original Creation, as well as we, would therefore ftand in need of Redemption, and might have their particular Redemptions effected by created Beings: And if their Redemptions could be effected by the most perfect created Beings, then, as they would infer, why not ours? This Notion, as I apprehend, feem'd to be the Reason of Mr. Whifton's falling away from that Faith he fo ftrenuously profess'd to believe of the Bleed Trinity in his Theory of the Earth. But that none have Reafon to make this a Rock of Offence in their Belief of the fundamental Article of our holy Religion, I Jhall endeavour to evince to thofe that have fallen in with the Opinion of the aforesaid New System.

Let us then imagine never fo many Suns and habitable Globes revolving about them, and that many of the rational Inhabitants of them may have fallen from their first pure Eftate; and not only fo, but be likewife capable of Recovery from their Fall, and that God in Mercy would take fome Method to reStore fuch of them as would be obedient to a fecond Covenant, as he has done with respect to us; 'tis very reafonable to believe, that no created Being could do any more than perform its own Duty to its Creator, and therefore is incapable to make Satisfaction for the Offences of any other Beings: But this being allow'd, as in reafon it ought to be, it may be ask'd, by what means then could any of the rational Inbabitants

habitants of other Globes receive Redemption? I anfwer, that it is very plain from the Scriptures, that our Blessed Redeemer is co-equal, co-effential, and co-eternal with the Father; and particularly in that he was the Creator of all things, and without him was not any thing made that was made*: And is it not then highly reafonable to believe that he, who is infinite in Power, can infinitely difplay his Mercies to all the Works of his Creation, and that his perfect Obedience perform'd upon this Globe, and his fuffering for Sin, that knew none himself, has made an infinite. Satisfaction to Divine Justice for the Offences of all the rational, reclaimable Part of his Creations? But indeed, which way this Knowledge may be reveal'd to the Inhabitants of other Globes, we must leave to the Counsel of Divine Wif dom: 'Tis fufficient to us, that he, being jupremely infinite in all Perfections, could by one Oblation of himself for all the Works of his Creation, ranfom the Whole, and become the Mediator of a new Covenant to all, who were not guilty of total Apoftacy.

But here, it may be, another Query will arife, That, allowing that by fuffering upon one Globe he could ranfom all others not irreclaimably fallen, how came it to pass that he fhould chufe this Globe rather than any other to make his Appearance in, and to undergo thefe Sufferings upon? I answer, That if the

Re

* John i. 3.

Redemption of the reclaimable Part of his fallen Creatures required fuch Satisfaction to be perform'd by their Creator, the Place be would make bis Appearance in for the Performance of it was alone in the Counsel of his infinite Wisdom; as was alfo his Defcent, which was promifed to the Seed of Abraham; which could be but in one Family at last, no more than his Appearance in this way could be but upon one Globe: Yet as by his Incarnation in one Family all the Families of the Earth might be bleffed, fo by his Appearance upon one Globe, by his perfect Obedience and infinite Satisfaction, he might become the Mediator of a New Covenant to all the fallen, rational, reclaimable Inhabitants of the whole Creation. Befides,

It may be question'd, whether any of his Creatures, upon any other Globe whatsoever, would have treated him in the Way and Manner he was treated here; and whether there could be found any created, rational Beings fo hard to be convinced of the Truth of Reveald Religion: And when we confider the Stubbornness and Obftinacy of the Human Race, and the great Difficulty of perfuading many to believe and comply with the Means of Salvation; when we confider alfo the Probability, that the rational, reclaimable Inhabitants upon other Globes may with lefs Diffi culty receive reveal'd Religion, and the offer'd Mercies of a Mediator; we shall fee Reafon

to

to fuppofe that this Part of his Creation was the most proper for this GREAT TRANSACTION. But these things being Secrets to us, and it being fufficient to our Salvation, that we believe what the Scriptures reveal, and live fuitably to their Precepts; I Should not fo far have pry'd into them, but only to make the following Inference, viz. That it being poffible to give a rational Account how and by what Means Chrift's Merits might be convey'd to the whole univerfal Creation, that have not fallen into total Apoftacy; fo the Opinion of a Plurality of Worlds, with various Inhabitants rational and irrational, and that many of the rational Inhabitants of them may have fallen from their first pure Eftate, is no juft Ground for the Maintainers of it to run into Herefy, in not acknowledging the Divinity of our Bleffed Saviour, but is on the contrary a ftrong Confirmation of it; because 'tis thro' his Divinity only that he could make fo infinite a Satisfaction, and thro' bis abfolute Perfection of Obedience that he' became the Mediator and Saviour of all his reclaimable rational Creatures; allowing the Suppofition I have gone upon, that many of the Inhabitants upon other Globes may have fallen from their first pure Eftate, and be capable of Recovery from their Fall. therefore being fufficient to our prefent Purpofe, I fhall forbear making any further Suppofitions of their Ufes at prefent, and proceed to the Work intended; in which I have endeavour'd

This

vour'd to rectify Men's mistaken Notions in Religion, and to lead them to the Truth: And that my Endeavour to this End may have the propofed Effect upon the Readers, and that a fuitable Practice may be confequent thereupon, is the Defire and hearty Prayer of

Him that wisheth

Your future Happiness,

B. P.

Philo