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…

To speak plainly, that phrases do not deceive us, it is ¹true, that the men of the world do not live according to their knowledge, nor abstain from foul sins, from which they might abstain. But what if they did? should they find mercy the sooner? for unless you make this good, you say nothing to the purpose. Therefore to the maintenance of this you tended in the former Section, but all in vain. For consider; why then did not the Philosophers find mercy, Plato, Socrates, Phocion, the most moral men of the world? Again, did any of these abstain from any foul sin in a gracious manner, or out of their love to God? Look to Isocrates his incitements to morality, what are they other then the reward of praise and applause of the world? and why, I pray you, should God regard them any whit the more for this? nay, did they not look for justification by this? all their goodness did they not attribute to their own Free will? and why should not God hate them the more for this? Do not Publicans and Harlots (and did not our Saviour tell us as much?) enter into the kingdom of Heaven before Scribes and Pharisees? Be it so, that the men of the world were Fornicators when they might have forborne it: were Idolaters, but might have abstained from that: were Adulterers, Wantons, Buggerers, and might have kept themselves pure from such abominations: were thieves, when they might have abstained from laying hands on their neighbours goods; were covetous, yet might have contemned the world as many did: were Drunkards, yet might have tempered themselves from such excess: were Railers, yet might have ordered their tongues: were Extortioners, yet might have been more merciful then so. Now I pray you tell me, were not the elect of God such also? See ⟨p. 240⟩what the Apostle saith in reference to every one of these particulars, 1 Cor. 6. 11. And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are justified, but ye are sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God. Nay, how many a natural man was more moral then to be guilty of so foul pollutions, as many of Gods elect have been conscious of, yet never found mercy at the hands of God. If otherwise, God should call men not so much according to his purpose and grace, as according to works; directly contrary to Pauls text,