A30345:154
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.
These promises were freely made of grace, and of mere grace the blessings promised were conferred upon the seed. For Abraham 1himself was an Idolater, when it pleased God to call him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and to make these rich promises unto him. And as Abraham's calling was of grace, so are all the promises made unto him when he was first called. The wages is due unto him 2that worketh upon desert, but the inheritance was given to Abraham by promise. Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness. 3And if faith be reckoned to Abraham for righteousness, he hath not to glory before God. We read indeed the Lord said unto4 ⟨p. 57⟩Abraham, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not with-held 5thy Son, thine only Son, That in blessing I will bless thee &c. But the same promise God had formerly made to Abraham, and faith in these promises was the cause of his obedience; therefore his obedience was not the cause why God gave the promise. An occasion or antecedent it might be of the renewing of the promise at this time, but it was no cause of the promise it self, nor of the accomplishment. For that without which, and before which the promise was, could not be a cause of the promise, or the good promised. Besides, the basis and foundation of this promise is Christ, whose incarnation could not be merited by Abraham's obedience. The particle because, is a note of order and consequence, showing to whom the promise did pertain, not of the cause why it was made, or the good promised should be performed.
These promises were freely made of grace, and of meere grace the blessings promised were conferred upon the seed. Fot Abraham 1himselfe was an Idolater, when it pleased God to call him out of Ʋr of the Chaldees, and to make these rich promises unto him. And as Abrahams calling was of grace, so are all the promises made unto him when he was first called. The wages is due unto him