A30345:532
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.
How is it imaginable, say they, that impossible should be the object of Gods desire or approval? The answer is given already, impossible in it self, or in respect of the unreasonableness of the thing commanded, is not the object of Gods desire, approval or commandment: but an impossible thing to us in respect of ou• perverseness, may be and is the object of Gods commandment, and so of his approval and desire, as he doth will and desire what he doth command. Doth not God exact of the Gentiles given up to the vanity of their minds, that they should seek him in the way, wherein he will be found, if they would be saved, when they have not means sufficient to bring them to the knowledge of the truth, nor grace to believe? Doth not the Lord command, approve, and desire the conversion of many obstinate, impenitent persons living in the Church, who have and do abuse the means ⟨p. 246⟩of grace, whom for their former and present contempt he doth1 blind and harden, whose condemnation is aggravated by this, that they have, and do live under great and good teaching? Doth not the Law exact perfection of them who are under the Law, when it is impossible by reason of the infirmity of the flesh? Is not the rebellion of the flesh repugnant to the Law of God, from which it is impossible to be freed in this life? In the Covenant of grace, perfection of faith and obedience is commanded, otherwise imperfection should not be a sin: but that is impossible to man, whilst he carries about this body of sin. And if impossible be not the object of Gods will in this sense, he that by custom in evil hath contracted an habit, that he cannot but sin, should not offend, and he that is carried with most violence of mind unto evil, should be least evil.
How is it imaginable, say they, that impossible should be the object of Gods desire or approvall? The answer is given already, impossible in it selfe, or in respect of the unreasonablenesse of the thing commanded, is not the object of Gods desire, approvall or commandment: but an impossible thing to us in respect of ou• perversenesse, may be and is the object of Gods commandment, and so of his approvall and desire, as he doth will and desire what he doth command. Doth not God exact of the Gentiles given up to the vanity of their minds, that they should seeke him in the way, wherein he will be found, if they would be saved, when they have not meanes sufficient to bring them to the knowledge of the truth, nor grace to believe? Doth not the Lord command, approve, and desire the conversion of many obstinate, impenitent persons living in the Church, who have and doe abuse the meanes