N05035:192
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.
It is a Thing well agreeing with the Wisdom of Christ, and that peculiar Favour he has manifested to his Saints, and with his Dealings with them in many other Respects, to suppose, he has made Provision in his Institutions, that they might have the Comfort of uniting, with such as their Hearts are united with in that holy intimate Affection which has been spoken of, in some special religious Exercises and Duties of Worship, and visible Intercourse with their Redeemer, joining with those concerning whom they can have some Satisfaction of Mind that they are cordially united with them in adoring and expressing their Love to their common Lord and Saviour, that they may with one Mind, with one Heart, and one Soul, as well as with one Mouth, glorify him; as in the forementioned Rom. xv. 5, 6. compared with Acts. iv. 32. This seems to be what this heavenly Affection naturally inclines to. And how eminently fit and proper for this Purpose is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the Christian Church's great Feast of Love; wherein Christ's People fit together as Brethren in the Family of God, at their Father's Table, to feast on the Love of their Redeemer, commemorating his Sufferings for them, and his dying Love to them, and sealing their Love to him and one another?—It is hardly credible, that Christ has so ordered Things at that there are no instituted social Acts of Worship, wherein his Saints are to manifest their Respect to him, but such as wherein they ordinarily are obliged (if the Rule for Admissions be carefully attended) to join with a Society of Fellow-Worshippers, concerning whom they have no Reason to think but that the bigger Part of them are Unconverted (and are more provoking ⟨p. 75⟩Enemies to that Lord they love and adore, than most of the Very Heathen) which Mr. Stood and supposes to be the Case with the Members of the visible Church. Appeal. p. 16.
It is a Thing well agreeing with the Wisdom of Christ, and that peculiar Favour he has manifested to his Saints, and with his Dealings with them in many other Respects, to suppose, he has made Provision in his Institutions, that they might have the Comfort of uniting, with such as their Hearts are united with in that holy intimate Affection which has been spoken of, in some special religious Exercises and Duties of Worship, and visible Intercourse with their Redeemer, joining with those concerning whom they can have some Satisfaction of Mind that they are cordially united with them in adoring and expressing their Love to their common Lord and Saviour, that they may with one Mind, with one Heart, and one Soul, as well as with one Mouth, glorify him; as in the forementioned