A30345:152
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, that the word translated everlasting doth not ever signify that which shall have no end, but an age, term or continuance. It is spoken of the actions and virtues of God: of the time past or future. Of the time past, and so we read of the bounds of ages, Pro. 22. 28. The paths of ages, Jer. 18. 15. The days of ages, Deut. 3•. 7. The years of ages, Psal. 77. 5. The deserts of ages, Isai. 58. 12. Joshua 24. 2. I held my peace of •ld, Isa. 42. 14. that is, long time. Of the time to come with determination certain or uncertain, as until the year ⟨p. 56⟩of Jubilee, as long as he liveth, as long as the Law of Ceremonies is in force, or as long as the earth endureth, and such like, as, He shall serve thee for ever, Deut. 15. 17. and is until the year of Jubilee, Lev. 25. 40, 41. he shall serve them for ever, Lev. 25. 46. that is, all the days of his life. He shall appear before the Lord for ever, 1 Sam. 1. 2•. that is, as long as he liveth. I will praise the Lord for ever and ever, Psal. 145. 1, 2. that is, as long as I shall have any being, Psal, 1