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 thereupon he did good to the one in their latter end, and not unto the other: Neither did he ever purpose, that good in their latter end should redound unto any, but as they should be humbled: wherein, humiliation is made the condition of doing them good, not of Gods purpose or intention: And withal, God gave unto those that were truly mortified, that is, truly humbled, hearts to perceive, eyes to see, and ears to hear; but he gave not the like grace unto all. And look what is said of Gods intention to humble them, the same may be said of Gods intention to purge them, according to that Ezek. 24. 13. Because I would have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee: I would have purged thee, voluntate praecepti, represented by the means used in his word; which failing, he resolveth to take another course, even by judgements in his works, meaning to go on in avenging the quarrel of his Covenant, Levit. 26. 25. until their uncircumcised hearts were humbled, Levit. 26. 41. purposing so at length to effect it; as he professeth, Ezek. 22. 15. saying, I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will cause thy filthiness to cease from thee. Yet this is not so much by the power of afflictions, as by the power of his Spirit, Isaiah 57. 17. For his wicked covetousness I was angry with him, and have smitten him: I hid me, and was angry; yet he went away and turned after the way of his heart: I have seen his ways, and I will heal them. But, when these ends are not attained, God complains (you say) He had used these means in vain. Indeed, Jer. 2. 20. he saith, Of old have I broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds, and thou saidst, I will no more transgress; but, like an harlot, thou runnest on all high hills, and under every green tree. But this is rather a conviction of their unfaithfulness, in not keeping Covenant with him, than a complaint: But be it a complaint, as such complaints are attributed unto God, like as men complain when they cannot help; but take heed we do not here-hence infer, that God is like man, not able to prevent cross events contrary to his expectation. Neither doth he there say, He had used these