A30345:612
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.
A third answer is, that Christ suffered for a time, because he suffered to satisfy, and so to overcome upon the cross, he triumphed meritoriously over principalities and powers, therefore his sufferings could not continue for ever, but must have an end. For in suffering he had not satisfied justice, nor conquered the enemies ⟨p. 292⟩of our salvation, if he had lien under the punishment of our sins eternally. But this showeth the reason why Christ suffered but for a time, rather then how his suffering for a time could satisfy the justice of God for ever, which had deserved eternal death.
A third answer is, that Christ suffered for a time, because he suffered to satisfie, and so to overcome upon the crosse, he triumphed meritoriously over principalities and powers, therefore his sufferings could not continue for ever, but must have an end. For in suffering he had not satisfied justice, nor conquered the enemies ⟨p. 292⟩of our salvation, if he had lien under the punishment of our sins eternally. But this sheweth the reason why Christ suffered but for a time, rather then how his suffering for a time could satisfie the justice of God for ever, which had deserved eternall death.
The fourth answer is more full and free from exception, that Christ suffered but for a time, because it was impossible he should be held under of the sorrows of death, Act. 2. 24. The wicked suffer eternally, because they being cast under the curse, they cannot deliver themselves, and justice will not set them free: but Christ in suffering did overcome, and delivered himself, so that his sufferings continued but for a time. In kind his sufferings were the same with those, which in us should have continued for ever,1 although they did not continue: wherefore? because they had an end not of themselves, or their own nature, but of the power of Christ. He overcame those punishments which had been altogether eternal, if he could not have overcome.