Quest. What doest thou chiefly learn out of these articles of thy Faith?John Mayer, The English Catechisme Explained. Or, A Commentarie on the Short Catechisme set forth in the Booke of Common Prayer […] (London: Printed by Aug. Mathewes for Iohn Marriot, 1623), 20–21. Also in John Mayer, The English Catechism Explained […], 4th ed. (London: Printed by Aug. Mathewes for Iohn Grismand, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Gun in Ivy lane, 1630), 20–21. [some spelling changes made.]
Answ. First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me and all the world. Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me, and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy ghost, who hath sanctified me, and all the elect people of God.
Explain. In this, one thing must be warily understood, viz. How Jesus Christ the Son of God, may be said to have redeemed all mankind: otherwise, every man’s estate shall seem good enough, sith by him all are redeemed. Understand it therefore, as other like phrases in the Scriptures, as that to the Romans: As by the offense of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation: so by the justifying of one, the benefit abounded towards all, to the justification of life, &c. By which statement is meant, That all men which attain to the Justification of life, are made partakers of this benefit, by no other means, either in Heaven, or in Earth, within themselves, the observation of the Law; or without them, the merits of others, holy men, or Angels; but only by the righteousness of Christ. So according to Saint Augustine’s [Aug. de predest. Sanct. lib. 174.8] like exposition of another Scripture-phrase tending hereto: Christ may be called the Redeemer of all mankind: not because all are actually redeemed by him; but because no man is redeemed by any other but Christ only.
When we say, he redeemed all Mankind, the meaning is, he is the only Redeemer of all men, who attain this great benefit of redemption and salvation, by no other, according to that memorable saying, There is none other name given under Heaven, whereby to be saved, but the name of Jesus [Acts 4:11]. Such as like better of the distinction (viz. He redeemed all men, that is, in regard of the sufficiency of that he did, and suffered; but not of the efficacy thereof) may follow it if they please: For the passion of Christ was suitable to his person, his person of infinite excellency could not be so abated, without infinite merit, accruing by such humiliation: his dying was more than equivalent to all the world’s perishing everlastingly in Hell. Whereupon in giving himself a ransom for sinful man, he is rightly said to have redeemed all mankind, for so much as he paid the full price of an universal redemption: And this is the same in sense with that saying of John, Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. John 1.29. Wicked men and unbelievers are not hereby secured; but more justly and deeply damned, as treading under foot the Son of God, and profaning his blood.
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