N01201:182
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.
Mr. Mather argues, That Faith comes by Hearing, Rom. 14. Why does he not argue that the Subsequent acts of faith come by hearing as well as the first, and that therefore the Lords Supper is not for the strengthening of Faith. Put indeed there is Hearing, as well as Seeing, and Touching and Smelling and Tasting, in the Sacrament of the Supper, there is a gracious offer of Christ, and all his benefits, which has a proper tendency to beget faith.
Mr. Mather argues, That Faith comes by Hearing, Rom. 14. Why does he not argue that the Subsequent acts of faith come by hearing as well as the first, and that therefore the Lords Supper is not for the strengthning of Faith. Put indeed there is Hearing, as well as Seeing, and Touching and Smelling and Tasting, in the Sacrament of the Supper, there is a gracious offer of Christ, and all his benefits, which has a proper tendency to beget faith.
5. Argument. If the Lords Supper be only for Converted men, then God would have given some certain rule in the attending of which it might be restrained to Converted men: but he hath given no such rule in attending of which it may be restrained to Converted men.
The major is evident, because if it be appointed only for Converted men, and no rule given whereby it may be restrained to them, then his Law would be impracticable. The law would be a mere snare, and men would be under a necessity to profane his Ordinance: it is a reflection ⟨p. 75⟩on the Wisdom and Holiness of God to impute such a thing to him. God don't bind his Church to impossibilities, if he had made any such Ordinance, he would give gifts to his Church to distinguish Sincere men from Hypocrites, whereby the Ordinance might have been attended.