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…

But your self acknowledge in this section that God deprives them of those drawing and effectual means without which none can come to Faith and Repentance. Much less doth it prove your present distinction, namely, that albeit God deprives them of such means, without which none can come to Faith and Repentance; yet they are enabled to do more good then they do, in the way of seeking the Lord.

But your self acknowledge in this section that God deprives them of those drawing and effectuall means without which none can come to Faith and Repentance. Much lesse doth it prove your present distinction, namely, that albeit God deprives them of such means, without which none can come to Faith and Repentance; yet they are inabled to doe more good then they doe, in the way of seeking the Lord.

Means of the knowledge of God, we confess to be partly the administration of his providence in his works, which is the book of his creatures; and there was a time when God did teach the world [Greek or Hebrew], by his Works, as Chrysostom observeth, and not [Greek or Hebrew], by his Writings, and partly by the revelation of his word in the Scriptures. And one of these means ever was and is afforded unto all. But whereas ⟨p. 224⟩you say God affords them to this end to lead them to salvation and repentance. Here is first an incongruity, which you are content to swallow, to hold up your opinion. For in truth the administration of Gods Providence in his works, and the revelation of himself in his word, is the very leading of them to that whereunto he leads them, to wit, by admonition. And as it is absurd to say that God doth admonish men to the end he may admonish them: so is it no less absurd to say, that he doth lead them, to the end he may lead them. As for the things whereof he doth admonish them repentance and salvation are ill matched. And even such an incongruity doth serve your turn, to blear both your own eyes and others also. If these were the things God leads men to by his works, and word, it were but in this manner, he leads them to repentance that they may be saved.