A30345:84
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
A TREATISE OF THE Covenant of GRACE. › Chapter 4: Of the Covenant of Promise.
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, that the cause is before the effect, and therefore the incarnation and death of Christ must go before the communication of the fruit and benefit thereof unto the Fathers.
If it be objected, that the cause is before the effect, and therefore the incarnation and death of Christ must goe before the communication of the fruit and benefit thereof unto the Fathers.
The answer is, That in natural causes the Proposition holds true, but in moral causes the effect may be before the cause: and so the fruit and virtue of Christs death was communicated to the Fathers before his Incarnation. But although the Son of God before he was manifested in the flesh, was our Mediator with God (to whom future things are present) because he should be, and therefore for his sake sins were remitted, men did teach and learn by his Spirit, the Church was governed by him: yet the manner and reason of that Mediation was proposed more obscurely, the force and efficacy of it was less, and did redound to fewer. The Covenant of Promise then was that Covenant which God made with Adam, the Fathers and all Israel in Jesus Christ to be incarnate, crucified and raised from the dead: And it may be described the Covenant, whereby God of his mere grace and mercy in Jesus Christ to be exhibited in the fullness of time, did promise forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption and eternal life, unto man in himself considered a most wretched and miserable sinner, if he should embrace and accept this mercy promised, and walk before God in sincere obedience. God the Father of his mere and free grace and mercy looking upon man in Jesus1 Christ, in whom he is reconciled, is the Author and cause of this Covenant. He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his ⟨p. 29⟩mercy, as he spake to our Fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, your Fathers dwelt on 2