A76988:447
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.
The first is authoritative, and is that which comes up to that which Divines call, judicium ministerial, or ministerial judgement, which is, when many Ministers are authoritatively called, convened and met together; there they are not only inquisitors and examiners of opinions, but Judges; that is, ministerial and subordinate Judges, or determinators of doctrines and opinions, and may pass censure upon such opinions, as are found erroneous. And of this kind is conceived to be that great solemn convention of the Disciples and Elders, Act. 15. Where there was an examination and debate of things, and thereupon a passing of censure and judgement. And of this kind were those ancient and famous Councils and Synods in the Primitive times of the Church; famous against those errors and heresies in those days. And this is the first kind, authoritative examination.
The first is authoritative, and is that which comes up to that which Divines call, judicium ministeriale, or ministeriall judgement, which is, when many Ministers are authoritatively called, convened and met together; there they are not onely inquisitors and examiners of opinions, but Judges; that is, ministeriall and subordinate Judges, or determinators of doctrines and opinions, and may passe censure upon such opinions, as are found erroneous. And of this kinde is conceived to be that great solemn convention of the Disciples and Elders, Act. 15. Where there was an examination and debate of things, and thereupon a passing of censure and judgement. And of this kinde were those ancient and famous Councels and Synods in the Primitive times of the Church; famous against those errours and heresies in those daies. And this is the first kinde, authoritative examination.
2. The second is, a private and conscientious examination of opinions, in a mans own Court, the Court of conscience, whereby a man doth try and debate whether those things which are prescribed, or those things which are preached, written, &c. be truths and agreeable to the Word of God. And this doth amount to that which Divines call judicium discretionis, or the judgement of discretion, in which men have power to examine, debate, and to pass judgement in reference to their own practice and walking. Every man is not only to be an inquisitor or examiner of all opinions, nay of the definitions and determinations of Councils: but he is to judge of them; and this he ought to do in respect of his own practice, though his judgement is not binding to others, or concerns not others, no further then others shall find that there appears truth in it.