N05035:378
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 presume, Sir, the Question do's not respect a Sameness in the Degree of Qualifications, Experiences, and Evidences; but only a Sameness in Kind, or for the Substance and general Nature of Things. I suppose, you had no View here to any such critical Distinction as that beforementioned, between an initial Faith and a grown Faith; or between the simple Being of Faith, which entitleth to Baptism, and the special Exercise of Faith, which fits for the Lord's Supper; nor aim at a nice Adjustment of the several Characters of Visibility, or Motives of Credibility, in the one Case and the other: but only intend in general to inquire, whether Persons admirable to one or other Sacrament, ought to profess true justifying Faith, and not be admitted on the Profession of any Faith of a Kind inferior and specifically different. Now, taking this to be the Scope of your Question, I have good Reason to apprehend, that the Generality of Protestant Churches and Divines, of the Calvinistic Persuasion especially, have declared themselves for the Affirmative.
ANSW. I presume, Sir, the Question do's not respect a Sameness in the Degree of Qualifications, Experiences, and Evidences; but only a Sameness in Kind, or for the Substance and general Nature of Things. I suppose, you had no View here to any such critical Distinction as that beforementioned, between an initial Faith and a grown Faith; or between the simple Being of Faith, which intitleth to Baptism, and the special Exercise of Faith, which fits for the Lord's Supper; nor aim at a nice Adjustment of the several Characters of Visibility, or Motives of Credibility, in the one Case and the other: but only intend in general to inquire, whether Persons admittable to one or other Sacrament, ought to profess true justifying Faith, and not be admitted on the Profession of any Faith of a Kind inferior and specifically different. Now, taking this to be the Scope of your Question, I have good Reason to apprehend, that the Generality of Protestant Churches and Divines, of the Calvinistic Persuasion especially, have declared themselves for the Affirmative.
I think, all that hold, the visible Christian Church ought to consist of such as make a visible and credible Profession of Faith and Holiness, and appear to rational Charity real Members of the Church invisible (which is the common Language of Protestants) are to be understood as in Principle exploding the Conceit of a conscious Unbeliever's Right before God