A30345:219
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.
4. The fourth means is, for a man always to possess his heart with the apprehension of Gods presence, and so to keep it in his fear continually; to walk with God, as being in his eye, and seeing him that is invisible. This remembrance of Gods all-seeing presence, will make men study to approve themselves before God in all their courses, and to stick unto him with their whole hearts. Could the eye of a jealous husband pry into every privy corner of his wives heart, she would be afraid to hide any strange lover in her secret affection. If but a man, nay if but a child could look into our hearts, we durst not deal doubly and deceitfully. What? God seeth us, and shall we dare to dally with him? Shall I give him part of my heart, and reserve another part for the world, for pleasure, for sin? How should not God find this out? for he searcheth the heart and reins, and understandeth the secret cogitations of every soul.
4. The fourth meanes is, for a man alwayes to possesse his heart with the apprehension of Gods presence, and so to keepe it in his feare continually; to walke with God, as being in his eye, and seeing him that is invisible. This remembrance of Gods all-seeing presence, will make men study to approve themselves before God in all their courses, and to sticke unto him with their whole hearts. Could the eye of a jealous husband prie into every privy corner of his wives heart, she would be afraid to hide any strange lover in her secret affection. If but a man, nay if but a child could looke into our hearts, we durst not deale doubly and deceitfully. What? God seeth us, and shall we dare to dally with him? Shall I give him part of my heart, and reserve another part for the world, for pleasure, for sin? How should not God find this out? for he searcheth the heart and reynes, and understandeth the secret cogitations of every soul.
5. Another means is diligently to review all works of obedience, and our affections in the doing of them: and to observe what discomfort and trouble follows the maimed and defective performance of good duties. And withal when we take our selves tardy, in an holy indignation to take revenge of our selves, judging and condemning our selves before God. The very thinking of the after reckonings we must come unto, when we have done our work, will make us take heed how we do it. The remembrance of the loss and punishment they shall sustain, whose works are not perfect before the Lord, will stir up respect to every Commandment. For who is there that useth for all his actions, at the days end to call himself to a severe examination, as the hard