A30345:595
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.
The effects of this agony were two; Earnest prayer and bloody sweat. Being in an agony he prayed more fervently. He 1fell on his face and prayed: He prayed thrice the same words, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, 2not as I will, but as thou wilt. As the sense of nature and inferior reason presented death, and the ignominy of the cross unto him, as they are in themselves evil, without the consideration of any good to follow, he desired to decline them. But as superior reason considered them with all circumstances, knowing Gods resolution to be such, that the world should thereby be saved, and by no other means, he most willingly accepted of them. Between these desires there was a diversity, but no contrariety: a subordination, but no repugnance or resistance. Consider Christ in private as a man, of the same natural affections, desires and abhorrencies with other men, and the cup as it was very bitter and grievous, and so most justly he feared and declined it, and could not but decline it, unless he had put off the nature and affection of man: But consider him in his public relation, as a Mediator, a surety, a merciful and faithful high Priest, and so he most willingly and obediently submitted unto it. And this willingness in respect of his office was much the greater, and the comfort we may draw from thence the sweeter, because in respect of nature, his will could not but shrink for it. If nature had not necessarily shrunk, sweat startled, and stood amazed at that service, Christ had not manifested so much love and free submission to the command of grace, nor could we have had so much comfortable assurance of the truth of our redemption thereby: for it is impossible the nature of man should conflict with the terrible wrath of God, and not dread and tremble. The Apostle saith, Christ in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and ⟨p. 284⟩3tears, and was heard in the thing he feared. In the New Testament the word signifieth reverence, Luke 2. 25. Act. 2. 5