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…

Then consider, have all men sufficient instruction unto the performance of true faith and true repentance? How will you be able to make this good? Hand over head, you say, God gives means to help them to the performance of this obedience, so far as is meet for him to do: yet, I am persuaded, you are not able to make this good, taking it according to the confuse generality wherein you express it. For, is it not meet for God to afford any Nation or particular persons his word and Gospel, as well as it is meet for him to afford it us? Nay, is it not as meet for God to afford any other person both the outward means, and the inward efficacious operation of his holy Spirit, to work them unto faith and true repentance, as well as by these means he hath been pleased to work us hereunto? This meetness, what is it but that which Schoolmen call, Justitia condecentiae, and which they profess doth accompany every action of God? So that had God afforded the same grace to others which he hath afforded unto us, he had carried himself therein meetly, that is, justly, justitia condecentiae. Again, had he denied the same grace to us which he hath denied unto others, he had herein also carried himself meetly, or ⟨p. 100⟩decently, that is, justly, justitia condecentiae. I am sorry to observe from such good mens pens such illusions to have their course, to the obscuring of the grace of God, and his sovereignty of dispensing it to whom he will. This very air I find breathed forth in the writings of others, and it seems to me very probable, that they have derived it from hence.

Then consider, have all men sufficient instruction unto the performance of true faith and true repentance? How will you be able to make this good? Hand over head, you say, God gives meanes to help them to the performance of this obedience, so farre as is meet for him to doe: yet, I am perswaded, you are not able to make this good, taking it according to the confuse generality wherein you expresse it. For, is it not meet for God to afford any Nation or particular persons his word and Gospel, as well as it is meet for him to afford it us? Nay, is it not as meet for God to afford any other person both the outward meanes, and the inward efficacious operation of his holy Spirit, to worke them unto faith and true repentance, as well as by these meanes hee hath been pleased to worke us hereunto? This meetnesse, what is it but that which Schoolmen call, Justitia condecentiae, and which they professe doth accompany every action of God? So that had God afforded the same grace to others which hee hath afforded unto us, hee had carried himselfe therein meetly, that is, justly, justitia condecentiae. Againe, had hee denyed the same grace to us which hee hath denyed unto others, he had herein also carried himselfe meetly, or