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…

For Gods thoughts of peace, in Scripture phrase, towards his people, consist not only in affording means, but in making them effectual also to the procuring of such a gracious disposition in his people, as to make them fit for the mercies which God hath resolved to confer upon them; as Jer. 29. 10. But thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babel, I will visit you, and perform my good promise towards you, and cause you to return to this place. Verse 11. For I know the thoughts that I have thought towards you, saith the Lord, even the thoughts of peace, and not of trouble, to give you an end, and your hope. Verse 12. Then shall ye cry unto me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hear you. Ver. 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, because ye shall seek me with all your heart. Ver. 14. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord, and I will turn your captivity. And as for the former phrase, in saying, It was the will of God to have healed them: In proportion to the place now alleged out of Jeremiah, it may be ⟨p. 91⟩granted, that God would have healed them; to wit, in case they would have converted unto God with all their heart, and with all their soul; as our Saviour signifies, Joh. 12. 40. and that out of Isaiah 6. and like as God himself expressly professeth, Deut. 4. 29. If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. But is it, think you, in any unregenerate mans power to seek God with all their heart, and with all their soul? I think this is no more in the power of a man unregenerate, than it is in his power to love the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul: Now this is expressly attributed to the circumcision of the heart wrought by God, Deut. 30. 6. When you add, that the will of God is, the world of unbelievers shall not be shut out from Christ, if they shut not out themselves through unbelief: This assertion of yours is such as no man, that I know, denies: And it is as true of the Elect as of the Reprobate; namely, that they should be utterly shut out of Christ, if they should shut out themselves by small unbelief; for, undoubtedly, the word of God is true, that saith, Whosoever believeth, shall be saved; whosoever believeth not, shall be damned.