A30345:386
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.
5. Firmness and constancy in every holy duty of our general or personal calling, of piety or righteousness. A faithful spirit is steadfast with God: the ground of declining is lack of truth. Their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in 1his Covenant. If the heart be not true, what show soever a man makes, he is but like an Apple, rotten at the core, or as an house built upon the sand, the one of which, though beautiful, will soon putrefy, the other, though fairly set, will quickly fall. A man may have many worthy gifts, but if he want sincerity, upon a sudden may be taken from him, both that which he hath, and that which he seemeth to have, & his end be as the fig-tree, which making only a show with leaves, having no fruit, being cursed, lost even those also, and withered away by degrees, being good for nothing but the fire. For as a stomach ill affected with choler, though never so wholesome meats be received into it, yet it cannot hold them, but is provoked: so where there is this obstruction of the soul, the wilful love of any sinful course, or subordination of grace to boisterous, distempered, earthly passions, pleasures or profits, whatsoever grace is received into the heart, it will not let it rest, but maketh the soul cast it up upon all occasions. Truth and soundness is the preserver of grace received: an honest and sound heart is as a vessel well closed, it will keep and hold the liquor of grace that is poured into it. The course of a true Christian is permanent, and continueth unto the end.
5. Firmenesse and constancy in every holy duty of our generall or personall calling, of piety or righteousnesse. A faithfull spirit is stedfast with God: the ground of declining is lacke of truth. Their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in 1his Covenant. If the heart be not true, what shew soever a man makes, he is but like an Apple, rotten at the coare, or as an house built upon the sand, the one of which, though beautifull, will soon putrifie, the other, though fairly set, will quickly fal. A man may have many worthy gifts, but if he want sincerity, upon a sudden may be taken from him, both that which he hath, and that which he seemeth to have, & his end be as the fig-tree, which making only a shew with leaves, having no fruit, being cursed, lost even those also, and withered away by degrees, being good for nothing but the fire. For as a stomack ill affected with choller, though never so wholesome meats be received into it, yet it cannot hold them, but is provoked: so where there is this obstruction of the soul, the wilfull love of any sinfull course, or subordination of grace to boisterous, distempered, earthly passions, pleasures or profits, whatsoever grace is received into the heart, it will not let it rest, but maketh the soul cast it up upon all occasions. Truth and soundnesse is the preserver of grace received: an honest and sound heart is as a vessel well closed, it will keep and hold the liquour of grace that is powred into it. The course of a true Christian is permanent, and continueth unto the end.