N01201:50
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.
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. The minor is denied. In the prosecution of it there is a great deal of confusedness and obscurity: Sometimes he speaks of them that are Unregenerate and have no right before God, though they have before men: sometimes he speaks ⟨p. 20⟩of them to whom we cannot in charitable judgment say. The blood of Christ has obtained for you the remission of your Sins: and of giving the Sacrament to those who are not so far as men can judge in a Regenerate Estate: and he saith, that this is to set the Lords Seal to a blank. But I will labour to answer the intent of this argument, so far as I am able to reach it.
Answ. The minor is denyed. In the prosecution of it there is a great deal of confusedness and obscurity: Sometimes he speaks of them that are Unregenerate and have no right before God, though they have before men: sometimes he speaks ⟨p. 20⟩of them to whom we cannot in charitable judgment say. The blood of Christ has obtained for you the remission of your Sins: and of giving the Sacrament to those who are not so far as men can judge in a Regenerate Estate: and he saith, that this is to set the Lords Seal to a blank. But I will labour to answer the intent of this argument, so far as I am able to reach it.
That which I am to show is, That some Unsanctified men have a right before God to the Lords Supper. Surely the Children of Israel had a right before God to the Passover; when God commanded them to celebrate it; and they had a right to Circumcision, when God commanded Joshua to circumcise them. And those that are the Covenant People of God have a right to keep the Covenant; we are commanded to teach such as are baptised to observe all things that Christ hath commanded, Mat. 28.19, 20. The second Command requires men to observe and keep pure & entire all such Religious Worship & Ordinances as God requireth in his word.