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…

because, the very giving of his word is the revealing of himself unto us:) In like sort, it is not fit to say, that, To the Gentiles God gave the works of Creation and Providence, and his Law written in their hearts, to reveal himself unto them; for, like as the word in its kind, so the works of God in their kind, and the Law written in our hearts, are the revelation of God unto the world: God, in ancient times, teaching the world, [Greek or Hebrew], as afterwards he did, [Greek or Hebrew], as Chrysostom hath observed long ago. But suppose all this were granted you, yet is it nothing to purpose; for here is not the least intimation of any comparison between the objects of Gods intention, to signify what God did intend in the first place, or chiefly; and what in the next, or not chiefly. Again, all this, as touching his not revealing himself unto the world, is rather subservient to the end, impugned by you, to wit, the leaving them without excuse, ⟨p. 78⟩then opposite thereunto; for, had not God in some sort revealed himself unto them, they had not been left without excuse; neither had there been any place for hardening them to resist Gods truth, if the truth of God had not been some way or other manifested to them. That of aiming to bring them to repentance, and the rest of the same nature, is most for your purpose, if you were able to make it good: But when we are not well-grounded in the way that we take, no marvel if we multiply expressions, that when some fail us, we may take hold of other. Sure I am, it is apt to confound the judgement of him that, in the search of truth, shall address himself to examine it. Now, that God did not at all intend their repentance, I have already proved; for had he intended it, it should come to pass, he would have given it them, seeing it cannot be had without Gods gift, as the Scripture testifies, 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. Acts 5. 31. & 11. 18. and as Austin long ago hath expressed it, contra Julian. lib. 3. cap. 4. Quantam libet praebuerit pationtiam, nisi Deus dederit, quis aget poenitentiam? But we are apt to be deceived by phrases of speech, which, carrying many times an ambiguous signification, and being plausible to procure credence one way, is, hand over head, so carried, as if it were nothing less true the other way also: