A30345:702
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.
If it be objected, the heart being unregenerate is utterly averse unto any good.
The answer is, that it is true, the will must not only be moved, but renewed and changed, before it can yield to Christ. But withal, God doth never so fully and spiritually convince the judgement in that manner, without a special work of grace upon the soul, whereby the will is framed and fashioned to accept, embrace, and love those good things of which the mind is thus prepossessed.
The answer is, that it is true, the will must not only be moved, but renewed and changed, before it can yeeld to Christ. But withall, God doth never so fully and spiritually convince the judgement in that manner, without a speciall work of grace upon the soule, whereby the will is framed and fashioned to accept, embrace, and love those good things of which the minde is thus prepossessed.
The third help is a formal cause, a free gracious disposition or1 habit of faith, by which the will is inclined agreeable to the disposition of it, to come unto God. This habit is necessary, because without it the will being in bondage, stained and defiled, it is altogether unable to will or desire that which is spiritually good. If there could be a will without such habit, man might perform the act of a man spiritually alive, before he was made alive. So that the full answer to this question, viz. what is that effectual help, whereby I come to God? is this: It is a mixed thing, standing partly of that almighty power of his, put forth for my good, partly of that inward Word and inspiration by and with which his power is put forth; partly in that spirit of faith and supernatural life, which his almighty power through his Word bringeth forth in my soul. What was that help whereby Christ