A76988:330
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.
Now then the way which they went, silencing, suspending, imprisoning, fining of men, whipping undoing men; Certainly was not the way of Christ, for the reforming of errors;* men are rather to be persuaded then commanded, rather to be dealt withal by the authority of God then of man, which is as nothing in heavenly things when God concurs not; but this I shall speak unto at large in the last question, and therefore will proceed no farther now. This is the fourth ground of abounding errors in our days, even the want of the discipline of Christ, the want of regular proceedings in several Congregations and Synods for the reforming of them.
Now then the way which they went, silencing, suspending, imprisoning, fining of men, whipping undoing men; Certainly was not the way of Christ, for the reforming of errours;* men are rather to be perswaded then commanded, rather to be dealt withall by the authority of God then of man, which is as nothing in heavenly things when God concurres not; but this I shall speake unto at large in the last question, and therfore will proceed no farther now. This is the fourth ground of abounding errours in our dayes, even the want of the discipline of Christ, the want of regular proceedings in severall Congregations and Synods for the reforming of them.
- *Suadenda fides, non imponenda, saith Bern.
5. A fifth ground is, the too much connivance, nay encouragement that they find among the people of God, this is a great ground of broaching opinions. We say a receiver makes a thief; your readiness to comply with opinions, and to receive all, doth give great encouragement to broach them; It was that which the Prophet complained of in his time, Jer. 5.31. The Prophets prophesy falsely, and the Priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will be the end thereof: ô quam consentaneum, cries one in the reign of the Bishops, how did the Prophets or those Emissaries, Preachers, they had sent forth, prophesy falsely, and how did