A64003:489
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, if mens evil works were the cause why God denies them mercy, then it could not be said, that God denies mercy, because it is the pleasure of his will to deny it. For if a reason be demanded why a malefactor is hanged, it were very absurd to answer, that the reason is, because it was the pleasure of the Magistrate to have him hanged.
Secondly, if mens evil works were the cause why God denies them mercy, then it could not bee said, that God denies mercy, because it is the pleasure of his will to deny it. For if a reason bee demanded why a malefactor is hanged, it were very absurd to answer, that the reason is, because it was the pleasure of the Magistrate to have him hanged.
Thirdly, if evil works be the deserving cause, why Gods mercy is denied unto men, then either by necessity of nature, or by constitution of God. Not by necessity of nature, in opposition to the constitution of God; for then by necessity of ⟨p. 243⟩nature God must be compelled to deny mercy unto such, what then shall become of Gods Elect? unless you will say, that their works before mercy showed them, were not so bad as others, which were equally to contradict both experience and the Word of God; For in this case men should have mercy showed on them, according to their works, to wit, as they were found less evil then the works of others. Nor by constitution of God.
Thirdly, if evill works bee the deserving cause, why Gods mercy is denyed unto men, then either by necessity of nature, or by constitution of God. Not by necessity of nature, in opposition to the constitution of God; for then by necessity of ⟨p. 243⟩nature God must bee compelled to deny mercy unto such, what then shall become of Gods Elect? unlesse you will say, that their workes before mercy shewed them, were not so bad as others, which were equally to contradict both experience and the Word of God; For in this case men should have mercy shewed on them, according to their works, to wit, as they were found lesse evill then the works of others. Nor by constitution of God.