A76988:1097
The arraignment of errorThe arraignment of errour
The arraignment of error: or, A discourse serving as a curb to restrain the wantonness of mens spirits in the entertainment of opinions; and as a compass, whereby we may sail in the search and finding of truth; distributed into six main questions. Quest. 1. How it may stand with Gods, with Satan's, with a mans own ends, that there should be erroneous opinions? Quest. 2. What are the grounds of abounding errors? Quest. 3. Why so many are carried away with error? Quest. 4. Who those are that are in danger? Quest. 5. What are the examens, or the trials of opinions, and characters of truth? Quest. 6. What ways God hath left in his Word for the suppressing of error, and reducing of erroneous persons? Under which general questions, many other necessary and profitable queries are comprised, discussed, and resolved. And in conclusion of all; some motives, and means, conducing to an happy accommodation of our present differences, are subjoined. / By Samuel Bolton minister of the Word of God at Saviours-Southwark.The arraignment of errour: or, A discourse serving as a curb to restrain the wantonnesse of mens spirits in the entertainment of opinions; and as a compasse, whereby we may sail in the search and finding of truth; distributed into six main questions. Quest. 1. How it may stand with Gods, with Satans, with a mans own ends, that there should be erroneous opinions? Quest. 2. What are the grounds of abounding errours? Quest. 3. Why so many are carried away with errour? Quest. 4. Who those are that are in danger? Quest. 5. What are the examens, or the trials of opinions, and characters of truth? Quest. 6. What waies God hath left in his Word for the suppressing of errour, and reducing of erroneous persons? Under which generall questions, many other necessary and profitable queries are comprized, discussed, and resolved. And in conclusion of all; some motives, and means, conducing to an happy accommodation of our present differences, are subjoyned. / By Samuel Bolton minister of the Word of God at Saviours-Southwark.
London: printed by G. Miller for Andrew Kembe, 1646
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.
2. A second bias, is popular applause: men naturally love to be some body, there is no man that would willingly stand as it were for a Cipher. Every man, with Simon Magus, would be given out to be some great one: and when men cannot be taken notice on in a crowd, they will be singular. As this may be a ground, why many do deliver an opinion to difference themselves from others in esteem, by differing themselves from others in judgement: So it may be a ground why others entertain and receive an opinion, to difference themselves from others by their practice, to be thought more singular, more holy, more conscientious; they are men only accounted conscientious which differ from others, alas they think that others take all upon trust, and are of the State-religion, and close with any way; and therefore think they, if J will be accounted singular, if J will be esteemed indeed conscientious and religious above others, I must difference my self from others, and oftentimes where there is least holiness, they will be most, forward to go this way, to gain an esteem of holiness; men that cannot get an esteem of holiness by their practice; they may labour to get an esteem by their opinion; J do not say any do so, but certainly men may do so, which is a fearful spirit: these make but Religion serviceable to worldly ends; Godliness advantageous to their own gain; which certainly is the worst of spirits: and that is the second.
2. A second byas, is popular applause: men naturally love to be some body, there is no man that would willingly stand as it were for a Cipher. Every man, with Simon Magus, would be given out to be some great one: and when men cannot be taken notice on in a crowd, they will be singular. As this may be a ground, why many doe deliver an opinion to difference themselves from others in esteem, by differing themselves from others in judgement: So it may be a ground why others entertain and receive an opinion, to difference themselves from others by their practice, to be thought more singular, more holy, more conscientious; they are men only accounted conscientious which differ from others, alas they think that others take all upon trust, and are of the State-religion, and close with any way; and therefore thinke they, if J will be accounted singular, if J will be esteemed indeed conscientious and religious above others, I must difference my self from others, and oftentimes where there is least holinesse, they will be most, forward to goe this way, to gain an esteem of holinesse; men that cannot get an esteem of holinesse by their practice; they may labour to get an esteem by their opinion; J doe not say any doe so, but certainly men may doe so, which is a fearfull spirit: these make but Religion serviceable to worldly ends; Godlinesse advantagious to their own gain; which certainly is the worst of spirits: and that is the second.