A30345:236
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.
The Covenant of Nature was written in the heart; but the old1 Covenant did beget to servitude, and so did compel and restrain by force, as when we leave undone what we would do, or do what we would not for fear: that is eternal, this temporary, written in Tables of stone; The thirst after Christ which the Covenant of Nature doth stir up in man, is allayed by the application of Christ either in the Promise, or in the Gospel: but the thirst which the old Covenant stirred up, could not be allayed, but by the coming of Christ in the flesh.
The Covenant of Nature was written in the heart; but the old1 Covenant did beget to servitude, and so did compell and restraine by force, as when we leave undone what we would doe, or doe what we would not for feare: that is eternall, this temporary, written in Tables of stone; The thirst after Christ which the Covenant of Nature doth stirre up in man, is allayed by the application of Christ either in the Promise, or in the Gospell: but the thirst which the old Covenant stirred up, could not be allayed, but by the comming of Christ in the flesh.
With the Covenant of Grace it agreeth, that the Author of both is God, both contracted with man a sinner: both doth show sin: both restrain from sin: both lead to Christ: both the Symbol of the Church: both made by a Mediator, and life promised in both. They differ in these, that in the Covenant subservient, God is considered as reproving sin, and approving righteousness: in the Covenant of Grace, as pardoning sin, and renewing man in righteousness; the stipulation of the old Covenant is, Do this and live: Gal. 3. 12. Of the New, Believe, and thou shalt not come into judgement.