A76988:509
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.
For the other part of the Objection, That they who lean to their own judgements, and not to the judgement, and determinations of Councils, their faith is doubtful and uncertain.
For the other part of the Objection, That they who lean to their own judgements, and not to the judgement, and determinations of Councels, their faith is doubtfull and uncertain.
I answer, If by leaning to their own judgment be meant, to adhere to what their own humane reason doth dictate to them in divine things; then I say, that their faith is doubtful and false, for mans understanding is no fit measure, nor judge of divine truths, it is above reason. But if by leaning to our private judgement, be meant, adhering to that which an understanding enlightened doth evidence to be in the Word, or adhering to that which the Spirit of God hath revealed and persuaded the spirit of a man to be the mind of God in the Word, then I say, that this faith is neither uncertain or false.
I answer, If by leaning to their own judgment be meant, to adhere to what their own humane reason doth dictate to them in divine things; then I say, that their faith is doubtfull and false, for mans understanding is no fit measure, nor judge of divine truths, it is above reason. But if by leaning to our private judgement, be meant, adhering to that which an understanding enlightned doth evidence to be in the Word, or adhering to that which the Spirit of God hath revealed and perswaded the spirit of a man to be the minde of God in the Word, then I say, that this faith is neither uncertain or false.
And therefore it is rightly spoken by a learned Divine,* He leans upon his private judgement, that judgeth of divine things, what his own humane reason doth dictate, but not he who judgeth of divine things, according as the Spirit of God doth persuade him by the Word.