A30345:495
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.
The word of truth is the foundation of faith, in nature before it, true as it is promised, not made true by faith: but that faith cannot be given to the promise, unless the thing promised be truly existent, and made good before faith, is strange in Divinity. One thing is true, because it is promised: another, because it is fore-told, another, because it is simply declared. Those things which are true as related, those things have been whether we believe them or not: and those things which are fore-told as true, those in like manner shall come to pass, whether we believe, or believe not. But those things which are true as promised, it is not necessary that they be, unless we believe. For the narration and1 prediction is absolute, but the promise conditional, requiring faith in the hearer. There is this mutual respect betwixt the promise and stipulation, that the promise is as an argument which God useth, that he might obtain of man what he requireth, and the performance of the thing required is a condition without which man cannot obtain the promise of God. But leaving further dispute of this matter, faith in Christ and the commandment to believe in him hath a subject word true in it self, not made true by faith, whereupon it is builded, as true, firm and certain, as any ground of faith in Christ can be desired or conceived. There is one act of faith, whereby we believe that sins are pardonable: this is builded upon this ground, that Christ is an all-sufficient and efficient Saviour, in whose name Salvation is freely offered, by faith to be received. There is another act of faith, whereby we rest upon Christ for salvation: this is grounded upon these and2 such like promises, Come unto me all y• that labour, and be heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Hoe, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. Let him that is a thirst, come unto me and drink. There is a third, whereby we believe that our sins are already pardoned: and this is grounded upon these and such like. He that believeth shall be saved.
The word of truth is the foundation of faith, in nature before it, true as it is promised, not made true by faith: but that faith cannot be given to the promise, unlesse the thing promised be truly existent, and made good before faith, is strange in Divinity. One thing is true, because it is promised: another, because it is fore-told, another, because it is simply declared. Those things which are true as related, those things have been whether we believe them or not: and those things which are fore-told as true, those in like manner shall come to passe, whether we believe, or believe not. But those things which are true as promised, it is not necessary that they be, unlesse we believe. For the narration and