N05035:157
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.
VIII. 'Tis apparent by the Epistles of the Apostles to the primitive Christian Churches, their Manner of addressing and treating them throughout all those Epistles, and what they say to 'em and of 'em, that all those Churches were constituted of Members so qualified as has been represented, having such a Visibility of Godliness as has been insisted on; those who were reputed to be real Saints, were taken into the Church under a Notion of their being truly pious Persons, made that Profession, and had this Hope of themselves; and no natural or graceless Men were admitted designedly, but unawares, and beside the Aim of the primitive Churches and Ministers, and was done unawares; and that such as remained in good standing, and free from an offensive Behaviour, continued to have the Reputation and Esteem of real Saints, with the Apostles, and one with another.
VIII. 'Tis apparent by the Epistles of the Apostles to the primitive Christian Churches, their Manner of addressing and treating them thro'out all those Epistles, and what they say to 'em and of 'em, that all those Churches were constituted of Members so qualified as has been represented, having such a Visibility of Godliness as has been insisted on; those who were reputed to be real Saints, were taken into the Church under a Notion of their being truly pious Persons, made that Profession, and had this Hope of themselves; and no natural or graceless Men were admitted designedly, but unawares, and beside the Aim of the primitive Churches and Ministers, and was done unawares; and that such as remain'd in good standing, and free from an offensive Behaviour, continued to have the Reputation and Esteem of real Saints, with the Apostles, and one with another.
There were Numbers indeed in these Churches, who after their Admission fell into an offensive Behaviour; some of which the Apostles in their Epistles speak doubtfully of; others that had behaved themselves very scandalously, they speak of in Language that seems to suppose 'em to be wicked Men. The Apostle Paul, in his Epistles to the Corinthians, oftentimes speaks of some among them that had embraced heretical Opinions, and had behaved themselves in a very disorderly and schismatical Manner, whom he represents as exposed to Censure, and to whom he threatens Excommunication; and upon Occasion of so many Offences of this Kind appearing among them that for a while had been thought well of, he puts 'em all upon examining themselves, whether they were indeed in the Faith, and whether Christ was truly in them, as they and others had supposed,