A30345:554
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.
Some answer, the sense of the words is only this, Father seeing they have sinned of ignorance, let them not be punished with that punishment, which the thing they have done deserveth (which was without all hope to be blinded, hardened, and cast off) but let them not for this sin be in this state, but show mercy on them, that they may be in possibility of repentance, pardon, and grace, which intercession answereth Christs dying, as it respecteth all, which was to possibilitate their Salvation. But this exposition is new and straitened, and cannot be confirmed by any circumstance of the place, or signification of the word forgiveness: and if it be granted, will not suit with their purpose. For Christ died not to possibilitate the Salvation of every man, that had or should abuse natural gifts and supernatural means, as the rulers of the people, which stirred up the people to desire Jesus that he might be crucified, nor prayed for every man, that had so fearfully abused the means of grace by wilful and affected ignorance (if not worse) that he should not be given up to blindness and hardness of heart. If any man shall be bold to affirm either of these, we must desire better proof then his bare word, before we can yield assent.
Some answer, the sense of the words is only this, Father seeing they have sinned of ignorance, let them not be punished with that punishment, which the thing they have done deserveth (which was without all hope to be blinded, hardened, and cast off) but let them not for this sin be in this state, but shew mercy on them, that they may be in possibility of repentance, pardon, and grace, which intercession answereth Christs dying, as it respecteth all, which was to possibilitate their Salvation. But this exposition is new and straitned, and cannot be confirmed by any circumstance of the place, or signification of the word forgivenesse: and if it be granted, will not sute with their purpose. For Christ died not to possibilitate the Salvation of every man, that had or should abuse naturall gifts and supernaturall meanes, as the rulers of the people, which stirred up the people to desire Jesus that he might be crucified, nor prayed for every man, that had so fearfully abused the meanes of grace by wilfull and affected ignorance (if not worse) that he should not be given up to blindnesse and hardnesse of heart. If any man shall be bold to affirme either of these, we must desire better proofe then his bare word, before we can yeeld assent.