A30345:573
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.
It is further objected, if Christ be Mediator according to his divine nature, then all three persons in Trinity be Mediators: but this is a mere deceit: for the divine nature is taken essentially for the divine nature common to Father, Son and holy Ghost: or personally for the divine essence considered distinctly in the Father, Son and holy Ghost: In the latter sense we say, Christ according to his divine nature is our Mediator, as he was incarnate, and did assume our nature unto his divine person, and not the Father or the holy Ghost.
It is further objected, if Christ be Mediator according to his divine nature, then all three persons in Trinity be Mediatours: but this is a meere deceit: for the divine nature is taken essentially for the divine nature common to Father, Son and holy Ghost: or personally for the divine essence considered distinctly in the Father, Son and holy Ghost: In the latter sence we say, Christ according to his divine nature is our Mediator, as he was incarnate, and did assume our nature unto his divine person, and not the Father or the holy Ghost.
But then (it will be said) he was inferior to the Father: In office it is true, by voluntary dispensation he is inferior, but in nature1 he is equal to the Father: and nothing hinders but one equal to another in nature, may by voluntary and free choice under-take2 an office of inferiority. Being in the form of God, he humbled himself. The Scripture teacheth expressly, that God the Father3 gave his only begotten Son to death for us: and the only begotten or proper Son of God according to both natures, and in both states is said to administer his office, the property of either nature observed: as also the only begotten Son of God is said to descend from heaven to earth for our sakes, and to suffer death for us, and to have done and suffered other such things: and that by the blood of his Son we are reconciled to God the Father.