N05035:70
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.
So again, when the Church is compared to the Husband-man's Field, we find a Distinction but of two Sorts, the Wheat and the Tares, ⟨p. 18⟩which (Naturalists observe) show or appear exactly like the Wheat, 'till it comes to bring forth its Fruit; representing, that those who are only visible Christians, have a Visibility or Appearance of the Nature of that Wheat, which shall be gathered into Christ's Barn; and that Nature is saving Grace.
So again, when the Church is compar'd to the Husband-man's Field, we find a Distinction but of two Sorts, the Wheat and the Tares, ⟨p. 18⟩which (Naturalists observe) show or appear exactly like the Wheat, 'till it comes to bring forth its Fruit; representing, that those who are only visible Christians, have a Visibility or Appearance of the Nature of that Wheat, which shall be gathered into Christ's Barn; and that Nature is saving Grace.
2. 'Tis evident, that those who had the Name of Disciples in the Times of the New-Testament, bore that Name with Reference to a Visibility and Pretence of the same Relation to Christ, which they had who should be finally •••ned as his. This is manifest by Joh. viii. 30, 31. As he spake these Words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to th•se Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Disciples indeed. (Compare Luke xiv. 25, 26, 27. and Joh. 15. 8.) The Phrase, Disciples indeed, is relative; and has Reference to a Visibility, Pretence, or Name, only, which it is set in Opposition to, & has a Reference to that Name and Visibility that those, who then bore the Name of Disciples, had; which makes it evident, that those who then bore the Name of Disciples, had a Visibility and Pretence of the same Discipleship Christ speaks of, which he calls true Discipleship, or Discipleship indeed: for true Discipleship is not properly set in Opposition to any Thing else but a Pretence to the same Thing, that is not true. The Phrase Gold indeed is in Reference and Opposition to something that has the Appearance of that same Metal, and not to an Appearance of Brass. If there were another Sort of real Discipleship in those Days, besides saving Discipleship, Persons might be Christ's Disciples indeed, or truly (as the Word in the Original is) without continuing in his Word, and without selling all that they had, & without hating Father and Mother and their own Lives, for his Sake. By this it appears, that those who bore the Name of Disciples in those Times were distinguished into but two Sorts, Disciples in Name or Visibility, and Disciples indeed; and that the Visibility and Profession of the former was of the Discipleship of the latter.