N05401:367
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.
Again, I observed, that according to Mr. S—d's Doctrine, not one unconverted Man in the World can know, that he has Warrant to come to the Lord's Supper; Because, if he has any Warrant, God has given him Warrant in the Scriptures: And therefore if any unconverted Man, not only thinks, but knows, that he has Warrant from God, he must of Consequence not only think, but know the Scriptures to be the Word of GOD. Whereas, it was the constant Doctrine of Mr. S. That no unconverted Man knows the Scriptures to be the Word of God. *— But Mr. W. ⟨p. 156⟩would make it out, that Mr. S. did hold, unconverted Men might know the Scriptures to be the Word of God; but only not know it with a gracious Knowledge, such as effectually bowed Men's Hearts, and influenced 'em to a gracious Obedience. (P. 113. b.) But let us see whether it was so, or not. Mr. S. in his Nature of saving Conversion (P. 73.) says, The carnal Man is ignorant of the divine Authority of the Word of God;— His Wound is, that he don't know certainly the divine Authority of these Institutions; he does not know but they are the Inventions of Men. Again (Ibid. P. 74.) he says, The carnal Man is uncertain of those Things that are the Foundation of his Reasonings. He thinks, there is a great Probability of the Truth of these Things; but he has no Assurance. His Principles are grounded on an uncertain Proposition. And he observes (P. 20.) Men when converted, don't look on it as probable, that the Word is his Word, as they did before; but they have Assurance of the Truth of it. — So elsewhere (Guide to Christ, P. 26.) They that have not Grace, don't properly believe the Word of GOD. — And in another Book (Safety of Ap. P. 6.) The Gospel always works effectually where it is believed, and received as the Truth of GOD. — In another Book (Benef. of the Gos. P. 149.) Common Illumination don't convince Men of the Truth of the Gospel. — In his Discourse on the Virtue of Christ's Blood (P. 27.) speaking of such as have no Interest in the Blood of Christ, he says, They are Strangers to the divine Authority of the Word of GOD. Again (Ibid. P. 16.) Before [i. e before saving Faith] they were at a Loss whether the Word was the Word of GOD. — To the like Purpose are many other Passages in his Writings. (See Nat. of say. Conv. P. 72. Safety of Ap. P. 6, 7, 99, 107, 186, 187, 229.— Benef. of the Gosp. P. 89.)
Again, I observed, that according to Mr. S—d's Doctrine, not one unconverted Man in the World can know, that he has Warrant to come to the Lord's Supper; Because, if he has any Warrant, God has given him Warrant in the Scriptures: And therefore if any unconverted Man, not only thinks, but knows, that he has Warrant from God, he must of Consequence not only think, but know the Scriptures to be the Word of GOD. Whereas, it was the constant Doctrine of Mr. S. That no unconverted Man knows the Scriptures to be the Word of God.