N05401:114
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.
Mr. W. says, Charity obliges the Church to understand the Words of the Professors in the most favourable Sense. But Charity does not oblige us to understand their Words in any other Sense than that in which they professedly use them. But in Churches which professedly act on Mr. W—ms's Scheme (if any such there be) the Professors who are admitted, professedly use ambiguous Words, or Words equally signifying two entirely distinct Things, without Discrimination or Marks of Difference; and therefore Charity obliges us to understand their Words no otherwise, than as signifying that they have one or other of those two Things; and not that they have One in particular: for their Words don't signify this, in the Sense they professedly use them. If a Man that is indebted to me, professes that he has either Gold or Brass, which he promises to pay Me; or if he uses an equivocal or general Term, that equally, and without Marks of Difference, signifies either one or the other; Charity may oblige Me to believe what he says, which is that he has either Gold or Brass: But no Charity obliges me to believe that he has Gold, which he does not say.
Mr. W. in his Description of such a Profession as Christ has instituted, in Order to Admission to Sacraments, often mentions two Things, viz. A Profession of something present, a present believing in Christ, and cordial Consent to the Terms of the Covenant of Grace, &c. And a Promise of something future. And with Regard to the latter, he is very full in it, that what is promised for Time to come is saving Faith, Repentance and Obedience. †Now what Reason can be given why we should use Words of double Meaning in the former Part of the Profession more than in the latter. Seeing Mr. W. allows that we must profess Gospel-Holiness as well as promise it, and seeing we may and must make Use of Words of indiscriminate & double Meaning in professing present Gospel Holiness, why should not we do so too in promising what is future; and so equivocate in our solemn Vows and Oaths as the Papists do? If Mr. W. says, 'tis ⟨p. 45⟩very hard for Men to discern the Discrimination between moral Sincerity and Gospel-Holiness; I answer, there is as much Need to discern the Difference in Order understandingly to promise Gospel-Holiness with Discrimination, as to profess it with Discrimination.