A30345:193
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. That is perfect, which is every way absolute and complete, to which nothing is wanting, nothing superfluous: and so the souls of the just are made perfect in Heaven. In the first degree perfection is necessary to salvation, without which we cannot be partakers of the eternal inheritance: in the second and third degree it is to be striven after, though the latter cannot be obtained in this life. The greatest measure of perfection attainable in this present life, is an imperfect perfection: but that imperfection is sin; and therefore though we come short, we must strive forward towards perfection, that we might be perfect hereafter.
3. That is perfect, which is every way absolute and compleate, to which nothing is wanting, nothing superfluous: and so the soules of the just are made perfect in Heaven. In the first degree perfection is necessary to salvation, without which we cannot be partakers of the eternall inheritance: in the second and third degree it is to be striven after, though the latter cannot be obtained in this life. The greatest measure of perfection attaineable in this present life, is an imperfect perfection: but that imperfection is sin; and therefore though we come short, we must strive forward towards perfection, that we might be perfect hereafter.
Integrity is necessary, because the most holy God will never give himself to be possessed and enjoyed to a spiritual adulteress, who doth affect any other lover more, or besides him. A woman1 may have many friends, but one as an Husband: Conjugal love of it own nature, is of that kind, that it must be of one, and cannot be communicated to many. If God be wholly ours, we must be wholly his. And if we join ought with God, or take in ought with him, we do not, we cannot cleave to him alone. When there are two objects upon which the heart is set, it is divided: and men of divided hearts, can have no fellowship or communion with him. We cannot serve God, unless we serve him entirely: he cannot be our Master, if we have any other. Matth. 6. 24. God hears them that pray with their whole heart.