N05035:376
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.
MITCHEL as he thought Faith in the special and lively EXERCISE thereof necessary to a safe and comfortable Participation of the Lord's Supper, so he judged an Appearance of this unto rational Charity, judging by positive sensible Signs and Evidences, justly required in order to Admission into full Communion. Whereas, he thought Baptism annexed to initial Faith, or Faith in the Being of it; the charitable Judgment whereof (says he) runs upon ⟨p. 11⟩a great Latitude; and he conceived the same Strictness, as to outward Signs, not necessary unto a charitable probable Judgment or Hope of the Being of Faith, which entitles to Baptism, as of that Growth & special Exercise of Faith, which is requisite to the Lord's Supper. These are the main Distinctions, on which he grounded his Opinion of a different Latitude of the two Sacraments.—For, I must observe, as strenuously as he pleads for a various Extent, as to the Subjects of them, he never supposes any Adult regularly admirable to either Sacrament, but such as in Ecclesiastical Reputation sustain the Character of Believers; such as in the Account of a rational Charity (judging by probable Signs) have the Being of Regeneration; or as he variously expresses it, have true Faith, in the Judgment of Charity; and do in some Measure perform the Duties of Faith and Obedience, as to Church-Visibility and charitable Hope; and therefore are such as the Church ought to receive and hold as Heirs of the Grace of Life, according to the Rules of Christian Charity.—Tho' it seems, as Mr. SHEPARD before him speaks of his Church Charity and Experimental Charity; so Mr. MITCHEL had his Positive Charity and his Negative, and conducted his Judgment & Administrations accordingly, in admitting Persons to the one Sacrament or the other.—I should not have been so prolix and particular here, but that I thought it might serve to prepare the Way for a more easy, short, and intelligible Answer to your remaining Queries.
MITCHEL as he thought Faith in the special and lively EXERCISE thereof necessary to a safe and comfortable Participation of the Lord's Supper, so he judged an Appearance of this unto rational Charity, judging by positive sensible Signs and Evidences, justly requir'd in order to Admission into full Communion. Whereas, he thought Baptism annexed to initial Faith, or Faith in the Being of it; the charitable Judgment whereof (says he) runs upon ⟨p. 11⟩