N05401:43
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.
III. Mr. W. to make my Scheme appear the more ridiculous, does more than once represent it as my Opinion, that in Order to Persons being admitted into the Church, there ⟨p. 13⟩must be a Judgment of their being regenerate, founded on such a Degree of Evidence, as that it shall not be liable to be mistaken more than once in ten Times. Thus, P. 63. c. Mr. Edwards himself supposes, in his own Scheme, when he has made a positive Judgment that every one singly whom he admits into the Church is regenerate; yet, when taken collectively, it is probable one in ten will be an Hypocrite? So, P. 71. b. If any Thing be intended to the Purpose for which this Argument is brought, I conceive, it must mean, that there must be such a positive Judgment of the real Holiness of Persons, as is not mistaken more than once in ten Times. —Now, I desire the Reader to observe what is the whole Ground, on which he makes such a Representation. In explaining my Opinion, in the Beginning of my Inquiry (P. 6.) I desired it might be observed, that I did not suppose we ought to expect any such Degree of Certainty of the Godliness of those who are admitted into the Church, as that when the whole Number admitted are taken collectively, or considered in the Gross, we should have any Reason to suppose every one to be truly godly; tho' we might have Charity for each one that was admitted, taken singly, and by himself. And to show, that such a Thing was possible, I endeavoured to illustrate it by a Comparison, or supposed Case of Probability of ten to one, in the Example of certain Stones, with such probable Marks of a Diamond, as by Experience had been found not to fail more than once in ten Times. In which Case, if a particular Stone were found with those Marks, there would be a Probability of ten to one, with Respect to that Stone, singly taken, that it was genuine: But if ten such were taken together, there would not be the same Probability that every one of them was so; but in this Case, 'tis as likely as not, that some one in the Ten is spurious. Now 'tis so apparent, that this particular Degree of Probability of ten to one is mentioned only as a supposed Case, for Illustration, and because, in a particular Example, some Number or other must be mentioned, that it would have been an Affront to the Sense of my Readers to have added any Caution, that he should not understand me otherwise. However, Mr.
III. Mr. W. to make my Scheme appear the more ridiculous, does more than once represent it as my Opinion, that in Order to Persons being admitted into the Church, there