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…

From the condition of those men, upon whom the scriptures pronounce reprobation, or rejection; I no where read of reprobation, ¹but of such men to whom the means of grace, or at least, of the knowledge of God in some measure or other have been offered in vain. In the Old Testament God pronounceth the house of Judah reprobate silver, rejected by him: But when? Not till they were all become revolters, and corrupters, and till the means he had used to purge and cleanse them had been attempted in vain. The bellows (saith he) are burnt, the lead is consumed in the fire, the founder melteth in vain, and reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. When did God reject all further care of purging the people from their filthiness any more? Not till after he had used means to purge them, and they were not purged. When doth the Son of God, under the name of wisdom, reject the wicked? Not till after he had called upon them earnestly to return, & stretched out his hands unto them, & offered to pour out his spirit upon them; and they after all this, had set at nought his counsel, and despised the means of their own reformation. Prov. 1.

From the condition of those men, upon whom the scriptures pronounce reprobation, or rejection; I no where read of reprobation, ¹but of such men to whom the meanes of grace, or at least, of the knowledge of God in some measure or other have been offered in vaine. In the Old Testament God pronounceth the house of Judah reprobate silver, rejected by him: But when? Not till they were all become revolters, and corrupters, and till the meanes hee had used to purge and cleanse them had been attempted in vaine. The bellows (saith hee) are burnt, the lead is consumed in the fire, the founder melteth in vaine, and reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. When did God reject all further care of purging the people from their filthinesse any more? Not till after hee had used meanes to purge them, and they were not purged. When doth the Sonne of God, under the name of wisdome, reject the wicked? Not till after he had called upon them earnestly to return, & stretched out his hands unto them, & offered to poure out his spirit upon them; and they after all this, had set at nought his counsell, and despised the meanes of their owne reformation.