N05035:105
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.
For Persons merely to promise, that they will believe in Christ, or that they will hereafter comply with the Conditions and Duties of the Covenant of Grace, is not to own that Covenant. Such Persons don't profess now to enter into the Covenant of Grace with Christ, or into the Relation of that Covenant to Christ. All that they do at present, is only a speaking fair; They say, they will do it hereafter; they profess, that they 'will hereafter obey that Command of God, to believe on the Name of his son Jesus Christ. But what is such a Profession good for, an• what Credit is to be given to such Promises of future Obedience; when at the same Time they pretend no other at present than to live and continue in Rebellion against those great Commands which give no Allowance or Licence for Delay? They who do thus, instead of properly owning the Covenant, do rather for the present visibly reject it. 'Tis not unusual, in some Churches, where the Doctrine I oppose has been established, for Persons at the same Time that they come into the Church, and pretend to own the Covenant, freely to declare to their Neighbours, they have no Imagination that they have any true Faith in Christ or Love to him. Such Persons instead of being professedly united to Christ, in the Union of the Covenant of Grace, are rather visibly destitute of the Love of Christ; and so, instead of being qualified for Admission to the Lord's Supper, are rather exposed to that Denunciation of the Apostle, •Cor. xvi. 22. If any Man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran atha.
For Persons meerly to promise, that they will believe in Christ, or that they will hereafter comply with the Conditions and Duties of the Covenant of Grace, is not to own that Covenant. Such Persons don't profess now to enter into the Covenant of Grace with Christ, or into the Relation of that Covenant to Christ. All that they do at present, is only a speaking fair; They say, they will do it hereafter; they profess, that they 'will hereafter obey that Command of God, to believe on the Name of his son Jesus Christ. But what is such a Profession good for, an• what Credit is to be given to such Promises of future Obedience; when at the same Time they pretend no other at present than to live and continue in Rebellion against those great Commands which give no Allowance or Licence for Delay? They who do thus, instead of properly owning the Covenant, do rather for the present visibly reject it. 'Tis not unusual, in some Churches, where the Doctrine I oppose has been established, for Persons at the same Time that they come into the Church, and pretend to own the Covenant, freely to declare to their Neighbours, they have no Imagination that they have any true Faith in Christ or Love to him. Such Persons instead of being professedly united to Christ, in the Union of the Covenant of Grace, are rather visibly destitute of the Love of Christ; and so, instead of being qualified for Admission to the Lord's Supper, are rather exposed to that Denunciation of the Apostle, Cor. xvi. 22. If any Man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran atha.