A30345:685
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 instrument of Vocation is the Word of God, or the Gospel of Jesus Christ: I mean, the whole doctrine of the Covenant,1 and not simply the promises of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ; which is called the hearing of faith, and the word of faith, and the preaching of faith, the Gospel of Christ, the preaching of Jesus Christ, the word of reconciliation. So life and immortality is brought unto light through the Gospel: and the Apostles where-ever they came preached Jesus, who unto them that are called both Jews and Gentiles, is the power and wisdom of God. God from the beginning (saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians) hath chosen you to Salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and the faith of truth, whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the sight of misery be necessary to effectual calling, that is manifested by the Gospel: for it teacheth, that without faith it is impossible to please God; And if man stand in need of a Saviour, he is lost in himself; so the prescribing of the remedy doth discover the malady. Without hope of pardon there is no true turning unto God: but the Gospel propoundeth mercy to them that humble their souls and confess their sins. If men may be persuaded and drawn to come unto Christ, allured and enticed by fair and sweet promises, then the Gospel is the sole instrument of2 conversion: but conversion is a fair or flattering persuasion, if I may so call it. Terrors drive no man unto God of themselves, but rather from him, unless he be pleased to work by them: and gentle persuasions may prevail, if God vouchsafe to put in with them.
The instrument of Vocation is the Word of God, or the Gospell of Jesus Christ: I meane, the whole doctrine of the Covenant,1 and not simply the promises of forgivenesse and eternall life in Jesus Christ; which is called the hearing of faith, and the word of faith, and the preaching of faith, the Gospell of Christ, the preaching of Jesus Christ, the word of reconciliation. So life and immortality is brought unto light through the Gospell: and the Apostles where-ever they came preached Jesus, who unto them that are called both Jewes and Gentiles, is the power and wisdome of God. God from the beginning (saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians) hath chosen you to Salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and the faith of truth, whereunto he called you by our Gospell, to obtaine the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the sight of misery be necessary to effectuall calling, that is manifested by the Gospell: for it teacheth, that without faith it is impossible to please God; And if man stand in need of a Saviour, he is lost in himselfe; so the prescribing of the remedy doth discover the malady. Without hope of pardon there is no true turning unto God: but the Gospell propoundeth mercy to them that humble their soules and conesse their sinnes. If men may be perswaded and drawn to come unto Christ, allured and inticed by faire and sweet promises, then the Gospell is the sole instrument of