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…

yet, as the Apostle speaks of some, so may we say of them, They are ever learning, and never come to the knowledge, at least to any saving knowledge, of the truth. On the contrary, Saul persecuting the Church of God, even in the way, marching furiously, Jehu like, against the Professors of the Gospel, it pleased God to call him, and convert him. We know, saith Austin, that God hath converted the wills of men, not only aversas à verae side, sed & adversas verae sidei. So that even opposition to grace God can cure, if it please him; and regenerate a man to bring him to faith and repentance, if it please him; and if he doth not, certainly the reasons can be no other, then because he will not; and that to his own glorious ends, which is reason enough for the ⟨p. 90⟩Creator to do what he will; his wisdom in referring all to congruous ends, being his justice; as Aquinas acknowledgeth. Christ was willing and earnest to gather Jerusalem under his wings; and no marvel, he was bound to do all he could, as the Minister of Circumcision, to save his brethren; for he was made under the Law, and was bound to love not only his brethren, but his enemies also, as well as we are bound to show the like love to all: But to infer here-hence, that therefore it was the will of God to have healed and saved that part of Jerusalem that would not, is a liberty which affection to a cause may take, but no reason doth justify it. Like as our Saviour in his ministry, so the Prophets in theirs, desired to do as much good as they could to all: but here-hence it followeth not, that it was the will of God to convert all whom the Prophets desired to convert. And as our Saviour by his tears, so the Prophets by their tears, did manifest their desire to bring them to repentance, ¹to do the uttermost of their power to bring them hereunto: but will you infer here-hence, that God also did desire to bring them to repentance? As for the phrase of carrying thoughts of peace towards them, that is general, and therefore ambiguous; and to what specialty you do refer it, I know not: Yet, according to the Scripture sense thereof, it is nothing correspondent to your opinion.

yet, as the Apostle speakes of some, so may wee say of them, They are ever learning, and never come to the knowledge, at least to any saving knowledge, of the truth. On the contrary, Saul persecuting the Church of God, even in the way, marching furiously, Jehu like, against the Professors of the Gospel, it pleased God to call him, and convert him. Wee know, saith Austin, that God hath converted the wills of men, not onely aversas à verae side, sed & adversas verae sidei. So that even opposition to grace God can cure, if it please him; and regenerate a man to bring him to faith and repentance, if it please him; and if hee doth not, certainly the reasons can be no other, then because hee will not; and that to his owne glorious ends, which is reason enough for the