A30345:66
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.
Obedience is two-fold, perfect in measure and degree, this is so far required, that if it be not performed, we must acknowledge our sin in coming short: And this God is pleased to exact at our hands, that we might walk in humility before him, strive after perfection, and freely acknowledge his rich grace and mercy in accepting and rewarding the best service we can tender unto his Highness, when in the Court of Justice it deserveth to be rejected. 2. Sincere, uniform and constant, though imperfect in measure and degree, and this is so necessary, that without it there is no Salvation to be expected. The Covenant of Grace calleth for perfection, accepteth sincerity, God in mercy pardoning ⟨p. 21⟩the imperfections of our best performances. If perfection was rigidly exacted, no flesh could be saved: if not at all commanded, imperfection should not be sin, nor perfection to be laboured after. The faith that is lively to embrace mercy is ever conjoined with an unfeigned purpose to walk in all well pleasing, and the sincere performance of all holy obedience, as opportunity is offered, doth ever attend that faith, whereby we continually lay hold upon the promises once embraced. Actual good works of all sorts (though not perfect in degree) are necessary to the continuance of actual justification, because faith can no longer lay faithful claim to the promises of life, then it doth virtually or actually lead us forward in the way to Heaven. For if we say, we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, 1 Joh. 1. 6, 7. This walking in the light, as he is in the light, is that qualification, whereby we become immediately capable of Christs righteousness, or actual participants of his propitiation, which is the sole immediate cause of our justification, taken for remission of sins, or actual approbation with God. The truth of which Doctrine St John likewise ratifies in terms equivalent, in the words presently following: And the blood of 1Christ cleanseth us, (walking in the light as God is in the light) from all sin. But of these things more largely in the several degrees how this Covenant hath been revealed.
Obedience is two-fold, perfect in measure and degree, this is so farre required, that if it be not performed, we must acknowledge our sinne in comming short: And this God is pleased to exact at our hands, that we might walke in humility before him, strive after perfection, and freely acknowledge his rich grace and mercy in accepting and rewarding the best service we can tender unto his Highnesse, when in the Court of Iustice it deserveth to be rejected. 2. Sincere, uniforme and constant, though imperfect in measure and degree, and this is so necessary, that without it there is no Salvation to be expected. The Covenant of Grace calleth for perfection, accepteth sincerity, God in mercy pardoning