A76988:1175
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.
Answ. It is meant of all sorts of scandal, as well those in doctrine, as those in life, as well those in opinion, as they in conversation. Christ speaks there of all scandals and offences in general, and unless you will say that error in judgement, dangerous opinions, such as disturb the peace of the Church, and subvert mens souls, are not offences and scandals to you, you cannot deny but this place is meant of those kind of scandals, as well as the other, against which these spiritual censures of the Church have been directed. So the Apostle when he speaks of Excommunication, saith, 2 Cor. 10 6. That he hath in readiness to revenge all disobedience: And I hope this will be judged a part of disobedience. So that you see the thing is clear, that this Mat. 18.17. is taken for Church-censures,1 and to be exercised not only against scandals in life, but errors in doctrine further. I will yet confirm this to you by some Scriptures, 1 Tim. 1.20. Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Here is Excommunication, and that for Heresy. So Tit. 3.10. A man that is an Heretic, after the fi•st and second admonition reject, ⟨p. 264⟩knowing that such an one is subverted—So Gal. 5.12. I would they were cut off that trouble you; He speaks here of Excommunication, and of those that were false Prophets, who troubled them with circumcision, pressing it as necessary to salvation, and by that perplexing the consciences of the weak brethren.
Answ. It is meant of all sorts of scandall, as well those in doctrine, as those in life, as well those in opinion, as they in conversation. Christ speaks there of all scandals and offences in generall, and unlesse you will say that errour in judgement, dangerous opinions, such as disturb the peace of the Church, and subvert mens souls, are not offences and scandals to you, you cannot deny but this place is meant of those kinde of scandals, as well as the other, against which these spirituall censures of the Church have been directed. So the Apostle when he speaks of Excommunication, saith,