N05035:16
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 have been brought to this Necessity in divine Providence, by such a Situation of Affairs & Coincidence of Circumstances and Events, as I choose at present to be silent about; and which it is not needful, nor perhaps expedient for me to publish to the World.
I have been brought to this Necessity in divine Providence, by such a Situation of Affairs & Coincidence of Circumstances and Events, as I chuse at present to be silent about; and which it is not needful, nor perhaps expedient for me to publish to the World.
One Thing among others that caused me to go about this Business with so much Backwardness, was the Fear of a bad Improvement some ill-minded People might be ready, at this Day, to make of the Doctrine here defended: particularly that wild enthusiastical Sort of People, who have of late gone into unjustifiable Separations, even renouncing the Ministers & Churches of the Land in general, under Pretence of setting up a pure Church. 'Tis well known, that I have heretofore publicly remonstrated, both from the Pulpit and Press, against very many of the Notions and Practices of this Kind of People: and shall be very sorry if what I now offer to the Public, should be any Occasion of their encouraging or strengthening themselves in those Notions and Practices of theirs. To prevent which, I would now take Occasion to declare, I am still of the same Mind concerning them, that I have formerly manifested. I have the same Opinion concerning the Religion and inward Experiences chiefly in Vogue among them, as I had when I wrote my Treatise on ⟨p. v⟩religious Affections, and when I wrote my Observations and Reflections on Mr.Brainerd's Life. I have no better Opinion of their Notion of a pure Church by Means of a Spirit of discerning, their censorious Outcries against the standing Ministers & Churches in general, their Lay-Ordinations, their Lay-Preachings, and public Exhortings, and administering Sacraments; their assuming, self-confident, contentious, uncharitable separating Spirit; their going about the Country, as sent by the Lord, to make Proselytes; with their many other extravagant and wicked Ways. My holding the Doctrine that is defended in this Discourse, is no Argument of any Change of my Opinion concerning them; for when I wrote those two Books before mentioned, I was of the same Mind concerning the Qualifications of Communicants at the Lord's Table, that I am of now.