N05035:130
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.
God is pleased to represent himself in his Word as tho' he trusted the Profession of his visible People, and as disappointed when they did not approve themselves as his faithful, steadfast and thorough Friends. Isai. lxiii. 8, 9, 10. For he said, surely they are my People, Children that will ⟨p. 45⟩not lie. So he was their Saviour: In all their […] he was afflicted. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their Enemy. The same is represented in many other Places. I suppose that God speaks after this Manner, because he in his present external Dealings with his visible People, don't act in the Capacity of the Searcher of Hearts, but accommodates himself to their Nature, and the present State and Circumstances of his Church, and speaks to them and treats them after the Manner of Men, and deals with them in their own Way. But supposing the Case to be even thus, there would be no Ground for such Representations if there were no Profession of true Godliness. When God is represented as trusting that Men will be his faithful Friends, we must understand that he trusts to their Pretences. But how improperly would the Matter be so represented, if there were no Pretences to trust to, no Pretences of any real thorough Friendship? However there may be a Profession of some common Affection that is morally Sincere, yet there is no Pretence of loving him more than, yea not so much as his Enemies. What Reason to trust that they will be faithful to God as their Master, when the Religion they profess amounts to no more than serving two Masters? What Reason to trust that they will be stable in their Ways, when they don't pretend to be of a single Heart, and all know that the double-minded Persons used to be unstable in all their Ways? Those who only profess moral Sincerity or common Grace, don't pretend to love God above the World. And such Grace is that God and Man know is liable to pass away as the early Dew and the Morning Cloud. If what Men profess amounts to nothing beyond Lukewarmness, it is not to be expected, that they will be faithful to the Death. If Men don't pretend to have any Oil in their Vessels, what Cause can there be to trust that their Lamps will not go out? If they don't pretend to have any Root in them, what Cause is there for any Disappointment when they wither away?
God is pleased to represent himself in his Word as tho' he trusted the Profession of his visible People, and as disappointed when they did not approve themselves as his faithful, stedfast and thorough Friends.