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…

The word means used by you, and which you call effectual, we commonly understand as things outward; such as either the Word of God, and the Ministry thereof, or the Works of God and the manifestation of his providence therein. But you seem to go further, and comprehend thereby the effectual operation of Gods Spirit, which is very ambiguous, and being delivered in the general, is the fitter to serve a mans turn, sometimes in the one, sometimes in the other signification. As touching the assertion it self, it utterly overthrows all that you have delivered in clearing the fifth Doubt. For with what sobriety can God be said to entertain an earnest and serious affection, concerning their conversion, (which is as much as to say concerning their repentance) being resolved to deprive them of those drawing and effectual means, without which none can come to repentance?

The word meanes used by you, and which you call effectuall, wee commonly understand as things outward; such as either the Word of God, and the Ministry thereof, or the Works of God and the manifestation of his providence therein. But you seem to goe further, and comprehend thereby the effectuall operation of Gods Spirit, which is very ambiguous, and being delivered in the generall, is the fitter to serve a mans turn, sometimes in the one, sometimes in the other signification. As touching the assertion it self, it utterly overthrowes all that you have delivered in clearing the fifth Doubt. For with what sobriety can God bee said to entertain an earnest and serious affection, concerning their conversion, (which is as much as to say concerning their repentance) being resolved to deprive them of those drawing and effectuall means, without which none can come to repentance?

Again, how can God be said to entertain an earnest and serious affection concerning their Salvation, being resolved to deprive them of those drawing and effectual means, without which none can come to Repentance, and consequently without which none can be saved? As for the affirmative part, you say the Reprobates are sufficiently enabled by God, to do much more then they do, in seeking after the Lord, and finding mercy from him, and that by certain means and helps. Now in this place I conceive by means and helps you understand only outward things, as either the administration of Gods providence in his Works, or the ministry of his Word, and not