A30345:545
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.
But amongst them that be called into, and accept of the Covenant, some be elected simply, others in comparison, some be the sheep and brethren of Christ in truth and sincerity, others in profession and external administration, or in some respect only. And as we must distinguish of the elect and sheep of Christ, so of his dying for them. For he died for all his elect, as they apply and be partakers of the benefits of his death: he died saving-effectually, scil to bring them to grace and glory; according to the election of grace, for his simply elect ⟨p. 255⟩and people in truth, that is, for them upon whom Salvation should be conferred, and to whom it should be soundly applied. So the Prophet telleth us, Christ died, that indeed and most certainly1 he might see his seed, and bring many brethren unto God. And if Christ died not for his sheep for this particular end, that by his special grace, and that which is given to none others, they2 might enjoy the fruit of his death, we must confess, that Christ in this saying doth give no particular comfort to his sheep, and in that whole Chapter: which is absurd. And though sheep and believers materially be the same, formally in this place they be not: for when Christ saith to the Pharisees, Ye believe not, for ye are not of my sheep. Joh. 10. 16. If to be a believer and the sheep of Christ do signify the same thing, he should say, ye believe not, and that which followeth, My sheep hear my voice, and follow me, Joh. 10. 27. should be the same as if it had been said, the believers believe. So that sheep and believers are reciprocal, but formally they are not made sheep by faith, but by election.
But amongst them that be called into, and accept of the Covenant, some be elected simply, others in comparison, some be the sheep and brethren of Christ in truth and sincerity, others in profession and externall administration, or in some respect only. And as we must distinguish of the elect and sheepe of Christ, so of his dying for them. For he died for all his elect, as they apply and be partakers of the benefits of his death: he died saving-effectually, scil to bring them to grace and glory; according to the election of grace, for his simply elect