A89737:1252
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Without Union there can be no Communion. This necessarily pre-supposeth, that things cannot act one upon another, that do not reach one the other; they cannot give and take one from another, that do not some way meet together; yet here we must know, that the contact, or mutual touch of things, is not always Local, when their substances or Bodies do immediately touch one another, but often-times virtual only; when (notwithstanding they do not immediately touch one the other, yet) they reach one the other in their efficacy. Instances whereof we have many in Natural causes, as the Lodestone and Iron separated in place, yet act one upon another; that by ⟨p. 292⟩attracting, this by following. In Political matters, persons though distant in place one from another, yet exercise civil communion in the affairs of this life. In Spiritual things, as namely, in the Sacrament, the Body and Blood of Christ is united to the Elements virtually, that is by virtue of Divine institution, and promise, not Locally; (to deny that, were to deny the Sacrament to be a Sacrament, to say the last were to affirm Ubiquity, whether Transubstantiation with the Papists, or Consubstantiation with the Lutherans;) So here the Person of Christ, who in respect of his Body is in Heaven, and the persons of his Militant members, who in respect both of Souls and Bodies are upon the earth, are united to, and do Spiritually touch one another; I am the Vine, ye are the Branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing, Joh. 15.5.
Without Union there can be no Communion. This necessarily pre-supposeth, that things cannot act one upon another, that doe not reach one the other; they cannot give and take one from another, that doe not some way meet together; yet here we must know, that the contact, or mutual touch of things, is not alwayes Local, when their substances or Bodies doe immediatly touch one another, but often-times vertual only; when (notwithstanding they doe not immediately touch one the other, yet) they reach one the other in their efficacy. Instances whereof we have many in Natural causes, as the Loadstone and Iron separated in place, yet act one upon another; that by ⟨p. 292⟩attracting, this by following. In Political matters, persons though distant in place one from another, yet exercise civil communion in the affairs of this life. In Spiritual things, as namely, in the Sacrament, the Body and Blood of Christ is united to the Elements vertually, that is by vertue of Divine institution, and promise, not Locally; (to deny that, were to deny the Sacrament to be a Sacrament, to say the last were to affirm Ubiquity, whether Transubstantiation with the Papists, or Consubstantiation with the Lutherans;) So here the Person of Christ, who in respect of his Body is in Heaven, and the persons of his Militant members, who in respect both of Souls and Bodies are upon the earth, are united to, and doe Spiritually touch one another; I am the Vine, yee are the Branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me yee can doe nothing,