A30345:227
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.
CHAP. VII. Of the Covenant of Grace under Moses till the return of Israel from the Babylonish Captivity.
CHAP. VII. Of the Covenant of Grace under Moses till the returne of Israel from the Babylonish Captivity.
Now we are drawing down to Moses his time, and that manifestation of the Covenant of Grace, which was revealed to the Church by his Ministry. The curse of Gods revenging justice had now seized upon mankind for many generations, even thousands of years, so that now it was time for God to remember mercy in the midst of wrath, and to break out into a clearer expression of this free gracious Covenant, extended to a people sprung up into a great number, and to be joined together in an outward policy. The Covenant of free grace running down in Abraham's seed was daily cast out, and grew wild, as in the Ishmaelites, Edomites, Syrians, &c. therefore God was now pleased to knit the seed of Abraham together in a stronger, and (as I may call it) a state Covenant, that things might grow better and not worse, The body of the people to whom the Covenant pertained, was now grown populous and numerous, so that either it must grow wild, and come to nothing by it own weight, or else be brought under the Covenant of God into a state and national Church.
NOw we are drawing downe to Moses his time, and that manifestation of the Covenant of Grace, which was revealed to the Church by his Ministery. The curse of Gods revenging justice had now seized upon mankind for many generations, even thousands of yeares, so that now it was time for God to remember mercy in the midst of wrath, and to breake out into a clearer expression of this free gratious Covenant, extended to a people sprung up into a great number, and to be joyned together in an outward policie. The Covenant of free grace running downe in Abrahams seed was daily cast out, and grew wilde, as in the Ishmaelites, Edomites, Syrians, &c. therefore God was now pleased to knit the seed of Abraham together in a stronger, and (as I may call it) a state Covenant, that things might grow better and not worse, The body of the people to whom the Covenant pertained, was now growne populous and numerous, so that either it must grow wild, and come to nothing by it owne weight, or else be brought under the Covenant of God into a state and nationall Church.