N01201:193
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.
2. The Lords Supper being a Sacrament or Seal of the Covenant can be no reason. Two of Mr. Gillespy's arguments are built upon that foundation; but if that arguing were good, Unregenerate persons must be forbidden all Sacraments. Circumcision was a Seal of the Righteousness of faith, Rom. 4.11. Yet God commanded Joshua at Gilgal to Circumcise all the Males who were born in the Wilderness: who were several hundred thousands, Josh. 5.2.
3. Its being a Sacrament of confirmation can be no sufficient reason. For the Passover was so as well as the Lords Supper; Circumcision was the initiating Sacrament to the Jews, and the Passover the Sacrament of confirmation: but Unregenerate men might lawfully celebrate the Passover, when God first appointed it, multitudes of them were Unregenerate, as appears by their carriage in the Wilderness. As this Sacrament does represent ⟨p. 80⟩Christ as food for the Soul, so did the Passover: As in this Ordinance, Saints have communion with Christ, so they had in the Passover.
4. It is no sufficient reason, because the Minister is to say at the administration of the Lords Supper, That this is Christs body which is given for you, and this is his blood which is shed for you: according to the Pattern: Luke 22.19,20. For these words may be spoken to Unregenerate men. As Ministers often do in their Sermons, when they call on Sinners to come to Christ, and when they reprove for sin, and urge them to duties of Obedience: those expressions do not intend that Christ did dye designedly for them, but that his death and satisfaction is offered to them, and shall be made over to them if they accept of Him.