N01201:117
An appeal to the learned. Being a vindication of the right of visible saints…
An appeal to the learned. Being a vindication of the right of visible saints to the Lords Supper, though they be destitute of a saving work of God's spirit on their hearts: against the exceptions of Mr. Increase Mather. / By Solomon Stoddard, Pastor of Northampton. ; [Two lines from Daniel]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1709
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Book 2: The Second BOOK. The Arguments of Mr. Vines, Mr. Baxter, and Mr. Charnock, Answered.
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.
Mr. Baxter's Arguments follow.
1. Arg. If no man is commanded or warranted to receive the Sacrament without the Profession of true Faith, then not without faith it self: But no man is warranted to receive the Sacrament, without the Profession of true faith.
A. 1. If he means that no man is warranted to receive the Sacrament, unless he affirms that he has Saving Faith. I deny the minor: For then no man might come, but he that has Assurance. And a great many gracious men must be excluded from the Sacrament.
2. If he means that no man is warranted to receive the Sacrament, unless he professes real faith. I deny the Consequence: He would prove his consequence, because no man is bound to make a false: Profession. […] Answer it is the duty of a man that is rationally convinced of the truth ⟨p. 45⟩of the Gospel to affirm that he believes it, tho' he doth not believe it with a Saving faith. They were blamed for not doing of it: