A30345:216
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.
First, Care must be had to furnish the mind with the affectionate knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy Fathers, and serve him with a perfect 1heart. The knowledge of God begets in us a similitude of God. When we come to understand what he is to us, we are made to him what he requireth. As when sound knowledge entereth, it stampeth the Image of God upon the heart: for it assimilates the mind to the object seen and discerned.
First, Care must be had to furnish the mind with the affectionate knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. And thou Solomon my sonne, know thou the God of thy Fathers, and serve him with a perfect 1heart. The knowledge of God begets in us a similitude of God. When we come to understand what he is to us, we are made to him what he requireth. As when sound knowledge entereth, it stampeth the Image of God upon the heart: for it assimulates the mind to the object seen and discerned.
2. All holy means must be used to incorporate the word into the heart, that it may season every affection, and bear mild universal Sovereignty over us. For the heart is trans-formed throughout ⟨p. 87⟩into the nature of the word, and every power of soul is brought into subjection by an unfeigned, sovereign, well-rooted faith, it is entire in parts, though imperfect in degrees. Herein all diligence and pains must be taken by preparation, hearing, meditation, and observation of all unexpected occasions of grief, sorrow, fear, joy, or such like, to bring the word into the affections, that it may sweeten their disposition, and govern their motion.