A30345:477
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 it is true, as many be externally in Covenant, and have all out ward things common with the faithful, who be not true members of Jesus Christ: so also this world opposed to the Jewish Nation, called of God, and admitted into Covenant, doth comprehend many, which in deed and truth be not lively members of Jesus Christ. In like manner many, indeed wicked men and ungodly, living in the visible Church, and under the external Covenant, are called the chosen of God, the people of God, Saints by calling, and so Christ died for them, efficiently, and by way of application, as they be within the Covenant made in Christ, and do partake of those fruits and benefits of his death, which of themselves tend to salvation, but are perverted of them to destruction through their own default. But others comprehended under the world, be faithful indeed, living members of Jesus Christ, sealed by the Spirit, and for these Christ died efficiently in a peculiar manner, scil. to bring them to life and happiness, as already they are called savingly and effectually to faith and repentance.
And it is true, as many be externally in Covenant, and have all out ward things common with the faithfull, who be not true members of Jesus Christ: so also this world opposed to the Jewish Nation, called of God, and admitted into Covenant, doth comprehend many, which in deed and truth be not lively members of Jesus Christ. In like manner many, indeed wicked men and ungodly, living in the visible Church, and under the externall Covenant, are called the chosen of God, the people of God, Saints by calling, and so Christ died for them, efficiently, and by way of application, as they be within the Covenant made in Christ, and doe partake of those fruits and benefits of his death, which of themselves tend to salvation, but are perverted of them to destruction through their owne default. But others comprehended under the world, be faithfull indeed, living members of Jesus Christ, sealed by the Spirit, and for these Christ died efficiently in a peculiar manner, scil. to bring them to life and happinesse, as already they are called savingly and effectually to faith and repentance.
The argument à pari is of no weight, manifestly confuted both by Scripture and experience it self. For to many that perish is the word of Salvation sent, they receive it, profess it, rejoice in it, live under the Ordinances of grace, be partakers of sundry graces of the Spirit: all which be special fruits of Christs death, special to some, not common to all men: and in which respects Christ is said to die for them. But to affirm the same things of every particular man in the world, is to offend against common sense. If Christ had died for one wicked man that perished, because he had been wicked, or for that reason, there had been some truth in the argument: but some fruits of Christs death are imparted to some although they be wicked, not because they are wicked,