N01201:162
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 3: The Third BOOK. Arguments to prove that Sanctifying Grace is not necessary, in order to…
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 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, Prov. 30.12. Again, if a probable hope gives men a right, then when ever they have a preponderating fear that they are not godly, they must forbear, and so neglect the means of their consolation. Again, if a preponderating hope gives them a right: then some have a right to the Lords Supper, that are worse than some that know themselves to be Unconverted: some conceited senseless men nourish such an hope: and some that are very near to the Kingdom of God, being humbled and prepared for Christ know themselves to the Unconverted.
There is a strange inconsistency in his doctrine, sometimes he teaches that Regeneration gives the right to come, and ⟨p. 65⟩that unsanctifyed 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,