A30345:191
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.
Here it must be remembered, that howsoever the word perfect be referred to knowledge in the mysteries of Religion in the writings of the Apostles, yet it is not seldom referred to practice and manners. In the first reference, they are said to be perfect, who have obtained an high degree of knowledge in heavenly and divine mysteries: In the second, they that teach in deed and fact that they have learned what they profess. Let patience have its perfect work, Jam. 1. 4. that is, let it show its sincerity and constancy in works, that not in words and gestures, but in deed and truth it be approved; that it cannot be overcome in the greatest evils, but doth hold out and remain invincible. He that can bridle his tongue, is a perfect man indeed, Jam. 3. 2. that is, he is not one that is in exercise to learn, which is the mean to perfection, but hath learned indeed what he professeth. He calleth that perfect which is performed in truth and deed, and is not counterfeit: and so •in is said to be finished, ⟨p. 79⟩when it is committed, Jam. 1. 15. and every sound, solid, operative grace, is called a perfect gift, Jam. 1. 17. and sincere, unfeigned love, is said to be perfect love, 1 Joh. 4. 18. Christ was made perfect through sufferings, Heb. 2. 10. as he learned obedience by the things which he suffered, Heb. 5. 8. for there is an experimental learning. And to this purpose belongs that speech of our Saviours upon the cross, It is finished: for hereby was signified, that he had fulfilled all things, which he was to do upon earth, Luk. 13. 32. and they that shed their blood for Christs sake and for the Gospels are said to be perfected. Thus the patient are called perfect, because patience is a document of a mind most exercised in piety and godliness. So the power of God is perfected in our weakness,