N05035:139
An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…
An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications requisite to a complete standing and full communion in the visible Christian church. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; With an appendix by Mr. Foxcroft. ; [Ten lines of quotations]An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications requisite to a compleat standing and full communion in the visible Christian church. By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; With an appendix by Mr. Foxcroft. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: : Printed & sold by S. Kneeland in Queenstreet, 1749
Title page typeset from the transcription.
An Inquiry into the Qualifications for full Communion in the visibl… › Part 2
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.
The same is manifest by the Parable of the ten Virgins, Matth. xxv. In the first Verse it is said, The Kingdom of Heaven [i. e. the Church of Christ] is likened unto Ten Virgins. The two Sorts of Virgins evidently represent the two Sorts of Members of the visible Church of Christ; the Wise, those who are true Christians; and the Foolish, those who are apparent, but not true Christians. The foolish Virgins were to all Appearance the Children of the Bride-Chamber; they were such as to Appearance had accepted of the Invitation to the Wedding, which represents the Invitations ⟨p. 49⟩of the Gospel, wherein the Bridegroom and Bride say, Come; they herein had testified the same Respect to the Bridegroom and Bride, that the Wise had: the Parable naturally leads us to suppose, that they were to Appearance every Way of the same Society with the Wise, pretended to be the same Sort of Persons, in like Manner interested in the Bridegroom, and that they were received by the Wise under such a Notion; they made a Profession of the very same Kind of Honour and Regard to the Bridegroom in going forth to meet him with their Lamps, as his Friends to show him Respect, and had the same Hope of enjoying the Privileges and Entertainments of the Wedding: There was a difference with Respect to Oil in their Vessels, but there was no difference with Respect to their Lamps. One Thing intended by their Lamps, as I suppose is agreed by all, is their Profession. This is the same in both; and in both it is a Profession of Grace, as a Lamp (from its known End and Use) is a Manifestation or show of Oil. Another Thing signified by the Blaze of their Lamps seems to be the Light of Hope: Their Lamps signify in general the Appearance of Grace or Godliness, including both the Appearance of it to the View or Judgment of others, and also to their own View, and the Judgment they entertain of themselves: Their Lamps shone, not only on the Eyes of others, but also in their own Eyes. This is confirmed, because on the hearing the Midnight-Cry, they find their Lamps are gone out;
The same is manifest by the Parable of the ten Virgins, Matth. xxv. In the first Verse it is said, The Kingdom of Heaven [i. e. the Church of Christ] is liken'd unto Ten Virgins. The two Sorts of Virgins evidently represent the two Sorts of Members of the visible Church of Christ; the Wise, those who are true Christians; and the Foolish, those who are apparent, but not true Christians. The foolish Virgins were to all Appearance the Children of the Bride-Chamber; they were such as to Appearance had accepted of the Invitation to the Wedding, which represents the Invitations