N05035:266
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.
ANSW. 3. If they with whom I have to do in the Controversy, are not contented with the Answers already given, and think there is a remaining Difficulty in this Matter lying against my Scheme, I will venture to tell them, that the Difficulty lies full as hard against their own Scheme; and if there be any Strength at all in the Argument, it is to all Intents of the same Strength against the Need of those Qualifications which they themselves suppose to be necessary in order to an Approach to the Lord's Table, as against those which I think so. For although' they don't think renewing saving Grace necessary, yet they suppose moral Seriousness or (as they variously speak) moral Sincerity in Religion to be necessary: They suppose it to be requisite, that Persons should have some Kind of serious Principle and View in coming to the Lord's Table; some Sort of Intention of subjecting themselves to Christ, and of seeking and serving him, in general; and in particular some religious End in coming to the Sacramental Supper, some religious Respect to Christ in it. But now did not Christ at that Time perfectly know, that Judas had none of these Things? He knew he had nothing of Sincerity in the Christian Religion, or of Regard to Christ in that Ordinance, of any Sort whatsoever; he knew, that Satan had entered into him and filled his Heart, and that he was then cherishing in himself a malignant malicious Spirit against his Master, excited by the Reproof Christ had lately given him. (Compare Joh. xii 8. with Matth. xxvi. 8,—16. and Mark xiv. 4,—11.) and that he had already formed a traitorous murderous Design against him, and was now in the Prosecution of that bloody Design, having actually just before been to the chief Priests, and agreed with them to betray him for thirty Pieces of Silver. (See Matth xxvi. 14, 15, 16. Mark xiv. 10, 11. Luke xxii. 3,—6. & Joh. xiii. 2.) Christ knew these Things, and knew that Judas was utterly unqualified for the holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper; tho' it had not yet been made known to the Church, or the Disciples.—Therefore it concerns those on the contrary Part in this Controversy, to find out some Solution of this Difficulty, as much as it does me; and they will find they have as much Need to take Refuge in the Solution already given, in one or other of the two preceding Answers to this Objection.