N05401:162
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.
But now 'tis not reasonable to suppose, that the Seal of the Covenant belongs to any Man, as a Party in the Covenant, who will not accept of and comply with the Covenant. He that rejects the Covenant, and won't comply with it, has no Interest in it: And he that has no Interest in the Covenant, has no Right to the Seals: For the Covenant and it's Seals go together. 'Tis so in all Covenants among Mankind; after a Man has come into a Bargain proposed and offered by another, yielding to the Terms of it, he has a Right to have the Bargain sealed, and confirmed to Him, as a Party in the Covenant; but not before.
But now 'tis not reasonable to suppose, that the Seal of the Covenant belongs to any Man, as a Party in the Covenant, who will not accept of and comply with the Covenant. He that rejects the Covenant, and won't comply with it, has no Interest in it: And he that has no Interest in the Covenant, has no Right to the Seals: For the Covenant and it's Seals go together. 'Tis so in all Covenants among Mankind; after a Man has come into a Bargain proposed and offered by another, yielding to the Terms of it, he has a Right to have the Bargain seal'd, and confirmed to Him, as a Party in the Covenant; but not before.
And if what the Communicant does, be a Seal on his Part also, as the Nature of the Thing demonstrates, seeing he is active in the Matter, and as Mr. W. seems willing to allow (P. 75.) it will follow, with equal Evidence, that a Man can't lawfully partake, unless he yields to, and complies with the Covenant. To what Purpose is a Man's sealing an Instrument or Contract, but to confirm it as his own Act and Deed, and to declare his Compliance with his Part of the Contract. As when a Servant seals his Indenture, 'tis a Testimony and Ratification of his Compliance to the proposed Contract with his Master. And if a Covenant of Friendship be proposed between two Parties, and they both put their Seal to it, hereby they both testify and declare their mutual Friendship.