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…

Now if the incarnation of the Son, were not in intention before the creation of mankind in Adam, I will here-hence manifestly deduce, that the same incarnation of the Son of God was not any moment of nature in intention before the permission of mans fall; for certainly creation of mankind in Adam was not: as I prove thus; If Adams creation were in Gods intention before the permission of his fall, then should it have bin last in execution; that is, man should be permitted to fall into sin, before God created him.

Now if the incarnation of the Sonne, were not in intention before the creation of mankind in Adam, I will here-hence manifestly deduce, that the same incarnation of the Sonne of God was not any moment of nature in intention before the permission of mans fall; for certainly creation of mankind in Adam was not: as I prove thus; If Adams creation were in Gods intention before the permission of his fall, then should it have bin last in execution; that is, man should be permitted to fall into sinne, before God created him.

Thus, look by what reason it may appear, that the permission of Adams fall was not in Gods intention before the incarnation of the Son of God; by as good reason doth it appear, that the incarnation of the Son of God was not in Gods intention before the permission of Adams fall: whence it followeth, that the incarnation of the Son of God, and the permission of Adams fall, together with his creation are not subordinanda, to be subordinated in Gods intention (as if any of these were the end which God intended, and the rest means ordained to that end) but co-ordinanda, to be co-ordinated, as joint means tending to a further end: and that is the manifestation of Gods glory in a way of mercy mixed with justice: Which end doth equally be speak all the three former as means tending thereunto. For, no declaration of Gods glory can be without creation, nor in the way of mercy without permission ⟨p. 4⟩of sin and misery: nor of such a mercy as is mixed with justice, without the incarnation and passion of the Son of God.