A30345:124
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.
The answer is, man in the state of Innocency, being made after the Image of God, had power both to believe and obey, which being lost by sin, God is not bound to repair. And though he had not justifying faith, because it argueth imperfection and sin, and could not loose what he had not: yet by transgression he brought himself into such a state of bondage and wrath, which could not be removed but by faith in Christ.
The answer is, man in the state of Innocency, being made after the Image of God, had power both to beleeve and obey, which being lost by sinne, God is not bound to repaire. And though he had not justifying faith, because it argueth imperfection and sinne, and could not loose what he had not: yet by transgression he brought himselfe into such a state of bondage and wrath, which could not be removed but by faith in Christ.
2. When God in justice doth shut men up in ignorance and unbelief, and with-hold from them both the graces of his Spirit, and the means thereof, his judgements are just, though secret. And if for the sin of man, God may justly cast off millions, and not vouchsafe so much as outward means of Salvation unto them; he may also exact faith and obedience upon promise of pardon and eternal happiness, when he doth not deliver them from thraldom and bondage spiritual whereunto they plunged themselves. Was it injustice in God t• •••mise acceptance to Cain if he did well, when as yet he was not set free from the bondage of Satan.
2. When God in justice doth shut men up in ignorance and unbeliefe, and with-hold from them both the graces of his Spirit, and the meanes thereof, his judgements are just, though secret. And if for the sinne of man, God may justly cast off millions, and not vouchsafe so much as outward meanes of Salvation unto them; he may also exact faith and obedience upon promise of pardon and eternall happinesse, when he doth not deliver them from thraldome and bondage spirituall whereunto they plunged themselves. Was it injustice in God t• mise acceptance to Cain if he did well, when as yet he was not set free from the bondage of Sathan.