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 lest we should seem to be pleased with our own errors, let us speak distinctly, and keep our selves from confusion: To be shut out of Christ, is, to be shut off from some benefit that is to be obtained by Christ. Now, if we speak of the benefit of forgiveness of sins, and of salvation; the truth is plain and distinct, that no man is bereaved of salvation and forgiveness of sins by Christ, but through unbelief; and whosoever believeth not, is excluded from pardon and salvation by Christ. But is there no other benefit we obtain by Christ, besides forgiveness of sins and salvation? What think you of the gift of faith and repentance? are not those spiritual blessings which we obtain in Christ, and for Christs sake? Ephes. 1. 3. If it be so, I pray consider, Is it handsome to say, that none is shut off from the gift of faith, but through unbelief? Certainly, unbelief is no tolerable cause why God should deny them the gift of faith, seeing all are in anbeleefe till God bestows upon them the gift of faith; neither can it be expected a man should believe, till God gives him the gift of faith, if so be faith be indeed the gift of God, and not the work of mans free-will without any gift of God. As for your discourse, though ⟨p. 92⟩it tends to a conclusion, which, rightly understood, no man denies in one sense; nor will any wise man affirm in another sense: I think fit to consider that also. The Spirit, you say, convinceth the world of sin, because they believed not in Christ; but the Spirit of God moveth to nothing, but what he knoweth to be according to the will of God. Let all this be granted; yet nothing followeth here-hence but that it was the will of God that the world should be convinced of sin, in not believing in Christ; which no intelligent man will deny. But yet, by your leave, it is no good consequence to infer here-hence, that, therefore it is the will of God that the world of unbelievers shall not be shut out from Christ, if they shut not out themselves by unbelief. Therefore, we grant both the antecedent and the consequent: yet, by the way, as touching that which you affirm, that God sent his Spirit to convince the world of sin, because they believe not in Christ; this is a truth, we confess; but, perhaps, we may be to seek of the right accommodation hereof:

But lest we should seeme to be pleased with our owne errors, let us speake distinctly, and keep our selves from confusion: To be shut out of Christ, is, to be shut off from some benefit that is to be obtained by Christ. Now, if wee speake of the benefit of forgivenesse of sinnes, and of salvation; the truth is plaine and distinct, that no man is bereaved of salvation and forgiveness of sinnes by Christ, but through unbeleefe; and whosoever beleeveth not, is excluded from pardon and salvation by Christ. But is there no other benefit wee obtaine by Christ, besides forgivenesse of sinnes and salvation? What thinke you of the gift of faith and repentance? are not those spirituall blessings which wee obtaine in Christ, and for Christs sake?