N05035:231
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 3
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.
Or is there any more Probability of their publicly professing their Repentance and Humiliation for their Sin, before their celebrating the Passover, than of their publicly professing to love God above all? Another Thing which they suppose to be requisite in order to Admission to the Lord's Table, and about which they would have a particular Care be taken, is, that every Person admitted give Evidence of a competent Knowledge in the Doctrines of Religion, and none be allowed to partake who are grossly ignorant. Now there is no more Appearance of this with Regard to the Congregation in Egypt, than of a Profession of Godliness; and 'tis as difficult to suppose it. There is abundant Reason to suppose, that vast Numbers in that Nation, consisting of more than a Million of adult Persons, had been brought up in a great Degree of Ignorance, amidst their Slavery in Egypt, where the People seem to have almost forgotten the true God and the true Religion: And tho' Pains had been take by Moses, now for a short Season, to instruct the People better; yet, it must be considered, 'tis a very great Work, to take a whole Nation under such Degrees of Ignorance and Prejudice, and bring every one of them to a competent Degree of Knowledge in Religion; and a greater Work still for Moses both thus to instruct them, and also by Examination or otherwise, to come to a just Satisfaction, that all had indeed attained to such Knowledge.
Or is there any more Probability of their publickly professing their Repentance and Humiliation for their Sin, before their celebrating the Passover, than of their publickly professing to love God above all? Another Thing which they suppose to be requisite in order to Admission to the Lord's Table, and about which they would have a particular Care be taken, is, that every Person admitted give Evidence of a competent Knowledge in the Doctrines of Religion, and none be allowed to partake who are grosly ignorant. Now there is no more Appearance of this with Regard to the Congregation in Egypt, than of a Profession of Godliness; and 'tis as difficult to suppose it. There is abundant Reason to suppose, that vast Numbers in that Nation, consisting of more than a Million of adult Persons, had been brought up in a great Degree of Ignorance, amidst their Slavery in Egypt, where the People seem to have almost forgotten the true God and the true Religion: And tho' Pains had been take by Moses, now for a short Season, to instruct the People better; yet, it must be consider'd, 'tis a very great Work, to take a whole Nation under such Degrees of Ignorance and Prejudice, and bring every one of them to a competent Degree of Knowledge in Religion; and a greater Work still for Moses both thus to instruct them, and also by Examination or otherwise, to come to a just Satisfaction, that all had indeed attain'd to such Knowledge.