N01201:77
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.
Mr. Mather's Sixth Argument.
That Opinion which is contrary to the Profession and Practice of the Churches in the Primitive & Purest times of Christianity, and to the judgment of the most eminent Reformers in these latter Ages, and which agrees with Papists, and a looser sort of Protestants; ought not to be received among the Churches in New-England. But all this is true of Mr. Stoddard's Opinion now impleaded.
THat Opinion which is contrary to the Prefession and Practice of the Churches in the Primitive & Purest times of Christianity, and to the judgment of the most eminent Reformers in these latter Ages, and which agress with Papists, and a looser sort of Protestants; ought not to be received among the Churches in New-England. But all this is true of Mr. Stoddard's Opinion now impleaded.
Ans. Though this Argument be a three sold cord; yet it is easily broken to pieces. He don't count it a demonstration. It consists of three parts: I shall consider them severally.
1. He faith that this Opinion is contrary to the Profession & Practice of the Primitive Churches. This he labours to prove from Justin Martyr, Origin, Tertullian, Cyprian: and he faith, That for about four or five hundred years of the Christian Era, there was great strictness in admitting to Sacraments. The like is asserted by him in an Epistle to Mr Quick; and he grants that there was too much rigidity among them. And here he faith, That Chamior, Chemnitius, & Gerhard, commend the strictness of the Primitive times.