A30345:304
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.
It is said of Josiah, that he turned 1to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; that he declined not to the right hand, or to the left: Of David, that he kept the Commandments 2of God, and his Statutes: that he kept the Commandments of 3God, and followed him with all his heart, to do that only which was right in his eyes: that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite: and4 of Jehoshaphat, that he turned not aside from doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord: Of Asa, that his heart was perfect before the 5Lord all his days: Of Asa and the people, that they sought the Lord with all their heart, and all their soul. From these passages we cannot prove either that these servants of God did, or that it is possible for men in this life to fulfil the Law exactly, or that the Law is given with such moderation, as that the imperfections which did cleave unto these, and the best servants of God, were no sins: because in phrase of Scripture the words will not bear that weight, it may be confuted by Text it self, setting down several imperfections even in them, who are said not to have turned aside from the Commandments, and it is directly contrary to divers other passages of holy writ. But thence we may soundly gather, that the Law as it was given to Israel, doth admit and allow of sincere and unpartial obedience, though it be imperfect and answer not to that exactness which is required.
It is said of Josiah, that he turned 1to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; that he declined not to the right hand, or to the left: Of David, that he kept the Commandements 2