A30345:570
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 Christ as a just man is not so a middle person, for he comes not so nigh to the Father as just, as he doth to us as man; nor is so far distant from us as just, as he comes nigh to us as man. Then as Mediator he should be joined to the Father in will only, but in nature dis-joined: and be distant from man not in nature, but in quality only: then should he be Mediator, not as substantially one with the Father, but only as he is united to him in will.
But Christ as a just man is not so a middle person, for he comes not so nigh to the Father as just, as he doth to us as man; nor is so farre distant from us as just, as he comes nigh to us as man. Then as Mediatour he should be joyned to the Father in will only, but in nature dis-joyned: and be distant from man not in nature, but in quality only: then should he be Mediatour, not as substantially one with the Father, but only as he is united to him in will.
If it be alleged, that if Christ be Mediator as God incarnate, then he is Mediator to himself, because he is God, and then also he should differ from himself, because a Mediator is a middle person.
If it be alleadged, that if Christ be Mediatour as God incarnate, then he is Mediatour to himselfe, because he is God, and then also he should differ from himselfe, because a Mediatour is a middle person.
We answer, it is not necessary a thing should differ from the1 extremes according to all that in respect whereof it is of a middle condition, but it is sufficient if it differ in some thing from one, and in some thing from another, as is before explained. So the Son of God incarnate by voluntary dispensation differeth not only from the Father and the holy Ghost, but from himself as God only: scil. as man he differeth from himself as God, and as God from himself as man. The whole Trinity being offended with us for sin, was to be pacified, but the Scripture teacheth, Christ was our Mediator to the Father: and we must silence our conceits, and learn of God what to believe. And assuredly if the Father be reconciled, the whole Trinity is reconciled. And further it may be added, that he who according to absolute essence or nature is the party offended, may according to voluntary dispensation sustain the person and do the office of a Mediator: and so