A76988:1162
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.
or, if there have been false administrations, as it may fall out; or, if they may be presumed to be false; in such cases a community of Churches is requisite, and businesses of this nature are to be transacted, not by one, but by a Community or Synod of Churches. Of which more afterward. We are now to deal only with that power which Christ hath l•ft unto a particular Congregation of Saints, for the suppressing of errors, and reducing of erroneous persons among themselves. And I shall speak, of it only under these two branches, 1. Admonition. 2. Excommunication.
or, if there have been false administrations, as it may fall out; or, if they may be presumed to be false; in such cases a community of Churches is requisite, and businesses of this nature are to be transacted, not by one, but by a Community or Synod of Churches. Of which more afterward. We are now to deal only with that power which Christ hath l•ft unto a particular Congregation of Saints, for the suppressing of errours, and reducing of erroneous persons among themselves. And I shall speak, of it onely under these two branches, 1. Admonition. 2. Excommunication.
1. They have power to admonish an erring or offending brother. And that is implied, in Mat. 18.17.1 If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee, &c.—He is not to be cast out, till he discover his obstinacy, till he will not hear: if he must hear, then the Church must speak. It is then the office of the ⟨p. 261⟩Church to exhort, to reprove, to admonish an erring brother, that he do not persist on such errors, nor spread such opinions; And this admonition differs from that which is fraternal, nay from that which is pastoral; though authoritative, yet it is but concionall and doctrinal; this is judicial and in order to censure, if a brother will not be reclaimed: and that is the first.