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 sixth place is, Act. 7. 51, 52. Ye stiff-necked, and of uncircumcised hearts and ears, ye have always resisted the Holy Ghost. 52. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted? That which you stick upon (I doubt not) is this, that they are said alway to have resisted the Holy Ghost, both they and their Fathers. We deny it not: but will you herehence infer that they had power and ability to yield to the Holy Ghost? If this inference like you, then you may be bold to infer in like manner, That because many resist the Holy Ghost moving them to faith and repentance; therefore they have power and ability to yield to the Holy Ghost in this also, that is, to believe and repent. Yet your self profess in this very Section, that God deprives them of those drawing and effectual means, without which none can come, to wit, to the Lord, and find mercy from him; which yet undoubtedly they should do, did they believe and repent. Yet I deny not, but they might have abstained from persecuting the Prophets; but I deny that it was in the power of any of them (being but natural men) to abstain from it in a gracious manner, and acceptable in the sight of God. And so long as they did not abstain so, is it fit to call it a seeking after the Lord, or finding of mercy from him? I presume you will not deny but that many a Jew in the Apostles days were free from faction, contenting himself to enjoy his own course quietly and peaceably, was yet further off from grace then Paul that persecuted the Church; God calling him in the midst of his furious pursuit, and not calling ⟨p. 217⟩others though far more peaceably disposed toward the Church of God then Saul.

The sixth place is, Act. 7. 51, 52. Yee stiffe-necked, and of uncircumcised hearts and eares, yee have alwayes resisted the Holy Ghost. 52. Which of the Prophets have not your Fathers persecuted? That which you stick upon (I doubt not) is this, that they are said alway to have resisted the Holy Ghost, both they and their Fathers. Wee deny it not: but will you herehence infer that they had power and ability to yeeld to the Holy Ghost? If this inference like you, then you may bee bold to inferre in like manner, That because many resist the Holy Ghost moving them to faith and repentance; therefore they have power and ability to yeeld to the Holy Ghost in this also, that is, to beleeve and repent. Yet your self professe in this very Section, that God deprives them of those drawing and effectuall means, without which none can come, to wit, to the Lord, and finde mercy from him; which yet undoubtedly they should do, did they beleeve and repent. Yet I deny not, but they might have abstained from persecuting the Prophets; but I deny that it was in the power of any of them (being but naturall men) to abstaine from it in a gratious manner, and acceptable in the sight of God. And so long as they did not abstain so, is it fit to call it a seeking after the Lord, or finding of mercy from him? I presume you will not deny but that many a Jew in the Apostles daies were free from faction, contenting himself to enjoy his own course quietly and peaceably, was yet further off from grace then Paul that persecuted the Church; God calling him in the midst of his furious pursuite, and not calling