N05401:106
Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…
Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's book, entitled, The true state of the question concerning the qualifications necessary to lawful communion in the Christian sacraments. / By Jonathan Edwards, M.A. Minister of the Gospel at Stockbridge. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's book, intitled, The true state of the question concerning the qualifications necessary to lawful communion in the Christian sacraments. / By Jonathan Edwards, M.A. Minister of the Gospel at Stockbridge. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1752
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Therefore to use Words thus in common Conversation, is to act in a vain trifling Manner, more like Children than Men: But to use Words thus in the s••red Services of God's House, and solemn Duties of his Worship, is something much worse than Children's Play. But thus Mr. W. expressly declares, Words are to be used in a public Profession of Religion. He says (P. 10. c.) And these Words are so used in such Cases, without any Marks of Difference, whereby we are enabled to judge when they mean a saving Faith, and when a different one.
Therefore to use Words thus in common Conversation, is to act in a vain trifling Manner, more like Children than Men: But to use Words thus in the s••red Services of God's House, and solemn Duties of his Worship, is something much worse than Children's Play. But thus Mr. W. expresly declares, Words are to be used in a publick Profession of Religion. He says (P. 10. c.) And these Words are so used in such Cases, without any Marks of Difference, whereby we are enabled to judge when they mean a saving Faith, and when a different one.
Posi. III. A Profession made in Words that are either equivocal, or general, equally signifying several distinct Things, without any Marks of Difference or Distinction, by which we are enabled to judge which is meant, is not a Profession or Signification of any one of those several Things; nor can they afford any rational Ground of understanding or apprehending any particular Thing. Thus for Instance, if a Man using an equivocal Term, should say, that such an Evening a King was in that Room, without any Marks of Difference or Discrimination whatsoever, by which Others could discern whether by a King, he meant the Ruler of a Kingdom, or a King used in a Game of Chess: The Word thus used would be no Declaration, that the Head of a Kingdom was there at such a Time; nor would they give any Notice of any such Thing to those to whom he spoke, or give them any rational Ground to understand or judge any such Thing.
Posi. III. A Profession made in Words that are either equivocal, or general, equally signifying several distinct Things, without any Marks of Difference or Distinction, by which we are enabled to judge which is meant, is not a Profession or Siginfication of any one of those several Things; nor can they afford any rational Ground of understanding or apprehending any particular Thing. Thus for Instance, if a Man using an equivocal Term, should say, that such an Evening a King was in that Room, without any Marks of Difference or Discrimination whatsoever, by which Others could discern whether by a King, he meant the Ruler of a Kingdom, or a King used in a Game of Chess: The Word thus used would be no Declaration, that the Head of a Kingdom was there at such a Time; nor would they give any Notice of any such Thing to those to whom he spoke, or give them any rational Ground to understand or judge any such Thing.