for this work. The part he undertook was the two Epistles to Timothy. Mr. Atkinson continued pastor of his church a considerable number of years. He was a peaceable man, of moderate principles, and accounted a good practical preacher. His learning was very considerable, and he was uncommonly well skilled in the oriental languages. During the debate at Salters’-Hall synod, in 1719, he took part with the non-subscribing ministers; and re-printed his confession of faith, to which he added a preface, designed to satisfy the world, that he had not in the least given into any new notions concerning the Trinity. From thence it is to be inferred, that some suspicions on his head were preferred against him. About the year 1742, Mr. Atkinson left his people, and, after a few years retired to Leicester. There, for a space of 16 years, he resided in the house of his son-in-law, Mr. Hugh Worthington, father to Mr. Worthington, of Salters’-Hall; and in that retreat, finished his course at an advanced age, in the year 1765.

Mr. Atkinson published several single sermons, and some other pieces, which shall be enumerated below.

Works.—1. A Confession of Faith at his Ordination. 1713. Reprinted 1719.—2. An Exposition of the first and second Epistles to Timothy; in the Continuation of Matthew Henry.—3. A Sermon to the Societies for Reformation of Manners, June 29, 1726 [2].—4. Catholic Principles. 1729.—5. A Vindication of the literal Sense of three Miracles of Christ—his turning Water into Wine—his whipping the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple—and his exorcising the Devils out of two Men. Against Woolston. 8vo. 1729.—6. Two Sermons against Popery.—7. The Decay of Practical Religion lamented, and the Scripture-method for reviving it considered. In four Sermons [2].—8. Christianity not older than the Gospel Promise. Against Tindal. 1731.—9. The Holy Scriptures a perfect Rule of Faith: a Sermon, preached January 26, 1734–5.—10. A Judgment of private Discretion vindicated; in a Sermon, February 9, 1734–5.—11. Good Princes nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers: a Sermon on the Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Saxe Gotha; preached May 2.

Walter Wilson, The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Westminster, and Southwark: Including the Lives of Their Ministers, from the Rise of Nonconformity to the Present Time. With An Appendix on the Origin, Progress, and Present State of Christianity in Britain, 4 vols. (London: Printed for the Author; Sold by W. Button and Son, Paternoster Row; T. Williams and Son, Stationers’ Court; J. Conder, St. Paul’s Church Yard; and A. Maxwell, Bell Yard, 1808), 2:101–102.