N05401:198
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 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.)
Now I desire this Matter may be looked into, and thoroughly examined.— Not only the holy Scriptures, and agreeable to them, Mr. Stoddard, and sound Divines in general teach us, but Mr. W. himself maintains, that Men who are unsanctified, do for the present refuse and oppose these Things. In a forecited Place of his Sermon on Isai. xlv.11. our Author says, that unregenerate and unsanctified Men oppose all Means for the bringing them to these Things, are willingly without 'em, and labour to find out all manner of Difficulties and Hindrances in the Way of 'em; and if they pray for 'em, don't desire they should come yet, but would stay a while longer. Now, how is this consistent with such Persons promising, with any Sincerity at all, that they will comply with and perform these Things immediately, from henceforth, without staying one Moment longer? If God calls a Man this Moment to yield his whole Heart to him in Faith, Love and new Obedience; and if he in Answer to the Call solemnly promises and swears