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…

6. Be it spoken in general, both of Elect and Reprobate, (yet only is it directed to them to whom the Prophets of God are sent;) it followeth not, that God doth will or desire the repentance of any Reprobate; (though to the confirmation hereof you chiefly tend:) certainly, whosoever repents, God takes pleasure in his repentance; and the Scripture saith no more: But that he doth not will it or desire it, out of your own mouth may be convinced, seeing that God affords not any Reprobate such an effectual grace as he fore-sees will bring them to repentance; but reserving that for the Elect alone, unto all others he vouchsafeth only such a grace as he knows full well will never bring any of them unto repentance. And if God would bring any man ⟨p. 60⟩unto repentance, who should hinder him? shall the will of man? how doth it hinder him in working the repentance of his Elect? cannot he omnipotenti facilitate converter, (as Austin speaks) whom he will, & ex nolentibus volentes facere? Again, doth God continue to will their repentance after they are damned, or no? If no: then is he changed if ever he willed their repentance.

6. Be it spoken in generall, both of Elect and Reprobate, (yet onely is it directed to them to whom the Prophets of God are sent;) it followeth not, that God doth will or desire the repentance of any Reprobate; (though to the confirmation hereof you chiefly tend:) certainly, whosoever repents, God takes pleasure in his repentance; and the Scripture saith no more: But that he doth not will it or desire it, out of your owne mouth may bee convinced, seeing that God affords not any Reprobate such an effectuall grace as hee fore-sees will bring them to repentance; but reserving that for the Elect alone, unto all others hee vouchsafeth onely such a grace as hee knowes full well will never bring any of them unto repentance. And if God would bring any man ⟨p. 60⟩unto repentance, who should hinder him? shall the will of man? how doth it hinder him in working the repentance of his Elect? cannot hee omnipotenti facilitate convertere, (as Austin speakes) whom he will, & ex nolentibus volentes facere? Againe, doth God continue to will their repentance after they are damned, or no? If no: then is hee changed if ever hee willed their repentance.