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…

which clearly signifies not any outward help and means, (after which manner I was prone to interpret this phrase of yours) but the very inward sanctification of their natures, which in my judgement is very untowardly called means of grace, or helps of grace.

Whereas it is rather, that holy power wherewith God had endued them to perform that which he had commanded them. For of Adam, that is undoubtedly true which Austin saith, namely, that God gave Adam, posse si voluit; non dedit velle quod potuit, power to obey if he would, but not a will to do that which he could; and questionless it is as true of the Angels as of Adam.

Whereas it is rather, that holy power wherewith God had indued them to perform that which hee had commanded them. For of Adam, that is undoubtedly true which Austin saith, namely, that God gave Adam, posse si voluit; non dedit velle quod potuit, power to obey if hee would, but not a will to doe that which hee could; and questionlesse it is as true of the Angels as of Adam.

And this power I confess had continued in them, had they performed actual obedience according to that power, whereof by their disobedience they were deprived. Whereby you give me good ground to guess, what that opinion of yours is, (which you carry wondrous closely, (and I verily believe because of the offensive nature thereof to good men, such as your self) namely, That power to believe and repent is given to them as well without the covenant, as to them within; like as both Angels and Adam before their fall, had power to perform obedience to Gods Commands: But to them within the covenant of grace, it is given and upheld only for Christs sake; to others it is to be given and upheld only according to the covenant of work, that is, upon condition of some performance of theirs. But yet of the full portraiture of your opinion, I am to seek in some particulars: As