Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/88

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fitly and in comely order or proportion. Heb. 10. 5. and 11. 3. Rom. 9. 22. to fulfill or furnish. Act. 21. 5. Luke 6. 40. and to perfect and joyne or bind fast together. 1 Cor. 1. 10.   2 Cor. 13. 11.   1 Thess. 3. 10.   1 Pet. 5. 10. Ephes. 4. 11, 12. The LXX. use this word to give the signification of two others that signifie to uphold or underprop and make equall, תמךְPsal. 17. 5. שוהPsal. 18. 34. The second signifieth whole or intire. 1 Thess. 5. 23. James 1. 4. The third perfect, Ephes. 4. 12. James 1. 4, 5.   1 Joh. 4. 17, 18. But all these in use import the same thing for substance. A thing is said to be perfect three wayes. 1. That is perfect which is Animalia nascuntur τελέια.
Arist. Hist.
Ani. l. 7.ca.8.
Psal. 139.16.
Lev. 22.21.
Mal. 1.14.
Exod. 12.5.intire in all integrall parts, firmely knit together, faculties and functions; when there is in all the parts of Sanctification something: as lively creatures are brought forth perfect, Infants compleat in all their parts and members are perfect. In this sense perfect is opposed to that which is divided, imperfect, maimed; as an Embryon not yet fashioned in the wombe is opposed to a perfect Infant; Pharisaicall love as partiall, lame and maimed, extending it selfe to them that loved them only, is opposed to perfect love, which stretcheth it selfe to friend and foe. Matth. 5. 47, 48. an intire heart is opposed to an heart and an heart, a double heart that makes a major part against it selfe. לב שלם
ψυχη μία1 Chron. 12. 33, 38. For in that which is intire, all things doe mutually answer one another, doe conspire into one: that is not intire which dissents from it selfe, is not one and whole, or in which there is division and disagreement. Thus Christians sanctified by the Spirit of grace 1 Thess. 5.23
1 Chron. 28.9.in every power of the soule, the seeds of all vertues being ingrafted in them, and firmely compact and knit together, so that freely, willingly, and upon advised deliberation they cleave unto the Lord, and without partiality or willing neglect move to all duties of Piety, Justice and Mercy, are said to be perfect, though they be not freed from manifold infirmities, no grace of the Spirit in them be come to perfect growth. An intire, holy, blamelesse conversation, directed according to the will of God in every place, state, and condition of life, is said to be perfect. Blessed are the perfect in the way. Psal. 119. 1. Keepe thy servant from presumptuous sinnes, then shall I be perfect. Psal. 19. 13. I was also perfect before him, and I kept my selfe from mine iniquity. Psal. 18. 23. It is recorded of Asa, that his heart was perfect with the Lord all his dayes, though in the same booke many infirmities are noted in him.1 King.