N01201:15
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 1: The First BOOK. The Question Stated, and Mr. Mather's Arguments 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.
The First BOOK. The Question Stated, and Mr. Mather's Arguments answered.
THE Laws of disputation do require a fair & exact Stating of the controversy, that nothing be made matter of dispute, that is not plainly affirmed, or by genuine consequence deduced from the Assertions of the adversary: when men do otherwise, they are guilty of casting unjust imputations, on those whom they oppose, they labour in vain, abuse their Readers, and manifest an affectation of vain glory, from a victory, ⟨p. 2⟩where there was no contest. Mr. Mather has greatly failed in this particular. He says, p. 3. The Question is whether God requires Unsanctified Persons, while such, to come to his Table, and consequently whether the Church may admit into their holy Communion in special Ordinance such as are not in the judgment of rational Charity true Believers.
The first of these Questions is not fairly laid down, my Position is, That Sanctifying Grace is not necessary to the lawful attending the Ordinance of the Lords Supper. He says the Question is, Whether God requires Unsanctified Persons, while such, to come to his Table. Insinuating as if I did affirm, that God required all Unsanctified Persons to come to his Table. We use to say in disputations, Add Signum. He should have added the sign, and either said some unsanctified persons, which I own, or all unsanctified persons which (as he knows) I utterly deny.
The first of these Questions is not fairly laid down, my Position is, That Sanctifying Grace is not necessary to the lawful attending the Ordinance of the Lords Supper. He says the Question is, Whether God requires Unsanctifyed Persons, while such, to come to his Table. Insinuating as if I did affirm, that God required all Unsanctifyed Persons to come to his Table. We use to say in disputations, Adde Signum. He should have added the sign, and either said some unsanctifyed persons, which I own, or all unsanctifyed persons which (as he knows) I utterly deny.