N01201:93
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.
Voetius faith, That Elect Infants that have federal Holiness, have at the same time the internal Grace of Regeneration; and instances in Paul, Manasseh, and the Thief on the Cross, who, he faith, were Regenerate from their Infancy. This Regeneration in Infancy is a spiritual quality or faculty in the mind & will, out of which as out of a certain Seed and material power, actual dispositions & habits by the impression & infusion of the Holy Ghost are in time raised. Didst. Elect.
Voetius faith, That Elect Infants that have foederal Holiness, have at the same time the internal Grace of Regeneration; and instances in Paul, Manasseh, and the Thief on the Cross, who, he faith, were Regenerate from their Infancy. This Regeneration in Infancy is a spiritual quality or faculty in the mind & will, out of which as out of a certain Seed and material power, actual dispositions & habits by the impression & infusion of the Holy Ghost are in time raised. Dest. Elect.
Some Divines don't distinguish between Regenerate men, and Professors of good Conversation. Whereas it is evident that men may be very conscientious, & have considerable operations of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, that are not Savingly Converted. Indeed the World has had but little distinct understanding about the work of Conversion, until some latter Divines at Boston: Norton, Hooker, Shepherd, & some others have held forth light; there was great darkness about the way of Conversion. By this discourse it may appear how little dependence, we can have on the judgments of Learned and good men; and in our reading must carefully distinguish between the chaff & the wheat.
Some Divines don't distinguish between Regenerate men, and Professours of good Conversation. Whereas it is evident that men may be very conscientious, & have considerable operations of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, that are not Savingly Converted. Indeed the World has had but little distinct understanding about the work of Conversion, until some latter Divines at Boston: Norton, Hooker, Shephard, & some others have held forth light; there was great darkness about the way of Conversion. By this discourse it may appear how little dependance, we can have on the judgments of Learned and good men; and in our reading must carefully distinguish between the chaff & the wheat.