A30345:126
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.
3. God doth deny nothing to them that be outwardly in Covenant with his Highness, that he is bound to give either in justice or by promise, so that it will be in vain for them to plead with God: for if they come short of mercy promised, it is through their own wilful neglect or contempt.
3. God doth deny nothing to them that be outwardly in Covenant with his Highnesse, that he is bound to give either in justice or by promise, so that it will be in vaine for them to plead with God: for if they come short of mercy promised, it is through their own wilfull neglect or contempt.
4. No man is hindered from believing through the difficulty or unreasonableness of the command, or through his own simple infirmity, as being willing and desirous to believe, but not able, which inability deserves pity: but his inability is of corruption ⟨p. 45⟩and wilfulness: he doth not believe, because he will not, he is unable, because he doth not covet or desire, which is inexcusable.
4. No man is hindred from beleeving through the difficulty or unreasonablenesse of the command, or through his owne simple infirmity, as being willing and desirous to beleeve, but not able, which inability deserves pitty: but his inability is of corruption ⟨p. 45⟩and wilfulnesse: he doth not beleeve, because he will not, he is unable, because he doth not covet or desire, which is inexcusable.
5. His inability to believe is joined with the wilful refusal of mercy promised and voluntary pursuit of some inferior good, as more to be desired then Gods favour. But of this more in the next degrees of the Covenant.