N05401:46
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.
V. However, my Opinion is not represented bad enough yet; but to make it appear still worse, Mr. W. is bold to strain his Representation of it to that Height, as to suggest that what I insist on, is a Certainty of others Regeneration: tho' this be so diverse from what I had largely explained in stating the Question, and plainly expressed in other Parts of my Book, *and also inconsistent with his own Representations in other Places. For if what I insist on be a Probability that may fail once in ten Times, as he says it is, P. 63. a. then it is not a Certainty that I insist on; as he suggests, P. 141. a.—Speaking of the evil Consequences of my Opinion, he says, The Notion of Men's being able and fit to determine positively the Condition of other Men, or the Certainty of their gracious Estate, has a direct Tendency to deceive the Souls of Men. So again in P. 69. And he suggests, that I require more than moral Evidence, in P. 6. c. & P. 139. d.
- *In stating the Question, P. 5. b. I explain'd the requisite Visibility, to be some outward Manifestation, that ordinarily renders the Thing probable. To the like Purpose, is what I say in P. 10. e. & P. 11. a. b. e. & P. 12. a. b. e. And in P. 106. e. I say expressly, Not a Certainty, but a Profession and Visibility of these Things, must be the Rule of the Church's Proceeding.In stating the Question, P. 5. b. I explain'd the requisite Visibility, to be some outward Manifestation, that ordinarily renders the Thing probable. To the like Purpose, is what I say in P. 10. e. & P. 11. a. b. e. & P. 12. a. b. e. And in P. 106. e. I say expresly, Not a Certainty, but a Profession and Visibility of these Things, must be the Rule of the Church's Proceeding.
VI. Mr. W. represents Me as insisting on some Way of judging the State of such as are admitted to Communion, by their inward & spiritual Experiences, diverse from judging by their Profession and Behaviour. So, P. 7. b. If their outward Profession & Behaviour be the Ground of this Judgment, then it is not the inward Experience of the Heart. "— P. 55. b. Which Judgment must be founded on something beyond and beside their external Calling, and visible Profession to comply with it, and to be separated for God: And therefore this Judgment must be founded, either upon Revelation, or a personal Acquaintance with