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…

As for example, To intend repentance, is a plausible attribute to be given unto God; but it hath a double signification, the one that he intends it shall be mans duty to repent; and in this sense it is not more plausible than true: the other is, that God doth intend they shall repent; and this is no more true than plausible; for as much as God intends to give repentance to none but to his Elect: like as, de facto, hee brings none to repentance but his Elect, according to that of Austin, contra Jul. Pelag. lib. 5. cap. 4. Istorum neminem (saith he, speaking of the Reprobate) adducit ad salubrem spiritualemque poenitentiam, quà homo reconciliatur Deo in Christo, sive illis ampliorem patientiam, sive non imparem praebeat. As for that of Gods leading to repentance, Rom. 2. 4. I answer, first, I had thought that had been delivered rather of the Jews than of the Gentiles; and Acts 17. 20. the Apostle doth clearly signify, that the admonition of Gentiles to come to repentance, was reserved for the time of the Gospel; The time of this ignorance God regarded not, but now he admonisheth all men every where to repent. And in reason, faith and repentance ⟨p. 79⟩are inseparable; and therefore, where there was no admonition unto faith, how could there be admonition unto repentance? And who would not rather incline to think, that the Gentiles (taking them in separation from the Church of God) had the knowledge or God and of his Law given them, not to bring them to repentance that they might be saved, (for I acknowledge no sufficiency of instruction granted them hereunto) but rather for the ordering of their lives in moral conversation, and for the politic government of the world, lest otherwise all things should run to disorder and confusion? And, as Austin saith, that the means of grace are granted to some, ut proficiant thereby, ad exteriorem vitae emendationem, quo mitiùs puniantur.

As for example, To intend repentance, is a plausible attribute to be given unto God; but it hath a double signification, the one that hee intends it shall be mans duty to repent; and in this sense it is not more plausible than true: the other is, that God doth intend they shall repent; and this is no more true than plausible; for as much as God intends to give repentance to none but to his Elect: like as, de facto, hee brings none to repentance but his Elect, according to that of Austin, contra Jul. Pelag. lib. 5. cap. 4. Istorum neminem (saith hee, speaking of the Reprobate) adducit ad salubrem spiritualemque poenitentiam, quà homo reconciliatur Deo in Christo, sive illis ampliorem patientiam, sive non imparem praebeat. As for that of Gods leading to repentance,