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…

To all it is preached indifferently, Whosoever believeth not shall be damned; as well to the Elect as to the Reprobate: only, God shows mercy on whom he will, in giving the grace of faith; and hardens whom he will, in denying it. God doth covenant (you say) to give life to Adam and all his posterity, if they continue in obedience to his Law. This then, undoubtedly, concerns the Elect as well as the Reprobate; For they are a part of Adams posterity. But I wonder not a little at this language, speaking in the Present Tense, that God doth covenant to give Adam life; whereas Adam many thousand years ago hath ceased to have any thing to do with any such Covenant. Therefore this is for some special purpose, in joining Adam and his posterity together, as persons covenanted with by God. And I imagine the reason of it to be this: Lest otherwise there could be no place for continuance in obedience required of all Adams posterity; for that presupposeth them to be in the estate of obedience: which was never verified of them all, but as they were in Adam, and that in his state of Innocency. But why should we please our selves with such confusion? Let us consider them apart; and say, that, God did covenant with Adam that if he continued in obedience to his Law; or if breaking his Law he did return again to him by repentance, he should have life. But what evidence, I pray, have you for this? namely, that God made any such Covenant with Adam in the state of Innocency? who ever was found to entertain any such conceit before you? why might not you as well devise the like Covenant to be made by God with the Angels? Nay, is not the contrary manifest? In the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye the death. How could this be verified, if God ¹made any such Covenant with Adam? For, if he were under such a Covenant, he could not be said to violate it by sinning, but only by refusing to repent after he had sinned. And I verily believe you have no such meaning, as if you conceived any such Covenant to be made with Adam before his fall; and therefore ⟨p. 65⟩you clapped Adam and his posterity together; to the end, that if that which you delivered might not hold of the one, it might of the other. And though it hold of Adams posterity, as touching this part, of turning unto God by repentance after sin committed;

To all it is preached indifferently, Whosoever beleeveth not shall bee damned; as well to the Elect as to the Reprobate: onely, God shewes mercy on whom hee will, in giving the grace of faith; and hardens whom he will, in denying it. God doth covenant (you say) to give life to Adam and all his posterity, if they continue in obedience to his Law. This then, undoubtedly, concernes the Elect as well as the Reprobate; For they are a part of Adams posterity. But I wonder not a little at this language, speaking in the Present Tense, that God doth covenant to give Adam life; whereas Adam many thousand yeares agoe hath ceased to have any thing to doe with any such Covenant. Therefore this is for some speciall purpose, in joyning Adam and his posterity together, as persons covenanted with by God. And I imagine the reason of it to be this: Lest otherwise there could bee no place for continuance in obedience required of all Adams posterity; for that presupposeth them to be in the estate of obedience: which was never verified of them all, but as they were in Adam, and that in his state of Innocency. But why should wee please our selves with such confusion? Let us consider them apart; and say, that, God did covenant with Adam that if hee continued in obedience to his Law; or if breaking his Law hee did returne againe to him by repentance, hee should have life. But what evidence, I pray, have you for this? namely, that God made any such Covenant with Adam in the state of Innocency? who ever was found to entertaine any such conceit before you? why might not you as well devise the like Covenant to be made by God with the Angels? Nay, is not the contrary manifest? In the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye the death. How could this be verified, if God