N05035:189
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.
We see how often the Apostles exhort visible Christians to exercise this Affection to all other Members of the visible Church of Christ, and how often they speak of the Members of the visible Church as actually thus united, in Places already mentioned. In 2 Cor. ix. 14. the Apostle speaks of the Members of other Churches loving the Members of the Church of Corinth, with this peculiar Endearment and Oneness of Heart, for the Grace of God in them. And by their Prayer for you, which long after you, for the exceeding Grace of God in you. The Word, translated long after, is [Greek or Hebrew]; which properly signifies to love with an exceeding & dear Love. And this is represented as the Bond, that unites all the Members of the visible Church; Act. iv. 32. And the Multitude of them that believed were of one Heart and one Soul. This is the same Thing which elsewhere is called being of one Mind: 1 Pet. iii. 8. Finally, be ye all of one Mind. And being of the same Mind: 1 Cor. i. 10. "That ye be perfectly joined together in the same Mind." And being of the same Mind, Phil. iv. 2. I beseech Evodies, and beseech Syntiche, that they be OF THE SAME MIND in the Lord. And being like-minded (the Word is the same in the Greek) Rom. xv. 5, 6. Now the God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be LIKE-MINDED one towards another; that ye may with one Mind, and one Mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: There is Reason to think, that it is this Oneness of Mind, or being of one Heart and Soul, is meant by that Charity which the Apostle calls the Bond of Perfectness, Col. iii. 14. And represents as the Bond of Union between all the Members of the Body, in Eph. iv. 15, 16. But speaking the Truth in LOVE, may grow up into him in all Things, which is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole Body FITLY JOINED TOGETHER, AND COMPACTED by that which every Joint supplieth, according to the effectual Working in the Measure of every Part, maketh Increase of the Body unto the edifying it self in LOVE.