A30345:656
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 second thing implied in Christs sitting at the right hand of the Father is to be admitted into divine blessedness, setledly to enjoy it. Christ as God ever had, and could not but have that essential beatitude: and that blessedness which he receiveth as man is not to have end. The good that is in an intellectual nature is of two sorts: the one of virtue, the other of sweet, joyful and pleasing delight: And though both these concur sometimes, as in the fruition of God in heaven, wherein the perfection of virtue, and fullness of joy and delight do meet together: yea and though every thing that is virtuous be delightful, yet it is not so much the height of virtue, as of delight, that is judged happiness. Now our Saviour Christ was joined to God by the affection of virtue or justice, and1 could not be divided or separated from him, no not for a moment, because he could not but love him, fear him, trust in him; but by the affection that see•eth pleasing content in enjoying those ineffable delights and pleasures that are found in God our Saviour as man might, and was for a time divided from God. Moreover our Saviour Christ in his life time here on earth, so restrained and kept within the closet of his secret Spirit, the happiness that he enjoyed in seeing God, that it should not spread farther, nor communicate it self to the inferior faculties of his soul, or impart the brightness of it to the body, but it was subject to misery and passion. The godly in this life do taste not only some hope of heavenly life, but the first fruits of this heavenly joy. The Church and every Saint is heaven: the soul of the righteous is heaven. Our Saviour was both viator and comprehensor, blessed in this life, with that blessedness, which is not to be had but in heaven: but now our Saviour advanced on the right hand ⟨p. 214⟩of God, is admitted into that incomprehensible, glorious, settled blessedness, never to suffer the least eclipse for one moment, which doth communicate it self to2 all powers of soul and body, that it is and shall remain for ever incorruptible, impatible, immortal, increased with strength and nimbleness, shining with brightness and glory celestial and divine.
The second thing implied in Christs sitting at the right hand of the Father is to be admitted into divine blessednesse, setledly to enjoy it. Christ as God ever had, and could not but have that essentiall beatitude: and that blessednesse which he receiveth as man is not to have end. The good that is in an intellectuall nature is of two sorts: the one of vertue, the other of sweet, joyfull and pleasing delight: And though both these concurre sometimes, as in the fruition of God in heaven, wherein the perfection of vertue, and fulnesse of joy and delight doe meet together: yea and though every thing that is vertuous be delightfull, yet it is not so much the height of vertue, as of delight, that is judged happinesse. Now our Saviour Christ was joyned to God by the affection of vertue or justice, and