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…

Here new mysteries offer themselves again, I must be driven Balaam-like to cast about for divinations: and whether in the issue I shall find that I seek for, I cannot assure my self. You came but now from speaking of common graces, and by the coherence, these helps of grace which here you speak of, should be those common graces, considered as helps of grace special. Now had you given instance, and showed what these common graces are, they might of themselves have discovered ⟨p. 266⟩the reference wherein they stand unto grace special, which I guess to be faith and repentance. This you might easily have done, and saved us a great deal of irresolution and pains also, partly in seeking after that which we cannot easily find, and partly in labouring to disprove we know not what. This confused course proceed in some from an ill mind, fearing lest their opposites should have too much liberty by their plain dealing to impugn them, but in good men it proceeds from the weakness of their cause, and from the uncertainty and ambiguity of their thoughts, for the justifying of that which they do maintain. But let us proceed. These helps of grace by which I hope you mean, helps unto faith and repentance, you plainly signify are offered upon a condition, and by the quality of this condition we may judge whether they to whom they are offered are included within the covenant of grace or no.

Here new mysteries offer themselves againe, I must bee driven Balaam-like to cast about for divinations: and whether in the issue I shall finde that I seek for, I cannot assure my self. You came but now from speaking of common graces, and by the coherence, these helps of grace which here you speak of, should bee those common graces, considered as helps of grace speciall. Now had you given instance, and shewed what these common graces are, they might of themselves have discovered ⟨p. 266⟩the reference wherein they stand unto grace speciall, which I ghesse to bee faith and repentance. This you might easily have done, and saved us a great deale of irresolution and paines also, partly in seeking after that which wee cannot easily finde, and partly in labouring to disprove wee know not what. This confused course proceede in some from an ill minde, fearing lest their opposites should have too much liberty by their plaine dealing to impugne them, but in good men it proceeds from the weaknesse of their cause, and from the uncertainty and ambiguity of their thoughts, for the justifying of that which they doe maintain. But let us proceed. These helps of grace by which I hope you mean, helps unto faith and repentance, you plainly signifie are offered upon a condition, and by the quality of this condition wee may judge whether they to whom they are offered are included within the covenant of grace or no.