A76988:470
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.
2. God hath furnished them with light and abilities, as Christians, he hath not only given a natural, but a spiritual and supernatural light, whereby we are made able to enquire into the truths of God. It is the opinion of our learned Divines against the Popish tenet of implicit faith, and blind obedience,* That all and every believer hath of God such a gift of illumination, that renders them sufficient, and fit to examine, judge and discern of the doctrines of faith, what are true, and what are false, so far as they are needful to salvation to be embraced or rejected.
2. God hath furnished them with light and abilities, as Christians, he hath not only given a naturall, but a spirituall and supernaturall light, whereby we are made able to enquire into the truths of God. It is the opinion of our learned Divines against the Popish tenent of implicite faith, and blinde obedience,* That all and every believer hath of God such a gift of illumination, that renders them sufficient, and fit to examine, judge and discern of the doctrines of faith, what are true, and what are false, so farre as they are needfull to salvation to be embraced or rejected.
- *Quod singuli fideles habent, adeò tale donum illuminationis, quod eos reddit sufficientes & idoneos ad examinandum, dijudicandum & discernendum in dogmatibus fidei, quod verum, quod salsum, quatenus sunt unicuique eorum ad salutem necessariò credenda, vel cavenda. Daven, de jud. & fidei.
And there is enough in the Word to prove it, Isa. 45.13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. Christ speaketh the same, Joh. 6.45.