A64003:538
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
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.
The second of grace, promising Christ and all his graces, even faith in him.
The third, partly of grace, providing a redemption, and promising sufficient help; partly as requiring both what we can do of our selves, and Gods help proceeding with us accordingly.
The third, partly of grace, providing a redemption, and promising sufficient help; partly as requiring both what wee can doe of our selves, and Gods helpe proceeding with us accordingly.
Answer. This frame of Doctrine is so far from making three Covenants, that the serious meditation of two Covenants 1was one of the principal reasons that first turned the stream of my thoughts into this covenant. For when I saw that the Covenant of works did in justice reward according to works, as well with life upon condition of obedience, as with death in case of disobedience; I began to conceive, that as the purpose of election was suitable to the Covenant of grace; so suitable unto a Covenant of works, must be a purpose of retribution. For how shall God covenant to retribute or recompense with life or death according to works, if he have no purpose at all of such retribution? How shall the Covenant of works promise life upon condition of obedience, if the purpose of reprobation have absolutely determined death upon all them within that Covenant, without all respect of good or evil, obedience or disobedience in any of them? the grace of redemption offering the death of Christ, and reaching forth some ⟨p. 260⟩fruits thereof unto all, as the promising and offering sufficient help to bring them to the knowledge of God and means of grace: yea, and sometime bestowing on them the participation of some excellent and common graces, doth not make a third covenant, partly of grace, partly of works, but bindeth such so much the more to keep the Covenants of works, by how much the more helps and means God vouchsafeth them to keep it. It is not the helps of grace offered or given, that includeth men with in any part of the Covenant of grace, but the condition whereupon it is offered or given.