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…

These words of the Apostle are I confess the key of the whole ¹Chapter, for opening the meaning, or at least making way to a fair understanding of all that follows. If the Jews are rejected ⟨p. 275⟩as the Apostle presupposeth (to wit, as touching the most of them) in the former words, then it may seem that Gods word is of none effect, which consequence, (the Apostle supposing such a consequence likely to be made) by his denying of it doth imply, that there was some Word of God that seemed to be made of none effect by this Doctrine concerning the rejection of the Jews. This word therefore is to be inquired into, the investigation whereof will give light to all the rest. Now this word can be no other then the word of some promise made by God for the taking of the seed of Abraham to be his people, to be his Church. For such a promise alone seems to stand in contradiction unto our Christian Doctrine, concerning the rejection of the Jews. And indeed such a promise God made to Abraham, Gen. 17. 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, for an everlasting Covenant, To be a God to thee and to thy seed after thee. This I conceive to be the Word of God, which the Apostle had before his eyes when he delivered this, and denied that this word and promise of God can be of none effect; although it be granted, that most part of the Jews be rejected, provided that all are not. And he gives this reason, to wit, because this word and promise of God concerning Abraham's seed to be taken into his Covenant of Grace, did not comprehend all his seed: for all are not Israel, that are of Israel, &c. seeing then we do not maintain that all Israel are rejected (for as it followeth, Rom. 11. 1. I demand then; Hath God cast away his people? God forbid, For I am also an Israelite. God hath not cast away his people whom he knew before, ver. 5. Even so then at this present there is a remnant according to the Election of grace. Withal the Apostle signifieth that not one of Gods people is rejected: to wit, not one of them whom he did foreknow, which Rom. 9. 8. are called children of promise, in opposition to the children of the flesh: