A30345:140
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 Subfederates are described, and by that differenced from all the world, to be Abraham's seed. I will establish my Covenant between 1me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting Covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Where these specialties are holden out. That God will be as good a God to Abraham's seed, as he is to Abraham himself, and that whatsoever right by the Covenant was invested upon Abraham, should descend as from a Parent under this Covenant, to all his seed by virtue of this Covenant made with him. But we must distinguish Abraham's seed. For sometime by the seed of Abraham 2is meant Christ, who is the prime and principal seed, who ⟨p. 51⟩first entered the Covenant as Purchaser, Maker, Confirmer, and upon whose person it was settled for us all by Abraham. Again, by Abraham's seed are meant all that receive this Covenant from him, whether by outward administration only, or internal force and virtue also. In the eye of God and Scripture all believing Gentiles are the seed of Abraham, which may be called the Christian seed. In thee shall all Nations of the earth be blessed: which3 must needs be understood of the Gentiles which should believe, and is plainly so interpreted by the Apostle: Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham▪ who is the Father of us all; As it is written, I have made thee a Father of many Nations. That he might be the Father of them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also. And if ye be Christs, then are 4ye Abraham's seed, and heirs by Promise. All believing Jews and Proselytes are comprehended under the seed of Abraham, and may be called the spiritual seed, in opposition to the carnal or natural seed only. This distinction of Abraham's seed spiritual and natural the Apostle plainly specifieth; Neither because they are the