N05401:247
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.
Mr. W—ms's second Answer (P. 70. b.) is no less impertinent; viz. That Men's Right to Communion in Gospel-Ordinances don't depend upon the Corruptions of other Men, in their forbearing to love 'em. As if my Argument were, that unless Men are actually loved, as true Saints, they have no Right to Communion! Whereas, the Argument was very diverse, viz. That unless Men have a Right to be so loved, they have no Right to Communion. If Men have an Appearance▪ to Reason, of being true Saints, they may have a Right to be loved as true Saints, and to be admitted as such; however corrupt and void of Love other Men are: but without such an Appearance to Reason, 'tis no Corruption, not to love 'em as ⟨p. 105⟩true Saints; unless it be corrupt, not to act without Reason.†
- †A good Argument might also be drawn from the Corruption of unsanctified Men; for that they are all so under the Power of Corruption, that they are not able to love Saints, or any one else, with truly Christian Love. Agreeable to what Mr. Stood ▪ says in his Three Sermons (P. 40.) Men are obliged to love their Neighbours as themselves. But no natural Men do in any Measure live up to that Rule; but Men are great Enemies one to another, hateful and hating one another. They do but little Good one to another: They do a great Deal of Hurt one to another. Now is it reasonable to suppose, that such Men have the proper Qualifications▪ by divine Institution, for a lawful Right to be Members of the visible Family of God?A good Argument might also be drawn from the Corruption of unsanctified Men; for that they are all so under the Power of Corruption, that they are not able to love Saints, or any one else, with truly Christian Love. Agreable to what Mr. Stod ▪ says in his Three Sermons (P. 40.) Men are obliged to love their Neighbours as themselves. But no natural Men do in any Measure live up to that Rule; but Men are great Enemies one to another, hateful and hating one another. They do but little Good one to another: They do a great Deal of Hurt one to another. Now is it reasonable to suppose, that such Men have the proper Qualifications by divine Institution, for a lawful Right to be Members of the visible Family of God?