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…

But when means of grace are offered, the corruption of mans heart, uncorrected by the spirit of regeneration, is apt to suggest carnal considerations, such as are apt to make a man obstinately stand out against them. The motion that Israel made to Sihon, to pass through his Country, hardened him not; but the fear of inconveniences and dangers, more than enough, upon the passage of so great an Army through his Country, in all likelihood, was it that hardened him; and God is said to harden him, in not correcting that fear, but moving him according to that projecting disposition wherein he found him. And mark how Cajetan commenteth ⟨p. 76⟩upon these words, Utramque hominis partem (spiritum & cor, hoc est, superiorem & inferiorem) malè dispositum à Deo, intellige negative penes dona gratuita, positivè autem quoad judicum inclinationem & prosecutionem boni sensibilis. It à quod Deus spiritum regis durum (hoc est, non cedentem petitionibus) reddidit, & non dando ci gratiam acquiescends, & cooperanda cidem ad affectum securitatis & boni proprii. When Moses came to Pharaoh, to require him, in the name of the Lord, to let Israel go; this was not that that hardened him; but his own pride, superstition, and covetousness: Neither did Gods judgements harden him; for it is divers times signified, that when he found himself eased, then he hardened his heart: and in other places, in the way of an adversative, when 'tis said, that yet Pharaoh hardened his heart; and the like. This also doth remove the cause of hardening his heart from Gods judgements; yet, notwithstanding, it cannot be denied, but that when God offers the means of grace to many, he doth it with a purpose to harden their hearts; if so be he entertains any such purpose at all, as your self grants he doth; for Gods purposes are eternal and immutable. As for your qualification of it, by saying, He doth not offer means of grace, in the first place, to harden; It is a strange expression, whereof, I am persuaded, you are not able to give any account; but, hand over head, cast out such a phrase as seems agreeable to your Tenet. For, consider I pray, this first place you speak of, is it in intention, or in execution? It cannot be in intention; for, in intention there is no order in things, but in respect of end and means:

But when meanes of grace are offered, the corruption of mans heart, uncorrected by the spirit of regeneration, is apt to suggest carnall considerations, such as are apt to make a man obstinately stand out against them. The motion that Israel made to Sihon, to passe through his Country, hardened him not; but the feare of inconveniencies and dangers, more than enough, upon the passage of so great an Army through his Country, in all likelihood, was it that hardened him; and God is said to harden him, in not correcting that feare, but moving him according to that projecting disposition wherein hee found him. And mark how Cajetan commenteth