N01201:223
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.
I mention this Testimony of Mr. Hookers, to show how injuriously Mr. Mather deals with me, when he calls my Opinion, a new, upstart and singular Opinion; and the vanity of his admiration, That a Minister of New-England, should Publish such doctrine; whereas its no other than what has been Printed by one of the Pillars of the Churches of New-England, Sixty years before.
I mention this Testimony of Mr. Hookers, to shew how injuriously Mr. Mather deals with me, when he calls my Opinion, a new, upstart and singular Opinion; and the vanity of his admiration, That a Minister of New-England, should Publish such doctrine; whereas its no other than what has been Printed by one of the Pillars of the Churches of New-England, Sixty years before.
Had Mr. Hooker spoken half so much in the Vindication of Mr. Mather's Opinion, in probability he would have spent good part of a Page in an Encomium of him, and in urging the irrefragableness of his discourse.
Before I conclude, I shall take notice of two failings further in Mr. Mather's Book; one is, That he recites some sentences of mine, where I Paraphrase on and illustrate my Position about the Lord's Supper: as if they were the arguments that I brought to prove my Opinion; and then saith, Is not all this weak arguing. p. 76. He has now my arguments, and his liberty to show the weakness of them.
Before I conclude, I shall take notice of two failings further in Mr. Mather's Book; one is, That he recites some sentences of mine, where I Paraphrase on and illustrate my Position about the LordsSupper: as if they were the arguments that I brought to prove my Opinion; and then saith, Is not all this weak arguing. p. 76. He has now my arguments, and his liberty to shew the weakness of them.