N01201:167
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 minor is also evident. That some Unsanctified men are Members of the Church. The foolish Virgins did belong unto the Kingdom of God, as well as the wise, Mat. 25.1, 2. The Kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom, and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Multitudes that are in fellowship with Churches are destitute of Saving Grace. Among the many that are called sew are chosen, Math. 20.16. Our Reverend Author does acknowledge this, but he faith, They are not duly qualified to be Members of Churches. But this is utterly inconsistent with what he faith in other places. For he doth again & again acknowledge that the Churches ought to admit those that are Saints to rational Charity, though they be Unregenerate; and likewise he doth acknowledge, that if after […] Examination, a person cannot but […] that there is a good Work begun in ⟨p. 68⟩his Soul, he ought to come. And by these two rules many that are destitute of Grace ought to be admitted into Churches, God does appoint them to come and God does appoint Churches to accept of them; so that according to divine institution they are Members of Churches, and qualified according to Gods Ordinance for it.
The minor is also evident. That some Unsanctifyed men are Members of the Church. The foolish Virgins did belong unto the Kingdom of God, as well as the wise, Mat. 25.1, 2. The Kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten Virgins which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom, and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Multitudes that are in fellowship with Churches are destitute of Saving Grace. Among the many that are called sew are chosen, Math. 20.16. Our Reverend Author does acknowledge this, but he faith, They are not duly qualifyed to be Members of Churches. But this is utterly inconsistent with what he faith in other places. For he doth again & again acknowledge that the Churches ought to admit those that are Saints to rational Charity, though they be Unregenerate; and likewise he doth acknowledge, that if after Examination, a person cannot but that there is a good Work begun in