A76988:249
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.
I told you, a corrupt heart will breed a corrupt judgement in time, but a corrupt judgement will presently work a corrupt life.
A man that hath his understanding yet preserved, he doth not work regularly in a way of sin, he is off, and on, as his lust doth prevail, but now the other he walks uniform, he is always the same in sin.
A man that hath his understanding yet preserved, he doth not work regularly in a way of sin, he is off, and on, as his lust doth prevaile, but now the other he walkes uniforme, he is alwayes the same in sinne.
Again, the one if his knowledge be not directive, it will be afflictive, if it be not a bridle, it will be a whip, if not a curb, it will be a scourge. But now the other, he sins with quiet, he hath sinned away the light, and as he hath no light to direct him, so he hath none to afflict him. Hence this is the reason, you see two men, it may be they are both of them unregenerate men, yet one of them if he chance to fall into some gross sin, for spiritual sins trouble ⟨p. 45⟩him not, if he be drunk or overtaken in such a way, he is so troubled and disquieted, and conscience is up, and light within him stares in his face, and he cannot get his former quiet or dead peace in a long time after.
Againe, the one if his knowledge be not directive, it will be afflictive, if it be not a bridle, it will be a whip, if not a curb, it will be a scourge. But now the other, he sinnes with quiet, he hath sin'd away the light, and as he hath no light to direct him, so he hath none to afflict him. Hence this is the reason, you see two men, it may be they are both of them unregenerate men, yet one of them if he chance to fall into some grosse sin, for spirituall sinnes trouble