A30345:403
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.
Fourthly, It is joined with a readiness of mind to acknowledge and lay open every sin as soon as it is known to be sin; and a gladness to have the conscience ransacked and ripped up, that whatsoever is sinful may be found out. David spake it out of experience, when he pronounced the man blessed, in whose1 spirit there is no guile: Now this was a branch of that spiritual guile, that he once thought to help himself in evil doing, by holding his tongue; as who would say he would forget it, and pass it over: but he was never well, till he was delivered of that false trick, and fell to the down-right acknowledgement of his sin; he never had comfort till he had confessed against himself his wickedness. This he writes for a pattern, and gives his Psalm a title accordingly; To give instruction: and this experience taught him to entreat the Lord to pry into him, as fearing himself that he should deal somewhat2 over-favourably with himself. Try me, O Lord, and know mine heart: prove me, and know my thoughts, and consider if there be any way of wickedness in me: and to profess himself not only willing to bear, but desirous to be reprehended, if he should step awry. Let 3the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities, or, by how much he shall do that the more, by how much they shall reprove me the more diligently, by so much I shall pray the more fervently for them. When a man loves not those means which tend to the discovery of his heart and life, and to the finding out of his secret sins, or reprehensions whether public or private, or serious and earnest confession of sin before God, there is great cause to suspect that all is not sound within.
Fourthly, It is joyned with a readinesse of mind to acknowledge and lay open every sinne as soone as it is knowne to be sinne; and a gladnesse to have the conscience ransacked and ripped up, that whatsoever is sinfull may be found out. David spake it out of experience, when he pronounced the man blessed, in whose1 spirit there is no guile: Now this was a branch of that spirituall guile, that he once thought to helpe himselfe in evill doing, by holding his tongue; as who would say he would forget it, and passe it over: but he was never well, till he was delivered of that false trick, and fell to the down-right acknowledgement of his sinne; he never had comfort till he had confessed against himselfe his wickednesse. This he writes for a patterne, and gives his Psalme a title accordingly; To give instruction: and this experience taught him to intreat the Lord to pry into him, as fearing himselfe that he should deale somewhat