A76988:408
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.
5. All such who are not grounded and established in the truth. The house built on the sands stood not long, sandy foundations can never hold; men unbottomed can never be firm, like the weather-cock, they stand but this way for want of a stronger wind: many who are of this uncertainty of spirit like water that are formed according to the vessel that holds it, so they according to company they converse withal, like trees without root they are shaken with every wind, with every breath of men. It may be they read this, or hear this man, and they are full in his thoughts, another comes and leaves another impression on their spirits. This man is a poor man, he is nothing, his light is in others, he is darkness, his principles are in others, he himself is nothing, but what you will make him; he is a man to be argued into error or truth, according to the temper of his companion, he is upon a dark stormy sea, and steers by the light is held out, he hath none within him to guide him, and he fastens his boat to the next barge, moved by another's motion, for he hath none of his own. This is a man, a piece of paste fit to be moulded up in what form, and to what temper you please.
5. All such who are not grounded and established in the truth. The house built on the sands stood not long, sandy foundations can never hold; men unbottom'd can never be firme, like the weather-cock, they stand but this way for want of a stronger winde: many who are of this uncertainty of spirit like water that are formed according to the vessell that holds it, so they according to company they converse withall, like trees without root they are shaken with every winde, with every breath of men. It may be they reade this, or heare this man, and they are full in his thoughts, another comes and leaves another impression on their spirits. This man is a poore man, he is nothing, his light is in others, he is darknesse, his principles are in others, he himselfe is nothing, but what you will make him; he is a man to be argued into errour or truth, according to the temper of his companion, he is upon a darke stormy sea, and steers by the light is held out, he hath none within him to guide him, and he fastens his boat to the next barge, moved by anothers motion, for he hath none of his owne. This is a man, a peece of paste fit to be moulded up in what forme, and to what temper you please.