A30345:453
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.
If you demand a reason of this dealing, none can be given, but the mere grace and rich mercy and love of God. Thus saith the 1Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy Names sake. I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant, &c. And ye shall know 2that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the Land of Israel, &c. And there ye shall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein 3you have been defiled, and ye shall loth your selves in your own sight, for all your evils that you have committed. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my Names sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings. Man can do nothing of himself to procure his spiritual good. In spiritual things it fareth with him much what as with a child new borne into the world, which being naked can neither provide clothes, nor being provided and laid by him, can put them on: for man destitute of all spiritual goodness, can neither move to help himself, until it be freely bestowed, nor manage and wield it well, when it is of grace vouchsafed, without direction and assistance from God. And there is as little worth or dignity in man to move God to promise him help, as there is ability in man to procure help. There is nothing in man to move God to ⟨p. 200⟩show mercy, but only misery, which might be an occasion, but can be no cause, either why mercy is promised, or salvation granted. If man had not fallen from grace and state of Innocency, God had never sent his Son to redeem him, nor showed mercy reaching to the pardon and covering of his iniquity: If he had not lost himself, Christ had never come to find and restore him; if he had not wounded himself, he had not been healed and repaired of grace. Man then is a subject on whom God bestows grace, and in whom he works it; and his misery an occasion that the Lord took of manifesting his mercy in succouring and lifting him up out of that distress: but the free grace and love of God is the sole cause of what the Lord hath promised in this new Covenant, and doth give according to promise.