A30345:366
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.
Thirdly, in the very tenor and administration of the Covenant it self it did excel. For this Covenant after it once began, did continue without interruption, until it was perfected by the New Testament properly so called, whereas the former Covenant was broken or did expire. For during the time of the Babylonish ⟨p. 163⟩Captivity, neither Judah nor Israel had either wandering Tabernacle1 or standing Temple: But in this Covenant, God did so assist Zerubbabel in the building of the Temple, that he brought forth2 the head stone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, Grace unto it; He laid the foundation of the house, and his hands also finished it: and the Lord so preserved it, that it continued until Christ taking our nature upon him, came and dwelt amongst his people. I will shake all Nations, and the desire of all Nations shall come, 3and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of Hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts. And so we commonly find the promise of calling the Gentiles, and bringing them into the sheep-fold of Jesus4 Christ, is commonly annexed to this Covenant. O Lord, my strength and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction: The Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and 5shall say, surely our Fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things▪ wherein there is no profit. Behold I will gather them out of all Countries, whether I have driven them in mine anger, and 6in my fury, and in great wrath, and I will bring them again into this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good: but I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. And in these respects, this Covenant which pertained to the old Testament might be called an inchoation of the new: