A76988:13
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.
so now it hath been your strength and muniment in these days of distress. Long before these times of trouble, you were troubled for the times, looking on them, as the womb of all these present births of calamity, fore-seeing (as it were in vision) the sad harvests which those seed times did portend, if God did not avert them. Since these times of trouble you have sate in counsel, as a faithful ⟨image 3⟩unwearied Steersman, whom neither frowns nor favours, promises, nor threats could make to desist in your duty, or decline your station. All temptations being too little for that spirit, which was too big for the world. In the Armies, you have not only been helpful in counsel, exemplary in conversation, but active in employment, and have continued in the midst of all discouragements, bin fellow-commoner with them in their wants, sharer in their necessities, patient of heat and cold, of drought and moisture, and born a part, both in the greatest sufferings, and mightiest services. Whose exemplary doing and suffering, as it was said of the L. Howard's in that exigent of time in 88. though his service was but small,1 the towing of a Cable, yet in that little, because that little was exemplary, he did more then many men. In the field you have encountered with difficulties, undergone hazards, confronted dangers, faced death, as if nothing were fearful but fear,2 standing up when so many have fallen on both hands, though a monument of Gods preserving mercy, yet a sacrifice ready to be offered up for this Cause, and for that God whose glory you esteemed more dear, and precious then your life.3 Thus you have every way showed your self, [Greek or Hebrew], approved gold, all your trials rendering you more approved. My Lord, I reckon up these; though your honours, yet your duties; though your adornments, yet your engagements; though your riches, yet your debts, for which you are bound to more thankfulness, and more service. As these are acts of differencing grace; so they call forth for acts of discriminating duty. And blessed be that God who will single us out to make us any way instrumental for his glory; if he will trust us with work, we may trust him with reward, ⟨image 4⟩