N05401:316
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.
I endeavoured to prove, that That brotherly Love, which is required towards the Members of the Christian Church in general, is such a Love as is required to those only whom we have Reason to look upon as true Saints. Mr. W. disputes, through' two Pages, (P. 66, 67) against the Force of my Reasoning to prove this Point; and yet when he has done, he allows the Point. He allows it (P. 68. d, e.) as an undisputed Thing, that 'tis the Image of God and Christ appearing or supposed to be in others, that is the Ground and Reason of this Love. And so again (P. 71. d, e.) he grants, that there must be some Apprehension, and Judgment of the Mind, of the Saintship of Persons, in Order to this brotherly Love. Indeed he pretends to differ from me in this, that he denies the Need of any positive Judgment: But doubtless the Judgment ⟨p. 134⟩or Apprehension of the Mind must be as positive as the Love founded on that Apprehension & Judgment of the Mind.
I endeavoured to prove, that That brotherly Love, which is required towards the Members of the Christian Church in general, is such a Love as is required to those only whom we have Reason to look upon as true Saints. Mr. W. disputes, thro' two Pages, (P. 66, 67) against the Force of my Reasoning to prove this Point; and yet when he has done, he allows the Point. He allows it (P. 68. d, e.) as an undisputed Thing, that 'tis the Image of God and Christ appearing or supposed to be in others, that is the Ground and Reason of this Love. And so again (P. 71. d, e.) he grants, that there must be some Apprehension, and Judgment of the Mind, of the Saintship of Persons, in Order to this brotherly Love. Indeed he pretends to differ from me in this, that he denies the Need of any positive Judgment: But doubtless the Judgment ⟨p. 134⟩or Apprehension of the Mind must be as positive as the Love founded on that Apprehension & Judgment of the Mind.
In P. 78, 79. He seems to insist, that what the Apostle calls unworthy Communicating, is eating in a greedy, disorderly and irreverent Manner: as tho' Men might communicate without Grace, and yet not communicate unworthily, in the Apostle's Sense. But if so, the Apostle differed much in his Sense of Things from Mr. W.— The latter says, in his Sermon on Christ a King and Witness, (P. 77, 78.) These outward Acts of Worship, when not performed from Faith in Christ, and Love to God, are mocking God, — in their own Nature a Lie,— The vilest Wickedness;— instead of being that Religion, which Christ requires, 'tis infinitely contrary to it,— The most flagrant & abominable Impiety, & threatened with the severest Damnation. Is not this a Communicating unworthily enough of all Reason!