N01201:212
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.
1. It makes them neglect the Lords Supper. It is their duty to attend it: it is one of the holy appointments of Jesus Christ; and we owe this Service to Christ to show forth his Death, and give our testimony before the world, to the virtue of his blood, which is an honour and glory to him; and this Service is of great consequence to our selves to draw forth the actings of faith, to strengthen our comfort and to quicken us in a way of Obedience: but several as choice Persons for godliness as any, so far as men can judge, have been so discouraged by this doctrine, that they have neglected the Lords Supper; and continued at least for some time in the Omission of this Ordinance.
1. It makes them neglect the Lords Supper. It is their duty to attend it: it is one of the holy appointments of Jesus Christ; and we owe this Service to Christ to shew forth his Death, and give our testimony before the world, to the vertue of his blood, which is an honour and glory to him; and this Service is of great consequence to our selves to draw forth the actings of faith, to strengthen our comfort and to quicken us in a way of Obedience: but several as choice Persons for godliness as any, so far as men can judge, have been so discouraged by this doctrine, that they have neglected the Lords Supper; and continued at least for some time in the Omission of this Ordinance.
2. It makes some of them to attend it with guilt and torment. They have been urged to attend it by a fear least they should offend God, and by the persuasions of men, and by considering that it would be an ⟨p. 88⟩occasion of reproach: and an offence to the Church, if they should not do it. Yet because of this doctrine, they have been far from Satisfaction in what they have been doing: Conscience has forbidden them, threatened them and condemned them for doing of it; they have set upon thorns, and had a great deal of fear and disquietment of Spirit: hereby they have been hindered from attending of it in an holy manner; Conscience has forbidden them to meddle with it, their thoughts has been taken up at the time, not about the virtue of Christs Death, but about their own dreadful venture in coming thither: the fears of their hypocrisy have been increased by their daring to participate; that that should have been a means to comfort them, has proved an occasion of torment to them.