N05035:327
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. 2. If some Things, by the Confession of all, must be professed for that very Reason, because they are good, and of great Importance; then certainly it must be owned very unreasonable, to say, that those Things wherein true Holiness consists are not to be professed, or that a Profession of them should not be required, for that same Reason, because they are good, even in the highest Degree, and infinitely the most important and most necessary Things of any in the World: And 'tis unreasonable to say, that it is the less to be expected we should profess sincere Friendship to Christ, because Friendship to Christ is the most excellent Qualification of any whatsoever, and the Contrary the most odious. How absurd is it to say this, merely under a Notion that for a Man to profess what is so good and so reasonable, is to profess a high Opinion of himself!
ANSW. 2. If some Things, by the Confession of all, must be profess'd for that very Reason, because they are good, and of great Importance; then certainly it must be own'd very unreasonable, to say, that those Things wherein true Holiness consists are not to be professed, or that a Profession of them should not be required, for that same Reason, because they are good, even in the highest Degree, and infinitely the most important and most necessary Things of any in the World: And 'tis unreasonable to say, that it is the less to be expected we should profess sincere Friendship to Christ, because Friendship to Christ is the most excellent Qualification of any whatsoever, and the Contrary the most odious. How absurd is it to say this, meerly under a Notion that for a Man to profess what is so good and so reasonable, is to profess a high Opinion of himself!
ANSW. 3. Tho' some of the worst Men are apt to entertain the highest Opinion of themselves, yet their Self Conceit is no Rule to the Church: But the apparent Credibility of Men's Profession is to be Ground of ecclesiastical Proceedings.