N05035:34
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.
It was also requisite, that such a Distinction should be made in the Question, to avoid a lengthening out this Discourse exceedingly with needless Questions and Debates concerning the State of baptized Infants; that is, needless as to my present Purpose. Tho' I have no Doubts about the Doctrine of Infant-Baptism; yet God's Manner of Dealing with such Infants as are regularly dedicated to Him in Baptism, is a Matter liable to great Disputes and many Controversies, and would require a large Dissertation by it self to clear it up; which, as it would extend this Discourse beyond all Bounds, so it appears not necessary in order to a clear Determination of the present Question. The Revelation of God's Word is much plainer & more express concerning adult Persons, that act for themselves in religious Matters, than concerning Infants. The Scriptures were written for the Sake of adult Persons, or those that are capable of ⟨p. 3⟩knowing what is written: 'Tis to such the Apostles speak in their Epistles, and to such only does God speak through' out his Word: And the Scriptures especially speak for the Sake of those, and about those to whom they speak. And therefore if the Word of God affords us Light enough concerning those spoken of in the Question, as I have stated it, clearly to determine the Matter with Respect to them, we need not wait 'till we see all Doubts and Controversies about baptized Infants cleared & settled, before we pass a Judgment with Respect to the Point in Hand. The Denominations, Characters and Descriptions, which we find given in Scripture to visible Christians, and to the visible Church, are principally with an Eye to the Church of Christ in its adult State and proper Standing. If any one was about to describe that Kind of Birds called Doves, it would be most proper to describe grown Doves, and not young Ones in the Egg or Nest, without Wings or Feathers: so if any one should describe a Palm-Tree or Olive-Tree by their visible Form and Appearance, it would be presumed that they described those of these Kinds of Trees in their mature and proper State; and not as just peeping from the Ground, or as Thunder-struck or blown down. And therefore I would here give Notice, once for all, that when in the ensuing Discourse I use such-like Phrases as visible Saints, Members of the visible Church &c.
It was also requisite, that such a Distinction should be made in the Question, to avoid a lengthning out this Discourse exceedingly with needless Questions and Debates concerning the State of baptized Infants; that is, needless as to my present Purpose. Tho' I have no Doubts about the Doctrine of Infant-Baptism; yet God's Manner of Dealing with such Infants as are regularly dedicated to Him in Baptism, is a Matter liable to great Disputes and many Controversies, and would require a large Dissertation by it self to clear it up; which, as it would extend this Discourse beyond all Bounds, so it appears not necessary in order to a clear Determination of the present Question. The Revelation of God's Word is much plainer & more express concerning adult Persons, that act for themselves in religious Matters, than concerning Infants. The Scriptures were written for the Sake of adult Persons, or those that are capable of