N05401:125
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. tho' he holds, that 'tis lawful for some unsanctified Men to come to Sacraments, yet supposes it not to be lawful for those that are Lukewarm in Religion to come. (P. 35. d. e.) So that according to his Scheme some unsanctified Professors are above Lukewarmness: that is to say, their Hearts within 'em are truly hot or fervent with Christian Zeal, and they such as Christ will never spue out of his Mouth; in a great Inconsistence with the Scripture. He suggests, that it is an Injury done to the Cause of Truth, in Me, to represent Mr. Stoddard as being of another Opinion. (P. 35 c. d. e.) But let us see whether such a Representation be an Injury to Truth or no. Mr. S. taught, that natural Men have no Sincerity in 'em. (Guide to Christ. P. 60.61.) That their Hearts are dead as a Stone, that there is no Disposition or Inclination to any Thing that is good, but a total Emptiness of all Goodness. (Ibid. P. 63. b.) That some of them have considerable Shows of Goodness, there is an Appearance of good Desires, &c. but there is nothing of Goodness in all this; that all they do is in Hypocrisy. ⟨p. 51⟩Benef. of the Gos. P. 73. d. c.) That they are acted by a Lust of Self-love in all their Religion;—If they are swept & garnished, they are empty: There may be some Similitude of Faith & Love, but no Reality, not a Spark of Goodness in their Hearts; tho' Corruption may be restrained, yet it reigns. He speaks abundantly to the same Purpose in his Sermon, entitled, Natural Men are under the Government of Self-Love.
Mr. W. tho' he holds, that 'tis lawful for some unsanctified Men to come to Sacraments, yet supposes it not to be lawful for those that are Lukewarm in Religion to come. (P. 35. d. e.) So that according to his Scheme some unsanctified Professors are above Lukewarmness: that is to say, their Hearts within 'em are truly hot or fervent with Christian Zeal, and they such as Christ will never spue out of his Mouth; in a great Inconsistence with the Scripture. He suggests, that it is an Injury done to the Cause of Truth, in Me, to represent Mr. Stoddard as being of another Opinion. (P. 35 c. d. e.) But let us see whether such a Representation be an Injury to Truth or no. Mr. S. taught, that natural Men have no Sincerity in 'em. (Guide to Christ. P. 60.61.) That their Hearts are dead as a Stone, that there is no Disposition or Inclination to any Thing that is good, but a total Emptiness of all Goodness. (Ibid. P. 63. b.) That some of them have considerable Shews of Goodness, there is an Appearance of good Desires, &c. but there is nothing of Goodness in all this; that all they do is in Hypocrisy.