N05035:254
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.
If it be further objected, that John in baptizing such Multitudes could not have Time to be sufficiently informed of those he baptized, whether their Profession of Godliness was credible, or no. I answer, That we are not particularly informed of the Circumstances of his teaching, and of the Assistance he was favoured with, and the Means he had of Information concerning those whom he baptized: But we may be sure of one ⟨p. 101⟩Thing, viz. He had as much Opportunity to inquire into the Credibility of their Profession, as he had to inquire into their doctrinal Knowledge & moral Character; which my Opponents suppose to be necessary, as well as I: And this is enough to silence the present Objection.
If it be further objected, that John in baptizing such Multitudes could not have Time to be sufficiently informed of those he baptized, whether their Profession of Godliness was credible, or no. I answer, That we are not particularly informed of the Circumstances of his teaching, and of the Assistance he was favour'd with, and the Means he had of Information concerning those whom he baptized: But we may be sure of one ⟨p. 101⟩Thing, viz. He had as much Opportunity to inquire into the Credibility of their Profession, as he had to inquire into their doctrinal Knowledge & moral Character; which my Opponents suppose to be necessary, as well as I: And this is enough to silence the present Objection.
OBJECT. V. Christ says, Matth. xx. 16. and again Chap. xxii. 14. that many are called, but few are chosen. By which it is evident, that there are many, who belong to the visible Church, and yet but few real and true Saints; and that it is ordinarily thus, even under the New Testament, and in Days of Gospel-Light: and therefore that Visibility of Saintship, whereby Persons are visible Saints in a Scripture-Sense, can't imply an apparent Probability of their being real Saints, or truly gracious Persons.