A

DIS COURSE

CONCERNING THE

CHURCH;

IN WHICH THE

SEVERAL ACCEPTATIONS OF THE WORD

ARE EXPLAINED AND DISTINGUISHED;

THE GOSPEL COVENANT DELINEATED

À 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.

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

Prepare the

way,
take

up
the stumbling block out of the way of thy people. **

Is A 1 AH, lvii. 14

AND

PRINTED AT BOSTON,
By 1. THOMAS E. T. ANDREWS,

Faust's STATUE, No. 45, NEWBURY STREBE,

10

12

Page
C Η Α Ρ Τ Ε R Ι.

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,

5

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 Promises—Visible and

invisible Privileges External and internal

Administration,

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

ileges,

17

Sect. IV.-Connexion of Covenant Duties and Priv-

ileges,

19

Sect. V.-Of the Conditions of the Covenant,

Sect. VI.-of visible and invisible Saintship,

26

CHAPTER III.

The RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES of CHURCH

MEMBERS, explained and distinguished.

Sect. 1.—Communion external and internal--full and

partial--pasive and ałtive-Twofold Right

-of Admission and Access,

Sect. II.--Rights visible and invisible--Real and

Seeming- In the fight of God, in the ac-

count. of Men,

35

CH A P T E R IV.

Of the RIGHT of ADMISSION into the

CHURCH.

Sect. I.-- The Right of Admission difinet from that

of Access—Belongs to visible Saints-Visible

Holiness a real Qualification—External

Of the visibility of inward Holiness, 37

Sect. II.--The visibility of inward Holiness and the

judgment of Charity further considered, 44

Sect.

22

-

31

52

Pagt Şect. III.--Visible Saints credible Professors of

Christianity-What Profeffion is credible

Of profiling saving, Faith and Godlinefs, Sect. IV.-0fprofefling in Moral Sincerity--Wheth

er this gives a Right of Admiffion, 65 Seat, V.-Rule of Admission,

71 CHAPTER V. Of the RIGHT of COMING into the CHURCH, Sect. 1.—The Right of Access Explained—not founded IN

the reality but evidence of Grace in the view of Conscience---Assurance, certain kigns of Grace-Preponderant Probability, and pre

vailing Persuasion thereof not necessary, 73 $cat. II. - All who can profejs Christianity unconfci

Ous of Hypocrify or Referve, have a Right of Aca
cefs---Conscious Unbelievers and Impenitents may
not come--Professors morally sincere have cred-
ible Evidence of fanctifying Grace,

80 Seet. 111. Whether any may come without an evident or known Right,

86 CHAPTER VI. Of the RIGHT of the UNCONVERTED to the

PRIVILEGES of EXTERNAL COMMUN

ION with an INSTITUTED CHURCH. Sect, 1.--The Queftion explained and feated- Reafons for the Affirmative,

90 Sect. II.-Twelve Objections answered,

93 Sect. 111.--Reconciling Remarks,

106 CHAPTER VII. of a COVENANT RIGHT to a DIVINE

BLESSING in and with the OUTWARD

USE of ORDINANCES,
Sect. 1. ---A Blefing promised to the right use of
Ordinances,

109 Sect. II.Of the Sin and Danger of coming unwor

thily to the Lord's Supper, Sect. III.-Whether the Lord's Supper be a converting Ordinance,

117 Sect. IV.-Objections Confidered,

119

111

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.

THE Church is a heavenly theocracy, or kingdom of God,

formed by the new covenant ; the government of which is in the hands of Christ, who is in a special lenfe King of Saints. And the new covenant is the rule, according to which this {pecial government of the people of God is a:iministered.

The