N05401:197
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.
So that now we have the Scheme in a true View of it. — The Pharisees and Sadducees that John baptized, whom Mr. W. supposes John knew to be not of a good moral Character, and whose Doctrinal Knowledge he did not inquire into before he baptized 'em; because they had before been admitted in their Ancestors; even These were visible Saints, and such as John had rational Ground to think had sufficient doctrinal Knowledge and were orthodox and real Saints, having moral Evidence that they had Gospel-Holiness, because Adam their original Ancestor made a Profession of Religion, in Words of double Meaning, without any Marks of Distinction or Discrimination, by which any might know their Meaning!
And if we should go back no further than Abraham, it would not much mend the Matter; supposing the Case had been so, that we had the Words of both Abraham's & Adam's Profession written down in our Bibles: whereas, we have neither; no, nor have we the Words of the Profession of any one Person, either in the Old Testament or New, at their being taken into the Church, if the Things which Mr. W. says are true; tho' he speaks so often of Professions, and Words of Professions, and Declarations, made on such Occasions, as if we had an express Account of 'em in Scripture.
V. As our Author abundantly maintains, that unsanctified Men in covenanting with God, may and do promise the Exercise of saving Faith, Repentance, Love, &c. So he holds, that they promise to begin the Exercise of these Graces immediately, from this Moment, and to live in them from henceforth. (P. 25. c, e. & 26. a. & 28. a. c. •6. a, b.)