An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…

(2) I desire it may be remembered, the venerable Author of the Appeal to the Learned, did in his Ministry ever teach such Doctrine from whence it will unavoidably follow, that no one unconverted Man in the World can know he has Warrant to come to the Lord's Supper. For if any unconverted Man has Warrant to worship his Maker in this Way, it must be because God has given him Warrant by the Revelation of his Mind in the holy Scriptures. And therefore if any unconverted Man, not only think, but knows, he has Warrant from God, he must of Consequence, not only think, but know, that the Scriptures are the Word of God. But I believe all that survive of the stated Hearers of that eminent Divine, and all who were acquainted with him, well remember it to be a Doctrine which he often taught and much insisted on, that no natural Man knows the Scripture to be the Word of God; that although' such may think so, yet they don't know it; and that at best they have but a doubtful Opinion: And he often would express himself thus; N• natural Man is thoroughly, convinced, that the Scriptures are the Word of God; if they were convinced, they would be gained. Now, if so, 'tis impossible any natural […] in the World should ever know, 'tis his Right, in his present Condition, to come to the Lord's Supper. True, he may think it is his Right, he may have that Opinion: but he can't know it; and so must not come, according to this Argument. For 'tis only the Word of God in the holy Scriptures, that gives a Man a Right to worship the supreme Being in this Sacramental Manner, and to come to him in this Way, or any other, as one in Covenant with him. The Lord's ⟨p. 109⟩Supper being no Branch of natural Worship, Reason without Institution is no Ground of Duty or Right in this Affair. And hence 'tis plainly impossible for those that don't so much as know the Scriptures are the Word of God, to know they have any good Ground of Duty or Right in this Matter. Therefore, supposing unconverted Men have a real Right, yet since they have no known Right, they have no Warrant (according to the Argument before us) to take and use their Right; and what Good then can their Right do them? Or how can they excuse themselves from Presumption, in claiming a Right, which they don't know belongs to them?—It's said, A probable Hope that Persons are regenerate, wont warrant them to come;

(2) I desire it may be remember'd, the venerable Author of the Appeal to the Learned, did in his Ministry ever teach such Doctrine from whence it will unavoidably follow, that no one unconverted Man in the World can know he has Warrant to come to the Lord's Supper. For if any unconverted Man has Warrant to worship his Maker in this Way, it must be because God has given him Warrant by the Revelation of his Mind in the holy Scriptures. And therefore if any unconverted Man, not only think, but knows, he has Warrant from God, he must of Consequence, not only think, but know, that the Scriptures are the Word of God. But I believe all that survive of the stated Hearers of that eminent Divine, and all who were acquainted with him, well remember it to be a Doctrine which he often taught and much insisted on, that no natural Man knows the Scripture to be the Word of God; that altho' such may think so, yet they don't know it; and that at best they have but a doubtful Opinion: And he often would express himself thus; N natural Man is thoroughly, convinced, that the Scriptures are the Word of God; if they were convinced, they would be gained. Now, if so, 'tis impossible any natural in the World should ever know, 'tis his Right, in his present Condition, to come to the Lord's Supper. True, he may think it is his Right, he may have that Opinion: but he can't know it; and so must not come, according to this Argument. For 'tis only the Word of God in the holy Scriptures, that gives a Man a Right to worship the supream Being in this Sacramental Manner, and to come to him in this Way, or any other, as one in Covenant with him. The Lord's