A30345:33
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. II. Of the Covenant God made with man in the state of Innocency.
CHAP. II. Of the Covenant God made with man in the state of Innocencie.
IT hath pleased God to deal with the reasonable creature, by way of Promise and restipulation, that is, by way of Covenant: In which God himself is one party covenanting and promising, and the whole reasonable creature, the other restipulating and obeying. The thing holden out by God is eternal life with all immediate blessings, the condition on the part of the reasonable creature is free, ready and willing obedience, whether from nature or grace. The causes why God made choice to deal with the reasonable creature in this manner are principally three. First, that the creature might know what to expect from the Creator, into what state soever cast. Secondly, that the same creature might always recognize, and acknowledge what to retribute. Thirdly, Such manner of dealing suites best with the nature of the reasonable creature, and his subordination to the Almighty. But passing by what might be spoken of the Covenant with reasonable creatures, both men and Angels: we will only consider what Covenant God hath made with mankind, because the knowledge thereof doth in special manner concern us, and in the unfolding thereof the Scripture is most plentiful. We read not the word Covenant betwixt God and man, ever since the Creation, both in Innocency, and under the fall: but we have in Scripture what may amount to as much. As in Innocency God provided and proposed to Adam, eternal happiness in the present enjoyments, and calls for perfect obedience: which appears from Gods threatening, Gen. 2. 17. For if man must die if he disobeyed, it implies strongly that Gods Covenant was with him for life, if he obeyed. And after the fall, it is most evident, God was pleased to hold this course with man, in all ages and conditions, but with some alterations, ⟨p. 7⟩as seemed best in his infinite wisdom, and best fitted the present condition of the creature. In this manner hath God afforded both the prime and secondary good unto man under Covenants and seals, that he might have the greater assurance, so long as he walked in obedience: and herein God was pleased to condescend to mans weakness, and for the confirmation of his faith to add Seals to his Covenants, in all times to bind the bargain.