N05035:182
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.
If it be here objected, that the Apostle sometimes exhorts those that he writes to, to put off the Old-Man, and put on the New-Man, and to be renewed in the Spirit of their Minds, &c. as exhorting them to seek Conversion. I answer, that the meaning is manifestly but this, That they should mortify the Remains of Corruption or the Old Man, and turn more and more from Sin to God. Thus he exhorts the Ephesians to be renewed, &c. Eph. iv. 22. 23. whom yet he had before in the same Epistle abundantly represented as savingly renewed already; as has been before observed. And the like might be shown of other Instances.
If it be here objected, that the Apostle sometimes exhorts those that he writes to, to put off the Old-Man, and put on the New-Man, and to be renewed in the Spirit of their Minds, &c. as exhorting them to seek Conversion. I answer, that the meaning is manifestly but this, That they should mortify the Remains of Corruption or the Old Man, and turn more and more from Sin to God. Thus he exhorts the Ephesians to be renewed, &c. Eph. iv. 22. 23. whom yet he had before in the same Epistle abundantly represented as savingly renewed already; as has been before observed. And the like might be shewn of other Instances.
(7.) It is a clear Evidence, not only that it happened the greater Part of the Members of the primitive Churches were to Appearance true Christians; but that they were taken in under that Notion, and because there appeared in them Grounds of such an Estimation of them; and when any happened to be admitted that were otherwise, it was beside their Aim; In as much as when others were admitted, they are represented as brought or crept in unawares. Thus the Matter is represented by the Apostles. Jude v. 4. There are certain Men crept in unawares,—ungodly Men, turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness.