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…

I say the administration of Gods providence in his works, moves men, as the Apostle signifies, to seek after the Lord. The Apostle no where refers this to the Law written in mens hearts; but you put all together, and that for a special purpose as it ¹serves. For the phrase of seeking after the Lord, Act. 17. seems only to import the seeking after his nature, manifested by his works; but you desire (as it seems) to bend it to denote such a seeking after the Lord, as whereby to pacify ⟨p. 226⟩him, and to find mercy from him. In which sense you say it was far more accommodable to the Law of God written in mans heart, then to the Administration of his providence in his works; and therefore you couple both these courses together, and then assign the end of them both, to seek after the Lord; which through the ambiguous signification thereof, is applicable to both; though the Apostle utters it in such a sense only, as whereby it is applied to one course only, namely to the administration of his providence in his works. Which yet I do not conceive to proceed from any ill mind in you, but out of a desire to hold our tenets up in that course of opinion which pleaseth us, which is a common fault of all.

I say the administration of Gods providence in his works, moves men, as the Apostle signifies, to seek after the Lord. The Apostle no where refers this to the Law writen in mens hearts; but you put all together, and that for a speciall purpose as it ¹serves. For the phrase of seeking after the Lord, Act. 17. seemes onely to import the seeking after his nature, manifested by his works; but you desire (as it seemes) to bend it to denote such a seeking after the Lord, as whereby to pacifie ⟨p. 226⟩him, and to finde mercy from him. In which sense you say it was farre more accommodable to the Law of God writen in mans heart, then to the Administration of his providence in his works; and therefore you couple both these courses together, and then assign the end of them both, to seek after the Lord; which through the ambiguous signification thereof, is applicable to both; though the Apostle utters it in such a sense onely, as whereby it is applyed to one course onely, namely to the administration of his providence in his works. Which yet I doe not conceive to proceed from any ill minde in you, but out of a desire to hold our tenets up in that course of opinion which pleaseth us, which is a common fault of all.