A30345:398
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.
And here to prevent mistaking we must distinguish the degrees of soundness and simplicity, and the nature of it. In nature the soundness of the godly is true, but in degree weak and imperfect, and therefore now and then through frailty and weakness in the performance of good duties they look more at man then at God, and propound indirect means when they should eye his glory only. But as we say of other sins, so of hypocrisy, it is either reigning, or not. In the hearts of true Christians there may be hypocrisy, but not reigning hypocrisy. David when he said, Blessed is he, in whose spirit there is no guile, did take himself1 ⟨p. 172⟩[…] ⟨p. 173⟩[…] ⟨p. 174⟩tardy in this evil: and Bradford with others of those most holy Martyrs, do much seek pardon of hypocrisy and carnal gospelling. But sin that reigneth not, must not discourage: and if we have an unfeigned purpose against it, if we grieve for it, if we seek for strength against it, it reigneth not.
And here to prevent mistaking we must distinguish the degrees of soundnesse and simplicity, and the nature of it. In nature the soundnes of the godly is true, but in degree weake and imperfect, and therfore now and then through frailtie and weakenesse in the performance of good duties they looke more at man then at God, and propound indirect meanes when they should eye his glory only. But as we say of other sinnes, so of hypocrisy, it is either raigning, or not. In the hearts of true Christians there may be hypocrisie, but not raigning hypocrisie. David when he said, Blessed is he, in whose spirit there is no guile, did take himselfe1 ⟨p. 172⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 173⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 174⟩