N05035:60
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.
The Apostle speaks of the Members of the Christian Church, as those that made a Profession of Godliness. 2 Cor. ix. 13. They glorified God for your professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ. 1 Tim. ii. 10. In like Manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel,—not with costly Array; but, which becometh Women professing Godliness, with good Works. The Apostle is speaking of the Women that were Members of that great Church of Ephesus, which Timothy for the present had the Care of; and he speaks of them as supposing that they all professed Godliness. By the Allowance of all, Profession is one Thing belonging to the Visibility of Christianity or Holiness, that there is in the Members of the visible Church. Visible Holiness is an Appearance or Exhibition of Holiness, by those Things which are external, and so fall under our Notice and Observation. And these are two, viz. Profession, and an outward Behaviour, agreeable to that Profession. That Profession which belongs to visible Saintship, must be a Profession of Godliness, or real Saintship; for a Profession makes nothing visible, beyond what is professed. What is it, to be a Saint by Profession, but to be by Profession a true Saint? For to be by Profession a false Saint, is to be by Profession no Saint; and only to profess that, which if never so true, is nothing peculiar to a Saint, is not to be a professing Saint.
The Apostle speaks of the Members of the Christian Church, as those that made a Profession of Godliness. 2 Cor. ix. 13. They glorified God for your professed Subjection to the Gospel of Christ. 1 Tim. ii. 10. In like Manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel,—not with costly Array; but, which becometh Women professing Godliness, with good Works. The Apostle is speaking of the Women that were Members of that great Church of Ephesus, which Timothy for the present had the Care of; and he speaks of them as supposing that they all profess'd Godliness. By the Allowance of all, Profession is one Thing belonging to the Visibility of Christanity or Holiness, that there is in the Members of the visible Church. Visible Holiness is an Appearance or Exhibition of Holiness, by those Things which are external, and so fall under our Notice and Observation. And these are two, viz. Profession, and an outward Behaviour, agreable to that Profession. That Profession which belongs to visible Saintship, must be a Profession of Godliness, or real Saintship; for a Profession makes nothing visible, beyond what is professed. What is it, to be a Saint by Profession, but to be by Profession a true Saint? For to be by Profession a false Saint, is to be by Profession no Saint; and only to profess that, which if never so true, is nothing peculiar to a Saint, is not to be a professing Saint.