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…

Or lastly, God may be said, by using such courses to intend, that they should repent, and so be saved, that is, that they should (Ex officio, not de facto) repent, that they might be saved. Thus to the Israelites he did, and to his Church ¹he doth even to reprobates amongst them; offer means of grace to purge them. Now by the operations of outward means, (which I think you signify) and if you thereby comprehend the inward operation of Gods Spirit also, you do not well to confound things so different under the same terms, (such ambiguity is so apt to deceive us) consists only in instruction, and admonition, and exhortation or correption. Now these whether made to turn us, Prov. 1. 23. or to gather us, Mat. 23 27. or to convince us, Joh. 16. 8, 9. are not of themselves (as you know) effectual to the conversion of any; though they are called in Scripture phrase, the drawing of us with the ⟨p. 228⟩cords of a man, and with the bonds of love, Hose. 11. 4. And the dressing of us, Esa. 5. 4. And your self profess, that unless God use those drawing and effectual means, no man can convert, no man can believe and repent.

Or lastly, God may bee said, by using such courses to intend, that they should repent, and so bee saved, that is, that they should (Ex officio, not de facto) repent, that they might bee saved. Thus to the Israelites hee did, and to his Church ¹hee doth even to reprobates amongst them; offer meanes of grace to purge them. Now by the operations of outward means, (which I think you signifie) and if you thereby comprehend the inward operation of Gods Spirit also, you doe not well to confound things so different under the same termes, (such ambiguitie is so apt to deceive us) consists only in instruction, and admonition, and exhortation or correption. Now these whether made to turn us,