A

DISCOURSE

CONCERNING THE

CHURCH;

IN WHICH THE

SEVERAL ACCEPTATIONS OF THE WORD
ARE EXPLAINED AND DISTINGUISHED;

THE GOSPEL COVENANT DELINEATED?

A RIGHT OF

ADMISSION AND ACCESS TO SPECIAL ORDINANCES,

IN THEIR OUTWARD ADMINISTRATION AND
INWARD EFFICACY,

STATED AND DISCUSSED.

DESIGNED TO

REMOVE THE SCRUPLES AND RECONCILE
THE DIFFERENCES OF CHRISTIANS.

BY MOSES HEMMENWAY, D. D.
PASTOR OF A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN WELLS.

Prepare

the way, take up the ftumbling block out of the way of my people."
ISAIAH, vii. 14%

PRINTED AT BOSTON,

BY I. THOMAS AND E. T. ANDREWS,
FAUST'S STATUE, No. 45, NEWBURY STREET,

1

The CHURCH typified by the HEBREW THE-
OCRACY-Formed by the NEW COVE-
NANT-Different ACCEPTATIONS of the
of the WORD-Different CHARACTERS
and PRIVILEGES of its MEMBERS,

CHAPTER II.

Of the NEW COVENANT.

Sect. I. Of the Precepts and Penalties of the
Covenant-Who are under its Bond,

Sect. II. Of its Grants and Promifes-Vifible and
invifible Privileges-External and internal
Adminiftration,

Sect. III.-All in Covenant entitled to fpecial Priv

ileges,

Sect. IV. Connexion of Covenant Duties and Priv

ileges,

Sect. V. Of the Conditions of the Covenant,

Sect. VI. Of vifible and invifible Saintship,

CHAPTER III.

The RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES of CHURCH
MEMBERS, explained and diftinguished.
Se&t.I.—Communion external and internal-full and
partial-paffive and active-Twofold Right
-Of Admiffion and Accefs,

Sect. II.-Rights vifible and invifible-Real and
Seeming-In the fight of God, in the ac-
Count of Men,

CHAPTER IV.

Of the RIGHT of ADMISSION into the

CHURCH.

Sect. I.-The Right of Admiffion diftinct from that
of Accefs-Belongs to vifible Saints-Visible
Holinefs a real Qualification-External-
Of the vifibility of inward Holiness,

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Paga

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10

12

17

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26

31

35

37

Sect. II. The vifibility of inward Holiness and the judgment of Charity further confidered, 44

Sect.

Sect. III.-Visible Saints credible Profeffors of
Chriftianity What Profeffion is credible
Of profeffing faving Faith and Godliness,

Sect. IV. Of profeffing in Moral Sincerity Wheth-
er this gives a Right of Admiffion

Sect, V. Rule of Admiffion,

CHAPTER V.

Of the RIGHT of COMING into the CHURCH,
Sect. I.-The Right of Accefs Explained—not found-
ed in the reality but evidence of Grace in the
view of Confcience-Affurance, certain figns of
Grace-Preponderant Probability, and pre-
vailing Perfuafion thereof not neceffary,
Sect. II.-All who can profefs Chriftianity unconfci-
ous of Hypocrify or Referve, have a Right of Ac-
cefs-Confcious Unbelievers and Impenitents may
not come Profeffors morally fincere have cred-
ible Evidence of fanctifying Grace,

Sect. III. Whether any may come without an evident
or known Right,

CHAPTER VI.

Of the RIGHT of the UNCONVERTED to the
PRIVILEGES of EXTERNAL COMMUN-
ION with an INSTITUTED CHURCH.
Seat. 1.-The Queftion explained and flated-Reaf-
ons for the Affirmative,

Sect. II.-Twelve Objections anfwered,

Sect. III.-Reconciling Remarks,

CHAPTER VII.

Of a COVENANT RIGHT to a DIVINE
BLESSING in and with the OUTWARD
USE of ORDINANCES,

Sect. 1.-A Bleffing promifed to the right ufe of

Ordinances,

Se&t. 11. Of the Sin and Danger of coming unwoK,

thily to the Lord's Supper,

Se&t. III. Whether the Lord's Supper be a convert

ing Ordinance,

SeA. IV.-Objections Confidered,

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106

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119

A

DISCOURSE.

CONCERNING THE

CHURCH, &c.

CHA P. I.

The CHURCH the KINGDOM of GOD, typified by the HEBREW COMMONWEALTH.-Formed by the NEW COVENANT.-Different ACCEPTATIONS of the WORD.-Different CHARACTERS and PRIVILEGES of its MEMBERS.

TH

HE Church is a heavenly theocracy, or kingdom of God, formed by the new covenant; the government of which is in the hands of Chrift, who is in a special fenfe King of Saints. And the new covenant is the rule, according to which this fpecial government of the people of God is aiminiftered.

The