A30345:454
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.
And though the old and new Covenant be of the same nature, and from the same fountain, yet the new Covenant is preferred above the old, as far as Sun-light before Torch light, in this, that God who makes the Covenant hath more fully manifested the riches of his grace and superabundant love in Jesus Christ, the brightness of his glory and engraven form of his person, to the federates of the new Testament. In the old Covenant the Lord had made it known, that he was merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness: But in the new Covenant he doth most familiarly reveal himself to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, and in him the Father of the faithful: which most sweet and pleasant name doth breathe out unspeakable love and tenderness.
And though the old and new Covenant be of the same nature, and from the same fountaine, yet the new Covenant is preferred above the old, as farre as Sunne-light before Torch light, in this, that God who makes the Covenant hath more fully manifested the riches of his grace and superaboundant love in Jesus Christ, the brightnesse of his glory and engraven forme of his person, to the federates of the new Testament. In the old Covenant the Lord had made it knowne, that he was mercifull and gracious, slow to anger, aboundant in goodnesse: But in the new Covenant he doth most familiarly reveale himself to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, and in him the Father of the faithfull: which most sweet and pleasant name doth breathe out unspeakable love and tendernesse.
Again, though the ancient federates had some knowledge of Gods Attributes, as an introduction to the Covenant of Grace, yet they never knew that transcendency of Gods love, which is brought to light in the new, mentioned in these and such like passages of Scripture: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath 1bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son: that whosoever 2believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. He spared