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…

and not first approve it, and then prove it. As little to the purpose is that which followeth, as when you say, When God commands a duty, his will of command is accomplished: But, whereas God is said to will the thing that he commands, here ariseth a question, how that can be said to be willed by God, which most commonly is not accomplished? For, albeit the will of command is accomplished, by the commanding of this or that, yet Gods will of the thing commanded seems not to be accomplished, unless the thing willed by God be sometimes brought to pass. The truth is, your opinion seems to be, That God not only willeth the salvation of the world, upon the condition of their repentance, (for that is no more to will their salvation, than their damnation) but that God willeth and desireth their salvation absolutely, in as much as he willeth and desireth their repentance. I confess you do not in express terms profess as much; namely, that God willeth and desireth the repentance of Reprobates; yet hitherto you seem to tend, in this discourse of yours, though concerning ⟨p. 99⟩this you say no more than this, That God gives means to help them to the performance of this obedience, so far as is meet for him: which while you profess, I doubt you understand not your own meaning; and therefore no marvel if others do not understand it: For, how far he doth help them, you express in a very uncertain manner; which is rather to conceal, than to discover and express your meaning. But I will endeavour to bolt it out. These means you speak of are either moral only, consisting in instructing them wherein this obedience doth consist, and urging them by persuasion thereunto; or, in affording, besides this, some efficacious operation of Gods Spirit, to work them to this obedience. Now, this latter cannot be your meaning; for if this were afforded them, their obedience, certainly, would be wrought: but the world, of whom you speak, do never perform this obedience. Now, in granting the other, there is not so much evidence of Gods will that they shall perform this obedience, as by the denying of this we have evidence, that his will is not that they shall perform this obedience. Again, in respect of means moral, can any be saved without the means of true faith and true repentance? I think you will not say they can:

and not first approve it, and then prove it. As little to the purpose is that which followeth, as when you say, When God commands a duty, his will of command is accomplished: But, whereas God is said to will the thing that hee commands, here ariseth a question, how that can be said to be willed by God, which most commonly is not accomplished? For, albeit the will of command is accomplished, by the commanding of this or that, yet Gods will of the thing commanded seemes not to be accomplished, unlesse the thing willed by God be sometimes brought to passe. The truth is, your opinion seemes to be, That God not onely willeth the salvation of the world, upon the condition of their repentance, (for that is no more to will their salvation, than their damnation) but that God willeth and desireth their salvation absolutely, in as much as hee willeth and desireth their repentance. I confesse you doe not in expresse termes professe as much; namely, that God willeth and desireth the repentance of Reprobates; yet hitherto you seeme to tend, in this discourse of yours, though concerning