A76988:928
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 know nothing that truth can say to procure room in your hearts, to purchase entertainment in your affections, but error may use the same language: doth truth say, This is the mind of Christ? error may say the same: doth truth say, This is for the glory of God, for the advancement of holiness? why error will hold forth the same things. The Apostle puts this out of controversy, in the 2 Cor. 11.13, 14, 15. where he tells us of false Apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light, therefore it is no great thing, if his Ministers also be transformed, as Ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Where the Apostle shows plain, that the Prince of darkness may convey himself into the hearts and affections of men, as an Angel of light, that is, he may procure his entertainment, not under the notion of a Prince of darkness, so every one would tremble at him, but he conveys himself to mens affections, and purchaseth his acceptance, under the pretext and representation of an Angel of light; so the false Apostles, they did transform themselves into true Apostles: and there is nothing which the true Apostles may hold forth, but the false may hold forth, the one will hold forth error, upon as high terms and specious pretexts, as the other can do truth it self.
I know nothing that truth can say to procure room in your hearts, to purchase entertainment in your affections, but errour may use the same language: doth truth say, This is the minde of Christ? errour may say the same: doth truth say, This is for the glory of God, for the advancement of holinesse? why errour will hold forth the same things. The Apostle puts this out of controversie, in the 2 Cor. 11.13, 14, 15. where he tells us of false Apostles, deceitfull workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ. And no marvell, for Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light, therefore it is no great thing, if his Ministers also be transformed, as Ministers of righteousnesse, whose end shall be according to their works. Where the Apostle shews plain, that the Prince of darknesse may convey himself into the hearts and affections of men, as an Angel of light, that is, he may procure his entertainment, not under the notion of a Prince of darknesse, so every one would tremble at him, but he conveys himself to mens affections, and purchaseth his acceptance, under the pretext and representation of an Angel of light; so the false Apostles, they did transform themselves into true Apostles: and there is nothing which the true Apostles may hold forth, but the false may hold forth, the one will hold forth errour, upon as high terms and specious pretexts, as the other can doe truth it self.