N01201:55
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. To this I make answer in three particulars,
1. That tho' Unregenerate men have no right to pardon of Sin & Salvation, yet they may have a right before God unto the Seals of the Covenant; they had a right to Circumcision: Josh. 5.2. yet that was a Seal of the righteousness of Christ, Rom. 4.11. So they had right to the Passover, and so they have to Baptism. It is unreasonable to think that all Baptised Children are Regenerate: and so they may have a right to the Lords Supper.
2. That Unregenerate men may have in conjunction with other, a right to some of the blessings of the Covenant. The Sacraments are Seals of the whole Covenant, not only those promises that are made to particular Believers, but the promises of outward prosperity that are made to the visible Church: & men that are Unregenerate in Conjunction with others, have a right as part of the body Corporate to those blessings, and may receive the Seal thereof.