A64003:410
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…
A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certain doubts concerning predestination together with an examination thereof / written by William Twice ...A treatise of Mr. Cottons clearing certaine doubts concerning predestination together with an examination thereof / written by William Twisse ...
London: printed by J.D. for Andrew Crook, 1646
AN EXAMINATION of a Treatise written by Master Cotton, for the clea… › Question 5: The Fifth Doubt.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The tenth is, Ezek. 24. 13. Because I would have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee. I should think this were spoken of Gods Elect, not so much by observing that phrase, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee, but chiefly by comparing it with Ezek. 22. 10. I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the Countries, and will cause thy filthiness to depart from thee. It may have place, not only of the Elect, but of the regenerate also, for even them sometimes God doth cause to err from his ways, and harden their hearts 1against his fear. Which though they have power to repent, yet upon supposition of obduration, and so long as that continues, it may be said that they cannot repent. How much more may it be verified of natural men, in the state of unregeneracy, that they cannot repent? And shall this any way hinder the course of Gods judgements against them for their sins unrepented of, because without grace it is not in their power to purge themselves from their sins by repentance? I deny not but they have power to perform feigned repentance, as Jer. 3. 10. And shall feigned repentance (think you) be of force to keep off the judgments of God? or if Gods judgements shall have their course, except they be prevented by unfeigned repentance, will it herehence follow that natural men are enabled to perform unfeigned repentance?
The tenth is, Ezek. 24. 13. Because I would have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthinesse, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee. I should think this were spoken of Gods Elect, not so much by observing that phrase, till I have caused my wrath to light upon thee, but chiefly by comparing it with Ezek. 22. 10. I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the Countries, and will cause thy filthinesse to depart from thee. It may have place, not onely of the Elect, but of the regenerate also, for even them sometimes God doth cause to erre from his wayes, and harden their hearts