A30345:511
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 commandment to preach the Gospel to every creature, was given to the Apostles in the days of grace, upon the publication of which Covenant, they which formerly served dumb idols, were bound to repent and believe: but that commandment was peculiar to the Apostles, not given till after the resurrection of Christ, after such commandment the Apostles were enjoined to tarry for a time in Jerusalem, nor could they possibly disperse themselves in a moment into every part of the world, nor the world take notice of any such commandment given unto them, or of the doctrine revealed by them. Before that time the Lord suffered the Gentiles for a long time to walk in the vanity of their minds, without the light of his truth: and since that time divers nations have been cast off, left to themselves, as aliens from the Covenant, and deprived of all means to come to the knowledge of God in Christ. And if there were any force in this reason, The means of grace be unlimited, and command given to preach to every creature, therefore Christ died for all men: This must be of greater weight, The means of grace be not vouchsafed unto all and every man: therefore Christ died not for all and every man. For if means necessary to Salvation be not propounded, if they be not, nor ever were called to the faith by the ordinary and only effectual means ordained of God to bring men thereunto, we speak of our selves, and not according to Scripture, if we affirm, God gave Christ to die for their redemption.
The commandement to preach the Gospell to every creature, was given to the Apostles in the dayes of grace, upon the publication of which Covenant, they which formerly served dumbe idols, were bound to repent and beleeve: but that commandement was peculiar to the Apostles, not given till after the resurrection of Christ, after such commandement the Apostles were injoyned to tarry for a time in Jerusalem, nor could they possibly disperse themselves in a moment into every part of the world, nor the world take notice of any such commandement given unto them, or of the doctrine revealed by them. Before that time the Lord suffered the Gentiles for a long time to walk in the vanity of their minds, without the light of his truth: and since that time divers nations have been cast off, left to themselves, as aliens from the Covenant, and deprived of all meanes to come to the knowledge of God in Christ. And if there were any force in this reason, The meanes of grace be unlimited, and command given to preach to every creature, therefore Christ died for all men: This must be of greater weight, The meanes of grace be not vouchsafed unto all and every man: therefore Christ died not for all and every man. For if meanes necessary to Salvation be not propounded, if they be not, nor ever were called to the faith by the ordinary and only effectuall meanes ordained of God to bring men thereunto, we speake of our selves, and not according to Scripture, if we affirme, God gave Christ to die for their redemption.