A76988:889
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.
It is you know the great Argument the Papists have, and therefore they set it down as one note of the true Church, the multitude of professors. And though it was opposed against the Papists, yet was it an Episcopal argument against the reformed Churches,* That which hath been the custom of the whole world, and of all times of the Churches, ought to be more desirable then such a discipline, which is maintained by a few, and is but of late standing.
It is you know the great Argument the Papists have, and therefore they set it down as one note of the true Church, the multitude of professours. And though it was opposed against the Papists, yet was it an Episcopall argument against the reformed Churches,* That which hath been the custom of the whole world, and of all times of the Churches, ought to be more desirable then such a discipline, which is maintained by a few, and is but of late standing.
- *Mos totius orbis & omniū teraporum ecclesiarum, potior esse debet eo, qui est exigui populi, & parvi temporis. Sarar. Cons. Park. de polit eccles. l. 2 c. 35 p. 297. 298. etiam l 2 c 6, 7.Mos totius orbis & omniū teraporum ecclesiarum, potior esse debet eo, qui est exigui populi, & parvi temporis. Sarar. Cons. Park. de polit eccles. l. 2 c. 35 p. 297. 298. etiam l 2 c 6, 7.
Again, It is most just and equal, that seeing the number of the reformed are but few, they should yield unto the other, who are many, yea, and many of them in authority and office in Church and Common-wealth. Another speaks yet plainer,a It is absurd to think that God should inspire one man rather then many; by which expressions of theirs, it may seem too evident, that though they opposed this argument of the Papists, and