N05035:176
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.
(3.) The Apostles, when speaking of such as they write to, viz. visible Christians, as a Society, and representing what belongs to such a Kind or Sort of Society as the visible Church is, they speak of it as visibly (i. e. in Profession and Reputation) a Society of gracious Persons. So the Apostle Peter speaks of 'em as a spiritual House, an holy and royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, a chosen or elect Generation, called out of Darkness into marvellous Light. 1. Pet. ii.—The Apostle Paul also speaks of them as the Family of God. Eph. ii. 19. And in the next Chapter he explains himself to mean that Family a Part of which is in Heaven. i. e. They were by Profession and in Visibility a Part of that heavenly and divine Family.
(4.) The Apostle Paul speaks expressly, and from Time to Time, of the Members of the Churches he wrote to, as all of them in Esteem and Visibility truly gracious Persons. Philip I. 6. Being confident of this ⟨p. 68⟩very Thing, that he which has begun a good Work in you will perform it until the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of YOU ALL (that is, all singly taken, not collectively, according to the Distinction before observed) So Gal. iv. 26. "Jerusalem which is above, which is the Mother of us ALL." Rom. vi. AS MANY OF US as have been baptized into Christ, have been baptized into his Death. Here he speaks of all that have been baptized; and in the Continuation of the Discourse, explaining what is here said, he speaks of their being dead to Sin; no longer under the Law, but under Grace; having obeyed the Form of Doctrine from the Heart, being made free from Sin and become the Servants of Righteousness, &c.