A30345:706
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.
It may be questioned, in what order doth the Spirit make us come unto God, whether immediately, or by some preparation going before? wherein it is further to be considered, what that preparation is, or wherein it consisteth?
To the first branch of the Question it is truly answered, that God doth use so to work our coming to him by belief, that he doth first, for the most part prepare us thereunto. As before we engraft a Scion we cut it and set it for incision: and if a Timber log lie sunk in mud, men set to their tacklings, first to draw it out of the mire, before they lay it on a Cart to carry it away. Thus God doth by his power often work some preparative change in a sinner, before he doth by his power and word work the spirit of faith in them, and make them come unto him. So God by afflictions is said to bore the ear, and prepare to conversion.1 When Manasseh was humbled in great misery, he sought the Lord. Thus by conviction of sin, others were pricked in heart, and said, What shall we do to be saved? and then speedily they received the Gospel believing. Sometimes by extraordinary terrors rising from external accidents, yea hidden natural causes, God is pleased to bring men nearer unto him. Thus the Jailer2 was prepared to receive the Gospel by the shaking of the Castle, and that fear he fell into, supposing the prisoners had been fled. And Paul himself by an extraordinary vision was brought to3 great astonishment. Sometimes by restraining grace or common gifts, which make men for degree nearer, that is, in their kind and state not so much removed, as others in the same kind and state with them: God doth prepare men thus: Christ said to the young man, who was nigh and unconverted, Thou art not far 4from the Kingdom of God. Nay God may by giving a man up to the height of some sin, or sins, prepare him to conversion; as Paul and Manasseh, the one left to persecuting, the other to those horrible out-rages. And God in wisdom knew it best for Peter, to give him up to be tempted of Satan and left to himself to deny his Master, for the curing of his self-confidence. Physicians by ripening diseases make way to cure them; for sick matter is never more easily brought away, then when in ripeness and quantity it exceedeth.