A76988:1110
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. And secondly, we must consult impartially, that is, without prejudice, without prepossession, without biassing, without sinister affections, without corrupt aims and ends, consult impartially, as men desirous to know, and resolved to do. It was the fault of the Israelites, they desired Jeremiah to enquire ⟨p. 245⟩what was the mind of God, but they were pre-resolved before what to do,1 and therefore when Jeremiah brought them a message contrary to their minds and pre-resolutions, they rejected it, and said in plain terms they would not obey the Word of the Lord which he had spoken: So many they enquire into the Word, but not with impartialness of spirit, they are men pre-resolved, and rather enquire to strengthen their own resolutions, and pre-possessions, and engagements, then as naked, single inquisitors, to know and obey the mind of God revealed; this is the doubleness of spirit in men; these do not enquire Gods mind, but enquire to strengthen their own mind; they are resolved of their way, and rather search to fortify themselves in their pre-resolutions, then to alter their resolutions according to Gods discoveries. Take heed of such a spirit. Consult, but consult impartially, as men that do apprehend it their happiness to know the good and acceptable will of God.
2. And secondly, we must consult impartially, that is, without prejudice, without prepossession, without byassing, without sinister affections, without corrupt aims and ends, consult impartially, as men desirous to know, and resolved to doe. It was the fault of the Israelites, they desired Jeremy to enquire ⟨p. 245⟩what was the minde of God, but they were pre-resolved before what to doe,1 and therefore when Jeremy brought them a message contrary to their mindes and pre-resolutions, they rejected it, and said in plain termes they would not obey the Word of the Lord which he had spoken: So many they enquire into the Word, but not with impartialnesse of spirit, they are men pre-resolved, and rather enquire to strengthen their own resolutions, and pre-possessions, and engagements, then as naked, single inquisitours, to know and obey the minde of God revealed; this is the doublenesse of spirit in men; these doe not enquire Gods minde, but enquire to strengthen their own minde; they are resolved of their way, and rather search to fortifie themselves in their pre-resolutions, then to alter their resolutions according to Gods discoveries. Take heed of such a spirit. Consult, but consult impartially, as men that doe apprehend it their happines to know the good and acceptable will of God.