N05035:185
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.
IX. Another Evidence, that such as are taken into the Church, ought to be in the Eye of a Christian Judgment truly gracious or pious Persons, is his, that the Scripture represents the visible Church of Christ, as a Society having it's several Members united by the Bond of christian brotherly Love.
Besides that general Benevolence or Charity which the Saints have to Mankind, and which they exercise towards both the Evil and the Good in common, there is a peculiar and very distinguishing Kind of Affection, that every true Christian experiences towards those whom he looks upon as truly gracious Persons; whereby the Soul, at least at Times, is very sensibly and sweetly knit to such Persons, and there is an ineffable Oneness of Heart with them; whereby, to use the Scripture Phrase (Acts iv. 32.) They are of one Heart and one Soul: Which holy Affection is exercised towards others on Account of the spiritual Image of God in them, their supposed Relation to God as his Children, and to Christ as his Members, and to them as their spiritual Brethren in Christ. This sacred Affection is a very good & distinguishing Note of true Grace, much spoken of as such, in Scripture, under the Name of [Greek or Hebrew], The love of the Brethren, or brotherly Love; and is called by Christ, The receiving a righteous Man, in the Name of a righteous Man, and receiving one of Christ's little Ones in the Name of a Disciple, or because he belongs to Christ, (Matt.x.41, 42. Mark ix.41.) And a loving one another as Christ has loved them (Joh. xiii. 34. & xv. 13, 14, 15.) having a peculiar Image of that Oneness which is between Christ himself and his Saints. (Compare Joh. xvii. 20th to the End.)