Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Timothy 2:4

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth .

The Apostle produces a clear convincing reason, that the duty of Charity in praying for all men, is pleasing to God, from his love extended to all, in his willing their Salvation, and their knowledge and belief of the Gospel, which is the only way of Salvation. From hence our Saviours Commission and Command to the Apostles was universal, Go and teach all Nations, Mat. 28.19. preach the Gospel to every creature, that is, to every man, Mark 16.15. he excludes no people, no person. And accordingly the Apostles discharged their office to their utmost capacity; Col. 1.24. But a question arises, how it can be said that God would have all men saved, when that the most of men perish? For the resolving this difficulty, we must observe that in the stile of Scripture the will of God somtimes signifies his eternal Counsel and Decree; that things should be done either by his immedia[illegible: 1 letter]e efficiency, or by the intervention of means: Or secondly his commands and invitations to men to do such things as are pleasing to him. The Will of God in the first sence alwayes infallibly obtains its effect, Psal. 115.3. thus he declares, My counsel shall stand, I will do all my pleasure, Isa. 46.10. for otherwise there must be a change of Gods Will and Counsel, or a defect of power, both which assertions are impious blasphemy. But those things which he commands and are pleasing to him, are often not performed without any reflexion upon him, either as mutable or impotent. Thus he declares, that he wills things that are pleasing to him; as, I will not the death of a sinner, but that he should turn and live. Ezek. 33.11. and sometimes that he will not those things that are displeasing to him, as contrary to holiness, though he did not decree the hindering of them: thus he complains in Isa. 65.12. Ye did evil before mine eyes, and did chuse that wherein I delighted not. This distinction of the Divine Will being clearly set down in Scripture, answers the objection; for when 'tis said, in the Text, that God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth; and in the same sence by St. Peter, that God will have none perish, but come to repentance, we must understand it, not with respect to his Decretive Will, but his Complacential Will, that is, the Repentance and Life of a Sinner is very pleasing to his Holiness and Mercy. And this love of God to men, has been declared in opening the way of salvation to them by the Mediator, and by all the instructions, invitations, commands, and promises of the Gospel, assuring them that whoever comes to Christ upon the terms of the gospel shall in no wise be cast off: that no repenting believer shall be excluded from saving Mercy.

Marginal references: 2 Pet. 3.9.