N01201:185
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: He has given no such rule to his Church, whereby it may be restrained to converted Men. This appears because by the rule, that they are to go by, they are allowed to give the Lords Supper to many Unconverted men: for all visible Signs are common to men converted and unconverted. If they go by profession of the truth, that is common to both; if by a good Conversation, that is common to both; if by zeal in Religion, that is common to both; if by suffering in the cause of God, that is common to both; if by knowledge, that is common to both; if by a relation of Experiences, that is common to both.
Obj There is a certain rule given whereby godly men may knew their godliness, & that they are Warranted to come to the Lords Supper.
Answ. Mr. Mather will not stand by that rule: for he saith, That if after serious self Examination, a man cannot but hope that ⟨p. 76⟩he is a godly man, he may come though be hath not Assurance: And if he goes by Mr. Mather's rule, that will not restrain the Sacrament to converted men. Mr. Mather pretends to give a solution of this argument, by propounding another Objection for me to answer. He saith, That I maintain that only Orthodox Christians may come to the Lords Supper; and then there must be a certain rule to know the inward Sentiments of mens hearts: but he mistakes the matter very much; I only hold that men must be Orthodox in their Profession. Churches are to judge concerning visible Saint-ship, when they go higher they go beyond their Sphere.