A30345:463
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 by his death hath actually reconciled all mankind unto God, merited actual regeneration for them, and purchased Salvation, if after they be possessors of these spiritual blessings, they do not fall from them and shake them off by impenitency and infidelity. For Adam and Eve excepted, mankind cannot be considered in the1 common lapse, but as infants only. Further they affirm, that Infants have refused grace in their parents, grandfathers, ancestors, by which act they have deserved to be forsaken of God: which how it can stand with their general position, or that last mentioned, I cannot conceive. Lastly, they teach, that Christ died for the impenitent and unbelievers: for thus they reason, If Christ died for all whom he came to save, and came to save unbelievers, as his words are, I came not to judge, but to save, then he died for unbelievers. How they accord these things, I cannot find; but if we take things as they lay them down, it will plainly follow, that Christ died for all mankind in respect of impetration only, and that he died for them in respect of impetration and application both; that he hath not actually reconciled them unto God, and that he hath purchased actual reconciliation; that he died not for the impenitent or unbelievers in respect of impetration, and that in respect of impetration only, he died only for such. And all this can hardly be reconciled with that they have in their Script. Synod. declar. sent. Rem. circa Art. 2 Gratia haec impetrata est peccat•ribus quatenus in communi lapsus & peccati statu alijsque peccatis, excepta sola impenitentia, considerantur, &c. Sicut fidelibus, quatalibus, fructus impetratae gratiae proprié obtingit, ita infidelibus & rebellibus, qua talibus, gratia impetrata non est, &c. & pag. 312.
and by his death hath actually reconciled all mankinde unto God, merited actuall regeneration for them, and purchased Salvation, if after they be possessors of these spirituall blessings, they doe not fall from them and shake them off by impenitency and infidelity. For Adam and Eve excepted, mankind cannot be considered in the1 common lapse, but as infants only. Further they affirme, that Infants have refused grace in their parents, grandfathers, ancestors, by which act they have deserved to be forsaken of God: which how it can stand with their generall position, or that last mentioned, I cannot conceive. Lastly, they teach, that Christ died for the impenitent and unbelievers: for thus they reason, If Christ died for all whom he came to save, and came to save unbelievers, as his words are, I came not to judge, but to save, then he died for unbelievers. How they accord these things, I cannot finde; but if we take things as they lay them downe, it will plainely follow, that Christ died for all mankind in respect of impetration only, and that he died for them in respect of impetration and application both; that he hath not actually reconciled them unto God, and that he hath purchased actuall reconciliation; that he died not for the impenitent or unbelievers in respect of impetration, and that in respect of impetration only, he died only for such. And all this can hardly be reconciled with that they have in their Script. Synod. declar. sent. Rem. circa Art. 2 Gratia haec impetrata est peccatribus quatenus in communi lapsus & peccati statu alijsque peccatis, excepta sola impenitentia, considerantur, &c. Sicut fidelibus, quatalibus, fructus impetratae gratiae proprié obtingit, ita infidelibus & rebellibus, qua talibus, gratia impetrata non est, &c. & pag. 312.