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…

As for the Objection here inserted, in the Answer whereunto, you trouble your self not a little, you might well have spared your pains, and answered in brief, that though it were very strange that any thing should not be accomplished which God doth will absolutely; yet, surely, it is nothing strange, that that should not be accomplished which God doth will to come to pass only upon a condition; for, the condition failing, there is no reason why we should expect the accomplishment thereof. And such is the will of God which here you propose concerning the world, namely, in willing that they shall be saved, on condition of their obedience and repentance; damned, in case of their disobedience and impenitency. Yet, it is not amiss to consider what you let fall in your Answer, to an Objection very needless, and which no wise man, amongst them who are adverse to you in this opinion, would ⟨p. 98⟩frame; That act of Gods will (you say) which it pleaseth God to put forth, is always accomplished: I demand then, as touching this will of God whereby he wills life to the world upon their obedience and repentance, whether it be accomplished or no? If it be, then it is accomplished in their condemnation; for, certainly, it is not accomplished in their salvation. And to this effect, I presume, tends your answer in the next Section. That which follows, when you say, There is no good thing possible to be, though it never come to pass, (as that all men in all things should obey the word of God) but that God passeth upon it some act of his will; This, I say, is nothing to the purpose; and that for two reasons: First, because it proceeds of moral good; whereas the object [Greek or Hebrew] rising from the consideration of God willing salvation to the world, upon their obedience and repentance, had not its course of good moral, which is mans duty; but of some good natural, which he should receive by way of reward. Secondly, accomplishment of a thing willed, consists not in the approving of it, but in bringing of it to pass; as all men know, by common notion. When as you say, as touching Bonum, that God as he will prove it, so he doth approve it; as if approving of it were for the present, and proving of it were for the time to come, is so wild an expression, that I cannot comprehend it. We use by proving a thing, to approve it as good;

As for the Objection here inserted, in the Answer whereunto, you trouble your selfe not a little, you might well have spared your paines, and answered in briefe, that though it were very strange that any thing should not be accomplished which God doth will absolutely; yet, surely, it is nothing strange, that that should not be accomplished which God doth will to come to passe onely upon a condition; for, the condition failing, there is no reason why wee should expect the accomplishment thereof. And such is the will of God which here you propose concerning the world, namely, in willing that they shall be saved, on condition of their obedience and repentance; damned, in case of their disobedience and impenitency. Yet, it is not amisse to consider what you let fall in your Answer, to an Objection very needlesse, and which no wise man, amongst them who are adverse to you in this opinion, would