N05035:68
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 2
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.
To which I answer, This is a mere Evasion; the only one, that ever I saw or heard of; and I think the only one possible. For 'tis certain, they are not Professors of sanctifying Grace, or true Saintship: The Principle proceeded on, being, that they need make no Pretence to that; nor has any Visibility of saving Holiness any Thing to do in the Affair. If then they have any Holiness at all, it must be of another Sort. And if this Evasion fails, and fails, and the whole Matter in Debate must ⟨p. 17⟩be given up. Therefore I desire that this Matter may be impartially considered and examined to the very Bottom; and that it may be thoroughly enquired, whether this Distinction of these two Sorts of real Christianity, Godliness, and Holiness, is a Distinction, that Christ in his Word is the Author of; or whether it be an human Invention of something which the New-Testament knows nothing of, devised to serve and maintain an Hypothesis. And here I desire that the following Things may be observed.
To which I answer, This is a meer Evasion; the only one, that ever I saw or heard of; and I think the only one possible. For 'tis certain, they are not Professors of sanctifying Grace, or true Saintship: The Principle proceeded on, being, that they need make no Pretence to that; nor has any Visibility of saving Holiness any Thing to do in the Affair. If then they have any Holiness at all, it must be of another Sort. And if this Evasion fails, and fails, and the whole Matter in Debate must ⟨p. 17⟩be given up. Therefore I desire that this Matter may be impartially considered and examined to the very Bottom; and that it may be thoroughly enquired, whether this Distinction of these two Sorts of real Christianity, Godliness, and Holiness, is a Distinction, that Christ in his Word is the Author of; or whether it be an human Invention of something which the New-Testament knows nothing of, devised to serve and maintain an Hypothesis. And here I desire that the following Things may be observed.