A30345:493
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 many believe it not, that believe truly in Christ, and know they believe and that they ought to believe. If by believing in Christ be meant faith justifying, the proposition may be granted with two limitations. First, that under this term they be not comprehended, who never heard of Christ, or had possible, at least probable means to come to the knowledge of Christ, or were admitted into Covenant. So Vorstius seems to limit it, unless (saith he) Christ had died for all that are called, in vain should they all be commanded to believe in him. The Authors of the Synod. cap de Election. A Law not given, or when it cannot be understood,1 doth not bind: Whosoever is bound to believe in Christ, must have the rule of new life, which is the Covenant; which was purchased by the blood of the Mediator, as they dispute. And then he which is not in Covenant, nor ever had the rule of new life, how should he be bound to believe in Christ? The second caution is, that he that goeth on in an evil way, and maketh a pastime of sin, is not called immediately to believe in Christ, nor hath received grace sufficient as such a man, to rest upon him for Salvation. Before they will or can come unto Christ, ⟨p. 224⟩it must be otherwise with them, they must be prepared of God, who draweth men to Christ, but first (as they say) draws them to mind their souls seriously. A wicked man living within the pale of the Church is bound to believe, as to repent and cease from his evil way; for the neglect of one duty doth not exempt a man2 from another: but so long as he goeth on in an evil course, he cannot lay hold on the promises of mercy, nor embrace Christ as his only Saviour. The hungry, thirsty and burdened, not they which wallow in iniquity are invited to come unto Christ, that they might be eased and refreshed. They are called to believe in Christ for pardon, not that they are already the children of God, and restored into favour. A thirsty and weary man as such, can no more believe that he is the child of God, then a wounded man as wounded can that he is cured; or the man stung with the fiery Serpent, that he was healed, before he looked up to the brazen Serpent. Thirst is opposed to water, and weariness to refreshing.
and many beleeve it not, that beleeve truly in Christ, and know they beleeve and that they ought to beleeve. If by beleeving in Christ be meant faith justifying, the proposition may be granted with two limitations. First, that under this terme they be not comprehended, who never heard of Christ, or had possible, at least probable meanes to come to the knowledge of Christ, or were admitted into Covenant. So Vorstius seemes to limitit, unlesse (saith he) Christ had died for all that are called, in vaine should they all be commanded to beleeve in him. The Authours of the Synod. cap de Election. A Law not given, or when it cannot be understood,