N05035:151
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.
For Persons that are known to be of an honest Character, and manifestly qualified with good doctrinal Knowledge of the Nature of true Godliness, in the more essential Things which belong to it, solemnly to profess they have or do those Things, is to make as credible a Profession of Godliness as I insist upon. And we may also well suppose, that more Words were uttered by the Professors, and with other Circumstances to render them credi•••, than are Recorded in that very brief summary History, which we have of the primitive Church in the Acts of the Apostles; and also we may yet suppose one Thing further, viz. that in that extraordinary State of Things so particular […] Profession was not requisite in order to the Church's Satisfaction, either of Doctrines assented to, or of the Consent and Disposition of the Heart, as may be expedient in a more ordinary State of Things; for various Reasons that might be given, would it not too much lengthen out this Discourse.
For Persons that are known to be of an honest Character, and manifestly qualified with good doctrinal Knowledge of the Nature of true Godliness, in the more essential Things which belong to it, solemnly to profess they have or do those Things, is to make as credible a Profession of Godliness as I insist upon. And we may also well suppose, that more Words were uttered by the Professors, and with other Circumstances to render them credi•••, than are Recorded in that very brief summary History, which we have of the primitive Church in the Acts of the Apostles; and also we may yet suppose one Thing further, viz. that in that extraordinary State of Things so particular 〈…〉 Profession was not requisite in order to the Church's Satisfaction, either of Doctrines assented to, or of the Consent and Disposition of the Heart, as may be expedient in a more ordinary State of Things; for various Reasons that might be given, would it not too much lengthen out this Discourse.
One Thing which makes it very evident, that the inspired Ministers of the primitive Christian Church looked upon saving Faith as the proper Matter of the Profession requisite in Order to Admission into the Church, is the Story of Philip and the Eunuch in