An appeal to the learned. Being a vindication of the right of visible saints…

But though the truth of this Argument be as evident as the light of the Sun at Noon day, yet it would be strange if Mr. Mather should have no answer to give. He tells us if after serious Examination, be cannot but hope there is a good work begun in his Soul, be ought to come, though his hopes be not Assurance.

But I say, he ought not to come unless he has a right to come; ought he to come if he have this hope, whether he be Regenerate or not? he may have these hopes, and yet be unsanctified, then it is not Sanctification that gives him the right but the hopes of it: he ought to come, Mr. M. saith: yet he ought to stay away because he is unsanctified: he is charged to come because of his hopes, and condemned for coming because he is unsanctified.

But I say, he ought not to come unless he has a right to come; ought he to come if he have this hope, whether he be Regenerate or not? he may have these hopes, and yet be unsanctifyed, then it is not Sanctification that gives him the right but the hopes of it: he ought to come, Mr. M. saith: yet he ought to stay away because he is unsanctifyed: he is charged to come because of his hopes, and condemned for coming because he is unsanctifyed.

But Mr. Mather labours to give relief to Wounded Consciences by a comparison, he tells, If a Jew after he had searched for ⟨p. 64⟩leaven in the house, found none, be was to eat the Passover; so if Christians after self Examination, cannot find that they are in a state of Hypocrisy, which is leaven, they ought to come to the Lords Table. Here is a shadow without substance, a comparison without a similitude. The Jew searches for leaven, he finds bread and is at a loss whether it be leavened or no; may he eat the Passover without removing that bread; so the Christian searches his heart, and finds a great deal of hypocrisy, but is at a loss whether it be reigning hypocrisy or no: ought he in this case to run the venture and come to the Lords Table?