N05035:126
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.
and for Minist••• and Churches openly to establish such a Kind of Profession of Christ […] Part of his public Service, which don't imply a Pretence of any more than Luke-warmness, is (I fear) to make a mere Sham of a solemn public Profession of Christianity, and seems to be wholly without Warrant from the Word of God, and greatly to God's Dishonour.
and for Minist••• and Churches openly to establish such a Kind of Profession of Christ 〈…〉 Part of his publick Service, which don't imply a Pretence of any more than Luke-warmness, is (I fear) to make a meer Sham of a solemn publick Profession of Christianity, and seems to be wholly without Wa••ant from the Word of God, and greatly to God's Dishonour.
It can't be justly here pretended, as a Reason why the Opinion concerning Doctrines should be professed, and not Friendship or Respect of Heart, that the former is more easily discerned and known by us, than the latter. For tho' it be true, that Men may be at a Loss concerning the latter, yet it's as true they may be so concerning the former too. They may be at a Loss in many Cases concerning the Fullness of the Determination of their own Inclination and Choice; and so they may concerning the Fullness of the Determination of their Judgment. I know of nothing in human Nature that hinders the Acts of Men's Wills being properly subject to their own Consciousness, any more than the Acts, of their Judgment; nor of any Reason to suppose that Men mayn't discern their own Consent, as well as their Assent. The Scripture plainly supposes gracious Dispositions and Acts to be Things properly under the Eye of Conscience. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Know ye not your own selves? Joh. xxi. 15. Simon Son of Jonah, lovest thou me? and many other Places. Nor is the Nature of Godliness less made known, than the true Doctrines of Religion. Piety of Heart, in the more essential Things belonging to it, is as clearly revealed, as the Doctrines concerning the Nature of God, the Person of the Messiah, and the Method of his Redemption.