A30345:505
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.
It will be replied, that God was ready to have communicated the Gospel unto them, if they had used well what they had received: but abusing what he had given, it was just to with-hold further means from them. But this answer will in no sort fit this place, because the Lords willing that all men be saved, and the actual1 communication of the Gospel unto all men are plainly conjoined, and so is Christs actual giving of himself a ransom for all, both in this and other passages of Scripture. Besides, it is most evident those All, which in this place are meant, are such as2 had fearfully abused the common grace received, and with-held the truth of God in unrighteousness, and for which many of them were given up unto a reprobate sense. Of these the Apostle speaking of the times of grace, saith, God willeth that they should come to the knowledge of the truth, not that he willeth to vouchsafe the Gospel unto them, if they should use the common graces well, (for they had fearfully abused them already) but actually to vouchsafe the word of reconciliation notwithstanding such their abuse.
It will be replied, that God was ready to have communicated the Gospell unto them, if they had used well what they had received: but abusing what he had given, it was just to with-hold further meanes from them. But this answer will in no sort fit this place, because the Lords willing that all men be saved, and the actuall1 communication of the Gospell unto all men are plainly conjoyned, and so is Christs actuall giving of himselfe a ransome for all, both in this and other passages of Scripture. Besides, it is most evident those All, which in this place are meant, are such as2 had fearfully abused the common grace received, and with-held the truth of God in unrighteousnesse, and for which many of them were given up unto a reprobate sence. Of these the Apostle speaking of the times of grace, saith, God willeth that they should come to the knowledge of the truth, not that he willeth to vouchsafe the Gospell unto them, if they should use the common graces well, (for they had fearefully abused them already) but actually to vouchsafe the word of reconciliation notwithstanding such their abuse.