A76988:535
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.
I say there can no man embrace a truth, and assent to it, upon the bare persuasion or determination of another,1 although he doth never so much desire it, unless there pass an examination, and a proper act of a mans own judgement, that the thing commanded is the mind and will of Christ. Indeed, a man may not contradict it, or a man may give up his affections to it, and subscribe to it out of corrupt affections, and from humane or rational grounds, but he can never receive it, as a man; never subscribe to it, as a Christian, till there hath passed an act of his own proper judgement, and this upon scrutiny and examination.
I say there can no man embrace a truth, and assent to it, upon the bare perswasion or determination of another,1 although he doth never so much desire it, unlesse there passe an examination, and a proper act of a mans own judgement, that the thing commanded is the minde and will of Christ. Indeed, a man may not contradict it, or a man may give up his affections to it, and subscribe to it out of corrupt affections, and from humane or rationall grounds, but he can never receive it, as a man; never subscribe to it, as a Christian, till there hath passed an act of his own proper judgement, and this upon scrutinie and examination.
- 1Morton. Apol. Cath. p. 2 l. 5. c. 9, 10, 12, &c.
It is a shame to think how the common sort of people do embrace doctrine, the authority of the imposers doth give them eyes to see, and judgements to assent, and faith to believe and subscribe to what ever is imposed.
It is a shame to thinke how the common sort of people doe embrace doctrine, the authority of the imposers doth give them eyes to see, and judgements to assent, and faith to believe and subscribe to what ever is imposed.