N05401:145
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.
SECTION VII. Concerning the Lord's Supper's being a converting Ordinance.
THO' Mr. W. holds, that none are to be admitted to the Lord's Supper, but such as make a credible Pretence or Profession of real Godliness, and are to be admitted under ⟨p. 61⟩that Notion, and with Respect to such a Character appearing on them; yet he holds at the same Time, that the Lord's Supper is a converting Ordinance, an Ordinance designed for the bringing of some Men that have not such a Character, to be of such a Character. (P. 14. c, d. P. 15. P 35. a, b. P. 83. b. P. 100. e. 101. a. 126, 127.) 'Tis evident, that the Meaning of those Divines who speak of the Lord's Supper as a converting Ordinance, is not merely that God in his Sovereign Providence will use it as an Occasion of the Conversion of some; but that 'tis a converting Means by his Institution given to Men, appointing them to use it for this Purpose. Thus Mr. Stoddard expressly declares, That the Lord's Supper is INSTITUTED to be a Means of Regeneration, (Doct. of inst. Churches, P. 22. a.) INSTITUTED for the Conversion of Sinners, as well as the Confirmation of Saints; (Appeal P. 70. c. P. 71. a.) That the direct End of it is Conversion, when the Subject that it is administered unto, stands in Need of Conversion. (Ibid. P. 73, 74.) And thus Mr. W. after Mr. S. speaks of the Lord's Supper as by Christ's APPOINTMENT a proper Means of the Conversion of some that are unconverted; (P. 100. e. 101. a.) So he speaks of it as instituted for the Conversion of Sinners, through' P. 126, & 127.
THO' Mr. W. holds, that none are to be admitted to the Lord's Supper, but such as make a credible Pretence or Profession of real Godliness, and are to be admitted under ⟨p. 61⟩that Notion, and with Respect to such a Character appearing on them; yet he holds at the same Time, that the Lord's Supper is a converting Ordinance, an Ordinance designed for the bringing of some Men that have not such a Character, to be of such a Character. (P. 14. c, d. P. 15. P 35. a, b. P. 83. b. P. 100. e. 101. a. 126, 127.) 'Tis evident, that the Meaning of those Divines who speak of the Lord's Supper as a converting Ordinance, is not meerly that God in his Sovereign Providence will use it as an Occasion of the Conversion of some; but that 'tis a converting Means by his Institution given to Men, appointing them to use it for this Purpose. Thus Mr. Stoddard expresly declares, That the Lord's Supper is INSTITUTED to be a Means of Regeneration, (Doct. of inst. Churches, P. 22. a.) INSTITUTED for the Conversion of Sinners, as well as the Confirmation of Saints; (Appeal P. 70. c. P. 71. a.) That the direct End of it is Conversion, when the Subject that it is administer'd unto, stands in Need of Conversion. (Ibid. P. 73, 74.) And thus Mr. W. after Mr. S. speaks of the Lord's Supper as by Christ's APPOINTMENT a proper Means of the Conversion of some that are unconverted; (P. 100. e. 101. a.) So he speaks of it as instituted for the Conversion of Sinners, thro' P. 126, & 127.