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…

and thus Jude takes it here. If this were granted you, then Judes meaning must be this, who were of old ordained to this contention: But you render it in much different manner, thus; Who were of old ordained to put them (good Christians) to this ⟨p. 132⟩contention. Something you plead for the liberty you take in tempering the word, but you do not so much as endeavour to justify the liberty you take in interpreting Pauls phrase, when you say, that to ordain men to this contention, is, to ordain them to put Christians to this contention. If you should dissuade men from impatience, and, giving a reason hereof, should say, For many wicked men there are of old ordained to this impatience; would any of your Auditors understand you? But give we you leave to enjoy your interpretation of the phrase, let us see how you can justify your interpretation of the word. The first reason is, ab origine nominis; as if the verb [Greek or Hebrew], did first signify to contend, and thence you infer that [Greek or Hebrew] signifies contention in the first place. But you bring no Greek Grammarian or Dictionary to justify either the one or the other; neither do I think any world of words (as Dictionaries are sometimes called) doth justify any such interpretation of [Greek or Hebrew] or [Greek or Hebrew]. A matter may be determined by deeds (as by dint of sword) as well as by words, and legal debatings; so that judicare and decernere, as comprehended under [Greek or Hebrew], shall be still of the same moment, and nothing different in the effect, though res prove to be judicata different ways. Secondly you say, that St. Paul takes the word [Greek or Hebrew], for contentions: I find by my Concordance that the word [Greek or Hebrew] is found 28 times in the new Testament. Out of all these you have picked out one to serve your turn, if that doth serve your turn; 1 Cor. 6. 7. There is utterly (saith he) a fault among you, [Greek or Hebrew], that is, say you, in that you have contentions and suits or trials one with another. Calvin renders it thus, I am quidem omnino delictum in vobis est, quòd judicia habetis inter vos; keeping the word to his usual signification: you will have it to signify contention, as if by special providence it were here so used. For the better clearing of St. Jude, our English, both the last, and Geneva, thus:

and thus Jude takes it here. If this were granted you, then Judes meaning must be this, who were of old ordained to this contention: But you render it in much different manner, thus; Who were of old ordained to put them (good Christians) to this