9. I conjure you, my lord, by the mercies of God, if these are not the words of truth and soberness, point me out wherein I have erred from the truth: shew me clearly, wherein I have spoken either beyond or contrary to the word of God. But might I not humbly intreat, that your lordship, in doing this, would abstain from such expressions as these, _If they will put themselves under their direction and discipline, ――――after their course of discipline is once over_, page 15. as not suitable either to the weight of the subject, or the dignity of your lordship’s character. And might I not expect something more than these loose assertions, that this is _a delusion altogether groundless_, page 15. _A notion contrary to the whole tenor, both of the old and new testament_; that _the scriptures forbid all thought of it, as vain, arrogant and presumptuous_; that they _represent all mankind, without distinction, as subject to sin and corruption_ (subject to sin and corruption! strong words!) _during their continuance in this world: and require no more than an honest_ desire _and_ endeavour, _to find ourselves less and less in a state of imperfection_? page 16.
Is it not from your lordship’s intirely mistaking the question, not at all apprehending what perfection I teach, that you go on to guard against the same imaginary consequences, as your lordship did in _the Observations_? Surely, my lord, you never gave yourself the trouble to read the answer given in the _Farther Appeal_, to every objection which you now urge afresh! seeing you do not now appear to know any more of my sentiments, than if you had never proposed one question, nor received one answer upon the subject!
10. If your lordship designed to shew my real sentiments concerning the last _doctrine which you mention_, as one would imagine by your adding, _these are his own words_, page 18. should you not have cited all my own words? At least all the words of that paragraph, and not have mangled it, as Mr. _Church_ did before?
It runs thus (_Journal_ III. page 47.) “_Saturday 28._ I shewed at large (in order to answer those who taught, that none but they who are full of faith and the Holy Ghost, ought ever to communicate) 1. That the Lord’s _supper_ was ordained by God, to be a _means of conveying_ to men either _preventing_, or _justifying_, or _sanctifying grace_, according to their several necessities. 2. That the persons for whom it was ordained, are all those who know and feel that they _want_ the _grace_ of God, either to _restrain_ them from sin, or to _shew their sins forgiven_, or to _renew their souls_ in the image of God. 3. That in as much as we come to his table, not to _give_ him anything, but to _receive_ whatsoever he sees best for us, there is _no previous preparation_ indispensably necessary, but _a desire_ to receive whatsoever he pleases to give. And 4. that _no fitness_ is required at the time of communicating, but _a sense of our state_, of our utter sinfulness and helplessness: every one who knows he is _fit for hell_, being just _fit to come to_ Christ, in this as well as all other ways of his appointment.”
In the second letter to Mr. _Church_, page 26. I explain myself farther on this head. “I am sorry to find you still affirm, that with regard to the Lord’s _supper_ also, I _advance many injudicious, false and dangerous things. Such as_, 1. _That a man ought to communicate, without a sure trust in_ God’s _mercy through_ Christ, page 117.” You mark these as my words; but I know them not. 2. “_That there is no previous preparation_ indispensably _necessary, but a desire to receive whatsoever_ God _pleases to give_.” But I include abundantly more in that _desire_, than you seem to apprehend; even a willingness to know and do the whole will of God. 3. _That no fitness is required at the time of communicating_, (I recite the whole sentence) “_but a sense of our state, of our utter sinfulness and helplessness! Every one who knows he is fit for hell, being just fit to come to_ Christ, _in this, as well as in all other ways of his appointment_.” But neither can this sense of our utter sinfulness and helplessness subsist, without earnest desires of universal holiness.
10. And now what can I say? Had your lordship never seen this? That is hardly to be imagined. But if you had, how was it possible your lordship should thus explicitly and solemnly charge me, in the presence of God and all my brethren (only, the person so charged was not present) with _meaning by those words to_ set aside _self-examination and repentance for sins past, and resolutions of living better for the time to come, as things no way necessary to make a worthy communicant_! page 18.
If an evidence at the bar should swerve from truth, an equitable judge may place the thing in a true light. But if the judge himself shall bear false witness, where then can we find a remedy?