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…

For first, here is no mention at all of any sufficiency and power, that natural men either by this providence of God, or otherwise have attained unto for seeking of the Lord. For consider I pray; the manifestation of Gods grace in his word, is far more able to enable us to seek the Lord, then the manifestation of his providence in his works; yet by the manifestation of his grace in his word, it followeth not that as many as are partakers thereof, are endued with power of seeking the Lord in such sort as to find mercy from him. I confess that to seek the Lord is a phrase of a very general signification, not denoting any material action, but containing only a certain denomination, which may pass upon many material actions; and this Discourse of yours is throughout carried in such generalities, which are very apt to deceive. For in genere latent multae equivocations. And for a man to rest on such, is to be in love with his own errors. But I am confident it is only your zeal of justifying God in his ways against the imputation cast upon him by flesh and blood, that makes you take hold of, and content your self with such general notions, I should think that [Greek or Hebrew] to seek the Lord, in this place, in reference to Gods works, is of the same signification in the general with [Greek or Hebrew], to seek the Lord, in reference to his word; that is the thing, not whereunto we are hereby enabled, but the thing whereof we are thereby admonished. As Verse 30. it is said, Now he admonisheth every man, every where to repent; to wit, by the preaching of his Word: He doth not say, He doth enable every man, ¹every where to repent. So; The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament showeth his handy-work: And that which ²may be known of God, is made manifest by his works. Rom. 1. And he leaves not himself without witness, giving rain and ³fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And so here, He hath assigned the seasons which he ordained before, and the bounds of their habitations [Greek or Hebrew], to seek the Lord, that is, as I conceive, to admonish them to seek the Lord: forasmuch, as though the invisible things of God, are said to be manifested by his works: