N01201:207
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 doth appear: Because Professors are commanded to carry as becometh Saints: Phil. 1.27. Let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ. 2 Tim. 2.19. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Such as make a Profession of the Gospel, ought not to carry so as to give men occasion to sear that they are not Saints: they may not live in such a way as is unlawful for Saints to live in, in such a way as is contrary to the Spirits of Saints: it is unlawful for them to bring a reproach upon their Profession; to live in such a way as is inconsistent with the living exercise of Grace.
The truth of the disjunction doth appear; because when Professors do neglect the Lords Supper, they do not carry themselves as Saints; for they do neglect that Ordinance that Saints are bound to attend; and they neglect that Ordinance that the Souls of Saints do crave, they do visibly deny the Gospel, they withhold their Testimony from Jesus Christ, and do not show forth the Lords death. This neglect of theirs is an unholy carriage, not ⟨p. 86⟩according to their Profession; they carry like visible Unbelievers they are called visible Saints & challenge Baptism for their Children as visible Saints, and yet in this particular they carry themselves as Unbelievers, and not as visible Saints.
The truth of the disjunction doth appear; because when Professors do neglect the Lords Supper, they do not carry themselves as Saints; for they do neglect that Ordinance that Saints are bound to attend; and they neglect that Ordinance that the Souls of Saints do crave, they do visibly deny the Gospel, they withold their Testimony from Jesus Christ, and do not shew forth the Lords death. This neglect of theirs is an unholy carriage, not ⟨p. 86⟩according to their Profession; they carry like visible Unbelievers they are called visible Saints & challenge Baptism for their Children as visible Saints, and yet in this particular they carry themselves as Unbelieves, and not as visible Saints.