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 seventh place alleged is Act. 13. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and said, It was necessary that the Word should first have been spoken unto you, but seeing you put it from you, and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life, we turn unto the Gentiles. Hence you infer that these Jews were enabled to do more then they did in seeking the Lord, and finding mercy from him. But I would gladly know wherein that seeking of the Lord consists? Had they not railed against Paul, (as I confess they had power to spare that) had they not contraried him, nor spoken against those things which were spoken by him, as I confess they might have held their tongue; had this been to seek the Lord more then they did? or in better manner then they did? I think not: for they might have contained themselves from all this, nay, they might have pretended some propensions to embrace the Gospel, which yet had it been performed in hypocrisy, it had nothing commended them in the sight of God. As Diasius, when he could not prevail with his brother to draw him back to Popery, pretended some propension in himself to hearken unto him; but we know what the issue was, even to slit his head, as the issue of Judas his following Christ was to betray him. I think they that deal so, and through zeal persecute the Church, as Soul did, are nothing further off from seeking the Lord and finding mercy from him then the other. These did manifest themselves unworthy of eternal life; do not all so, who stumble at the Word of God, and refuse to hearken to it? For this is the condemnation of the world, Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather then light, because their deeds were evil, Joh. 3. 16. Will you therehence infer, that all such are enabled to obey it, which is as much to say, as that they are enabled to believe and repent?

The seventh place alledged is Act. 13. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and said, It was necessary that the Word should first have been spoken unto you, but seeing you put it from you, and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life, wee turn unto the Gentiles. Hence you inferre that these Jewes were inabled to doe more then they did in seeking the Lord, and finding mercy from him. But I would gladly know wherein that seeking of the Lord consists? Had they not railed against Paul, (as I confesse they had power to spare that) had they not contraryed him, nor spoken against those things which were spoken by him, as I confesse they might have held their tongue; had this been to seek the Lord more then they did? or in better manner then they did? I think not: for they might have contained themselves from all this, nay, they might have pretended some propensions to imbrace the Gospel, which yet had it been performed in hypocrisie, it had nothing commended them in the sight of God. As Diasius, when hee could not prevaile with his brother to draw him back to Popery, pretended some propension in himself to hearken unto him; but wee know what the issue was, even to slit his head, as the issue of Judas his following Christ was to betray him. I think they that deale so, and through zeale persecute the Church, as Soul did, are nothing further off from seeking the Lord and finding mercy from him then the other. These did manifest themselves unworthy of eternall life; doe not all so, who stumble at the Word of God, and refuse to hearken to it? For this is the condemnation of the world, Light is come into the world, and men loved darknesse rather then light, because their deeds were evill,