A30345:676
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 way whereby Christ enters upon his kingdom, is ever by Conquest. For though the souls of the Elect are his, given by free donation, purchased with a great price, yet his enemies have1 the first possession, which must be cast out by strong hand; and his people themselves by nature rebellious, unwise, disobedient, until they be subdued and brought into subjection. High imaginations must be abated, and proud rebellious lusts battered and beaten down, before Christ come to rule and reign in the soul. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ is made by an holy war, destruction, and desolation; wherein the King of kings fighteth against, subdueth, and bringeth under the disobedient, which formerly did rise up against him. But this wasting or desolation is not the loss of temporal life, or spoiling of corporal ⟨p. 324⟩goods, or any outward desolation which is seen with the eyes, or heard with the ears; but a most happy desolation, whereby pride and haughtiness of mind is depressed, and the mind lifted up to things above; the power of the flesh is quelled, and the Spirit doth gather strength; the edge of vices is dulled, and all kind of virtue doth bud and blossom: and where the flesh did rule, the Spirit doth rule.
The way whereby Christ enters upon his kingdome, is ever by Conquest. For though the soules of the Elect are his, given by free donation, purchased with a great price, yet his enemies have1 the first possession, which must be cast out by strong hand; and his people themselves by nature rebellious, unwise, disobedient, untill they be subdued and brought into subjection. High imaginations must be abated, and proud rebellious lusts battered and beaten downe, before Christ come to rule and reigne in the soule. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ is made by an holy warre, destruction, and desolation; wherein the King of kings fighteth against, subdueth, and bringeth under the disobedient, which formerly did rise up against him. But this wasting or desolation is not the losse of temporall life, or spoiling of corporall ⟨p. 324⟩goods, or any outward desolation which is seen with the eyes, or heard with the eares; but a most happy desolation, whereby pride and haughtinesse of minde is depressed, and the minde lifted up to things above; the power of the flesh is quelled, and the Spirit doth gather strength; the edge of vices is dulled, and all kinde of vertue doth bud and blossome: and where the flesh did rule, the Spirit doth rule.