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…

Again, suppose some are not so bad as Pharaoh was, when God hardens Pharaoh, and doth not harden others, but rather shows them mercy, will you say the reason hereof is because these deserved better at the hands of God then Pharaoh? Do you not perceive how this Doctrine carrieth you ere you are aware, to trench upon the freeness of Gods grace in mans effectual vocation? Suppose Nicodemus who sought to our Saviour by night were converted, and Saul had not been at all converted, but still hardened; would you have said that Paul was hardened because of his sin in persecuting the Church of God, but Nicodemus deserved better at the hands of God then Saul? Yet we are sure that Saul in spite of all his persecution was converted, when in all probability many a moral Jew, and nothing factious in opposing the Gospel of Christ, yea and many a Gentile too were not converted, but perished in their sins, and in the blindness of their mind.

Again, suppose some are not so bad as Pharaoh was, when God hardens Pharaoh, and doth not harden others, but rather shews them mercy, will you say the reason hereof is because these deserved better at the hands of God then Pharaoh? Doe you not perceive how this Doctrine carryeth you ere you are aware, to trench upon the freenesse of Gods grace in mans effectuall vocation? Suppose Nicodemus who sought to our Saviour by night were converted, and Saul had not been at all converted, but still hardned; would you have said that Paul was hardned because of his sin in persecuting the Church of God, but Nicodemus deserved better at the hands of God then Saul? Yet wee are sure that Saul in spight of all his persecution was converted, when in all probability many a morall Jew, and nothing factious in opposing the Gospel of Christ, yea and many a Gentile too were not converted, but perished in their sins, and in the blindnesse of their minde.

If it be urged thereupon that God doth harden the creature ¹and also hateth him with a positive hatred, without all respect of sin in the creature out of his absolute will.