A30345:385
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.
4. Purity, or clear shining innocency in all things, free from the mixture of leaven in manners or doctrine. The Apostle Peter writeth to the dispersed Jews, to stir up their pure minds:1 what is that, but minds furnished and seasoned with an holy perspicuity of truth. Paul prayeth for the Philippians, that they2 might abound in all knowledge and in all judgement, that they might be able to discern things that differ, that they might be sincere. And the same Apostle testifieth to the Corinthians, he was afraid of them, lest their mind should be corrupted from the3 simplicity that is in Christ. The word used by the Apostle in all three places signifieth properly something tried by the light of the Sun. And it is a Metaphor (as some suppose) taken from the custom of the Eagle, whose manner is (if we may believe those that write the natural story) to bring her young out of the nest before they be full fledged, and to hold them forth against the full sight of the Sun; the sight whereof those of them that can with open eye endure, she retaineth and bringeth up as her own; the rest that cannot brook it, and wink at it, she rejecteth and casteth off as a bastardly brood. Others think it rather taken from the usual practise of Chap-men in the view and choice of their wares. A wise wary Chap-man that hath to do with a deceitful Merchant, Draper or other, one that keepeth his wares in obscure places, where the defects of them cannot so easily be discerned, or hath false lights, that may help to give a counterfeit gloss to them, he will take no ware of him upon his word, but he will first diligently view it, toss it and turn it to and fro, over and over, try how it is in the midst, as well as at both ends, bring it forth into the light, hold up his cloth against the Sun, see if he can espy ⟨p. 169⟩any defect or default in it, he knoweth he may easily else be overreached. The like must be our practise in all matters of faith and4 manners: and this is to walk in the truth, when we have our conversation honest, and hold the truth of Doctrine purely, as we may endure the trial of the light. Thus the Apostle joineth sincerity and truth together, as one and the same, or as the special