A30345:693
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 plentiful pouring forth of the holy Spirit was differed until the glorification of Christ, and he being glorified, it was to be differed no longer. Christ being exalted at the right hand of the Father, he obtained the promised Spirit above measure, and poured it forth in such plentiful measure, as had not formerly been bestowed upon the Church, so that then was fulfilled what was foretold by the Prophet Joel, I will pour my Spirit upon all flesh. That Spirit is the Spirit of the Father alone, and of Christ, and will plead the cause of none but of Christ, in all this age of the world, as the Advocate of Christ against the world: He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and shall show it unto you. So that after the Apostles there shall be no new inspiration necessary to Salvation, unless we shall say, there shall be another Christ, or another Comforter. The Apostles in respect of their office were able Ministers of the new Testament, of the Spirit, not of the letter, of righteousness, and not of condemnation: Able Ministers furnished with sufficient gifts, and so with sufficient knowledge: of the Testament, which is not to be abrogated, whereunto nothing must be added: of the new Testament, which shall not be antiquated, or disannulled: Of the Spirit, and by inspiration taught those things, ⟨p. 331⟩which agree to the most perfect and spiritual: and of righteousness, which is the last, immediately conjoined with life eternal.
The plentifull powring forth of the holy Spirit was differed untill the glorification of Christ, and he being glorified, it was to be differed no longer. Christ being exalted at the right hand of the Father, he obtained the promised Spirit above measure, and powred it forth in such plentifull measure, as had not formerly been bestowed upon the Church, so that then was fulfilled what was foretold by the Prophet Joel, I will powre my Spirit upon all flesh. That Spirit is the Spirit of the Father alone, and of Christ, and will pleade the cause of none but of Christ, in all this age of the world, as the Advocate of Christ against the world: He shall not speake of himselfe, but whatsoever he shall heare, that shall he speake, and shall shew it unto you. So that after the Apostles there shall be no new inspiration necessary to Salvation, unlesse we shall say, there shall be another Christ, or another Comforter. The Apostles in respect of their office were able Ministers of the new Testament, of the Spirit, not of the letter, of righteousnesse, and not of condemnation: Able Ministers furnished with sufficient gifts, and so with sufficient knowledge: of the Testament, which is not to be abrogated, whereunto nothing must be added: of the new Testament, which shall not be antiquated, or disanlled: Of the Spirit, and by inspiration taught those things,