A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination…

But evil times followed not long after; and for a whole year we were full of distractions in the Country. My chiefest care was, for the preservation of my manuscripts, which I brought with me to London at the first: But this piece in answer to Mr. Cotton was wanting; I had utterly forgotten ⟨image 4⟩what was become of it. Sir Francis removed to Southampton, and took care of my copies to have them along with him. It was somewhat long ere they were brought to London; but in good time they arrived here safe and sound. And Mr. Gilbert, who brought me the first word of it, showed me withal that he was well acquainted with a Stationer, who would undertake for the setting forth my Answer to Gods love to mankind: Only his desire was, he might begin with the printing of my answer to Mr. Cotton, because that was a small piece. And thus ere I was aware, I came to understand, that my stray sheep, which I gave for lost, was found.

But evill times followed not long after; and for a whole year we were full of distractions in the Countrey. My chiefest care was, for the preservation of my manuscripts, which I brought with me to London at the first: But this piece in answer to Mr. Cotton was wanting; I had utterly forgotten ⟨image 4⟩what was become of it. Sir Francis removed to Southhampton, and took care of my copies to have them along with him. It was somewhat long ere they were brought to London; but in good time they arrived here safe and sound. And Mr. Gilbert, who brought me the first word of it, shewed me withall that he was well acquainted with a Stationer, who would undertake for the setting forth my Answer to Gods love to mankind: Onely his desire was, he might begin with the printing of my answer to Mr. Cotton, because that was a small piece. And thus ere I was aware, I came to understand, that my stray sheep, which I gave for lost, was found.

And since that, considering certain passages of divine providence, causing some interruption in the proceedings of bringing forth this Treatise unto the light of the press: I have been moved thereby to prefix this preface, partly on mine own behalf, and partly on the behalf of Mr. Cotton: For men may perhaps conceive me to be well pleased with an adversative disposition, and to affect a course of opposition, as well to the friends of the Bridegroom, as to his enemies: As if I were like Ismael in part, of whom it was said, that his hand was against every ones; which is enough to make me like unto him in the other part also, and provoke every one to have his hand against me. Truth it is, all my writings, both printed and manuscript, that have an eye towards the press, are of a responsorious nature; but the original motive cause unto me was merely mine own satisfaction; and that in the points of grace and predestination. In arguments of this nature, I promised to my self more comfort then I could expect in studying Transubstantiation, or Purgatory. And because truth is never sufficiently known in a scholastical way, unless we are able to master the strongest