N01201:187
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.
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.
He saith, why should we not believe that men that give us an account of their Conversion, and whose Conversations are outwardly blameless and holy, are really according as they seem to be. I will give him a reason, and that is because it may be false; Many persons that have given a fair account and carried well in the eye of the World for several years, have not proved well at last: and God obliges no man to believe that which may be false.
6. Argument. If Unsanctified men may attend all other Ordinances or Duties of Worship, then they may lawfully attend the Lords Supper: But they may attend all other Ordinances or Duties of Worship.
6. Argument. If Unsanctifyed men may attend all other Ordinances or Duties of Worship, then they may lawfully attend the Lords Supper: But they may attend all other Ordinances or Duties of Worship.