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…

and it is well known that generals can not exist but in specials, nor specials exist but in particulars; it is very strange that God should first intend to produce a Genius, and after intend the specialty: seeing nothing can be produced but in particular. You may as well say that God did first intend that Christ should die, but whether a natural or violent death that was at first undetermined. Secondly, that God determined he should die a violent death, but whether by a judicial proceeding, or extrajudicial, that as yet was left undetermined. And see whether this might not be extended further also. But let us examine it by your own rules, the best course to present before your eyes the strangeness of these conceptions. Three things are to be considered as ordered by you one after another. First, Gods absolute decree to deliver Christ to death. Secondly, the foresight of mens corrupt dispositions. Thirdly, Gods decree to deliver Christ to death by the sins of men.

and it is well known that generals can not exist but in specials, nor specials exist but in particulars; it is very strange that God should first intend to produce a Genius, and after intend the specialty: seeing nothing can bee produced but in particular. You may as well say that God did first intend that Christ should die, but whether a natural or violent death that was at first undetermined. Secondly, that God determined hee should die a violent death, but whether by a judiciall proceeding, or extrajudiciall, that as yet was left undetermined. And see whether this might not bee extended further also. But let us examine it by your owne rules, the best course to present before your eyes the strangenesse of these conceptions. Three things are to bee considered as ordered by you one after another. First, Gods absolute decree to deliver Christ to death. Secondly, the foresight of mens corrupt dispositions. Thirdly, Gods decree to deliver Christ to death by the sins of men.

Now mens sinful dispositions depending partly upon original sin derived unto all from the sin of Adam; partly upon mens former actual conversations; as also upon Gods permission of it to continue uncured and uncorrected; it followeth herehence, that the foresight of these sinful dispositions did presuppose both that God purposed to permit Adams fall, as also to bring these men forth into the world in original sin, as also to permit their former actual sins, whereby they arrive to these vicious habits; together with his purpose to deny grace whereby these vicious habits should be corrected.