A30345:525
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 other places Rom. 14. and 1 Cor. 8. receive the same answer; for they speak of weak brethren for whom Christ died, who were believers, or as believers, for whom Christ died in respect of application. And then this argument doth not hang handsomely together, Christ died for believers in respect of application, therefore he died for all men to impetrate righteousness. If they reason thus, he died for some in respect of application that may ⟨p. 242⟩perish; therefore he died for all men in respect of impetration, it hangs but loosely: for they themselves will say, Christ died for the faithful only in respect of application, and not for all men, whatsoever we are to think of the condition of the faithful, whether they shall stand, or may perish. Amongst themselves, some that maintain general redemption by the death of Christ, do yet hold, that no lively member of Jesus Christ, can perish, or fall away. And I can hardly see how their positions will hang together, if they do not grant, that though some believers may fall and perish, yet others cannot: But as concerning the weak brethren, such as be true believers, it is possible they should be grievously shaken by offences and temptations, yea destroyed, as far as lies in the authors of scandal and temptation, and their own frailty: but in respect of the decree and unchangeable love of God and the intercession of Jesus Christ, they shall not utterly perish, but if they be tempted, they shall be supported, or if they fall, God will raise them up again. The Apostles exhortation then is forcible, that they should not offend their weak brother, for this was as much as lies in them to destroy him for whom Christ died.1 Thus Vorstius paraphraseth the text, offend not him with thy meat, I pray thee, and as much as in thee is destroy him, for whom Christ died. And in his loc. come. upon that Chapter, although the elect cannot perish, the unchangeable decree of God withstanding, yet it is not said in vain, that they perish by our fault, who when they have entered into the way of salvation, being offended with our actions begin to turn from the same. And in loc. come. upon the other place;