A30345:264
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.
This is the true sense of those promises made to or spoken of them that walk in the perfect way, and do none iniquity. And if life and Salvation be promised to them that observe and keep the Statutes, Judgements and Ordinances of the Lord, not for the dignity of the work, but through the mere grace and mercy of God pardoning transgressions and sins, then is faith in the Messiah taught and commanded in the Law. The true sense and meaning of the Law is to be gathered out of the writings of the Prophets: for the same Spirit that breathed the Law, informed them in what1 sense the Law was given, and how to be understood. But by the Exposition of the Prophets it is clear, that the Law as it was given by Moses did admit repentance, and consequently, require faith in Christ. And if the Law did not command faith in Christ the Messiah, then might not the Jews believe in him: for they were forbidden to add any thing thereto, or to take ought therefrom. The Law was to the Jews a rule, according to which they ought both to live and worship God, to which they might not add the least •ot or title of their own heads: so that either ⟨p. 111⟩they must not worship, praise, pray unto and believe in God in and through the Messiah, or else faith in him must necessarily be required. The Decalogue, if we precisely consider the things expressed therein, doth not contain many things written of Moses: but as it was a sum and abridgement of the whole Law, whereunto every particular must be referred, and from which, as a fountain it was derived, it is a perfect rule whereunto nothing might be added. And if without faith it be impossible to please God, or to obtain Salvation, the Law which promiseth eternal life to them that keep it, doth require faith as well as love or obedience. For if faith be necessary to Salvation, it cannot be that man a sinner should be justified, if he could keep the Law: because he cannot by future works purchase Redemption from former transgressions. And from all this it followeth, that the Law as it was given to the Jews, is for substance the Covenant of grace, or a rule according to which the people in Covenant ought to walk. The Law is and ever was a rule of life to men in Covenant. Matt. 5. 18. One jot or title of the Law shall in no wise pass, till all be fulfilled: