A76988:236
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. To lessen the credit, or if you will belief of those things which they do know. Men who are yet of unregenerate life, may know many truths of God, and though they have not much faith of them, yet some credit they give to them, which begets awful thoughts of the truth of God, and this general belief of these things, doth restrain many from many sins, and puts them upon many general duties.
1. To lessen the credit, or if you will beliefe of those things which they doe know. Men who are yet of unregenerate life, may know many truths of God, and though they have not much faith of them, yet some credit they give to them, which begets awfull thoughts of the truth of God, and this generall beliefe of these things, doth restraine many from many sinnes, and puts them upon many generall duties.
Now Satan cannot endure this light in them, he knows not what in time it may come too, and therefore he sets many errors on foot, that if possible he might lessen the belief of those things which are real truths, and render all you know which keeps you in some awe, by virtue of that power the general belief of them hath upon your spirit: I say to render them all, but notions secundae, chimeras, mere fancies, or policies, the better to keep men in awe, and under rule, and some government.
Now Satan cannot endure this light in them, he knowes not what in time it may come too, and therefore he sets many errours on foote, that if possible he might lessen the beliefe of those things which are reall truths, and render all you know which keepes you in some awe, by virtue of that power the generall beliefe of them hath upon your spirit: I say to render them all, but notiones secundae, chymeraes, meere fancies, or pollicies, the better to keepe men in awe, and under rule, and some government.