A76988:626
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.
In the disquisition of truth, in the enquiring after truth in these days, beware of a double spirit, beware there be not treachery ⟨p. 130⟩in thee, beware of a double spirit, beware of being biassed with corrupt affections, &c. Ask the way to Zion with your faces thitherward, that is, with resolution to go it, when it is revealed: be not only willing to know, but stand resolved to do: and when God sees you willing to do, he will make you able to know. And so much shall serve by way of touch in application; we come now to the Query.
In the disquisition of truth, in the enquiring after truth in these daies, beware of a double spirit, beware there be not treachery ⟨p. 130⟩in thee, beware of a double spirit, beware of being byassed with corrupt affections, &c. Aske the way to Sion with your faces thitherward, that is, with resolution to goe it, when it is revealed: be not only willing to know, but stand resolved to doe: and when God sees you willing to doe, he will make you able to know. And so much shall serve by way of touch in application; we come now to the Query.
Qu. 3. If the Scripture be the Rule, God in Scripture Judge; yet the great Question is, Who shall judge that this is Gods mind in Scripture? Here lies all the controversy.
Qu. 3. If the Scripture be the Rule, God in Scripture Judge; yet the great Question is, Who shall judge that this is Gods minde in Scripture? Here lies all the controversie.
There is great cause of propounding this Question, in regard that the Scriptures, they are not in all things so clear, but that you see they are capable of many interpretations. Capable, I say, not that these divers senses do arise from the nature of the things affirmed, or from the mind and intention of the declarer, but from the ignorance or perverseness of the searchers and inquirers, as was said before.—