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…

How many thousands are there in this Kingdom, who are guilty, and for many years have been guilty, of refusing to be purged when God would have purged them: yet doth not God give over all further care of purging them from their filthiness? and who dares say, that none of them shall be converted unto God ere they die? Doth not Paul warn Timothy to carry himself gently towards them that are without, waiting [Greek or Hebrew], if at length God will give them repentance, &c? And why should we despair of any, so long as God suffers them to live, and enjoy the means of grace? Neither doth the Prophet Ezech. 24. 13. express or signify, that God in this case gives over all further care of purging their filthiness, only professeth that he will not spare them any longer: They should not be purged, till he had caused his wrath to light upon them. But might not the lighting of Gods wrath upon them be a means of this? Nay, is not this Gods ordinary course, when his word is received in vain, to exercise his people with affliction, and that to this end, even to purge away their dross till it be pure, and take away all their tin? Isai, 1. And did not the Lord promise as much by the mouth of Ezekiel also, and that in reference to the very same wrath of God, as a means of their reformation? What else meaneth that, I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the Countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee? Ezek. 22. 15. Your second question is of the very same nature, and admits in every particular the very same answer.

How many thousands are there in this Kingdome, who are guiltie, and for many yeares have been guiltie, of refusing to be purged when God would have purged them: yet doth not God give over all further care of purging them from their silthinesse? and who dares say, that none of them shall be converted unto God ere they die? Doth not Paul warne Timothie to carry himselfe gently towards them that are without, waiting 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, if at length God will give them repentance, &c? And why should wee despaire of any, so long as God suffers them to live, and injoy the meanes of grace? Neither doth the Prophet Ezech. 24. 13. expresse or signifie, that God in this case gives over all further care of purging their silthinesse, onely professeth that hee will not spare them any longer: They should not be purged, till he had caused his wrath to light upon them. But might not the lighting of Gods wrath upon them be a meanes of this? Nay, is not this Gods ordinarie course, when his word is received in vaine, to exercise his people with affliction, and that to this end, even to purge away their drosse till it be pure, and take away all their tinne? Isai, 1. And did not the Lord promise as much by the mouth of Ezechiel also, and that in reference to the very same wrath of God, as a meanes of their reformation? What else meaneth that, I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the Countries, and will consume thy filthinesse out of thee?