Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/247

 Rh Adam and Noah were in Covenant, is there the same reason of them and their posterity continuing in the faith, that there is of them that be strangers to the Covenant, shut up in darknesse, and never heard the sound of the Gospell for many generations together?

It seemeth sufficient to Princes (say they) to publish their Lawes in some places, at some times, though they concerne all, are for their good, and take hold of them, if they be not observed, leaving it to Parents to teach their children, and every one to enquire for his own good.

In this comparison there be divers things unlike, divers that cannot befitted to the purpose, unlesse it be in a sense contrary. For they say, Lawes once sufficiently published bind and stand in force, though unknowne, or scarcely possible to be known by some particular men now living in some remote parts of the dominions: And the plaine direct reddition is, That God having made a Covenant of grace with Adam and his posterity, all and every man is bound to beleeve in Christ, and walke in obedience, though he be ignorant of his duty, never received ability to do it, never had meanes possible to come to the knowledge of Christ: yea, though he be cast off, and left to the hardnesse of his heart. God hath commanded Parents to teach their children. Who doubts of that? But the question is, whether God hath vouchsafed sufficient means of grace to every man, which is not hereby proved, because God, when he gave his Covenant, injoyned Parents to teach their children. We grant the Lord is wanting in nothing, which either he promised, or in his eternall wisdome and justice saw meet to be done, and that such as be deprived of the means of grace be justly deprived. But we say, as experience confirmeth, that sufficient meanes of grace hath not been afforded to every man living since the fall of Adam.

In the comparison there be many things unlike. For commonwealth are one body politick, in which it is held sufficient to publish Lawes in some knowne places, and at some times, granting space and meanes that all may learne them if they will. But we speake of such as never were so much as in the outward society of the Church, nor adjoyning to them; that never heard of the Covenant of grace, they, nor many of their Ancestours, nor of a people or society professing the true Religion. So that