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…

2. Now I come to examine how this doubt is cleared. Here we have first a rule, then the accommodation of this rule. Touching the rule I acknowledge it, and I add something to the clearing of it. Granting that there is no order in Gods decrees, but such as is grounded upon this, that God purposeth one thing for another. This one thing and another are only the end and the means; between which we say, in the intention of God there is only prioritas rationis, priority of reason; which in my judgement is well expounded thus: when ratio unius petitur à ratione alterius, the reason of the one is taken from the reason of the other; as ratio mediorum petitur à ratione sinis, the reason of the means is taken from the reason of the end. And therefore we say, The end is first in intention, and then the means.

2. Now I come to examine how this doubt is cleered. Here we have first a rule, then the accomodation of this rule. Touching the rule I acknowledge it, and I adde something to the cleering of it. Granting that there is no order in Gods decrees, but such as is grounded upon this, that God purposeth one thing for another. This one thing and another are only the end and the means; between which we say, in the intention of God there is onely prioritas rationis, priority of reason; which in my judgement is well expounded thus: when ratio unius petitur à ratione alterius, the reason of the one is taken from the reason of the other; as ratio mediorum petitur à ratione sinis, the reason of the means is taken from the reason of the end. And therefore we say, The end is first in intention, and then the meanes.

As for the accommodation of the rule, it seems to me to be nothing at all to the purpose; for the doubt proposed was not how it might appear that there was any thought of the glorifying of God, before the presupposall of Adams fall, and of Christs humiliation. We willingly acknowledge the glory of God was thought on before them all, both before the incarnation, advancement of the man Christ, mans fall, and Christs humiliation: I say, before them all, prioritate rationis, by priority of reason; for, undoubtedly, both the incarnation of the Son of God, That is, the hypostatical union of Christs manhood to the second person in the Trinity, and the advancement of the man Christ, was to the glory of God as the end thereof, as well as ought else. And this glory of God hath been specified at least in part. And as for the glorifying of himself in Christ, this still denotes the glory of God as the end, though it adds withal the matter wherein it shines, to wit, the man Christ. And to prevent the error of equivocation, that usually lurks under generals. This glorifying of God in