A76988:1253
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 opinion which is questioned to give too little, is that which denies all jurisdiction unto Synods and Councils, and saith, Though God hath afforded further means of suppressing error, and reducing erroneous persons, then a particular Congregation, yet hath he not afforded any further jurisdiction.
2. A second opinion which is questioned to give too little, is that which denies all jurisdiction unto Synods and Councels, and saith, Though God hath afforded further means of suppressing errour, and reducing erroneous persons, then a particular Congregation, yet hath he not afforded any further jurisdiction.
3. A third opinion saith, That God hath given to a Synod, a power of jurisdiction, yet that not absolute, but ministerial; not privative, any way robbing and depriving of particular Congregations of their just rights and power, but cumulative, to strengthen and uphold particular Congregations in their power and privileges; they take not the power out of their hands, but strengthen and direct them in the use of it.
3. A third opinion saith, That God hath given to a Synod, a power of jurisdiction, yet that not absolute, but ministerial; not privative, any way robbing and depriving of particular Congregations of their just rights and power, but cumulative, to strengthen and uphold particular Congregations in their power and priviledges; they take not the power out of their hands, but strengthen and direct them in the use of it.
I shall not speak to all these separately. The first of these is justly exploded and cast out; the second and third are controverted: one is thought to give too much; the other is reputed to attribute too little. It suits not with my Discourse, nor yet with my purpose, to examine and dispute them here. That which I intend to pursue, is to lay down such evident grants of power, as may happily suggest some mediums of reconciliation in this difference.