A64003:570
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.
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.1
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 helpes and power to keep the Covenant of works. In a word, dare you say that any naturall man hath any power to bee subject to the Law of God, or to doe 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 generall. 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.1
- 1Rom. 8.
Lastly, when you say, these helps or this power is offered them in Christ, it implies that upon some condition performable on their parts it is offered unto them. Now it were very requisite you should deal plainly, and express this condition, which you do not. I confess I see no danger in acknowledging that God purposeth to deal with mankind according to their works; nay I wonder you should exclude the elect from the number of those with whom God deals in this manner, when the Apostle professeth so directly, we must all appear before the judgement seat of God, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether good or evil,