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

IV. Another Thing, yet further from what is honourable in Mr. W. is This; That, whereas I said as above, that there ought to be a prevailing Opinion concerning those that are admitted, taken singly, or by themselves, that they are truly godly or gracious, tho' when we look on the whole Number in the Gross, we are far from determining that every one is a true Saint, and that not one of the Judgments we have passed, has been mistaken; Mr. W. because I used the Phrase singly taken, has laid hold on the Expression, and from thence has taken Occasion to insinuate to his Readers, as if my Scheme were so very extravagant, that according to this, when a great Multitude are admitted, their Admitters must be confident of EVERY ONE's being regenerated. Hence he observes, (P. 98. c.) There is no Appearance, that John made a positive Judgment that every one of these People were regenerated. Plainly using the Expression as a very strong one; leading the Reader to suppose, I insist the Evidence shall be so clear, that when such a vast Multitude as John baptized are viewed, the Admitter should be peremptory in it, that his Judgment has not failed so much as in a single Instance; the very Reverse of what I had expressed. In like Manner, Mr. W. treats the Matter from Time to Time. As in P. 55. a. The Thing to be proved from hence is, that the Apostles and primitive Christians, not only thought that these Persons were Christians, by Reason of their external Calling, & professed Compliance with the Call; but had formed a positive Judgment concerning EVERY ONE OF THEM ⟨p. 15⟩SINGLY, that they were real Saints. Here the Expression is plainly used as a very strong one; as implying much more than esteeming so great a Multitude, when taken in the Gross to be generally true Saints, and with a manifest Design to carry the same Idea in the Mind of the Reader as was before mentioned. See another like ••••ance P. 62. c.

IV. Another Thing, yet further from what is honourable in Mr. W. is This; That, whereas I said as above, that there ought to be a prevailing Opinion concerning those that are admitted, taken singly, or by themselves, that they are truly godly or gracious, tho' when we look on the whole Number in the Gross, we are far from determining that every one is a true Saint, and that not one of the Judgments we have pass'd, has been mistaken; Mr. W. because I used the Phrase singly taken, has laid hold on the Expression, and from thence has taken Occasion to insinuate to his Readers, as if my Scheme were so very extravagant, that according to this, when a great Multitude are admitted, their Admitters must be confident of EVERY ONE's being regenerated. Hence he observes, (P. 98. c.) There is no Appearance, that John made a positive Judgment that every one of these People were regenerated. Plainly using the Expression as a very strong one; leading the Reader to suppose, I insist the Evidence shall be so clear, that when such a vast Multitude as John baptized are viewed, the Admitter should be peremptory in it, that his Judgment has not fail'd so much as in a single Instance; the very Reverse of what I had express'd. In like Manner, Mr. W. treats the Matter from Time to Time. As in P. 55. a. The Thing to be proved from hence is, that the Apostles and primitive Christians, not only thought that these Persons were Christians, by Reason of their external Calling, & profess'd Compliance with the Call; but had formed a positive Judgment concerning EVERY ONE OF THEM