A64003:447
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.
Neither is this condition by accident, like as the neglecting ⟨p. 231⟩to make good use of them is not by accident.
For God intending to deprive them of those drawing and effectual helps, without which none can make good use of them, did never intend they should make good use of them, but rather the contrary, inasmuch as he purposed not to show that mercy towards them which he shows towards his Elect, but rather to harden them. As the Lord tells Ezek. Chap. 2. 4. They are impudent children, and stiff-hearted. I do send thee unto them, and thou shalt say unto them; Thus saith the Lord God. But surely they will not hear, neither indeed will they cease; for they are a rebellious house, yet shall they know, that there hath been a Prophet among them.
For God intending to deprive them of those drawing and effectuall helpes, without which none can make good use of them, did never intend they should make good use of them, but rather the contrary, in asmuch as hee purposed not to shew that mercy towards them which hee shews towards his Elect, but rather to harden them. As the Lord tells Ezek. Chap. 2. 4. They are impudent children, and stiffe-hearted. I doe send thee unto them, and thou shalt say unto them; Thus saith the Lord God. But surely they will not heare, neither indeed will they cease; for they are a rebellious house, yet shall they know, that there hath been a Prophet among them.
So that albeit the Lord knew full well what sorry entertainment his Prophets should find, yet would he not give way to any such excuse as this; If the Lord had sent his Prophet to admonish us of our wanderings from him we would soon have turned unto the good way of the Lord.