A30345:199
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.
Integrity addeth to the glory of our good actions, even such as are but of the lower sort. There is not the meanest duty whatsoever, which integrity will not set a fair gloss upon, that in some respects it shall be matchable even to works far greater in their own nature. A poor labouring man that lives by his hands, having performed holy obedience to God therein with an entire heart, may have as much comfort on his death-bed, as the best Minister ⟨p. 84⟩or Magistrate, whose service in it self is far more honourable: yea, if his integrity be greater, his comfort also shall be greater. For God regards not so much the matter, as the form of obedience: nor so much the thing done, as the affection wherewith we do it. Wise men regard more the mind of the giver, then the value of the gift. When we first give our hearts wholly and entirely to God, then is our service, how small soever, very acceptable unto his Majesty. It is not the greatness or multitude of those good works which we have done, but the good disposition of an honest and entire heart in the doing of them, that doth bring comfort, as the internal qualification of that faith, which makes a sound plea for mercy before the throne of grace. An halting heart dasheth the acceptance of the most glorious work: an entire heart addeth weight to the basest service. The widows mite was little in worth, had not her good heart raised it's price. In value it came far short of the superfluities that the rich men cast into the treasury; but her heart was better, and so her gift greater then theirs. When Hezekiah had received the sentence of death, what was his comfort? even this, the conscience of his integrity. O Lord remember how I have walked before thee in truth and with 1a perfect heart. This was his refuge, though the good works he had done were in regard of his calling of the highest note, the restoring of the true worship of God, the purging of the defiled Temple and Priest-hood; yet he did not comfort himself in these so worthy works, but in the perfection of his heart, knowing well that the work it self, though never so glorious, is of no esteem, if the heart be rotten, perverse or halting. The entire in 2heart are the Lords delight, greatly beloved of him for the present, and shall more fully see, feel and enjoy the comfort and happiness of his favour in time to come.