Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…

Name: Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…
Author: Jonathan Edwards

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]

Jonathan Edwards 1703–1758Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1752

[2], iv, 173, [5] p. ; 22 cm. (8vo) · 69k words · Evans 6839

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Misrepresentations corrected, and Truth vindicated. › Part 2 › Section 4: Concerning Mr. W—ms's Notion of a public Profession of Godliness in Terms of an indete…Misrepresentations corrected, and Truth vindicated. › Part 2 › Section 4: Concerning Mr. W—ms's Notion of a publick Profession of Godliness in Terms of an indete…

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.

[ Earlier:112–127 of 413

:112p. 44–45

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.

†Pref. (P. 3. d. e. & 5. d. P. 24. b. 25. b. 22. d. •7. a. 58. d. 69▪ d.

:113p. 45–46

Mr. W. says (P. 8. b. c.) 'Tis a received Rule among Mankind, in all public Judgments, to interpret Words in the most extensive and favourable Sense, that the Nature of the Words or Expressions will bear. I know not what he means: But if he means (as he must, if he means any Thing to the Purpose) that 'tis a received Rule amongst Mankind, to trust, or accept, or at all regard any Professions or Declarations that Men make, with professed Design, in Words of double and indiscriminate Meaning, without any Marks of Difference by which their Meaning can be known, for that very End that they may be used with a safe Conscience, tho' they have no Dictates of their own Consciences, that they have that which others are to believe they have; I say, if this be a received Rule among Mankind, 'tis a Rule that Mankind has lately received from Mr. W. Heretofore Mankind, Societies or particular Persons, would have been counted very foolish for regarding such Professions. Is this the Way in earthly Kingdoms, in Professions of Allegiance to temporal Princes, in Order to their Admission to the Privileges of good Subjects? Do they choose equivocal Terms to put into their Oaths of Allegiance, to that End that Men may use 'em and speak true, tho' they are secret Enemies? — There are two Competitors for the Kingdom of this World, Christ and Satan; The Design of a public Profession of Religion is, to declare on which Side Men are. And is it agreeable to the Custom of Mankind in such Cases, to make Laws that no other than ambiguous Words shall be used, or to accept of such in Declarations of this Kind? There are two Competitors for the Kingdom of Great-Britain, King GEORGE, and the Pretender: Is it the Constitution of King George and the British Parliament, that Men should take Oaths of Allegiance, contrived in Words of indeterminate Signification, to the End that Men who are in their Hearts Enemies to King George, and Friends to the Pretender, may use them and speak true? And certainly

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…

SECTION V. Showing that Mr. Williams, in supposing that unsanctified Men may profess such Things, as he allows must be professed, and yet speak true, is inconsistent with Mr. Stoddard, and with himself.

SECTION V. Shewing that Mr. Williams, in supposing that unsanctified Men may profess such Things, as he allows must be profess'd, and yet speak true, is inconsistent with Mr. Stoddard, and with himself.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

SECTION V. Showing that Mr. Williams, in supposing that unsanctified Men may profess such Things, as he allows must be professed, and yet speak true, is inconsistent with Mr. Stoddard, and with himself.

SECTION V. Shewing that Mr. Williams, in supposing that unsanctified Men may profess such Things, as he allows must be profess'd, and yet speak true, is inconsistent with Mr. Stoddard, and with himself.

Transcription key