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…

or, making Gods decree of permitting such sins for which they shall be condemned precedent to his decree of condemnation, (whereunto you do incline unawares) which will cast you upon miserable inconveniences, and that by your own rule already delivered; for if the decree of permitting sin be first in intention, then, by the rules received by you, it should be last in execution; that is, men should be condemned for sin, before they be permitted to sin: But the conjunction of these decrees into one, as in the same moment of nature and reason, will both prevent this inconvenience, and also justify Gods decree of condemnation, to proceed upon the consideration of those sins for which he purposeth to condemn them. But then there is ⟨p. 112⟩another point of great moment, which in like manner must be accorded unto, though you seem to be little aware of it, (though, I willingly confess, this over-sight is very general) namely, that God decreeth the salvation of none of ripe years, but upon, or with a joint consideration of their faith, repentance, and good works. For, let us first make the decrees of salvation and condemnation matches: As for example, Reprobation, as it is accounted the decree of condemnation, is a decree of punishing with everlasting death. Now, if you will match Election unto this, as it is the decree of salvation, it must be conceived as a decree of rewarding with everlasting life. Now let any man judge, whether this decree must not as necessarily be conjoined with the consideration of faith, repentance, and good works, in men of ripe years; as the decree of condemnation, or of punishing with everlasting death, must be conjoined with the consideration of those sins for which God purposeth to punish them. And I will further demonstrate it thus: Like as the decree of permitting some men to sin, and to continue therein to the end, and Gods decree of condemning for sin, are joint decrees, neither afore nor after other; and consequently, the decree of condemning for sin must necessarily be conjoined with the consideration of sin: In like sort, Gods decree of giving some faith, repentance, and good works, and his decree of rewarding them with everlasting life, are joint decrees, neither of them afore or after other;

or, making Gods decree of permitting such sinnes for which they shall be condemned precedent to his decree of condemnation, (whereunto you doe encline unawares) which will cast you upon miserable inconveniences, and that by your owne rule already delivered; for if the decree of permitting sinne be first in intention, then, by the rules received by you, it should be last in execution; that is, men should be condemned for sinne, before they be permitted to sinne: But the conjunction of these decrees into one, as in the same moment of nature and reason, will both prevent this inconvenience, and also justifie Gods decree of condemnation, to proceed upon the consideration of those sinnes for which hee purposeth to condemne them. But then there is