Jonathan Edward’s View of Social Media
PART III.
CONTAINING SOME REMARKS ON MR. WILLIAMS'S EXCEPTIONABLE WAY OF REASONING, IN SUPPORT OF HIS OWN SCHEME, AND IN OPPOSITION TO THE CONTRARY PRINCIPLES.
SECT. I.
General observations upon his way of arguing, and answering arguments; with some instances of the first method excepted against.
Mr. W. endeavours to support his own opinion, and to confute the book he pretends to answer, by the following methods.
By frequently mis'epresenting what I suy, and then disputing or exclaiming against what he wrongfully charges as mine.
By misrepresenting what others say in their writings, whose opinions he pretends to espouse.
By seeming to oppose and confute arguments, and yet only saying things which have no reference at all to them, but relate entirely to other matters, that are altogether foreign to the argument in hand.
By advancing new and extraordinary notions; which are both manifestly contrary to truth, and also contrary to the common apprehensions of the christian church in all ages.
By making use of peremptory and confident assertions, instead of arguments.
By using great exclamation, in the room of arguing; as though he would amuse and alarm his readers, and excite terror in them, instead of rational conviction.
By wholly overlooking arguments, and not answering us all; pretending, that there is no argument, nothing to answer; when the case is manifestly far otherwise.
By frequently turning off an argument with this re-flection, that it is begging the question; when there is not the least show or pretext for it.
By very frequently begging the question himself, or doing that which is equivalent.
By often alleging and insisting on things in which he is inconsistent with himself.
+ Ibid. p. 37, 38.
The Work’s of Jonathan Edwards Vol. 1; Banner of Truth Trust, Page 509
Editor’s Note: No comment needed.
