N05035:328
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. 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.
OBJECT. XIX. If it be necessary that adult Persons should make a Profession of Godliness, in order to their own Admission to Baptism, then undoubtedly it is necessary in order to their Children's being baptized on their Account. For Parents can't convey to their Children a Right to this Sacrament, by virtue of any Qualifications lower than those requisite in order to their own Right: Children being admitted to Baptism, only as being as it were Parts and Members of their Parents. And ⟨p. 127⟩besides, the Act of Parents in offering up their Children in a Sacrament, which is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace, is in them a solemn attending that Sacrament as Persons interested in the Covenant, and a public Manifestation of their approving and consenting to it, as truly as if they then offered up themselves to God in that Ordinance. Indeed it implies a renewed offering up themselves with their Children, and devoting both jointly to God in Covenant; Themselves, with their Children, as Parts of Themselves. But now what fearful Work will such Doctrine make amongst us! We shall have Multitudes unbaptized, who will go about without the external Badge of Christianity, and so in that Respect will be like Heathen. And this is the Way to have the Land full of Persons who are destitute of that which is spoken of in Scripture as ordinarily requisite to Men's Salvation; and it will bring a Reproach on vast Multitudes, with the Families they belong to: And not only so, but will tend to make them profane and heathenish; for by thus treating our Children, as tho' they had no Part in the Lord, we shall cause'em to cease from fearing the Lord; agreeable to Josh xxii. 24, 25.
OBJECT. XIX. If it be necessary that adult Persons should make a Profession of Godliness, in order to their own Admission to Baptism, then undoubtedly it is necessary in order to their Children's being baptized on their Account. For Parents can't convey to their Children a Right to this Sacrament, by vertue of any Qualifications lower than those requisite in order to their own Right: Children being admitted to Baptism, only as being as it were Parts and Members of their Parents. And