N05035:29
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 1
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.
PART I.
The Question stated and explained.
THE main Question I would consider, and for the Negative of which, I would offer some Arguments in the following Discourse, is This; Whether, according to the Rules of CHRIST, any ought to be admitted to the Communion and Privileges of Members of the visible Church of CHRIST in complete Standing, but such as are in Profession, and in the Eye of the Church's Christian Judgment, godly or gracious Persons?
THE main Question I would consider, and for the Negative of which, I would offer some Arguments in the following Discourse, is This; Whether, according to the Rules of CHRIST, any ought to be admitted to the Communion and Privileges of Members of the visible Church of CHRIST in compleat Standing, but such as are in Profession, and in the Eye of the Church's Christian Judgment, godly or gracious Persons?
When I speak of Members of the visible Church of Christ, in complete Standing, I would be understood of those who are received as the proper immediate Subjects of all the external Privileges, Christ has appointed for the ordinary Members of his Church. I say ordinary Members, in Distinction from any peculiar Privileges and Honours of Church Officers and Rulers. All allow, there are some that are in some Respect in the Church of God, who are not Members in complete Standing, in the Sense that has been explained: All that acknowledge Infant-Baptism, allow Infants, who are the proper Subjects of Baptism, and are baptized, to be in some Sort Members of the Christian Church; yet none suppose them to be Members in such Standing as to be the proper immediate Subjects of all ecclesiastical Ordinances and Privileges: But that some further Qualifications are requisite in order to this, to be obtained, either in a Course of Nature, or by Education, or by divine Grace. And some who were baptized in Infancy, even after they come to be adult, may yet remain for a Season short of such a Standing as has been spoken of; being destitute of sufficient Knowledge, and perhaps some other Qualifications, through the Neglect of Parents, or their own Negligence, or otherwise; or because they carelessly neglect to qualify themselves for ecclesiastical Privileges by making a public Profession of the Christian Faith, or owning the Christian Covenant, or forbear to offer themselves