An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…

This Matter is confirmed by that parallel Representation that Christ gives us in Luke xiii. 25.—29. of his final Disposal of the two different Sorts of Persons that are in the Kingdom or Church of God; viz. those who shall be allowed in his Church or Kingdom when it comes to its State of Glory, and those who, tho' they have visibly been in it, shall be thrust out of it. 'Tis represented of the latter, that they shall then come and claim Relation and Interest, and cry, Lord, Lord, open to us; and Christ shall answer, and say, I know you not whence you are. As much as to say "Why do you claim Relation and Acquaintance with me? You are Strangers to me, I don't own you." Then (it is said) They shall begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy Presence, and thou hast taught in our Streets. As much as to say, "This is a strange Thing, that thou dost not own us! We are exceedingly surprised, that thou shouldst account us as Strangers that have no Part in thee, when we have eaten and drank in thy Presence, &c."—And when he shall finally insist upon it, that he don't own them and will have nothing to do with them as his, then there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth; then they shall be filled with dismal Disappointment, Confusion and Despair, when they shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, with whom they expected to dwell forever there, and they themselves thrust out. By this it is evident, that those visible Members of the Kingdom of God, that hereafter shall be cast out of it, are such as look upon themselves now interested in Christ and the eternal Blessings of his Kingdom, and make that Profession.

This Matter is confirmed by that parallel Representation that Christ gives us in Luke xiii. 25.—29. of his final Disposal of the two different Sorts of Persons that are in the Kingdom or Church of God; viz. those who shall be allowed in his Church or Kingdom when it comes to its State of Glory, and those who, tho' they have visibly been in it, shall be thrust out of it. 'Tis represented of the latter, that they shall then come and claim Relation and Interest, and cry, Lord, Lord, open to us; and Christ shall answer, and say, I know you not whence you are. As much as to say "Why do you claim Relation and Acquaintance with me? You are Strangers to me, I don't own you." Then (it is said) They shall begin to say, We have eaten and drank in thy Presence, and thou hast taught in our Streets. As much as to say, "This is a strange Thing, that thou dost not own us! We are exceedingly surprized, that thou shouldst account us as Strangers that have no Part in thee, when we have eaten and drank in thy Presence, &c."—And when he shall finally insist upon it, that he don't own them and will have nothing to do with them as his, then there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth; then they shall be fill'd with dismal Disappointment, Confusion and Despair, when they shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, with whom they expected to dwell forever there, and they themselves thrust out. By this it is evident, that those visible Members of the Kingdom of God, that hereafter shall be cast out of it, are such as look upon themselves now interested in Christ and the eternal Blessings of his Kingdom, and make that Profession.