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…

First, I know not what that grace and help is, which here you speak of. If your meaning be no more but this, that they have more power to perform the Covenant of works through Christ, then otherwise; (as I guess it will come to no more in the end) I pray you what think you of mankind before Christ came into the world, had they this power you speak of through Christ? If you think they had, I pray you how came they by it? If only it hold of mankind since the preaching of the Gospel; I demand whether of all, or some? if of all, then you must acknowledge the Gospel to be preached to all. If only of them to whom it is preached; yet the question still is, whether it be wrought by persuasion or inspiration.

First, I know not what that grace and help is, which here you speak of. If your meaning bee no more but this, that they have more power to perform the Covenant of works through Christ, then otherwise; (as I guesse it will come to no more in the end) I pray you what think you of mankinde before Christ came into the world, had they this power you speak of through Christ? If you think they had, I pray you how came they by it? If onely it hold of mankinde since the preaching of the Gospel; I demand whether of all, or some? if of all, then you must acknowledge the Gospel to bee preached to all. If only of them to whom it is preached; yet the question still is, whether it bee wrought by perswasion or inspiration.

Secondly, in saying that in Christ they have greater grace ⟨p. 272⟩to help to keep it, your phrase doth imply, that even without Christ men have grace and helps and power to keep the Covenant of works. In a word, dare you say that any natural man hath any power to be subject to the Law of God, or to do that which is pleasing in Gods sight? If you say they have any such power, I demand whether ever any were found subject to the Law of God, or did that which was pleasing in Gods sight? It is very strange that never any such act should proceed from a power so general. If they were, or did that which was pleasing in Gods sight, then they were not in the flesh, for they that are in the flesh cannot please God.