N01201:204
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. It is very reasonable to say that God requires Ignorant persons to come, and yet for bids them to come before they have knowledge; and that he requires Scandalous persons to come, and yet forbids their coming until they have made Satisfaction: because they are able to qualify themselves, they may truly be said to have liberty and legal power to come, because they have a natural power to qualify themselves; it is their duty to amend their faults and so to come.
Answ. It is very reasonable to say that God requires Ignorant persons to come, and yet for bids them to come before they have knowledge; and that he requires Scandalous persons to come, and yet forbids their coming until they have made Satisfaction: because they are able to qualify themselves, they may truly be said to have liberty and legal power to come, because they have a natural power to qualify themselves; it is their duty to amend their fauls and so to come.
But it is unreasonable to say that natural men are commanded to come, and yet that they are forbidden to come till they are Sanctified: for their Sanctification is a thing out of their power: the visible people of God are able to keep the external Covenant: It cannot be said to be lawful for them to keep the external Covenant, if it doth depend upon their Conversion which is indeed out of their power. But indeed there is no part of the external Covenant, that is beyond mens natural power, or their legal power.
But it is unreasonable to say that natural men are commanded to come, and yet that they are forbidden to come till they are Sanctifyed: for their Sanctification is a thing out of their power: the visible people of God are able to keep the external Covenant: It cannot be said to be lawful for them to keep the external Covenant, if it doth depend upon their Conversion which is indeed out of their power. But indeed there is no part of the external Covenant, that is beyond mens natural power, or their legal power.