A76988:1201
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.
3. You have the form of this Convention, expressed in these words [Met together in the Name and Authority of Christ] As he tells us, Mat. 18.20. Where two or three are met together in my Name; which is spoken of Churches, as well as members. The Papists raise up great disputes upon these words [In my Name] and say, they denote him, who hath authority of calling and appointing such conventions, which, say they, doth not belong to Emperors, or Kings, or Magistrates, but to the Pope, to whom Christ in Peter did commit the government of the Church. And so by these words [in my Name] according to their interpretation, is signified the efficient cause, not the form of such a Convention. But to leave that to* those who enter the long disputes with them. Chrysostom expounds it, To meet together in Christs Name, is to meet together for the honour and glory of Christ.a Another, To meet together in the peace and love of Christ. Another,b To meet together for me, and for my cause, and for my glory. Anotherc saith, To meet together in Christs Name, is to meet in one faith, in one Christ, with one consent, mutually to confer about the things which do belong to eternal life. Take but one more, To meet together in Christs Name, isd so to meet that Christ alone may be president, and ⟨p. 269⟩he may have no fellow, but all his Subjects. So that now to gather all this together, To meet together in Christs Name, is to meet in the cause, in the faith, in the love, for the glory of Christ, to consult about spiritual and divine things, in which they desire to make Christ their Counsellor and Law-giver, and give up themselves to be guided and directed by him:* by which many a Convention is evidenced, not to be of Christ, nor to meet in his name.