An Appeal to the Learned, Title page – Preface
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.
Many ſhall run to & fro, & knowledge ſhall be increaſed, Dan. 12.4.
BOSTON: Printed by B. Green, for Samuel Phillips at the Brick Shop. 1709.
Imprimatur, J. DUDLEY.
The Preface,
IN Managing Controverſies in Religion, there be two uſual Artifices that frequently prove traps to catch the Injudicious Multitude, and ſway more with unthinking Men than a Demonſtration; one is to inſinuate that the impleaded Opinion is contrary to Purity and Holineſs; a way to corrupt the Churches and uſher in degeneracy: hereby many men of tender Conſciences are ſtartled, as if there were a Snake in the Graſs; the other is a magnifying of ſuch Authors, as do diſcountenance, or ſeem to diſcountenance that Opinion, as if they were but one degree beneath the Apoſtles, they have mens Perſons in Admiration becauſe of Advantage, which proves like a Charm to many Readers, being ready to ſwallow all with an implicit Faith. How far Mr. M. hath acted his part in theſe two Methods, is obvious to any that obſerve: the latter of them eſpecially is his proper Element. But theſe are but flouriſhes, that may raiſe mens Spirits, but convey no light into their Underſtandings: they may ſerve to garniſh & adorn either Truth or Errour, but ſtrengthen neither of them. Let him but prove his Doctrine to be true, and we will believe it to be a preſervative of the Purity of the Church; let him but confirm his Doctrine from Divine Authority, and we will receive it, whether his Authors, do deſerve their high Character or not.
It is no offence to me that Mr. M. has undertaken to anſwer me; if he could have proved my Aſſertion to be a miſtake, it would have been a kindneſs to me. I heartily deſire to be led into the knowledge of the Truth; and would be as forward as any to bear a teſtimony againſt that doctrine, could I be convinced of any error in it. But I hope his inſufficiency to accompliſh his deſign, will prove an advantage to the cauſe of God, and be a means further to Eſtabliſh ſuch as were wavering: his Arguments though propounded in a plauſible manner, and ſet off with fair gloſſes, are too weak to bear a touch, and will appear upon Examination to have in them more of Ornament than of Evidence.
Mr. Mather all along intermingles Paſſionate Lamentations with his Arguments; if his Arguments had been ſtronger, they would have been a Vindication of thoſe complaints; and he had done his buſineſs effectually, if there had been more reaſon and leſs affection in his Book. Thoſe Lamentations ſerve to ſwell the Book, and make it more in bulk, but not in weight.
It is my endeavour to keep my heart as far from prejudice and bias as I can, that I may be prepared to give entertainment to the Truth: which is indeed worthy of entertainment, however our intereſts be croſſed thereby, we are directed to buy the Truth though ſometimes it coſts us dear. On the one hand, I conſider that it would be a doleful thing to Propagate an Errour, and lay a Foundation of the Corruption of the Land; to ſpread and diffuſe Poiſon that may have a malignant influence from Generation to Generation, it were better to make Retractation upon Retractation, than to be obſtinate in ſuch a way. On the other hand, I conſider that it is a Service to God and his People, to clear up a Truth that has not been received, whereby a door is opened for the revival of Religion, and light held forth to deliver the People of God from ſuch miſtakes, as are a means to turn many away from fearing the Lord, and it would be very blame-worthy to ſuffer my ſelf to be baſled, with trivial Arguments, great Words & angry Faces; it will quit coſt to ſuffer reproach in the cauſe of God. I ſhall not trouble my ſelf to anſwer reflections or to retort them, but to apply my ſelf to remove ſuch things as are offered to darken the Truth, accounting that the Vindication of the Truth is a Vindication of my ſelf.
He ſeems to intimate as if I pretended to be a Prophet. I am far from pretending to any Prophetical Revelations; I am no Enthuſiaſt: I neither pretend to Revelations my ſelf, nor depend on the Sentiments of other men, as if they were Oracles: but this I profeſs before the World, that God has taught me the Doctrine that I have laid down; partly by giving me a great diſcovery of his Wiſdom, in bringing Nations into a Church Eſtate, and in that way communicating Saving Grace to his Elect; partly by opening my Eyes to underſtand the Scriptures, whereby I am abundantly ſatisfyed that it is the cauſe of God that I have pleaded, and accordingly, I am bound in Spirit to purſue it, and am contented to Sacrifice my own Name for his ſake, knowing that though my Aſſertion be Offenſive to ſome beloved Brethren, yet it is acceptable to God and Jeſus Chriſt, and pleaſing to Angels and Saints in Heaven.