A30345:119
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel…A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel…
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errors of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightness, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errours of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightnesse, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.
London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1645
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.
But how must the Serpents head be bruised? even by Christs suffering death to satisfy revenging Justice, which was offended by transgression under the former Covenant. This is expounded under this term of bruising his heel by the Serpent and his seed: which work and labour of love is typified in the blood of the Sacrifices, executed in his cross and passion. The devil and all his instruments (the Scribes and Pharisees and Romans whom Christ ⟨p. 41⟩calleth the children of the devil) laboured mightily to bring him to the cross, supposing they had gotten full conquest when he was1 laid in the grave: but when they hoped to have vanquished him, the Kingdom of darkness was utterly overthrown, Satan, sin and death were conquered and taken captive, and whatsoever might be brought against us, was taken away, as the least bill or scroll, Col. 2. 14, 15. 1 Joh. 3. 8. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Christ was wounded in the heel: but by the power of his divine nature, he soon recovered of his wound: being put to death concerning the flesh, he was quickened by the Spirit, and liveth through the power of God. 2 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. But by the wound he received, he wounded his enemies irrecoverably: he bruised the head of the Serpent, which wound is deadly, He spoiled principalities and powers, and made a show of them openly. And it is not improbable, that in reference to this promise, that Christ by his death should conquer and subdue the enemies of our Salvation, he is said to be the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, Rev. 13. 8. For what can we understand by that phrase from the foundation of the world, but from the beginning, which cannot note eternity which is without beginning: for then from the beginning should be as much as before all beginning or without beginning. But seeing the death of Christ to vanquish and subdue the enemies of our soul is published in this ancient and famous promise, ever renowned in the Church of God, in reference to it, it may be said, that he was slain from the foundation of the world.