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

One Thing mainly intended in the foregoing Question is, Whether any adult Persons but such as are in Profession and Appearance endowed with Christian Grace or Piety, ought to be admitted to the Christian Sacraments: Particularly whether they ought to be admitted to the Lord's Supper; and, if they are such as were not baptized in Infancy, ought to be admitted to Baptism. Adult Persons having those Qualifications that oblige others to receive 'em as the proper immediate Subjects of the Christian Sacraments, is a main Thing intended in the Question, by being such as ought to be admitted to the Communion and Privileges of Members of the visible Church, in complete Standing. There are many adult Persons that by the Allowance of all are in some Respect within the Church of God, who are not Members in good Standing, in this Respect. There are many, for Instance, that have not at present the Qualifications proper to recommend 'em to Admission to the Lord's Supper: There are many scandalous Persons, who are under Suspension. The late venerable Mr.Stoddard and many other great Divines suppose, that even excommunicated Persons are still Members of the Church of God: and some suppose, the Worshippers of Baal in Israel, even those who were bred up such from their Infancy, remained still Members of the Church of God: And very many Protestant Divines suppose, that the Members of the Church of Rome, tho' they are brought up and live continually in gross idolatry, and innumerable Errors and Superstitions that tend utterly to make void the Gospel of Christ, still are in the visible Church of Christ: yet, I suppose, no orthodox Divines would hold these to be properly and regularly qualified for the Lord's Supper. It was therefore requisite, in the Question before us, that a Distinction should be made between Members of the visible Church in general, and Members in complete Standing.

One Thing mainly intended in the foregoing Question is, Whether any adult Persons but such as are in Profession and Appearance endow'd with Christian Grace or Piety, ought to be admitted to the Christian Sacraments: Particularly whether they ought to be admitted to the Lord's Supper; and, if they are such as were not baptized in Infancy, ought to be admitted to Baptism. Adult Persons having those Qualifications that oblige others to receive 'em as the proper immediate Subjects of the Christian Sacraments, is a main Thing intended in the Question, by being such as ought to be admitted to the Communion and Privileges of Members of the visible Church, in compleat Standing. There are many adult Persons that by the Allowance of all are in some Respect within the Church of God, who are not Members in good Standing, in this Respect. There are many, for Instance, that have not at present the Qualifications proper to recommend 'em to Admission to the Lord's Supper: There are many scandalous Persons, who are under Suspension. The late venerable Mr.Stoddard and many other great Divines suppose, that even excommunicated Persons are still Members of the Church of God: and some suppose, the Worshippers of Baal in Israel, even those who were bred up such from their Infancy, remained still Members of the Church of God: And very many Protestant Divines suppose, that the Members of the Church of Rome, tho' they are brought up and live continually in gross idolatry, and innumerable Errors and Superstitions that tend utterly to make void the Gospel of Christ, still are in the visible Church of Christ: yet, I suppose, no orthodox Divines would hold these to be properly and regularly qualified for the Lord's Supper. It was therefore requisite, in the Question before us, that a Distinction should be made between Members of the visible Church in general, and Members in compleat Standing.