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…

Secondly, Gods leading to repentance, in that place, is attributed to the goodness of God, which is showed in his patience and long-suffering; as if it signified no more than giving way unto repentance.

Secondly, Gods leading to repentance, in that place, is attributed to the goodnesse of God, which is shewed in his patience and long-suffering; as if it signified no more than giving way unto repentance.

Thirdly, take it as rigorously as you will, it cannot signify more than God performs by his word, and preaching of the Gospel: For, can you imagine that God performs more by his works in leading men unto repentance, than by his word? Now, Gods leading to repentance by his word, is but his admonishing them to repent; Acts 17. 30. Now he admonisheth all men every where to repent. And here-hence it follows not, that God doth will their repentance any otherwise then voluntate praecepti, not voluntate propositi, or been-placiti; for if he did, then must he needs give them the grace of repentance. Yet, I confess, in this voluntas praecepti is included voluntas propositi, in some sense; which yet nothing serves your turn, though some equivocation makes it seem plausible, taking it hand over head in the general; for it signifies withal, that it is the will of Gods good pleasure that they ought to repent, and it is their duty to repent: But there is much difference between these two Propositions, Its my good pleasure that it shall be your duty to repent; and, It is my good pleasure that you shall repent, and therefore I will give you the grace of repentance. As for the second place of importance, drawn out of Job 33. vers. 15, 16, 17. of Gods providence in vouchsafing heavenly dreams and visions unto the Gentiles, that he might withdraw them from their sins, and hide their pride, and save their souls from the pit: This likewise, in two respects, is nothing ⟨p. 80⟩for the purpose: For, first, this is spoken of such a time as wherein there was no partition-wall, as afterwards was erected, between the Jews and Gentiles; and therefore you do not well to apply this unto the Gentiles, in distinction from the Church of God: for, was not Job, and such like, in those days, of the Church of God? doth not God send his friends unto him, that he might sacrifice for them, God himself promising to accept it? Secondly, you are to prove, that God doth intend the repentance of those in whom he doth not effect repentance: But Elihu, in Job, speaks of God intending the repentance in those in whom he doth effect repentance; as it appears, Vers. 16, & 23, 24, 25. and yet I deny not but God may intend a kind of repentance even in the wicked; to wit, exteriorem vitae emendationem, as Austin speaks;