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…

and whence can this feeling proceed, but from some principle of life that must be shed into his soul, that he may have a feeling of that miserable estate wherein he is by nature; otherwise though upon supposition he should believe it in Gods word, yet he should not see it in himself. Further, you say, It is sufficient to stir him up to seek for help, and strength, and life, in him where it is to be found. A strange conceit, that a man should seek for life, whereas if he hath not life he is dead; and was it ever known that a dead man sought for life? well Martha might seek for the restoring of life to her dead brother Lazarus, but surely Lazarus himself, being dead, neither did, nor could seek for life. A man that hath life, may be said to labour for life; that is, to hold it, when he is in danger of losing life: but for a dead man to seek for life is more then miraculous; for it is utterly impossible. When the Angel came down into the ⟨p. 72⟩Poole of Bethesda, the poor Cripple had never a whit the more sufficiency to enter in, had his heart been as lame to desire as his body to go, notwithstanding that he saw so good an opportunity, he should make no more haste to desire the benefit, then his body could to enjoy it. Again, no man seeks for that he desires not; neither can he desire ought, unless he know it, and loves it. And is it possible that a man should know the precious nature of the life of grace, and be in love with it, and yet without the life of grace? Is the knowledge of the precious nature of the state of grace, and the love thereof, a fruit of the flesh think you? But, by that which follows, it seems this is not your meaning; but you suppose, that notwithstanding all the operation of grace mentioned, they may despise it: In which case, they neither love it, nor understand the precious nature of it; for no man despiseth that which he loves, and accounts precious: Therefore this stirring up seems to be nothing but persuasion and exhortation. Now this, as Austin long ago delivered, Doctrinae generalitate comprehenditur; and we willingly grant, that the word preached doth equally exhort all that hear it, to faith, to repentance, to prayer, in some of which, or in all which, consists the seeking of life.

and whence can this feeling proceed, but from some principle of life that must be shed into his soule, that hee may have a feeling of that miserable estate wherein hee is by nature; otherwise though upon supposition hee should beleeve it in Gods word, yet hee should not see it in himselfe. Further, you say, It is sufficient to stirre him up to seek for help, and strength, and life, in him where it is to bee found. A strange conceit, that a man should seek for life, whereas if hee hath not life hee is dead; and was it ever known that a dead man sought for life? well Martha might seeke for the restoring of life to her dead brother Lazarus, but surely Lazarus himselfe, being dead, neither did, nor could seeke for life. A man that hath life, may be said to labour for life; that is, to hold it, when hee is in danger of losing life: but for a dead man to seeke for life is more then miraculous; for it is utterly impossible. When the Angell came downe into the