A30345:431
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. Society and fellowship with the faithful is a sign of uprightness, and a means of continuance and increase therein. For he that setteth his heart upon heaven, will be careful to draw on and encourage his companion in the same way. Coals laid together kindle each other, and preserve heat the longer: So it is with the faithful linked together in holy communion.
4. Society and fellowship with the faithfull is a signe of uprightnesse, and a meanes of continuance and encrease therein. For he that setteth his heart upon heaven, will be carefull to draw on and encourage his companion in the same way. Coales laid together kindle each other, and preserve heate the longer: So it is with the faithfull linked together in holy communion.
5. It is good to call our selves to a frequent reckoning touching our carriages, binding our selves to an examination of them. He that hath a servant, of whose fidelity he maketh some doubt, and whom he desires, if it might be, to reclaim, both for the good of the party, and for his own particular also, that he may be useful to him, he will not let him run on too long before he call him to an account; he considers that to be the next way to make him careless and secure. If he expect ever and anon to be reckoned with, it will cause him so much the more carefully to look unto his business. It is so in this case. The word of God telleth thee, that thou hast with thee a false, cozening, deceitful heart: an heart that will beguile thee to thine utter ruin; it is ever ready to practise with Satan the professed enemy of thy soul, to work mischief against thee: Wouldst thou reform this heart, that it ⟨p. 189⟩might become useful and serviceable for thee, in the great and important business of Salvation, be sure to call it often to account. It will be good to reckon with it once a day, to see what hath passed it, to examine what thoughts have been framed in it, what purposes, what intents, what acts have been done, as effects and fruits of these inward purposes: surely this tying of thy self to such an often survey, and looking back upon thy heart, will keep it in so much the more awe; and when it is once accustomed to the sweetness which will be felt, when it can give account of care and of obedience, and to the smart and punishment which followeth the remembrance of failing in holy duties, it cannot but be kept in so much the better tune.