N05401:11
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.
Indeed if I misrepresent what he says, in order to make it appear in the worst Colours; altering his Words to another Sense, to make them appear more ridiculous; or adding other Words, that carry the Sense beyond the proper Import of his Words, to heighten the supposed Absurdity, and give me greater Advantage to exclaim; if I set my self to aggravate Matters, and strain them beyond Bounds, making mighty Things of mere Trifles; or if I use Exclamations and Invectives, instead of Arguments; then Mr. W. might have just Cause to complain, and the Reader would have just Reason for Disgust. But whether I have done so, or not, must be judged by the Reader; of whom I desire nothing more than the most impartial and exact Consideration of the Merits of the Cause, and Examination of the Force and Weight of every Argument. I desire, that no bitter reproachful Invectives, no vehement Exclamations, no supercilious assuming Words and Phrases may be taken for Reasoning, on either Side. If the Reader thinks he finds any such in what I have written, I am willing he should set 'em aside as nothing worth; carefully distinguishing between them, and the Strength of the Argument. I desire not, that the Cause should be judged of by the Skill which either Mr. W. or I do manifest, in flinging one at another.
Indeed if I misrepresent what he says, in order to make it appear in the worst Colours; altering his Words to another Sense, to make them appear more ridiculous; or adding other Words, that carry the Sense beyond the proper Import of his Words, to heighten the supposed Absurdity, and give me greater Advantage to exclaim; if I set my self to aggravate Matters, and strain them beyond Bounds, making mighty Things of meer Trifles; or if I use Exclamations and Invectives, instead of Arguments; then Mr. W. might have just Cause to complain, and the Reader would have just Reason for Disgust. But whether I have done so, or not, must be judged by the Reader; of whom I desire nothing more than the most impartial and exact Consideration of the Merits of the Cause, and Examination of the Force and Weight of every Argument. I desire, that no bitter reproachful Invectives, no vehement Exclamations, no supercilious assuming Words and Phrases may be taken for Reasoning, on either Side. If the Reader thinks he finds any such in what I have written, I am willing he should set 'em aside as nothing worth; carefully distinguishing between them, and the Strength of the Argument. I desire not, that the Cause should be judged of by the Skill which either Mr. W. or I do manifest, in flinging one at another.