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النشر الإلكتروني

A VISIBLE CHURCH;

AND

NO INVISIBLE MEMBERS.

BY THE REV. RICHARD RYMER,

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AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF THE REV. WILLIAM JONES," &c.

Ὁ δὲ Κύριος προσετίθει τοὺς σωζομένους καθ
ἡμέραν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ.—ST. Luke.

LONDON:

HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND CO.;

SOLD ALSO BY JOHN MASON.

1861.

100684

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PREFACE.

A TREATISE on the church and church-membership has long been a desideratum in Christian literature. The history of the church has been recorded; the polity of the church has been ably discussed; "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" has been earnestly contended for; and the mission of the church has been eloquently argued. But the duty and privilege of Christian communion have not been either properly understood or duly considered; and the question, "Is it possible to be saved out of a church as well as in one?" has not been satisfactorily answered.

Impressed with these views, the author undertook to prepare a discourse on the subject; his materials grew and multiplied; the discourse became a volume; and now, at the call of numerous friends, it is published, with the earnest hope that a small contribution may not be unacceptable or unprofitable, where the means of a more liberal offering are wanting.

The argument of the work is original; and, on every question, the author has thought and reasoned for himself, as well as weighed the opinions and reasonings of others. But still some of his definitions and illustrations have often been employed in the exposition and application of the truth. Nor

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