N05035:13
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.
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 can seriously declare, that an Affectation of making a Show as if I were something wiser than that excellent Person, is exceeding distant from me, and very far from having the least Influence in my appearing to oppose, in this Way of the Press, an Opinion which he so earnestly maintained & promoted. Sure I am, I have not affected to vary from his Judgment, nor in the least been governed by a Spirit of Contradiction, neither indulged a cavilling Humour, in remarking on any of his Arguments or Expressions.
I can seriously declare, that an Affectation of making a Shew as if I were something wiser than that excellent Person, is exceeding distant from me, and very far from having the least Influence in my appearing to oppose, in this Way of the Press, an Opinion which he so earnestly maintained & promoted. Sure I am, I have not affected to vary from his Judgment, nor in the least been governed by a Spirit of Contradiction, neither indulged a cavilling Humour, in remarking on any of his Arguments or Expressions.
I have formerly been of his Opinion, which I imbibed from his Books, even from my Childhood, and have in my Proceedings conformed to his Practice; tho' never without some Difficulties in my View, which I could not solve: Yet, however, a Distrust of my own Understanding, and Deference to the Authority of so venerable a Man, the seeming Strength of some of his Arguments, together with the Success he had in his Ministry, and his great Reputation & Influence, prevailed for a long Time to bear down my Scruples.—But the Difficulties and Uneasiness on my Mind increasing, as I became more studied in Divinity, & as I improved in Experience; this brought me to closer Diligence & Care to search the Scriptures, and more impartially to examine & weigh the Arguments of my Grandfather, and such other Authors as I could get on his Side of the Question. By which Means, after long searching, pondering, viewing & reviewing, I gained Satisfaction, became fully settled in the Opinion I now maintain, as in the Discourse here offered to public View; and dared to proceed no further in a Practice and Administration inconsistent there with: Which brought me into peculiar Circumstances, laying me under an inevitable Necessity publicly to declare & maintain the Opinion I was thus established in; as also to do it from the Press, and to do it at this Time without Delay. 'Tis far from a pleasing