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…

Thirdly, as touching the third, there is as little sounding in that also, for already you have confessed, that the Apostle in answering this objection, to justify God, hath recourse to Gods sovereignty over his creatures, as great as the potter hath over the clay, who maketh vessels of what fashion he will, and to what end he will. But in the last place you feign most unreasonably, ⟨p. 285⟩a justification of Gods course in hardening whom he will, from the consideration of the persons hardened, as being sinners. I say this is most unreasonable.

Thirdly, as touching the third, there is as little sounding in that also, for already you have confessed, that the Apostle in answering this objection, to justifie God, hath recourse to Gods soveraignty over his creatures, as great as the potter hath over the clay, who maketh vessels of what fashion hee will, and to what end hee will. But in the last place you feign most unreasonably, ⟨p. 285⟩a justification of Gods course in hardning whom hee will, from the consideration of the persons hardned, as being sinners. I say this is most unreasonable.

First, because when the creature is dealt withal according to his deserts, this alone is most sufficient and satisfactory to every one that acknowledgeth it, for the justification of any course taken with such. And it is merely in vain to fly to any other course of justification, especially when it is less satisfactory then this. And how strange were it, that the Apostle should insist so fully and directly upon that other course of satisfaction, upon the consideration of Gods sovereignty, and should only intimate this, and that obscurely, when this doth afford far better satisfaction then the former.

First, because when the creature is dealt withall according to his deserts, this alone is most sufficient and satisfactory to every one that acknowledgeth it, for the justification of any course taken with such. And it is meerly in vain to fly to any other course of justification, especially when it is lesse satisfactory then this. And how strange were it, that the Apostle should insist so fully and directly upon that other course of satisfaction, upon the consideration of Gods soveraignty, and should onely intimate this, and that obscurely, when this doth afford farre better satisfaction then the former.