N05035:22
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.
PREFACE.
THO' the Doctrine here maintained by our dear & Rev. Brother was brought over hither by the pious and judicious Fathers of this Country from the Puritans in England, and held by them & their Successors in our Churches above Threescore Years without Dissension; yet some good and learned Men have since gone into another Way of thinking in this Matter. And as the WORD OF GOD is our only Rule of judging, and this only can bind the Conscience in Religion; it must needs concern every Man to search the Scriptures, that he may come to as satisfying a Knowledge as may be, whether he has a Right to the Lord's Supper, and whether it be his immediate Duty to partake of it, or admit of others. And for all that we had hitherto read on this Subject, it seemed to us, there wanted further Searchings and Discoveries.
THO' the Doctrine here maintained by our dear & Rev. Brother was bro't over hither by the pious and judicious Fathers of this Country from the Puritans in England, and held by them & their Successors in our Churches above Threescore Years without Dissention; yet some good and learned Men have since gone into another Way of thinking in this Matter. And as the WORD OF GOD is our only Rule of judging, and this only can bind the Conscience in Religion; it must needs concern every Man to search the Scriptures, that he may come to as satisfying a Knowledge as may be, whether he has a Right to the Lord's Supper, and whether it be his immediate Duty to partake of it, or admit of others. And for all that we had hitherto read on this Subject, it seem'd to us, there wanted further Searchings and Discoveries.
And tho' we have not all had Opportunity to read the Composure following; yet we apprehend the Reverend Author singularly qualified to manage this important Argument, from his great Acquaintance with the Scriptures, and diligent Application to the study of them with a special Aim to find the Mind of CHRIST and settle his Judgment in this Particular; both to get more Light himself, and communicate the same to others. And we have this peculiar Motive to excite Attention to what he writes; that he is so far from arguing from the Prejudice or Influence of Education, that being brought up in the contrary Way of Thinking, and more inclined thereto from a special Veneration of his Reverend Grandfather; yet on careful searching the sacred Volumes he was obliged to yield to these Convictions they produced in him, & change his Judgment.