N05035:53
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.
There are not properly two Sorts of Saints spoken of in Scripture: tho' the Word Saints may be said indeed to be used two Ways in Scripture, or used so as to reach two Sorts of Persons; yet the Word has not properly two Significations in the New-Testament, any more than the Word Gold has two Significations among us: The Word Gold among us is so used as to extend to several Sorts of Substances; it is true, it extends to true Gold, and also to that which only appears to be Gold, and is reputed Gold, and by that Appearance or Visibility some Things that are not real Gold obtain the Name of Gold; but this is not properly through' a Diversity in the Signification of the Word, but by a Diversity of the Application of it, through' the Imperfection of our discerning. It don't follow that there are properly two Sorts of Saints, because there are some who are not real Saints, that yet being visible or seeming Saints do by the Show and Appearance they make obtain the Name of Saints, and are reputed Saints, and whom by the Rules of Scripture (which are accommodated to our imperfect State) we are directed to receive and treat as Saints; any more than it follows that there are two Sorts of honest Men, become some who are not truly honest Men, yet being so seemingly or visibly, do obtain the Name of honest Men, and ought to be treated by us as such. So there are not properly two distinct Churches of Christ, one the real, and another the visible; tho' they that are visibly or seemingly of the one only Church of Christ, are many more than they who are really of his Church; and so the visible or seeming Church is of larger Extent than the real.
There are not properly two Sorts of Saints spoken of in Scripture: tho' the Word Saints may be said indeed to be used two Ways in Scripture, or used so as to reach two Sorts of Persons; yet the Word has not properly two Significations in the New-Testament, any more than the Word Gold has two Significations among us: The Word Gold among us is so used as to extend to several Sorts of Substances; it is true, it extends to true Gold, and also to that which only appears to be Gold, and is reputed Gold, and by that Appearance or Visibility some Things that are not real Gold obtain the Name of Gold; but this is not properly thro' a Diversity in the Signification of the Word, but by a Diversity of the Application of it, thro' the Imperfection of our discerning. It don't follow that there are properly two Sorts of Saints, because there are some who are not real Saints, that yet being visible or seeming Saints do by the Shew and Appearance they make obtain the Name of Saints, and are reputed Saints, and whom by the Rules of Scripture (which are accommodated to our imperfect State) we are directed to receive and treat as Saints; any more than it follows that there are two Sorts of honest Men, become some who are not truly honest Men, yet being so seemingly or visibly, do obtain the Name of honest Men, and ought to be treated by us as such. So there are not properly two distinct Churches of Christ, one the real, and another the visible; tho' they that are visibly or seemingly of the one only Church of Christ, are many more than they who are really of his Church; and so the visible or seeming Church is of larger Extent than the real.