N05035:120
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.
As a further Evidence that by the Wicked in this Psal. l. 16. is meant the same as the Ungodly or Graceless, it is to be observed, here is a pretty manifest Antithesis, or Opposition between the Wicked, and the Saints, that shall be gathered to Christ at the Day of Judgment, spoken of ver. 5. There God speaking of his coming to Judgment, says Gather my SAINTS together, those that have made a COVENANT with me by Sacrifice: And then after showing the Insufficiency of the Sacrifices of Beasts, implying that That is a greater Sacrifice by which these Saints make a COVENANT with him, it is added, But to the Wicked [that are not in the Number of my Saints] God doth say, What hast thou to do, to take my COVENANT into thy Mouth? Approving of the Covenanting of the former, but disapproving the Covenanting of the latter. As to the gathering of God's Saints, there spoken, if we consider the foregoing and following Verses, it is evidently the same with that gathering of his Elect, when Christ comes in the Clouds of Heaven, which is spoken of, Matt. xxiv. 30. 31. And with that gathering of the Righteous, as his Wheat, into his Barn, at the Day of Judgment, spoken of Matt. xiii. And therefore there is as much Reason to suppose, that by the Wicked, which are opposed to them, is meant all graceless Persons, as there is so to understand the Do•rs of Iniquity, spoken ⟨p. 41⟩of in that Matth. xiii. as those that are opposed to the Righteous, which shall then shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father, v. 43.—And there is one Thing more which still further confirms me in my Construction of Psal l. 16. Which is, That the plain Reason here given against wicked Men's taking God's Covenant into their Mouths, holds good with Respect to all graceless Men, viz. Because they don't comply with, but reject the very Covenant, which they with their Mouths profess to own and consent to. ver.17. Seeing thou hatest Instruction, & castest my Words behind thee: As much as to say, Thou rejectest and hast a reigning Enmity against my Statutes, which thou declarest and professest a Compliance with. And this is the Spirit and Practice of all who live in the Sin of Unbelief and Rejection of Christ; they live in a Way that is altogether inconsistent with the Covenant of Grace;