N05401:154
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.
And for the greater Clearness, let it be observed what Sincerity in general is. Now Sincerity, in the general Notion of it, is An honest Conformity of some Profession or outward Show of some inward Property or Act of Mind, to the Truth and Reality of it. If there be a Show or Pretence of what is not, and has no real Existence, then the Pretence is altogether vain; it is only a Pretence, and nothing else: And therefore is a Pretence or Show without any Sincerity, of any Kind, either moral or gracious.
And for the greater Clearness, let it be observed what Sincerity in general is. Now Sincerity, in the general Notion of it, is An honest Conformity of some Profession or outward Shew of some inward Property or Act of Mind, to the Truth and Reality of it. If there be a Shew or Pretence of what is not, and has no real Existence, then the Pretence is altogether vain; it is only a Pretence, and nothing else: And therefore is a Pretence or Shew without any Sincerity, of any Kind, either moral or gracious.
I now proceed to offer the following Arguments against the Notion of moral Sincerity's being the Qualification, which gives a lawful Right to Sacraments.
I. There is no such Thing as moral Sincerity, in the Covenant of Grace, distinct from gracious Sincerity. If any Sincerity at all be requisite in Order to a Title to the Seals of the Covenant of Grace, doubtless 'tis the Sincerity which belongs to that Covenant. But there is only one Sort of Sincerity which belongs to that Covenant; and that is a gracious Sincerity: The Covenant or Grace has nothing to do with any other Sincerity. There is but one Sort of Faith belonging to that Covenant; and this is saving Faith in Jesus Christ, called in Scripture unfeigned Faith. As for the Faith of Devils, it is not the Faith of the Covenant of Grace.