A76988:67
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.
And therefore it hath been the policy of Antichrist, and of all who have been the patrons of error either in doctrine or worship, to hold out their opinions and doctrines upon the highest pretences, to make men more willingly to close with them and swallow them: And opinions so handed to us, come with great advantage.
And therefore it hath been the policie of Antichrist, and of all who have been the patrons of errour either in doctrine or worship, to hold out their opinions and doctrines upon the highest pretences, to make men more willingly to close with them and swallow them: And opinions so handed to us, come with great advantage.
Well then, seeing there shall be many seducers, and they shall prevail to seduce many; and seeing there is such danger of seducing others also, in regard they come with such specious pretences, giving out that I sent them, that they have Commission from me, and the opinions they hold forth they are my mind and will, therefore take heed that no man deceive you, 1[Greek or Hebrew], that no man seduce you; so the word speaks, whence planus in Latin is taken pro impostor. It is a word doth properly signify to be enticed out of the right way, into woods and groves in which there is danger. As a thief doth allure the traveller out of his way, into woods and groves, that he may rob and kill him; so the Devil who is the grand impostor, doth endeavour to draw men out of the way of life, that he may rob them of their graces, and murder their souls. And therefore take heed that no man seduce you, for many shall come in my name.
Well then, seeing there shall be many seducers, and they shall prevaile to seduce many; and seeing there is such danger of seducing others also, in regard they come with such specious pretences, giving out that I sent them, that they have Commission from me, and the opinions they hold forth they are my mind and will, therefore take heed that no man deceive you, 1〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that no man seduce you; so the word speaks, whence planus in Latin is taken pro impostore. It is a word doth properly signifie to be inticed out of the right way, into woods and groves in which there is danger. As a thiefe doth allure the travellour out of his way, into woods and groves, that he may rob and kill him; so the Devil who is the grand impostor, doth indeavour to draw men out of the way of life, that he may robbe them of their graces, and murther their soules. And therefore take heede that no man seduce you, for many shall come in my name.