A30345:223
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.
Secondly, He must resolve to keep himself more entirely to1 the commandments of God for the time to come. I have wickedly departed from my God, but now I will return, and keep his Commandments with my whole heart. What can I tender unto2 his Majesty, less then my self? How can I for shame entreat his favour, unless I cleave unto him with a perfect heart? Can I desire God to be wholly mine, unless I be wholly his? Can I be so impudent as to entreat God to love me with a prime and conjugal love, and give me leave to love sin which he abhorreth, to love other things above or equal with his Highness? Can I look to be married unto Christ in mercy, truth and compassion, if my heart do not affect him above all, and other things in and through him alone? The Lord is a great King, his service must be without spot or blemish. His eye searcheth the heart, and perfectly understandeth all secret motions a far off, and will give to every one as he knoweth his heart, and according to his ways. Men of place look to have their pleasure done in all things by such as attend upon them: and shall I presume to call my self the servant of the living God, when I do his pleasure in part only and by halves. My obedience cannot be perfect in degree so long as I live here, but through the grace of God it shall be universal, and that I might attain absolute perfection in heaven, I will strive after it in this life. O Lord, I have covenanted to stick unto thy testimonies, and by thy grace I will keep thy precepts all the days of my life, unto thee therefore do I fly for strength, support, acceptance. Create in me, O God, a clean heart, renew a right (constant) spirit 3within me; Establish me with thy grace, that I never fall from my integrity. I will keep thy statutes, O forsake me not utterly.
Secondly, He must resolve to keepe himselfe more entirely to1 the commandments of God for the time to come. I have wickedly departed from my God, but now I will returne, and keepe his Commandments with my whole heart. What can I tender unto2 his Majesty, lesse then my selfe? How can I for shame intreat his favour, unlesse I cleave unto him with a perfect heart? Can I desire God to be wholly mine, unlesse I be wholly his? Can I be so impudent as to intreat God to love me with a prime and conjugall love, and give me leave to love sinne which he abhorreth, to love other things above or equall with his Highnesse? Can I looke to be married unto Christ in mercy, truth and compassion, if my heart doe not affect him above all, and other things in and through him alone? The Lord is a great King, his service must be without spot or blemish. His eye searcheth the heart, and perfectly understandeth all secret motions a farre off, and will give to every one as he knoweth his heart, and according to his wayes. Men of place looke to have their pleasure done in all things by such as attend upon them: and shall I presume to call my selfe the servant of the living God, when I doe his pleasure in part only and by halves. My obedience cannot be perfect in degree so long as I live here, but through the grace of God it shall be universall, and that I might attaine absolute perfection in heaven, I will strive after it in this life. O Lord, I have covenanted to sticke unto thy testimonies, and by thy grace I will keepe thy precepts all the dayes of my life, unto thee therfore do I flie for strength, support, acceptance. Create in me, O God, a cleane heart, renew a right (constant) spirit