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…

The latter they conceive, as being an act of vindicative justice, to presuppose original sin at the least, and some of them (as Bellarmine) actual sin also, whom Paraus in this point seemeth to give way unto.

The latter they conceive, as being an act of vindicative justice, to presuppose originall sinne at the least, and some of them (as Bellarmine) actuall sinne also, whom Paraus in this point seemeth to give way unto.

1. To the first of these acts I wholly assent so far as it resteth in a non-election, or preterition of the creature, according to the liberty of Gods absolute sovereignty. That which is added to it, of a purpose of forsaking the creature, and to exclude it, from glory, and from sufficient means of grace in Christ, before all respect of sin, I want warrant from scripture to condescend unto. But this Negative act, I would rather express in such words as the holy Ghost hath used before me, and so distinguish it into two branches.

1. To the first of these acts I wholly assent so farre as it resteth in a non-election, or preterition of the creature, according to the libertie of Gods absolute soveraignety. That which is added to it, of a purpose of forsaking the creature, and to exclude it, from glory, and from sufficient meanes of grace in Christ, before all respect of sinne, I want warrant from scripture to condescend unto. But this Negative act, I would rather expresse in such words as the holy Ghost hath used before me, and so distinguish it into two branches.

That before all respect of good or evil in the creature:

That before all respect of good or evill in the creature: