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 much as to say, God exhorts them to turn to the Lord, to this end, that in case they obey his voice, and turn to the Lord which is their part, then God will perform his part also, and turn them to the Lord. But what need, I pray, of Gods work in turning them to the Lord, after they have performed their part so well as to turn themselves to the Lord? Again, if God hath a purpose to turn them to the Lord, why doth he not? Is it because they refuse to perform some act, upon the performance whereof God would turn them to himself? Now I would gladly know what act that is, which God expects to be performed, that so he might turn them to the Lord. I am verily persuaded your self are not willing to be put to design this: Is it the very act of turning to the Lord, or less, or more? If the very act of turning to the Lord, you fall upon a manifest absurdity before specified: if less then turning to the Lord, then 'tis less than a good act; and shall God reward that which is less then a good act with conversion unto him? What is it to confer grace according to the works of nature, if this be not? Yet I would fain know what this act is? Least of all will you say, 'tis more than turning to the Lord, for that should suppose conversion unto the Lord already wrought; and consequently, no need that God should turn them to the Lord, which supposeth that they were not before turned to the Lord at all. The providing of several helpful means for the salvation of the world after the fall, doth nothing hinder Gods reprobating of the world upon the fall unto eternal condemnation and perdition. For if he purpose to deny them grace to obey these means, this shall be sufficient to expose them to condemnation, even for the despising ⟨p. 117⟩of those means of grace which God purposeth to provide for them; and accordingly the objection here proposed is sound. And whereas you answer, that these means do aggravate their condemnation by accident only; to wit, through their neglect and abuse of them: I answer, that this their neglect and abuse doth by necessary consequence follow upon Gods purpose to deny them effectual grace for the using of those means aright:

As much as to say, God exhorts them to turne to the Lord, to this end, that in case they obey his voice, and turne to the Lord which is their part, then God will performe his part also, and turne them to the Lord. But what need, I pray, of Gods worke in turning them to the Lord, after they have performed their part so well as to turne themselves to the Lord? Againe, if God hath a purpose to turne them to the Lord, why doth he not? Is it because they refuse to performe some act, upon the performance whereof God would turne them to himself? Now I would gladly know what act that is, which God expects to be performed, that so he might turne them to the Lord. I am verily perswaded your selfe are not willing to be put to designe this: Is it the very act of turning to the Lord, or lesse, or more? If the very act of turning to the Lord, you fall upon a manifest absurditie before specified: if lesse then turning to the Lord, then 'tis lesse than a good act; and shall God reward that which is lesse then a good act with conversion unto him? What is it to conferre grace according to the workes of nature, if this be not? Yet I would faine know what this act is? Least of all will you say, 'tis more than turning to the Lord, for that should suppose conversion unto the Lord already wrought; and consequently, no need that God should turne them to the Lord, which supposeth that they were not before turned to the Lord at all. The providing of severall helpfull meanes for the salvation of the world after the fall, doth nothing hinder Gods reprobating of the world upon the fall unto eternall condemnation and perdition. For if hee purpose to deny them grace to obey these meanes, this shall bee sufficient to expose them to condemnation, even for the despising