N05401:302
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.
In supporting the Argument from John's Baptism, he insists, that the Profession the People made, did not imply, that they had savingly repented: and that John openly supposed, that their Profession did not imply it, in what he said to 'em. (P. 97. a, b, c.)— And in P. 98. a, b. he says, We read not a Word of John's enquiring whether these People made a credible Profession of true Piety. And he there manifestly suggests, that John knew they were not pious, as he knew they were a Generation of Vipers. Yet how often elsewhere does Mr. W. insist, that Men in Order to come to Sacraments must make a credible Profession of true Piety and Gospel-Holiness, and that they must in a Judgment of Charity be supposed to have real Godliness?
In answer to my Argument from the Instance of the Converts in Acts ii. Mr. W. speaking of their Convictions, and being pricked in their Heart, (P. 45. c, d, e.) says, They were convinced that Jesus was the true Messiah & Saviour, whom God had promised to Israel, — whereupon convinced of their Sin, they cry out, What shall we do? To which the Apostle replies, Repent and be baptized,—in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Remission of Sins. — There is ⟨p. 128⟩not one Word said about any other Faith, but believing that Jesus was the Messiah. —And in the two next Pages Mr. W. insists, that their gladly receiving the Word can by no Necessity from the Text imply more, than that they now believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and that it was Matter of Joy to 'em that the Messiah was come.—So that we have this inconsistent Account of the Matter from Mr. W. That these People are first convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, and this is Cause of Distress to 'em: and they ask▪ What they shall do? Hereupon the Apostles direct 'em to believe that Jesus is the Messiah; which they believed already, before they asked the Question: but however, when they heard this, They believed that Jesus was the Messiah; They now found it out, as a new Thing they did not know of before, and are glad at the joyful Discovery; tho' just before they believed the same Thing, and the Discovery filled them with Distress.