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

MY first Reply to this Objection was, that 'tis for Want of like Tenderness of Conscience, that the other Doctrine which insists on moral Sincerity, don't naturally bring such as are received on those Principles, into as great Perplexities.— Mr. Williams in his Animadversion upon it says, This is an Assertion which I take to be contrary to common Sense, and the Experience of Mankind; and the allowing of it to be true, must overthrow the Law of Nature, & cast infinite Reproach upon the Author of it.

These are strong Expressions; but let us bring the Matter to the Test of Reason.—The necessary Qualification, on Mr. W—ms's Principles, is moral Sincerity, and a certain Degree of moral Sincerity. For there is scarcely any Man, that lives under the Light of the Gospel, and is not an Atheist, or Deist, but what has some Degree of moral Sincerity, in some Things pertaining to Christianity and his Duty; some Degree of common Faith, some Degree of Conviction of the Need of Christ, some Desire of Him, and moral Willingness, tho' from selfish Considerations, to be good; and some Purpose to endeavour a Conformity to the Covenant of Grace, and to seek Salvation on the Terms of it. But how shall a Man know, what is a sufficient Degree of these ⟨p. 160⟩Things? Mr. W. has determined the Matter thus; That his Belief of the Doctrine of the Gospel, and moral Willingness to be conformed to the Covenant of Grace, must be with his WHOLE Heart, (P. 49. e. P. 5. c. 36. a.) And that his Conviction of his undone State without Christ must be deep; And his Desire of Christ and his Benefits fervent, and his Purpose earnest, (P. 75. e. P. 11. c.) so as to induce him to enter into Covenant with ALL the Earnestness he can, and engage him to use Endeavours with ALL the Strength & Power that he has. (P. 83. e. P. 32. d. P. 36. a.)

Now, how exceeding difficult must it be for unsanctified Men to determine, with any Assurance, whether they have moral Sincerity to such a Degree?—How difficult for them to know, whether their Convictions are thus deep? Every one that is used to deal with Souls under Conviction, knows, that when they are indeed under deep Convictions, they are especially apt to complain of the Hardness of their Hearts, and to think their Convictions are not deep.—How difficult to determine, with any Assurance, whether their Assent rises so high, that they can truly be said to believe with all their Hearts? Whether their moral Willingness to be conformed to the Covenant of Grace, be with their whole Heart? And whether they are really engaged with all the Solicitude they can, and are willing to do all that they can? These Things, I am pretty sure, are of vastly more difficult Determination, than whether a Man has any true Holiness, or not. For in the former Case, the Determination is concerning the Degree of Things, that are capable of an infinite Variety of Degrees; some of which are nearer to, and others are further from, the lowest sufficient Degree: And consequently some of the Degrees that are not sufficient, may yet be very near; which renders the Matter of very difficult Determination; unspeakably more so, than when what is to be distinguished, is the Nature of Things, which in all Degrees is widely diverse, and even contrary to that which it is to be distinguished from: As is the Case between saving and common Grace; which Mr. W. himself acknowledges.