father; yet on careful fearching the facred volumes, he was obliged to yield to thofe convictions they produced in him, and change his judgment. The following Treatife contains the fubftance of those. convictions, or the particular reafons of this alteration. And if those who are now in his former way of thinking, would with due ferioufnefs, humility, calmnefs, diligence, and impartiality, fearch the Scriptures, and confider his arguments derived from them, looking up to GOD through CHRIST, and fubjecting their minds entirely to him, they may either fee and yield to the fame convictions, and find caufe to change their judg ments alfo, or will at leaft continue their fraternal affection to the worthy Author, and others in the fame fentiments with him. We heartily pray that the reverend Author and his flock may for a long time be happy together; that their cordial love and tenderness to each other may continue and operate in mutual and all lawful condefcenfions and forbearances under different fentiments in these particulars; that every one may be open to light, and guard against all prejudice, precipitance, and paffion; that they may be very watchful against the devices of Satan to difunite or difaffect them; that they may fudy the things that make for peace and edification.—And the GOD of light, love, and peace, will continue with them. BOSTON, August 11. 1749. THOMAS PRINCE, JOHN WEBB, THOMAS FOXCROFT, M. BYLES. CONTENTS. THE Question ftated and explained; viz. Whether, ac- cording to the rules of CHRIST, any ought to be ad- mitted to the communion and privileges of members of the vifible church of CHRIST in complete flanding, but fuch as are in profeffion, and in the eye of the AN HUMBLE INQUIRY INTO THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR Full Communion in the Vifible Church of CHRIST. PART FIRST. The QUESTION ftated and explained. THE main queftion I would confider, and for the ne gative of which, I would offer fome arguments in the following difcourfe, is this; Whether, according to the rules of CHRIST, any ought to be admitted to the communion and privileges of members of the visible church of CHRIST in complete flanding, but fuch as are in profeffion, and in the eye of the church's Chriftian judgment, godly or gracious perfons? When I speak of members of the vifible church of Chrift, in complete ftanding, I would be understood of those who are received as the proper immediate fubjects of all the external privileges, Chrift has appointed for the ordinary members of his church. I fay ordinary members, in diftinction from any peculiar privileges and honours of church-officers and rulers. All allow, there are fome that are in fome respect in the church of God, who are not members in complete standing, in the sense that has been explained: All that acknowledge infantbaptifm, allow infants, who are the proper fubjects of baptifm, and are baptized, to be in fome fort members of the Christian church; yet none fuppofe them to be members in fuch ftanding as to be the proper immediate fubjects of all ecclefiaftical ordinances and privileges: But that fome further qualifications are requifite in order to A this, to be obtained, either in a course of nature, or by education, or by divine grace. And fome who are baptized in infancy, even after they come to be adult, may yet remain for a feafon fhort of fuch a ftanding as has been spoken of; being deftitute of fufficient knowledge, and perhaps fome other qualifications, through the neglect of parents, or their own negligence, or otherwife; or because they carelessly neglect to qualify themfelves for ecclefiaftical privileges by making a public profeffion of the Chriftian faith, or owning the Chriftian covenant, or forbear to offer themselves as candidates for these privileges; and yet not be cast out of the church, or cease to be in any respect its members: This, I fuppofe, will alfo be generally allowed. One thing mainly intended in the foregoing queftion is, Whether any adult perfons but fuch as are in profeffion and appearance endued with Chriftian grace or piety, ought to be admitted to the Chriflian facraments: Particularly whether they ought to be admitted to the Lord's fupper; and, if they are fuch as were not baptized in infancy, ought to be admitted to baptifm. Adult persons having thofe qualifications that oblige others to receive them as the proper immediate fubjects of the Christian facraments, is a main thing intended in the question, by being fuch as ought to be admitted to the communion and privileges of members of the vifible church, in complete ftanding. There are many adult perfons that by the allowance of all are in some respect within the church of God, who are not members in good standing, in this refpect. There are many, for inftance, that have not at prefent the qualifications proper to recommend them to admiffion to the Lord's fupper: There are many scandalous perfons, who are under fufpenfion. The late venerable Mr. Stoddard, and many other great divines fuppofe, that even excommunicated perfons are ftill members of the church of God; and fome fuppofe, the worfhippers of Baal in Ifrael, even those who were bred up fuch from their infancy, remained ftill members of the church of God: And very many Proteftant divines fup |