A64003:130
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…
A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination thereof / written by William Twice ...A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination thereof / written by William Twisse ...
London: printed by J.D. for Andrew Crook, 1646
AN EXAMINATION of a Treatise written by Master Cotton, for the clea… › QUESTION •.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Touching the positive act, which they conceive, I wholly agree with them, that God ordaineth none to condemnation, but upon sin presupposed. Annihilate the creature God may without presupposall of sin; for annihilation is an act of Sovereignty, suitable to creation; but condemn it he may not, without presupposall of sin. For condemnation is an act of justice, and presupposeth a rule of justice transgressed, and thereby wrath, or just revenge ⟨p. 43⟩provoked: only this positive act of Gods counsel about the world of mankind severed from the elect, upon serious consideration of sundry passages of Scripture, I would rather distinguish into a double act.
2. Touching the positive act, which they conceive, I wholly agree with them, that God ordaineth none to condemnation, but upon sinne presupposed. Annihilate the creature God may without presupposall of sinne; for annihilation is an act of Soveraignetie, suteable to creation; but condemne it he may not, without presupposall of sinne. For condemnation is an act of justice, and presupposeth a rule of justice transgressed, and thereby wrath, or just revenge ⟨p. 43⟩provoked: onely this positive act of Gods counsell about the world of mankind severed from the elect, upon serious consideration of sundry passages of Scripture, I would rather distinguish into a double act.
1. Whereby, without all respect of good or evil in the men of this world, God ordained them unto judgment, according to their works. Ezech. 33. 20. to judgment, I say, not of condemnation, which presupposeth sin in the creature to be condemned; but judgment (I mean) of just retribution, whereby God is willing to deal with them, according to their works in justice; justice I say, aswell distributive, to reward them with life, if they continue in obedience; as vindicative, to punish them to death, if they provoke him by careless and wilful disobedience.