Misrepresentations corrected, and truth vindicated. In a reply to the Rev. Mr. Solomon Williams's…

So we allow it to be needful, after Persons have fallen into Scandal, that in manifesting Repentance there should be a verbal Profession, besides attending Duties of Worship. Earthly Princes won't trust a Profession of Allegiance, in Actions only, such as bowing, kneeling, keeping the King's Birth Day, &c. but they require also a Profession in Words, and an Oath of Allegiance is demanded. Yea, it is thought to be reasonably demanded, in Order to Men's coming to the actual Possession and Enjoyment of those Privileges, they are born Heirs to. Thus, the eldest Sons of Noble-Men in Great-Britain, are born Heirs to the Honours and Estate of their Fathers; yet this no Way hinders but they may be obliged, when they come to Ripeness of Age, in Order to a being invested in the actual Possession, to take the Oath of Allegiance: tho' in Order to their lawful doing it, it may be necessary they should believe in their Hearts, that King GEORGE is the lawful Prince, and that they should not be Enemies to Him, and Friends to the Pretender, in their Hearts.

But moreover, If this Objection of Mr. W. about Infants being born in the Church be well considered, it will appear to be all beside the Question, and so nothing to the Purpose. It is not to the Purpose of either of the Questions, Mr. W—ms's or Mine. The Question as I have stated it, is concerning them that may be admitted Members in complete Standing; not about them that have a complete Standing in the Church already, and so are no Candidates for Admission; which▪ he says, is the Case of these Infants. And the Question as He often states it, is concerning them that may lawfully come: And this Objection, from Infants being born in the Church, as it must be understood from Mr. W. don't touch this Question. For when Mr. W. objects, that some Persons are born in the Church, and therefore may lawfully come to Sacraments, he can't be understood to mean, that their being born in the Church alone is sufficient; but that, besides this, Persons must have some Virtue or Religion, of one Sort or ⟨p. 150⟩other, in order to their lawful coming. For he is full in it, that it is not lawful for Men to come without moral Virtue and Sincerity. Therefore the Question comes to this in the Result: Seeing Persons, besides their being born in Covenant, must have some Sort of Virtue and Religion, in order to a lawful coming to the Lord's Supper, What Sort of Virtue and Religion that is, whether common or saving? Now this Question is not touched by the present Objection. Merely Persons being born in Covenant, is no more Evidence of their having moral Sincerity, than saving Grace. Yea, there is more Reason to suppose the latter, than the former without it, in the Infant Children of believing Parents. For the Scripture gives us Ground to think, that some Infants have the Habit of saving Grace, and that they have a new Nature given them; But no Reason at all to think, that ever God works any mere moral Change, in them, or infuses any Habits of moral Virtue without saving Grace: And we know, They can't come by moral Habits in Infancy, any other Way than by immediate Infusion: They can't obtain them by human Instruction, nor contract them by Use and Custom. And especially there's no Reason to think, that the Children of such as are visible Saints, according to Mr. W—m's Scheme, have any Goodness infused into them by God, of any Kind.