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…

Whereas, indeed there is a far greater probability, that hardening against the fear of God should be the cause of the error of our ways, then that error of our ways should be the cause of our hardening against the fear of God; especially taking hardening, not confusedly hand over head, but distinctly in opposition to Gods showing mercy in mans conversion; I take them only as several expressions of the same things consisting of an inward ⟨p. 202⟩corrupt disposition as the root, and that I conceive to be the want of the fear of God; and the fruit hereof, which is aberration from the good ways of the Lord.

Whereas, indeed there is a farre greater probability, that hardning against the feare of God should bee the cause of the errour of our wayes, then that errour of our wayes should bee the cause of our hardning against the feare of God; especially taking hardning, not confusedly hand over head, but distinctly in opposition to Gods shewing mercy in mans conversion; I take them only as severall expressions of the same things consisting of an inward ⟨p. 202⟩corrupt disposition as the roote, and that I conceive to bee the want of the feare of God; and the fruit hereof, which is aberration from the good wayes of the Lord.

And they expostulate with God, for not correcting all this by his grace, as by his Covenant of grace, which he hath made with them, he hath engaged himself hereunto, even to keep them from going astray, like a good Shepherd, and to put his fear into their hearts, that they shall never depart away from him; ¹Which kind of expostulation is nothing answerable to that which the Apostle proposeth to answer, Rom. 9. 16. And I may well wonder what you meant to yoke them together: Non bene inaequales veniunt ad aratra juvencae. The children of God do not expostulate with God for his complaining of their disobedience, unthankfulness, and rebellions against him, though they heartily wish they had never provoked him, and expostulate with him for not preserving them by his grace, from such courses of provocation of him, even of the eyes of his glory. The wicked have no such desire to be preserved from sin and sinful courses, which are unto them as sweet bits, which they roll under their tongues; Although when they hear of the Doctrine of obduration and his power to harden them, and in hardening they may take advantage thereby to blaspheme God, and to plead Apology for themselves; Belike then you acknowledge that God hath power to harden without respect to sin, for to this purpose tends your comparative illustration.