A30345:411
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.
The Scriptures mention an uprightness of heart, and uprightness of life and conversation. Uprightness of heart is an holy conformity of heart and soul to the good will and pleasure of God. Thus we read, God saveth the upright in heart, Psal. 7. 10. The ungodly shoot privily at the upright in heart. Psal. 11. 2. Shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart. Psal. 32. 11. O continue thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Psal. 36. 10. All the upright in heart shall glory. Psal. 64. 10. Do good, O Lord, unto them that be good: and to them that are upright in their hearts. Psal. 125. 4. Good and upright is the Lord. Psal. 25. 8. His will is the most certain rule of equity and rectitude: and our hearts are then upright, when they stand in an holy conformity to the good pleasure of God. This is sometimes expressed by the phrase of preparing the heart to seek God,1 or lifting up the heart in the ways of God. And herein is implied, 1. An holy disposition of mind, will and affections, bending themselves to the good pleasure of God, approving, affecting, exercising readily whatsoever he requireth. I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me in2 the uprightness of mine heart, I have willingly offered all these things. 2. A godly fervency of heart, which maketh that in choosing and embracing good things, it is equally more remiss or fiery and strong, as the goodness of the things be greater or less, of greater or less necessity and importance. Thus an upright heart hath respect to every Commandment, but his greatest care is about the weighty matters of the Law, holiness and justice: and the more excellent the duty, the more circumspect and forward is he in the performance of it. The upright love thee, or they love thee in uprightness.