N05401:262
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.
SECTION VI. Instances of the seventh Particular observed in Mr. W—ms's Way of disputing, viz. His wholly overlooking Arguments, pretending there is no Argument, nothing to answer; when the Case is far otherwise.
THUS in his Reply to my tenth Argument, which was this, It is necessary, that those who partake of the Lord's Supper, should judge themselves truly and cordially to accept of Christ as their Saviour, and chief Good; for this is what the Actions, which Communicants perform at the Lord's Table, are a solemn Profession of. I largely endeavoured (in P. 75, 76, & 77.) to prove this, from the Nature of those significant Actions, of receiving the Symbols of Christ's Body and Blood when offered, representing their accepting the Thing signified, as their spiritual Food▪ &c. To all which Mr. W. says (P. 74. a.) I don't find that Mr. Edwards has said any Thing to prove the Proposition, which is the whole Argument offered here in ⟨p. 113⟩Proof of the Point proposed to be proved, but only gives his Opinion, or Paraphrase of the Purport and Nature of the Sacramental Actions. — Since Mr. W. esteems it no Argument, I desire it may be considered impartially whether there be any Argument in it or no.
These Sacramental Actions all allow to be significant Actions: They are a Signification & Profession of something: They are not Actions without a Meaning. And all allow, that these external Actions signify something inward and spiritual. And if they signify any Thing spiritual, they doubtless signify those spiritual Things which they represent. But what inward Thing does the outward Taking or Accepting the Body and Blood of Christ represent, but the inward accepting Christ's Body and Blood, or an accepting him in the Heart? And what spiritual Thing is the outward Feeding on Christ in this Ordinance a Sign of, but a spiritual Feeding on Christ, or the Soul's Feeding on Him? Now there is no other Way of the Soul's feeding on him, but by that Faith, by which Christ becomes our spiritual Food, and the Refreshment and vital Nourishment of our Souls. The outward eating and drinking in this Ordinance is a Sign of spiritual eating and drinking, as much as the outward Bread in this Ordinance is a Sign of spiritual Bread; or as much as the outward Drink is a Sign of spiritual Drink. And doubtless those Actions, if they are a Profession of any Thing at all, are a Profession of the Things they signify.