A30345:421
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. Delight in the most high at all times, in all conditions, prosperity and adversity, evil report and good report, making God ⟨p. 185⟩the stay of our souls, when oppressing trouble lieth heavy upon us, and walking before him in humility, meekness and fear, when all things prosper according to our hearts desire, and readily performing our vows which we made in the day of our calamity:1 This is a notable effect of uprightness. Thus Job confirmeth his uprightness, in adversity he called upon God, and waited upon his aide: in prosperity he remembered his change, eschewed evil, stood in awe of God, showed mercy to the poor, fatherless and widow, comforted them that were in distress: in both estates God was his delight and his portion. It is a double and crooked heart that starts aside, and varieth in obedience according to outward conditions, that goeth forward or backward, on this side, and on that, as occasion requireth; that praiseth mercy in his need, but commendeth sparing and nearness▪ when he washeth his paths in butter: The upright is resolved of his way, and doth break through all lets and bars whatsoever may be cast before2 him in his journey. A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright he directeth his way. As the ungodly man is obstinate in evil, so is the upright constant in piety, and will not be removed from it. I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes, alway, even unto the end. Hold thou me up, and I 3shall be safe, and I will have respect unto thy Statutes continually.
4. Delight in the most high at all times, in all conditions, prosperity and adversity, evill report and good report, making God ⟨p. 185⟩the stay of our soules, when oppressing trouble lieth heavie upon us, and walking before him in humility, meekenesse and feare, when all things prosper according to our hearts desire, and readily performing our vowes which we made in the day of our calamity: