N05401:244
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.
When the Devil brought in the Tares, 'tis manifest, he brought in something that did not belong there; and therein counteracted the Owner of the Field, and did it under that very Notion of crossing his Design. An Enemy (says the Parable) hath done this. But how does this consist with the Tares having a lawful Right, by the Owner's Warrant and Appointment, to have a Standing in his Field? If CHRIST by his Institution has, in Mercy to unsanctified Men, given 'em a lawful Right to come into the Church, that it may be a Means of their Conversion; then 'tis a Work of his Kindness, as the compassionate Redeemer of Souls, to bring 'em in; and not the Doing of the great Enemy & Destroyer of Souls. If the great Physician of Souls has built his Church, as an Infirmary, in Compassion to those that are sick, for this End that they may be brought in and healed there; shall it be said with Surprise, when such are found there, How came these sick People HERE! And shall the compassionate Physician, who built the Hospital, make Answer, An Enemy hath done This!
When the Devil brought in the Tares, 'tis manifest, he brought in something that did not belong there; and therein counteracted the Owner of the Field, and did it under that very Notion of crossing his Design. An Enemy (says the Parable) hath done this. But how does this consist with the Tares having a lawful Right, by the Owner's Warrant and Appointment, to have a Standing in his Field? If CHRIST by his Institution has, in Mercy to unsanctified Men, given 'em a lawful Right to come into the Church, that it may be a Means of their Conversion; then 'tis a Work of his Kindness, as the compassionate Redeemer of Souls, to bring 'em in; and not the Doing of the great Enemy & Destroyer of Souls. If the great Physician of Souls has built his Church, as an Infirmary, in Compassion to those that are sick, for this End that they may be brought in and heal'd there; shall it be said with Surprize, when such are found there, How came these sick People HERE! And shall the compassionate Physician, who built the Hospital, make Answer, An Enemy hath done This!
Besides, if Christ has appointed that unsanctified Men should come into the Church, in Order to their Conversion, it would be an Instance of the Faithfulness of his Servants to bring in such. But the bringing in Tares into the Field, is not represented as owing to the Faithfulness and Watchfulness of the Servants; but on the contrary, is ascribed to their Sleepiness and Remissness: They were brought in while they slept, who ought to have done the Part of Watch-men, in keeping 'em out, and preventing the Designs of the subtle Enemy that brought 'em in.— Perhaps some would be ready to make the Reflection, that those Churches whose Practice is agreeable to the loose Principles Mr. W. espouses, do that at Noon-Day, in the Presence of God, Angels & Men, which the Devil did in the dead of the Night, while Men slept!