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…

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⟩yet were not brought to believe in him. Austin sometimes proposed such a question as this; Why do not men do this or that? As for example, Why do they not facere quod justum est? and hee answers, Quia nolunt. But if you ask me, Quare nolunt? Imus in longum, saith Austin. Yet, sine prejudicio diligentioris inquisitionis, he takes upon him to answer it thus, Vel quia latet, vel quia non delectat. But mark what he brings in upon the back of this; Sed ut innotescat quod latebat, & suave fiat quod minime delectabat, gratia Dei est quae hominum adjuvat voluntates. But the face of your discourse tends to this, as if you were of opinion, that every natural man hath so sufficient grace, as to choose to follow the light of the means of grace, rather than to cleave to his sinful estate, and ways of darkness: and that not only if he will, for if he will, the greatest part of the work is done already; but that his will is indifferently of it self inclinable to the one as well as to the other: which is so dangerous an opinion, and so opposite to the doctrine of Gods word, representing the miserable corruption of mans heart, and the peculiar power of Gods regenerating grace, that you are loath to break out in plain terms to profess as much. Lastly, whereas you say, The light of the means of grace, had it been followed, might have brought them to believe in Christ; You will not say, upon the following hereof they had been brought, but they might have been brought to believe. By following the light of the means of grace, I understand a continuing to hear the word of God: Now, it is well known that many, nay most, in all probability, though they continue all their days to be hearers;