A30345:240
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.
and that by such a pedagogue they might be led to Christ, who was more obscurely manifested under those shadows. The second is, By a distinction of Moses his proposition of the Law from God unto that people: which (as they would) is done either with exaction of perfect obedience deserving eternal life, and threatening eternal curse to all that continue not in every thing of the book of the Law to do it, Deut. 27. 26. or in a comfortable moderation and [Greek or Hebrew] promising blessings to those who do what they can to perform it. The first is a perfect and exact draught of the Law of prime nature: the second a persuasion and encouragement to corrupt nature to stir up the relics of power and the Image of God upon hope of future good. The first is propounded to all mankind, this to the Church, though others, take benefit by it. In the first the Law breaths nothing but wrath to fallen nature, for that hath no grace nor mercy, Joh. 1. 17. In the second Moses speaks Gospel to the Israelites, for the outward happiness of particulars, and the prosperity of the whole. ⟨p. 97⟩The first and rigid proposition is of the Moral Law alone, and as it was contained in the first writing, Exod. 20. The second is laid down in Moses whole frame and economy to that people. The first stands in full opposition to the Covenant of Grace, containing a perfect Covenant of works: but the second is and may be subordinate to the Covenant of Grace, as will appear. And this distinction (as they conceive) is further strengthened by the preparation unto the first delivery, Exod. 19. and what strictness was there required in the people to prepare themselves for their persons, and what a strait charge was given not to come near the Mount, least they die, Vers. 12. in the delivery what terrible voices, lightnings, thunders, fire, &c. with the quaking of the earth, so that neither Priest nor people must come near least they should be consumed of wrath in the giving of the Law, which when the people heard and saw, they could not endure, but desired Moses to be Mediator betwixt God and them, least if they should hear God, they should die: which was the ground of that Aphorism, Who ever saw God and lived; yea such was the terror that Moses himself said, I fear and quake,