A30345:361
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.
Fifthly, That they might not faint through the long and great calamity which went before deliverance, the Prophet in the Name of the Lord, setteth before them the glory and dignity of the Messiah which followed his humiliation. Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very 1high. As many were astonied at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more then the sons of men) so shall he sprinkle many nations, the Kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them, shall they see, and that which they had not heard, shall they consider. Another Prophet directing the faithful how to behave themselves in that long and grievous Captivity, scil. to wait patiently for the accomplishment of the Promise, ⟨p. 160⟩because the vision would speak in its appointed season, and not lie, he doth unfold the Doctrine of free Justification by faith in Christ more plainly then formerly it had been expressed in the Law of Moses, adding, Behold, his soul which is lifted up, is not upright 2in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Whence the Apostle inferreth, that we are justified by free grace, and not by the works of the Law in the fight of God. In the Original3 it is, The just shall live in his faith: but that particle is oft very well4 rendered by aOf, or By: and it is all one whether we read it, The just shall live by, of, or in faith, the sense being, The just shall live the life of grace here, and of glory hereafter in or by faith. That which the Prophet speaketh in general of all the Promises of God, that the godly might certainly and constantly hold, in what thing they ought to rest in the midst of all storms and tempests, and whence they may live securely in the distresses of death, that the Apostle doth specially interpret of Justification and life eternal, which we obtain by faith. The Prophet and Apostle both speak of a lively faith, which is effectual to bring forth good works: but we obtain life eternal by faith, and not by works. To live here is to obtain life or glory, not to lead our life according to the Law, or rule of righteousness: as the drift of the Prophet, and Exposition of the Apostle, opposing the life which is by faith, to that which is by the works of the Law, which could not be, if to live by faith had been to direct our life according to the Law.