A30345:461
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.
Christ Jesus incarnate is the Mediator of the new Testament, a real Mediator, a fit middle person betwixt God and man: a Mediator and Testator both, who hath confirmed the Testament with his blood. But seeing the Covenant is ⟨p. 204⟩made in Christ, and Christ died in some sort for them that be under the Covenant, it will not be out of place first to show for whom Christ died and rose again, and then how Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament, and what is the exaltation and Prerogative of the new above the old Covenant in that respect.
CHrist Jesus incarnate is the Mediatour of the new Testament, a reall Mediatour, a fit middle person betwixt God and man: a Mediatour and Testatour both, who hath confirmed the Testament with his bloud. But seeing the Covenant is ⟨p. 204⟩made in Christ, and Christ died in some sort for them that be under the Covenant, it will not be out of place first to shew for whom Christ died and rose again, and then how Christ is the Mediatour of the New Testament, and what is the exaltation and Prerogative of the new above the old Covenant in that respect.
Touching the first there be two main opinions of Divines. The first sort hold, that he died for all and every man with a purpose to save. But in the explication of their Tenet they add.1 1. That Christ died for all men considered in the common lapse or fall, but not as obstinate, impenitent, or unbelievers. Christ died not, say they, for Cain and Judas, as such, or as they should perish, nor for Abel and Peter as faithful, in respect of the impetration of Salvation: but without difference for them considered2 in the common state and condition of the fall and sin. 2. That Christ died for all men in respect of the impetration of Salvation, but the application thereof is proper to believers. 3. That Christ died not to bring all or any man actually to Salvation, and make them partakers of righteousness and life; but to purchase salvability and reconciliation so far, as that God might and would, salvajustitia, deal with them upon terms of a better Covenant, which might well stand although it should be applied to no man, no man should be reconciled or saved by Christ, God should have no Church on earth, or Saint be crowned with glory in heaven. 4. That Christ hath purchased salvability for all men, but faith and regeneration he hath merited for none: because God is bound to give that which Christ hath merited of him, although it be not desired or craved. Exam. Censur. Cap. 8. pag. 95. & Cap. 7. pag. 87 & Respons. ad specul. 11. 107. Other positions they hold, which ang not together, nor agree