N05035:124
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.
I am at a Loss, how that Visibility of Saintship, which the honoured Author of the Appeal to the Learned, supposes to be all that is required in order to Admission to the Lord's Supper, can be much to God's Honour, viz. Such a Visibility as leaves Reason to believe, that the greater Part of those who have it, are Enemies to God in their Hearts, and inwardly the Servants of Sin. Such a Visibility of Religion as this, seems rather to increase a Visibility of Wickedness in the World, and so of God's Dishonour, than any Thing else; i. e. it makes more Wickedness visible to the Eye of an human Judgment, and gives Men Reason to think, there is more Wickedness in the World, than otherwise would be visible to them: Because we have Reason to think, that those who live in a Rejection of Christ, under the Light of the Gospel, and the Knowledge and common Belief of it's Doctrine, have vastly greater Sin and Guilt than other Men. And that venerable Divine himself did abundantly teach this.
Christ came into the World to engage in a War with God's Enemies, Sin and Satan; and a great War there is maintained between them; which War is concerning us; and the Contest is, who shall have the Possession of OUR HEARTS. Now 'tis reasonable, under these Circumstances, that we should declare on whose Side we are, whether on Christ's Side, or on the Side of his Enemies. If we would be admitted among Christ's Friends and Followers, 'tis reasonable, that we should profess we are on the Lord's Side, and that we yield OUR HEARTS (which the Contest is about) to him, and not to his Rivals. And this seems plainly to be the Design and Nature of a public Profession of Christ. If this Profession is not made, no Profession is made, that is worth regarding, or worth the making, in such a Case as this is, and to any such Purpose as a being admitted among his visible Friends. There is no other being on Christ's Side, in this Case, but a being so with an undivided Heart, preferring him to all his Rivals, and renouncing 'em all for his Sake. The Case admits of no Neutrality, or Luke-warmness, or a middle Sort of Persons with a moral Sincerity, or such a common Faith as is consistent with loving Sin and the World better than Christ. He that is not with me (says Christ) is against me. And therefore none do profess to be on Christ's Side, but they who profess to renounce his Rivals. For those who would be called Christians, to profess no higher Regard to Christ than