A76988:1448
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.
Qu. 5. How this power is to be dispensed?
Qu. 5. How this power is to be dispenced?
In answer to which I shall lay down six necessary rules, or cautionary advices, to which I shall only annex my desires, and some ways for a happy accommodation between the brethren, and so conclude this Discourse. We shall begin with the Rules necessary to be observed in the dispensing of this power. And
In answer to which I shall lay down six necessary rules, or cautionary advices, to which I shall only annex my desires, and some wayes for a happy accommodation between the brethren, and so conclude this Discourse. We shall begin with the Rules necessary to be observed in the dispencing of this power. And
1. This power is to be dispensed rightly. Magistrates have not an absolute power, to establish what they please in point of religion, but a power subordinate unto, and to be regulated by the will of God. He is Gods minister, and therefore is not to set his will above, or against his Master.1 It were better the Sword should rust in the scabbard, then it should be drawn forth against God and truth: better to bear the Sword in vain here, then to manage the Sword to the disservice of God. It will be far more easy to render an account of not using, then for ill using of this talent of power. Certainly this power may be lawfully used, and it may as sadly and as dangerously be abused: It is lawful to suppress some errors, but it is fearful to lend the sword to the suppression or extirpation of any truth. It is better not to do, then to do wickedly. How miserably Kings and Emperors have failed, nay abused their power in this, is known to all. When Kings have been in an error, they have established laws for that against the truth, when in the truth they have made decrees for the truth against error, which may be a trembling consideration to those who write of this power, and an awful caution to them, who are to use it. Volumes might be written, how miserably the Kings and Potentates of the earth have been abused, in lending their Sword to suppress those for errors, which have been the precious truths of God, and to advance those things for truths,