A30345:515
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 seemeth sufficient to Princes (say they) to publish their Laws in some places, at some times, though they concern all, are for their good, and take hold of them, if they be not observed, leaving it to Parents to teach their children, and every one to enquire for his own good.
It seemeth sufficient to Princes (say they) to publish their Lawes in some places, at some times, though they concerne all, are for their good, and take hold of them, if they be not observed, leaving it to Parents to teach their children, and every one to enquire for his own good.
In this comparison there be divers things unlike, divers that cannot befitted to the purpose, unless it be in a sense contrary. For they say, Laws once sufficiently published bind and stand in force, though unknown, or scarcely possible to be known by some particular men now living in some remote parts of the dominions: And the plain direct reddition is, That God having made a Covenant of grace with Adam and his posterity, all and every man is bound to believe in Christ, and walk in obedience, though he be ignorant of his duty, never received ability to do it, never had means possible to come to the knowledge of Christ: yea, though he be cast off, and left to the hardness of his heart. God hath commanded Parents to teach their children. Who doubts of that? But the question is, whether God hath vouchsafed sufficient means of grace to every man, which is not hereby proved, because God, when he gave his Covenant, enjoined Parents to teach their children. We grant the Lord is wanting in nothing, which either he promised, or in his eternal wisdom and justice saw meet to be done, and that such as be deprived of the means of grace be justly deprived. But we say, as experience confirmeth, that sufficient means of grace hath not been afforded to every man living since the fall of Adam.
In this comparison there be divers things unlike, divers that cannot befitted to the purpose, unlesse it be in a sense contrary. For they say, Lawes once sufficiently published bind and stand in force, though unknowne, or scarcely possible to be known by some particular men now living in some remote parts of the dominions: And the plaine direct reddition is, That God having made a Covenant of grace with Adam and his posterity, all and every man is bound to beleeve in Christ, and walke in obedience, though he be ignorant of his duty, never received ability to do it, never had meanes possible to come to the knowledge of Christ: yea, though he be cast off, and left to the hardnesse of his heart. God hath commanded Parents to teach their children. Who doubts of that? But the question is, whether God hath vouchsafed sufficient means of grace to every man, which is not hereby proved, because God, when he gave his Covenant, injoyned Parents to teach their children. We grant the Lord is wanting in nothing, which either he promised, or in his eternall wisdome and justice saw meet to be done, and that such as be deprived of the means of grace be justly deprived. But we say, as experience confirmeth, that sufficient meanes of grace hath not been afforded to every man living since the fall of Adam.