Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/209

 Rh of sinnes in his bloud is clearly, plainly and openly propounded, offered and given to all them that by true and lively faith doe beleeve that he is Christ the Lord and Saviour, and that the Spirit of Adoption is sent into their hearts, who by firme affiance and confidence doe rest in the Redeemer, that being taught of God they stand not in need of the legall pedagogie. Surely, that doctrine concerning faith in Christ, cannot strictly be called the Gospell, which did take place, the Mosaicall worship as yet in force, and that by the approbation of Christ, those things not being fullfilled as yet, which were preached in the Gospell. For the Gospell is a message of good tidings or things past, which affect the heart with singular joy and chearefulnesse. And as the old Covenant was not promulgated without great pompe upon Mount Sinai, the people of Israel hearing and beholding, and swearing unto it, Exod. 19. 18. and 20. so it was meet that the New Testament, should be published on a solemne set day, in the assembly almost of all Nations, with great splendour and glory, as it was on the feast day of Pentecost. And before that time the doctrine concerning faith was of that sort, that men were rather called to the future Kingdome of God, then commanded to rest in the present state of things. John the Baptist put over his hearers to Christ, Joh. 1. 26, 27. Luke 3. 16. Mark 1. 7, 8. Matth. 3. 11, 12. Christ invites men to the Kingdome of Heaven, that is, the Evangelicall Government of the Church, as future at hand, but not yet present. Matth. 4.17. Mark 1.15. Nay, after he was risen from the dead, although he professe openly and plainly to his Disciples, that all power was given unto him in Heaven and earth, and he command them to preach the Gospell to every creature, Matth. 28. 18, 19. yet he gives them a charge to tarry at Jerusalem, to waite for the accomplishment of the promise concerning the solemne sending of the holy Ghost, and to be endued with power from above, Luk. 24. 49. as if they were designed before, but then to be inaugurated, and by extraordinary gifts, many hearing and beholding, openly to be approved. The dayes immediately following the death and resurrection of Christ, were the dayes of the Churches widowhood, wherein she sate (for a while) destitute and comfortlesse, and barren, having neither power to beare, nor to bring forth children. But within ten dayes after Christ, the Lord, the Bridegroome of the Church, had ascended from earth to Heaven in