A76988:187
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.
1. His ends to the good. 2. His ends to the bad.
1. It may stand with Satan's ends to the good: Satan hath these four ends in the setting on foot errors.
1. It may stand with Satans ends to the good: Satan hath these foure ends in the setting on foot errours.
1. To seduce the godly, to draw them into error. He attempted this upon Christ, as you see in his temptation, Matth. 4. and much more will he attempt it on us, having far more hope to prevail. Christ was all pure, all clear, all light, and no darkness, and therefore could be no more prevailed upon then to make Heaven, hell; but he knows we are poor compound creatures, have light and darkness in us, error and truth, a dark side and light; as there is something within us which is an enemy to him, so there is something within us which is his friend too, something that holds correspondency with him, and that is ready to give entertainment and set open the gates to let him in, when he comes with a temptation. And if he would attempt it on Christ, nay if he were too hard for Adam in his innocency, who had reason at will, and wit at command, and grace too, righteousness at least, and no error in him, nothing of his side, but only this, that he was mutably good, that it was possible for him to be seduced and drawn away, how much more will he attempt it on us. Its true God hath said, that the elect shall not be deceived, they shall deceive if it were possible the elect, saith Christ; by which is evident the elect shall not be deceived; And he knows that if they be elect he shall not prevail, because God hath said it: But he knows not whether they be such or no, though he have some guesses at it, yet he hath not the infallible knowledge of it; neither hath he entered into Gods eternal decrees, nor can he know the heart, for that is proper to God alone; but though he should know it, yet he would be tampering, he would endeavour to seduce the elect. He knew Christ was the Son of God, and had heard God so declare from Heaven, and yet he durst venture to attempt to seduce Christ, or rather, to use the words of Scripture, tempt Christ; therefore much more will he endeavour the same with you, though he should not be able to seduce you, nay and though he knew that too, yet he hath other ends as I shall show anon, which may put him on to attempt it.