N05401:41
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.
Now 'tis in this Sense I use the Phrase, positive Judgment, viz. In Opposition to a mere negative Charity; as I very plainly express the Matter, and particularly & fully explain my self in stating the Question. In my Inquiry (P. 5.) I have the following Words: By Christian Judgment, I intend something further than a Kind of mere negative Charity, implying that we forbear to censure and condemn a Man, because we don't know but that he may be godly, and ⟨p. 11⟩therefore forbear to proceed on the Foot of such a Censure or Judgment in our Treatment of Him; as we would kindly entertain a Stranger, not knowing but, in so doing, we entertain an Angel, or precious Saint of God: But I mean a positive Judgment, founded on some positive Appearance or Visibility, some outward Manifestation that ordinarily renders the Thing probable. There is a Difference between suspending our Judgment, or forbearing to condemn, or having some Hope that possibly the Thing may be so, and so hoping the best, and a positive Judgment in Favour of a Person. For a having some Hope, only implies, that a Man is not in utter Despair of a Thing; tho' his prevailing Opinion may be otherwise, or he may suspend his Opinion.
Now 'tis in this Sense I use the Phrase, positive Judgment, viz. In Opposition to a meer negative Charity; as I very plainly express the Matter, and particularly & fully explain my self in stating the Question. In my Inquiry (P. 5.) I have the following Words: By Christian Judgment, I intend something further than a Kind of meer negative Charity, implying that we forbear to censure and condemn a Man, because we don't know but that he may be godly, and ⟨p. 11⟩therefore forbear to proceed on the Foot of such a Censure or Judgment in our Treatment of Him; as we would kindly entertain a Stranger, not knowing but, in so doing, we entertain an Angel, or precious Saint of God: But I mean a positive Judgment, founded on some positive Appearance or Visibility, some outward Manifestation that ordinarily renders the Thing probable. There is a Difference between suspending our Judgment, or forbearing to condemn, or having some Hope that possibly the Thing may be so, and so hoping the best, and a positive Judgment in Favour of a Person. For a having some Hope, only implies, that a Man is not in utter Despair of a Thing; tho' his prevailing Opinion may be otherwise, or he may suspend his Opinion.