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…

Besides, when men quench the motions of the Spirit, and persecute ¹the Ministers of the word, how can they be said, in so doing, to resist the Holy Ghost, if the Holy Ghost went not about such a work, as to bring them to Christ, and to life by him? Could they be said to resist the Holy Ghost, if the works of the Holy Ghost had never striven with them to work this work in them? Thus then you see, those three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, they all from heaven bear witness of this point in hand, concerning the truth hereof: The Father, by the end of the creation of his works and providence; the Son, by his end of enlightening the world, and of his coming into it to dye for it; the Holy Ghost, by his inward wrestling in the hearts of men, do all of them really proclaim, that it is the will and good pleasure of God, as to save the Elect, not according to their own works, but his grace; so likewise to save the world of mankind, if their works hinder not his good will towards them. Thus you see also a sweet harmony between the Purpose, and the Covenant or Promise, and the Providence of God: This Purpose willeth life unto the world, upon the condition of their obedience and repentance: the Promise, in the Covenant of Works, offereth life unto them likewise upon the same condition: the Providence of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, provideth and applieth several means of life unto the world, upon the same terms. And there is in every godly man, renewed after the Image of God, a just concord betwixt his Purpose, his Covenant or Promise, and his Performance: So is there here the like in God. You may read what Gods purpose is toward the world, by his Covenant made with the world; and you may see both what his Covenant with them, and purpose of them is, by his performance and execution of them both, in his actual providence, in the fullness of time. If you ask how God may be said to purpose any thing that is not effectually accomplished? I answer, the act of Gods will, which he is pleased to put forth, is always accomplished: There is no good thing possible to be, though it never come to pass, (as that all men should in all things obey the word of God) but God passeth upon it some act of his will; he at least approveth it to be good, and good it is, though it never come to pass:

Besides, when men quench the motions of the Spirit, and persecute ¹the Ministers of the word, how can they be said, in so doing, to resist the Holy Ghost, if the Holy Ghost went not about such a worke, as to bring them to Christ, and to life by him? Could they be said to resist the Holy Ghost, if the workes of the Holy Ghost had never striven with them to worke this worke in them? Thus then you see, those three that beare witnesse in heaven, the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost, they all from heaven beare witnesse of this point in hand, concerning the truth hereof: The Father, by the end of the creation of his workes and providence; the Sonne, by his end of enlightening the world, and of his coming into it to dye for it; the Holy Ghost, by his inward wrestling in the hearts of men, doe all of them really proclaime, that it is the will and good pleasure of God, as to save the Elect, not according to their owne workes, but his grace; so likewise to save the world of mankind, if their workes hinder not his good will towards them. Thus you see also a sweet harmony between the Purpose, and the Covenant or Promise, and the Providence of God: This Purpose willeth life unto the world, upon the condition of their obedience and repentance: the Promise, in the Covenant of Workes, offereth life unto them likewise upon the same condition: the Providence of God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, provideth and applieth severall meanes of life unto the world, upon the same tearmes. And there is in every godly man, renewed after the Image of God, a just concord betwixt his Purpose, his Covenant or Promise, and his Performance: So is there here the like in God. You may read what Gods purpose is toward the world, by his Covenant made with the world; and you may see both what his Covenant with them, and purpose of them is, by his performance and axecution of them both, in his actuall providence, in the fulnesse of time. If you ask how God may be said to purpose any thing that is not effectually accomplished? I answer, the act of Gods will, which hee is pleased to put forth, is alwayes accomplished: There is no good thing possible to be, though it never come to passe, (as that all men should in all things obey the word of God) but God passeth upon it some act of his will; hee at least approveth it to be good, and good it is, though it never come to passe: