A30345:540
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.
nay, the contrary is plainly affirmed of them, that they are not the people of God, that they have no communion with Christ, that they are enemies in their minds by wicked works, alienated from God, that the wrath of God abideth on them, that they are without God in the world; which is never said of them for whom Christ died. The Scripture speaketh expressly, that Christ died for his Church, his sheep, his children, his people, the people or children of God, those that are given unto him of the Father, his brethren. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my life for my sheep. Joh. 10. 15. Take heed unto your selves, and to all the flock, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Act. 20. 28. Christ is the head of the Church, and he is the Saviour of the body. Eph. 5. 23. Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it. ver. 25. He shall save his people from their sins. Matth. 1. 21. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people. Tit. 2. 14. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Joh. 17. 2. He prophesied that Jesus should die for that Nation; and not for that Nation only, but also that he should gather together in one, the children of God that were scattered abroad. Joh. 11. 51, 52. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified are all one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy Name to my brethren, Heb. 2. 11, 12. The Church and people of God in themselves considered were sinners, ungodly, enemies, alienated from God, and Christ died for them, ⟨p. 252⟩not that he found them friends or brethren, or children, but that