A64003:437
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.
Secondly, when you say, that the means which God useth for these ends, are in some measure sufficient (if they be not hindered by men) to bring them to the attainment of these things. This is worse then ought you have delivered hitherto; yet you are to be commended for dealing so plainly as you do in this place, and no where else for ought I have found. But the more plainly you deal, the more foul doth your opinion appear. I should with a distinction, willingly confess that the means God useth are sufficient, to wit, in the way of instruction and admonition, so far forth as God will have them (towards whom they are used) to be instructed and admonished: But this kind of sufficiency doth not depend on man, as if he could hinder it.
Secondly, when you say, that the means which God useth for these ends, are in some measure sufficient (if they bee not hindred by men) to bring them to the attainment of these things. This is worse then ought you have delivered hitherto; yet you are to bee commended for dealing so plainly as you doe in this place, and no where else for ought I have found. But the more plainly you deale, the more foule doth your opinion appeare. I should with a distinction, willingly confesse that the means God useth are sufficient, to wit, in the way of instruction and admonition, so farre forth as God will have them (towards whom they are used) to bee instructed and admonished: But this kinde of sufficiency doth not depend on man, as if hee could hinder it.
Whether they will receive any instruction or no, the means are never a whit less or more sufficient in the way of instruction.
Whether they will receive any instruction or no, the means are never a whit lesse or more sufficient in the way of instruction.
And indeed outward means tend no further, then to such like operations as thus, (to wit) instruction, admonition, correption.