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 again, sin is the cause in which, and for which God doth harden any: both which will stand together.

That as God showeth mercy on whom he pleaseth; so he hardeneth whom he pleaseth, out of his absolute will. Yet hardeneth none but with respect of sin going before. For,

That as God sheweth mercy on whom hee pleaseth; so hee hardneth whom hee pleaseth, out of his absolute will. Yet hardneth none but with respect of sin going before. For,

First, when we speak of the reprobate with comparison of the elect, they are both alike sinners: And therefore if the question be, why God hardeneth the reprobate, and doth not harden, but show mercy on the Elect? Here no cause can be rendered of this different dealing, but only the will and good pleasure of God; sin is alike common to both, and cannot be alleged as the cause of this diversity. Idem qua idem semper facit idem. But when we speak of the Reprobates alone considered in themselves: If the question be, why God is pleased to harden them; The answer is alway truly, and safely given; It pleased God to harden them for their sins. And which is yet more, when God is said to harden a wicked man for his sin, it is not sin that moved God primarily to harden him; but his absolute will it was to harden him for his sin; for what sin could God see in the creature to provoke him to harden it, but what he might have prevented by his providence, or healed by the blood of Christ, if it had so seemed good to his good pleasure? When therefore God doth harden a creature for his sin, it is because it is his good pleasure, even his absolute will so to harden him. To will a thing absolutely, and yet to will it on this or that condition, may well stand together in many a voluntary agent, when the condition is such, as that the will might easily help, if it so pleased. As if a man should cast off a servant for some disease he hath, which he might easily heal if it pleased