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…

And these are different; one was in respect of others, to wit, that he might be a fit Saviour of Gods elect: not that their salvation was the end of his humiliation; but the glory of God, in a certain kind, the end of both, to wit, both of his humiliation and our salvation; namely, the glory of his free grace, in the way of mercy mixed with justice. This end required satisfaction, as without which it could not be procured. But here, I confess, the advancement of Christ hath no place: but in another consideration it shall find place, and that as a joint means together with his humiliation; for another kind of glory would God the Father manifest in Christ: (And, indeed, the Nation of mankind is as a glass, wherein a very complete body of Gods glory doth appear, in very great variety:) and that was, the manifestation of his glory in the way of remunerative justice, in the highest degree remunerating obedience: I say, in the highest degree, both in respect of the reward deserved, and also in respect of the desert it self: the reward being the sitting in the Throne of his Father, and to have all judgment committed unto the Son; the desert being the obedience of the Son of God, one and the same God with his Father, humbling himself to death, even to the death of the cross, for the salvation of Gods elect. But perhaps you may further say, It is not necessary that the means should be only such as the end doth naturally require; For, God could have brought man to salvation the same way he brought Angels, without faith and repentance; yea, he could have made them, and immediately have translated them into glory: yet we commonly say, Faith and Repentance are the means of salvation. I answer, granting not only that we commonly ⟨p. 22⟩say so, but that we truly say so, in respect of our selves; namely, that as salvation is the scope and end we aim at, so faith and repentance are the only means to bring us thereunto; but in respect of God it is utterly untrue; for neither is our salvation the end of Gods actions, but his own glory: He made all things for himself, Prov. 16. 4. And if it were his end, he could have brought it about divers other ways besides this:

And these are different; one was in respect of others, to wit, that he might be a fit Saviour of Gods elect: not that their salvation was the end of his humiliation; but the glory of God, in a certain kind, the end of both, to wit, both of his humiliation and our salvation; namely, the glory of his free grace, in the way of mercy mixt with justice. This end required satisfaction, as without which it could not be procured. But here, I confesse, the advancement of Christ hath no place: but in another consideration it shall find place, and that as a joynt meanes together with his humiliation; for another kind of glory would God the Father manifest in Christ: (And, indeed, the Nation of mankind is as a glasse, wherein a very complete body of Gods glory doth appear, in very great variety:) and that was, the manifestation of his glory in the way of remunerative justice, in the highest degree remunerating obedience: I say, in the highest degree, both in respect of the reward deserved, and also in respect of the desert it selfe: the reward being the sitting in the Throne of his Father, and to have all judgment committed unto the Sonne; the desert being the obedience of the Son of God, one and the same God with his Father, humbling himselfe to death, even to the death of the crosse, for the salvation of Gods elect. But perhaps you may further say, It is not necessary that the means should bee only such as the end doth naturally require; For, God could have brought man to salvation the same way he brought Angels, without faith and repentance; yea, hee could have made them, and immediatly have translated them into glory: yet wee commonly say, Faith and Repentance are the means of salvation. I answer, granting not onely that wee commonly