A76988:694
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.
The Church of God is called, The pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.16. not that which gives being to truth, nor that which gives authority to truth, but the Church is the depository of truth, the orb out of which this glorious light shineth, the Candle-stick which holds the light, the pillar, not so much to hold up, as to hold forth truth, as the Law and Proclamation of Christ, it doth not hold up the authority of it, but bear witness to that authority in it.
The Church of God is called, The pillar and ground of truth, 1 Tim. 3.16. not that which gives being to truth, nor that which gives authority to truth, but the Church is the depository of truth, the orb out of which this glorious light shineth, the Candle-stick which holds the light, the pillar, not so much to hold up, as to hold forth truth, as the Law and Proclamation of Christ, it doth not hold up the authority of it, but bear witnesse to that authority in it.
4. The fourth way is, to go to God by prayer, and desire him who is the father of light, to reveal the way of truth to thee, Jam. 1.5. Are such and such things doubtful? Thou lookest upon many opinions abroad, and thou art brought to a stand, thou knowest not what to determine, the cases are very doubtful; go and strip thy self maked of self, of by-ends, of corrupt affections, unbias thy self, denude thy self before God, and desire him to reveal his will to thee, beg of him that he would lead thee into the way of all truth, tell him he hath engaged himself to teach thee, he hath promised we shall all be taught of God, he hath said, He will lead us into the way of all truth, urge God with his promise, believe it, conclude it, either God will reveal it to thee, or it is not necessary it should be known.
4. The fourth way is, to goe to God by prayer, and desire him who is the father of light, to reveal the way of truth to thee,