A30345:430
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.
3. A third means is to possess our hearts with this, and to have it ever in our thoughts, that in all things, especially in matters of Religion, we have to do with God, and are ever in his sight and presence. In our common daily duties to labour thus to perform them with our heart, as in the sight of God, to his glory, is a ready way to get this grace of truth deeply rooted. It is ⟨p. 188⟩the very main ground of all hypocrisy, that this one thing is not duly thought on. Men forget him that seeth in secret, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, wherewith he pierceth further then the outward face: and hereupon they are not to imagine, that when they have carried the matter smoothly and fairly before men, all is well. The world either applauds them, or accuseth them not, and hereupon they flatter themselves, as if nothing more were to be looked after. Let us then remember this, if we would be true and sincere in our hearts; The ways of man are before the eyes of 1the Lord, and he pondereth all his paths. This kept the Church and people of God of old in their sincerity, and preserved them from dealing falsely concerning his Covenant; they thought with themselves, If we do thus and thus, shall not God search it out?2 for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. And this consideration moved Paul to faithfulness in his Ministry; We make not merchandise of the word, but as of sincerity, but as of God, speak we in 3Christ. See what things go together, doing a matter in sincerity, and doing it, as in the sight of God.
3. A third meanes is to possesse our hearts with this, and to have it ever in our thoughts, that in all things, especially in matters of Religion, we have to doe with God, and are ever in his sight and presence. In our common daily duties to labour thus to performe them with our heart, as in the sight of God, to his glorie, is a ready way to get this grace of truth deeply rooted. It is ⟨p. 188⟩the very maine ground of all hypocisie, that this one thing is not duly thought on. Men forget him that seeth in secret, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, wherewith he pierceth further then the outward face: and hereupon they are not to imagine, that when they have carried the matter smoothly and fairly before men, all is well. The world either applauds them, or accuseth them not, and hereupon they flatter themselves, as if nothing more were to be looked after. Let us then remember this, if we would be true and sincere in our hearts; The waies of man are before the eyes of