A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace
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:
Together with many other Points, both doctrinally and practically profitable, are solidly handled.
By that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, and Minister of the Gospel, J o h n B a l l.
Published by S i m e o n A s h.
I the Lord have called thee in righteousnesse, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. Isai. 42. 6.
But ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to Jesus the Mediatour of the new Covenant, and to the bloud of sprinkling, that speaketh better things then that of Abel. Heb. 12. 22, 24.
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his Covenant. Psal. 25. 14.
LONDON,
To the Christian Reader.
Good Reader,
WE doe not conceive it necessary, to give credit unto the ensuing Treatise by our Testimony, seeing the learned, and holy works of the Reverend Authour doe abundantly praise him in the gate. His Catechisme, with the exposition thereof; his Treatise of the life of Faith, together with other Books more lately published, tending to reconcile the differences of these times, doe sufficiently witnesse to the world, both his great abilities and Pietie. And if God had been pleased to lengthen his life, we believe, he might have been very serviceable, in seeking to reconcile our present sad differences about Church-Government, because (as we understand) he had thorowly studied all those Controversies. But seeing the Lord hath deprived us of his help in that kinde, we are right glad, that the Church shall have the benefit of any labours, which he hath left for publike use, and in speciall of this subject (the Covenant of Grace) so needfull and profitable. And that acquaintance which we had with this faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, doth incline us with all willingnesse, to give our approbation of this piece, although our manifold imployments have not suffered us to peruse it, so exactly, as otherwise we should have done.
We shall desire, that by thy faithfull improvement hereof, thy knowledge of the fœderall transactions betwixt God and his people, through Jesus Christ, may be much augmented, unto his honour, and thine everlasting happinesse, in him, in whom we are,
Thy faithfull Friends,
| Edward Reynolds. | Thomas Hill. | |
| Daniel Cawdrey. | Anthony Burgess. | |
| Edmond Calamy. |
To the Reader.
Good Reader,
THe worthy Authour of this Treatise (who was my very dear and much honoured friend) bequeathed unto me, as a legacie of his love, this, with the rest of his Manuscripts. This piece he prepared for the Presse, purposing the enlargement of it, if the Lord had continued his life and health: and I am confident, it would have come abroad better polished; if he having compleated it, had then survayed the whole fabrick, when set together. Although at the first I was unsatisfied in mine own thoughts, whether I should adventure the printing of it, because imperfect, yet upon the importunity of Friends, being incouraged by the judgement of some Reverend Divines, who had perused it, I have now made it publike, without any addition, diminution, or alteration. The subject of the book is excellent, profitable and necessary; even, the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,Col. 1.26. but now is made manifest to the Saints. That blessed Apostle, who experimentally understood the utmost worth of humane learning, did yet contemne it, in comparison of that knowledge which is taught in this Treatise. I determined not 1 Cor. 2.2.(saith he) to know any thing among you (among you, knowing Corinthians,) save Jesus Christ. Yea, doubtlesse, I count all things but losse,Phil. 3.8. for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Oh how incomparably sweet and satisfying is it unto a self-studying Christian soul, to be acquainted with the faithfull engagements of the Almighty Majestie, unto the poor penitent sinner, through that Son of his loves, in a Covenant of free, rich, everlasting grace! This Covenant being transacted betwixt Christ and God, here, here lyes the first and most firm foundation of a Christians comfort. I will give thee for a Covenant of the people,Isai. 49.8. and will establish the earth, &c. All the promises of God in him are Yea, 2 Cor. 1.20.and in him Amen, to the glory of God. Therefore the Servants of the most High (notwithstanding their own changeablenesse and unworthinesse) may hold up their hearts and hopes to enjoy all Gospell-Prerogatives through him, because God hath said, Isai. 55.1,3.I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. The right understanding and the fruitfull improvement hereof, will be seasonably supporting and solacing to Gods people in these dolefull distracted times. We have, through Gods mercy, a glorious work, the work of Church-Reformation under hand, now, though difficulties, delayes, and oppositions, doe cast discouragements upon our hearts, yet from hence, we have heartning. The mountains shall depart, Isai. 54.10.11.12.and the hils be removed, but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Oh thou afflicted, and tossed with tempests, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with faire colours, and lay the foundations with Saphires, &c. And when bloudy oppressours prevail and prosper, we may thus plead with our God, Psal. 74.20. Have respect unto the Covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. For the tenour of the Covenant which God makes with Christ and his spirituall seed, runs thus, Psal. 89.31,32.If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments: Then will I visite their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him: nor suffer my faithfulnesse to fail. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, &c., And, Zech. 9.11.As for thee also, by the bloud of the Covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. How pretious beyond all expressions are the treasures of Gods love in the Covenant of Promise! These mines are digged up and discovered in this discourse, many obscure Scriptures, full of rich Gospell-Grace are here interpreted from the originall languages, and by a judicious comparing of one place with another. The book (I believe) will commend it self unto the considerate Reader: and because so many godly, learned, well-approved brethren, have been pleased to honour it with their attestation, therefore my further testimony would be altogether needless and unseasonable. If the phrase of speech seeme sometimes knotty and unusuall, I desire that serious attention may take off that discouragement. A little diligence doth often conquer great-appearing difficulties, and love of truth will make laborious in searching after the knowledge of it. The Lord direct and prosper thy perusall of this Treatise, that thereby thy soul may be edified in grace and comfort, through the accomplishment of his glorious Promises in the Lord our Saviour, in whom, and for whom, I will endeavour to approve my self,
Thy faithfull Friend and Servant,
June 12.
1645.
Simeon Ash.
The Contents of the severall Chapters.
Of the first part.
| 1. | Of the significations of the word Covenant. | pag. 1. |
| 2. | Of the Cov. God made with man in the state of Innocency. | p. 6. |
| 3. | Of the Covenant of grace in generall. | p. 14. |
| 4. | Of the Covenant of promise. | p. 27. |
| 5. | Of the Covenant of promise made with Adam immediately upon his fall. | p. 36. |
| 6. | Of the Covenant of grace, as it was made and manifested to Abraham. | p. 47. |
| 7. | Of the Covenant of grace under Moses till the returne of Israel from the Babylonish captivity. | p. 92. |
| 8. | A particular explication of the Covenant, that God made with Israel and what Moses brought to the further expressure of the Covenant of grace. | p. 122. |
| 9. | Of the Covenant that God made with David. | p. 143. |
| 10. | Of the Covenant that God made with Israell after the Babylonish captivity. | p. 156. |
| 11. | Of Truth and uprightnesse. | p. 166. |
The second part
| 1. | Of the New Testament, or Covenant, and how God hath revealed himselfe herein. | p. 194. |
| 2. | Christ the Mediatour of the New Testament, for whom he dyed and rose againe. | p. 203. |
| 3. | How Christ hath fulfilled the office of Mediatour, or how he is the Mediatour of the New Testament. | p. 264. |
| 4. | How Christ doth bring his people into Covenant, or fellowship with himselfe. | p. 323. |
| 5. | How Christians answer to the call of Christ, and so come to have Fellowship with him. | p. 345. |
Errata
| Pag. 1. | l. 1. marg. | ברית |
| p. 12. | l. 23 | r. how that faith which the exact justice in the Covenant of nature presupposeth |
| p. 16. | l penult. | r. with Christ. |
| p. 37. | marg. | τρίβοι αἰώνιοι |
| & post. | αἰσχυνή | |
| p. 41. | l. ult. | dele is. |
| p. 54. | mar. | ἤκην ὑλώδης. |
| p. 56. | marg. | parvo nesciat. |
| p. 70. | l. 26. | r. challenge that. |
| p. 73. | lin penult. | אחר |
| p. 143. | lin. ult. | ὕψωσας. |
| p. 204. | l. 30. | positions. |
| p. 258. | lin. ult. | and then |
| p. 262. | l. 1. | believe not. |
| p. 268. | l. 5. | dele as. |
| p. 278. | l. 11. | surrogation. |
| p. 279. | l. 23. | כפר |
| p. 280. | l. 35. | dele which is penall only, not sinfull. |
| p. 287. | l. 4. | ἀντίψυχος. |
| p. 290. | l. 30. | payeth. |
| p. 301. | l. 13. | never. |
| p. 309. | mar. | ὑψηλὰ, ὑψίστοις, &c. |
| p. 317. | l. 20. | the former by reall union, that is. |
| p. 320. | l. 2. | or which are. |
| l. 3. | are the works. | |
| p. 330. | l. 19. | deferred, |
| l. 21. | deferred no longer. | |
| p. 149. | l. 1. | 2 Sam. 23. 5. |
This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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