N01201:68
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.
I utterly deny his Consequence. His reason for it is, That we may not withhold from the profanest person in the world, that which is appointed to be the means of his Conversion. But his consequence is as strong as a rope of Sand: May we not as well argue that if Baptism be a Converting Ordinance, we should Baptize the Indians, and other Heathens, as John Hircanus did compel the Edomites to be circumcised.
I utterly deny his Consequence. His reason for it is, That we may not withold from the prophanest person in the world, that which is appointed to be the means of his Conversion. But his consequence is as strong as a rope of Sand: May we not as well argue that if Baptism be a Converting Ordinance, we should Baptize the Indians, and other Heathens, as John Hircanus did compel the Edomites to be circumcised.
My answer was and is, that the Lords Supper is a Converting Ordinance, only for Church Members and not for other men. He hath three objections against my answer. One is, that it is an odd one. I hope it is not criminal to give an odd ⟨p. 27⟩answer, and if so, let it go for an odd one. The second is, that it is new of mine own invention. It is no sufficient ground to reject his notions because they are other mens, or to reject mine because they are my own: it is for God to reveal his mind to any whom he pleases: but the main objection is, That I do not prove it.
I shall now further vindicate that answer, that it is for the Conversion of orderly Church Members, by laying down three Propositions, which Mr. M. himself will own.