N05035:371
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.
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. I believe, after what has been already offered, we need be at no Loss to know the Mind of the Generality respecting the Subject of this Inquiry. Were there Occasion for it, I could easily produce a Cloud of Witnesses, to evidence that the general Opinion is on the Affirmative Side, in this Question. Repeated Searches have been made by diligent and impartial Inquirers, who tho' of varying Judgment and Practice in Church-Discipline, yet agree in their Reports: And from them I will give you the following Attestations.
ANSW. I believe, after what has been already offer'd, we need be at no Loss to know the Mind of the Generality respecting the Subject of this Inquiry. Were there Occasion for it, I could easily produce a Cloud of Witnesses, to evidence that the general Opinion is on the Affirmative Side, in this Question. Repeated Searches have been made by diligent and impartial Inquirers, who tho' of varying Judgment and Practice in Church-Discipline, yet agree in their Reports: And from them I will give you the following Attestations.
Mr. LOB (in his True Dissenter) tell us, It is the Judgment of all the Nonconformists, that nothing less than the Profession of saving Faith credibly significant of the Thing professed, gives Right to Church-Communion. And this he declares to be the Rule of all Protestants in general. He brings even Mr. HUMPHREY (tho' opposite in Judgment) for his Voucher: Who acknowledges, That the visible Church is defined by a Profession of true regenerate Faith, and of no less than that, according to the most general Opinion of Protestant Divines. He speaks of it as the common Opinion, that a Profession of no less than true Grace or justifying Faith is the Rule of Admission to the Church-Sacraments. And tho' Mr. Humphrey went off from the received Opinion, yet could he not come into Mr. Blake's Notions in this Matter, who also had gone off from it, nor hope for their Vindication: Hence he makes that Challenge, What Man is there, that dares revive Mr. Blake's Cause, and defend it against Mr. Baxter's RIGHT to Sacraments!
Mr. LOB (in his True Dissenter) tell us, It is the Judgment of all the Nonconformists, that nothing less than the Profession of saving Faith credibly significant of the Thing professed, gives Right to Church-Communion. And this he declares to be the Rule of all Protestants in general. He brings even Mr. HUMPHREY (tho' opposite in Judgment) for his Voucher: Who acknowleges, That the visible Church is defined by a Profession of true regenerate Faith, and of no less than that, according to the most general Opinion of Protestant Divines. He speaks of it as the common Opinion, that a Profession of no less than true Grace or justifying Faith is the Rule of Admission to the Church-Sacraments. And tho' Mr. Humphrey went off from the received Opinion, yet could he not come into Mr. Blake's Notions in this Matter, who also had gone off from it, nor hope for their Vindication: Hence he makes that Challenge, What Man is there, that dares revive Mr. Blake's Cause, and defend it against Mr. Baxter's RIGHT to Sacraments!