A30345:438
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.
We visit sick ones, but not stirring up the bowels of mercy, we speak a great many phrases of course, our conscience telling us it is otherwise. We make a semblance of reverence, but how far it is from the heart this may testify, that we can (absent from the parties) use their names proverbially, break jests on them, admit sinister suspicions. We can speak fair to mens faces, when war is in the heart: and when we hate the person, take on as if we sought the disgrace of his sin only. So in fruits of love, we can do this party good sometimes, but it is to keep another under, who else would sprout forth so far, that his shade would dim our lights: as likewise I will do for such an one, they know good behaviour, they will do their homage, such an one will thank me for it, I am sure it will not be given clean away: He is able to do me a good turn again, &c. In works of mercy we are not discreet, free, compassionate, forward: we seldom consider the necessities of others, stand a loofe, if any man will steppe before us in the work, pretend ignorance, and are glad to hang the burden upon other mens shoulders, that be less able to bear it.
We visit sick ones, but not stirring up the bowels of mercy, we speake a great many phrases of course, our conscience telling us it is otherwise. We make a semblance of reverence, but how farre it is from the heart this may testifie, that we can (absent from the parties) use their names proverbially, breake jests on them, admit sinister suspitions. We can speake faire to mens faces, when warre is in the heart: and when we hate the person, take on as if we sought the disgrace of his sinne only. So in fruits of love, we can doe this partie good sometimes, but it is to keep another under, who else would sprout forth so farre, that his shade would dimme our lights: as likewise I will doe for such an one, they know good behaviour, they will doe their homage, such an one will thanke me for it, I am sure it will not be given cleane away: He is able to doe me a good turne againe, &c. In works of mercy we are not discreet, free, compassionate, forward: we seldome consider the necessities of others, stand a loofe, if any man will steppe before us in the worke, pretend ignorance, and are glad to hang the burden upon other mens shoulders, that be lesse able to beare it.