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

If it be said, that although' Persons don't profess that wherein sanctifying Grace consists, yet seeing they profess to believe the Doctrines of the Gospel, which God is wont to make use of in order to Men's Sanctification, and are called the Doctrine which is according to Godliness; and since we see nothing in their Lives to make us determine, that they have not had a proper Effect on their Hearts, we are obliged in Charity to hope that they are real Saints, or gracious Persons, and to treat 'em accordingly, and so to receive 'em into the Christian Church, and to its special Ordinances.

If it be said, that altho' Persons don't profess that wherein sanctifying Grace consids, yet seeing they profess to believe the Doctrines of the Gospel, which God is won't to make use of in order to Men's Sanctification, and are called the Doctrine which is according to Godliness; and since we see nothing in their Lives to make us determine, that they have not had a proper Effect on their Hearts, we are obliged in Charity to hope that they are real Saints, or gracious Persons, and to treat 'em accordingly, and so to receive 'em into the Christian Church, and to its special Ordinances.

I answer, This Objection does in Effect suppose and grant the very Thing mainly in Dispute: For it supposes, that a gracious Character is the Thing that ought to be looked at and aimed at in admitting Persons into the Communion of the Church; and so that it is needful to have this Charity for Persons, or such a favourable Notion of them, in order to our receiving them as properly qualified Members of the Society, and properly qualified Subjects of the special Privileges they are admitted to. Whereas the Doctrine taught is, that sanctifying Grace is not a necessary Qualification herefor, and that there is no need that the Person himself, or any other, should have any Imagination, that he is a Person so qualified; ⟨p. 13⟩because we know, 'tis no Qualification requisite in itself; we know the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper is as proper for them that are not so qualified as for those that are; it being according to the Design of the Institution a converting Ordinance, and so an Ordinance as much intended for the Good of the Unconverted, as of the Converted; even as 'tis with the Preaching of the Gospel. Now if the Case be so, why is there any Talk about a charitable hoping they are converted, and so admitting them? What need of any charitable Hope of such a Qualification, in order to admitting them to an Ordinance that is as proper for those who are without this Qualification, as for those that have it? We need not have any charitable Hope of any such Qualification in order to admit a Person to hear the Word preached. What need have we to aim at any Thing beyond the proper Qualifications? And what Manner of Need of any charitable Opinion or Hope of any thing further? Some Sort of Belief, that Jesus is the Messiah, is a Qualification properly requisite to a coming to the Lord's Supper; and therefore 'tis necessary that we should have a charitable Hope, that those have such a Belief whom we admit; tho' it be not necessary that we should know it, it being what none can know of another. But as to Grace or Christian Piety, it clearly follows, on the Principles which I oppose, that if there be any Visibility of it, more or less, of any Sort, yet no Kind of Visibility or Appearance, whether more direct or indirect, whether to a greater or less Degree, no Charity or Hope of it, have any thing at all to do in the Affair of Admission to the Lord's Supper;