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

The Apostles continually in their Epistles speak to them and of them as supposing and judging them to be gracious Persons. Thus the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Church of the ROMANS, Chap. i. 7. speaks of the Members of that Church as beloved of God. In Chap. vi. 17, 18, &c. He thanks God, that they had obeyed from the Heart that Form of Doctrine which had been delivered them, and were made free from Sin, and become the Servants of Righteousness, &c. The Apostle in giving Thanks to God for this, must not only have a Kind of negative Charity for them, as not knowing but that they were gracious Persons, and so charitably hoping (as we say) that it was so; but he seems to have formed a positive Judgment that they were such: his Thanksgiving must at least be founded on rational Probability; since it would be but mocking of God, to give him Thanks for bestowing a Mercy which at the same Time he did not see Reason positively to believe was bestowed. In Chap. vii. 4, 5, 6. the Apostle speaks of them as those that once were in the Flesh, and were under the Law, but now delivered from the Law, and dead to it. In chap. viii. 15 and following Verses, he tells them, they had received the Spirit of Adoption, and speaks of them as having the Witness of the Spirit that they were the Children of God, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Christ. And the whole of his Discourse to the End of the Chapter implies, that he esteemed them truly gracious Persons. In Chap. ix. 23, 24. He speaks of the Christian Romans, together with all other Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, as Vessels of Mercy. In Chap. xiv. 6, 7, 8. Speaking ⟨p. 60⟩of the Difference, that then was among professing Christians, in Point of Regard to […] ceremonial Institutions of the Law, he speaks of both Parties as acting from a gracious Principle, and as those that lived to the Lord, and should die unto the Lord, He that regardeth the Day, regardeth it unto the Lord, &c. For none of Us liveth to himself, and no Man [i. e. none of us] dieth to himself; For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die upto the Lord; Whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's. In Chap. xv. 14. He says, I my self also am persuaded of you, my Brethren, that ye are full of Goodness.

The Apostles continually in their Epistles speak to them and of them as supposing and judging them to be gracious Persons. Thus the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Church of the ROMANS, Chap. i. 7. speaks of the Members of that Church as beloved of God. In Chap. vi. 17, 18, &c. He thanks God, that they had obeyed from the Heart that Form of Doctrine which had been delivered them, and were made free from Sin, and become the Servants of Righteousness, &c. The Apostle in giving Thanks to God for this, must not only have a Kind of negative Charity for them, as not knowing but that they were gracious Persons, and so charitably hoping (as we say) that it was so; but he seems to have form'd a positive Judgment that they were such: his Thanksgiving must at least be founded on rational Probability; since it would be but mocking of God, to give him Thanks for bestowing a Mercy which at the same Time he did not see Reason positively to believe was bestowed. In Chap. vii. 4, 5, 6. the Apostle speaks of them as those that once were in the Flesh, and were under the Law, but now delivered from the Law, and dead to it. In chap. viii. 15 and following Verses, he tells them, they had received the Spirit of Adoption, and speaks of them as having the Witness of the Spirit that they were the Children of God, Heirs of God, and joint Heirs with Christ. And the whole of his Discourse to the End of the Chapter implies, that he esteemed them truly gracious Persons. In Chap. ix. 23, 24. He speaks of the Christian Romans, together with all other Christians, both Jews and Gentiles, as Vessels of Mercy. In Chap. xiv. 6, 7, 8. Speaking