A30345:635
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.
7. Continuance in the state of grace, and strength against sin, so that the faithful shall not finally be overcome, is the gracious and comfortable effect of Christs intercession. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not, Luk 22. 32. Father I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me, Joh. 17. 24. Some may say, in our Saviours prayer for Peter there was some-what singular. And every example is singular, and so this as an example: but it contains nothing singular which is not common to all the faithful, and such as are given unto Christ of the Father: for then we must say, Christ prayed so for Peter, as he prayed not for his people who stood in more need of his Intercession then Peter, (if the matter be weighed according to the judgement of men,) who had obtained many privileges. And if Peters faith shall persevere, because Christ prayed for him, they for whom Christ makes intercession that their faith may not fail, they shall continue in faith unto the end. If they say, this privilege was granted to Peter as an Apostle: then it was granted to all the Apostles: but this privilege was not common to Peter and Judas. ⟨p. 301⟩It remains then that it was given to him as a faithful Apostle, and so agrees to all the faithful with him. And the things which Christ asketh for his Apostles are to be distinguished: for some things are simply necessary to Salvation, as that they might be saved from evil, and sanctified by the truth; others which pertain properly to the Apostolical office. Now when Christ asketh things necessary to Salvation, he prayeth not for his Apostles as Apostles, but as faithful and beloved. For what things are asked for this or that man, as he executeth this or that office, they properly respect that office: but whatsoever things tend directly to the salvation of the Soul, are not to be reckoned amongst the things which are peculiar, but which are common.
7. Continuance in the state of grace, and strength against sin, so that the faithfull shall not finally be overcome, is the gratious and comfortable effect of Christs intercession. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith faile not, Luk 22. 32. Father I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me,