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…

Paul) that I ought to do ¹many contrary things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10. Which things I also did in Jerusalem; for many of the Saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange Cities. I see no reason why the profaneness of Esau should stand in greater opposition unto grace, then the zeal of Paul while he was a persecutor. Esau entreated Jacob kindly in his return from Mesopotamia, but Esau continued finally in his profaneness. Paul continued not in the course of his blind persecuting zeal; and this puts the true difference between them. Though with God there was a difference put between them from everlasting in his counsels, to make the one a vessel of mercy, the other a vessel of wrath. And I see no reason why the reprobates should not be accounted the seed of the serpent from their first conception; not because of their original pollution (for that is common to them with Gods Elect) but because God doth not purpose to cure it in them, as he will cure it in the Elect; though this natural corruption cannot break forth into actual hatred of the truth, till they were brought, acquainted ⟨p. 127⟩with it: and the like actual hatred breaks forth also in Gods Elect, as it did in Paul, until the time comes which God hath appointed for the curing of it: But he will never cure it in the Reprobate.

Paul) that I ought to doe ¹many contrary things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10. Which things I also did in Jerusalem; for many of the Saints did I shut up in prison, having received authoritie from the chiefe Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being excedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange Cities. I see no reason why the prophaneness of Esau should stand in greater opposition unto grace, then the zeale of Paul while he was a persecuter. Esau intreated Jacob kindly in his returne from Mesopotamia, but Esau continued finally in his prophanenesse. Paul continued not in the course of his blind persecuting zeale; and this puts the true difference between them. Though with God there was a difference put between them from everlasting in his counsels, to make the one a vessell of mercy, the other a vessell of wrath. And I see no reason why the reprobates should not be accounted the seed of the serpent from their first conception; not because of their originall pollution (for that is common to them with Gods Elect) but because God doth not purpose to cure it in them, as hee will cure it in the Elect; though this naturall corruption cannot break forth into actuall hatred of the truth, till they were brought, acquainted