N05035:198
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.
XI. When the Apostle says, 1 Cor. xi. 28. Let a Man examine himself, and so let him eat—It seems to be much the most reasonable to understand it of trying himself with regard to the Truth of his Christianity, or Reality of his Grace; the same which the same Apostle directs the same Corinthians to, in his other Epistle, 2 Cor.xiii. 5. where the same Word is used in the Original. The Greek Word ([Greek or Hebrew]) will not allow of what some have supposed to be the Apostle's Meaning, viz. that a Man should consider and enquire into his Circumstances, and the Necessities of his Case, that he may know what are the Wants he should go to the Lord's Table for a Supply of. The Word properly signifies proving or trying a Thing with Respect to it's Quality and Goodness, or in order to determine whether it be true and of the right Sort. And so the Word is always used in the New-Testament; unless that sometimes 'tis used as it were metonymically, and in such Places is variously translated, either discerning, or allowing, approving, liking, &c. these being the Effects of Trial. Nor is the Word used more frequently in the New Testament for any Sort of Trial whatever, than for the Trial of professors with Regard to their Grace or Piety. The Word (as Dr. Ames, in his Catechaseos Sciagraphia, and Mr. Willard in his Body of Divinity, observe) is borrowed from Goldsmiths, properly signifying the Trial they make of their Silver and Gold, whether it be Genuine or Counterfeit: And with a manifest Allusion to this original Application of the Word, is often used ⟨p. 78⟩in the New-Testament for a trying the Piety of Professors. 'Tis used with this View in all the following Texts. 1 Pet. i. 7. That the TRIAL of your Faith, being much more precious than of Gold that perisheth, tho' it be TRIED by Fire, might be found unto praise, &c. 1 Cor. iii. 13. The Fire shall TRY every Man's Work of what Sort it is. Jam. i. 3. The TRYING of your Faith worketh Patience.