Cap. 3 Obj. 3: If applicable to all, why was Christ's death never announced to whole nations?
Obj. 3. If Christ's death, God so ordaining, is a remedy applicable to all unto salvation, then God would procure that this death of Christ be announced to all, lest anyone be able to plead that he perished by mere ignorance of so efficacious a remedy. But experience teaches that this remedy has not been revealed, not only to many singular human beings, but even to many nations, through several ages: it has therefore not been constituted by God as a remedy applicable to all and each, which has lain hidden from so many human beings, God himself so disposing the matter.
Sol. As to the minor, we gladly concede it — which both the sacred Scriptures testify and the Fathers acknowledge to be most true. (Acts 14:16) shows Paul that God in past generations suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, without any knowledge of Christ. And for this cause (Colossians 1:26–27): he calls Christ's Gospel a mystery which was hidden from ages and generations, but now has been manifested to the saints, to whom God willed to make known the riches, etc. Hence that of Prosper, On Free Choice: It is not remote from common inspection through how many ages how innumerable thousands of human beings, dismissed to their errors and impieties, have perished without any knowledge of the true God. And On the Calling of the Gentiles, book 2, chapter 7: In the farthest parts of the world there are some nations to whom the grace of the Savior has not yet shone. The Minor therefore being conceded, we say the consequence of the Major is invalid. For God is not bound to procure the application of that remedy to all and each which he willed to be applicable to all and each — which is clear both in bodily and in spiritual remedies. Although therefore Christ's death, by God's ordination and by the nature of the thing, is such a remedy as can both be announced and be applied to all and each individual of the human race unto remission of sins, yet God is bound by no promise to procure that it be announced and in fact applied to all and each. God willed the death of his Son to be a treasure as it were deposited in his hands, from which he can dispense to the whole human race whatever looks to obtaining either pardon, or grace, or glory; but he also willed that the actual communication of this treasure remain in his freest power, and from it to give or not to give to human beings according to the good pleasure of his will. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? (Matthew 20:15). We say therefore that Christ's death is by God's ordination applicable to all, yet that God is not obliged to procure for anyone its actual application or even its announcement.
Latin
Obj. 3. Si mors Christi, Deo ordinante, sit remedium omnibus applicabile ad salutem, tum procuraret Deus hanc mortem Christi omnibus annunciandam, ne quis obtendere possit se tam efficacis remedii sola ignorantia periisse. At experientia docet hoc remedium non modo multis singularibus hominibus, sed etiam multis nationibus, per aliquot saecula non fuisse revelatum: Non ergo constitutum est a Deo remedium omnibus et singulis applicabile, quod tot homines latuit, Deo ipso ita rem disponente. Sol. Ad minorem quod attinet, eam lubenter concedimus: quam et sacrae Scripturae testantur, et Patres agnoscunt esse verissimam. Act. xiv. 16. ostendit Paulus Deum praeteritis generationibus dimisisse omnes gentes ingredi vias suas, sine ulla Christi cognitione. Atque hanc ob causam Col. i. 26, 27. appellat Christi Evangelium mysterium quod absconditum fuit a saeculis et generationibus, nunc autem manifestatum est sanctis, quibus voluit Deus notas facere divitias, etc. Hinc illud Prosperi, De lib. arbitr.: Non remotum est ab inspectione communi, quot saeculis quam innumera hominum millia erroribus suis impietatibusque dimissa sine ulla veri Dei cognitione defecerint. Et De vocat. Gent. l. 2. c. 7.: In extremis mundi partibus sunt aliquae nationes, quibus nondum gratia Salvatoris illuxit. Concessa itaque Minore, dicimus consequentiam Majoris esse invalidam. Deus enim non tenetur procurare applicationem ejus remedii omnibus et singulis, quod omnibus et singulis voluit esse applicabile: quod tam in corporalibus quam spiritualibus remediis perspicuum est. Quamvis igitur mors Christi, ex ordinatione Dei et natura rei, sit ejusmodi remedium, quod possit omnibus et singulis humani generis individuis ad remissionem peccatorum et annunciari et applicari; tamen Deus nullo promisso tenetur procurare ut annuncietur et de facto applicetur omnibus et singulis. Voluit Deus Filii sui mortem esse thesaurum in manus suas quasi depositum, unde toti humano generi possit dispensare quicquid spectat sive ad veniam, sive ad gratiam, sive ad gloriam obtinendam; sed voluit etiam hujus thesauri communicationem actualem in liberrima sua potestate manere, atque inde donare vel non donare hominibus pro beneplacito voluntatis suae. Annon licet mihi quod volo facere de meo? Matth. xx. 15. Dicimus ergo mortem Christi ex Dei ordinatione esse omnibus applicabilem, non tamen Deum obligatum esse ad procurandam cuivis actualem ejus applicationem aut etiam annunciationem.