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

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?

The case with these men that don't know their Saint-ship, is like the case of the Priests that could not find their Register, Ezra 2.62, 63. They were put from the Priest-bood as Polluted, that they should not eat of the holy things, till there stood up a Priest with Urim and Thummim. So these that cannot find their Saint-ship must forbear eating at the Lords Table, till they can make it out, if it be Sanctification that gives a right to the Lords Supper.

There is a strange inconsistency in his doctrine, sometimes he teaches that Regeneration gives the right to come, and ⟨p. 65⟩that unsanctified persons may not come; sometimes that if they hope after Examination that they are godly, then they may come. But if it be grace only that gives them a right, then preponderating hopes of Grace will not give them a right; besides if an hope that they are godly gives them a right, then that which is very sinful will give them a right: for such are the hopes of many men, founded in Pride and Ignorance: There is a Generation that are pure in their own eyes, yet are not cleansed from their filthiness,