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 if any man shall inquire, What then moved our Saviour to give this reason why men loved darkness rather than light, to wit, this, because their deeds were evil? I answer, he gives the immediate cause why they loved not the light; that is, they had no mind to hear the doctrine of our Saviour: and that was, in respect of the convincing nature of it, and therein, like unto light, which makes every thing to appear and be manifest, according to its proper hiew; whereas in darkness all things are confounded; according to that Ephes. 5. 13.

But if any man shall inquire, What then moved our Saviour to give this reason why men loved darknesse rather than light, to wit, this, because their deeds were evill? I answer, hee gives the immediate cause why they loved not the light; that is, they had no mind to heare the doctrine of our Saviour: and that was, in respect of the convincing nature of it, and therein, like unto light, which makes every thing to appeare and be manifest, according to its proper hiew; whereas in darknesse all things are confounded; according to that Ephes. 5. 13.

Now they who brought ill consciences along with them, no marvel if they were quickly weary of our Saviours company: A pregnant example whereof we have Joh. 8. 7. For when our Saviour said unto them who brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, Let him that is among you without sin cast the first stone at her. Ver. 9. When they heard this, being accused by their own conscience, they went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even to the last. So that, indeed, the reason given by our Saviour Joh. 3. 19. is not so much a reason why they believed not, as why they liked not to hear him. Many did endure the hearing of him, ⟨p. 89⟩