The Growth of Error, Title page – Errata
THE Growth of Error: BEING AN EXERCITATION CONCERNING The Riſe and Progreſs of ARMINIANISM, and more eſpecially SOCINIANISM, both abroad, and now of late in England.
By a Lover of Truth, and Peace.
Pſal. 7.14. Behold he travelleth with Iniquity, and hath conceived Miſcheif, and brought forth Falſhood.
LONDON, Printed for John Salusbury, at the Riſing Sun, in Cornhill, 1697.
THE PREFACE.
WHEN I firſt obſerv'd, how ſuddenly the Socinian Hereſie ſpread it ſelf throughout the Nation, I could not ſatisfie my ſelf, without making ſome Enquiry, how it came to paſs, which I no ſooner did, but perceiv'd, that Pretences, either to Reaſon, or Revelation, were not indeed the true Cauſe thereof ſo much as the Induſtry, Artifice, and Deceitful Methods of the Hereſiarchiſts, who, being themſelves ſtruck Blind by the Divine Glory, which ſhines in the Myſteries of our Holy Religion, and hardened alſo through the Innate Averſion, that is in us by Nature, unto the Self-abuſing Truths in the Goſpel, have made it their Province to pervert ſuch, whom they found pliable to how down to the Idol of a Religion of their making.
Some of their Methods I have detected, in the Enſuing Diſcourſe; and, if God give leave, may do more hereafter. I have traced out ſome Foot-ſteps, in the Arminian Party, conducing towards the Socinian Cauſe, and am ſorry to ſee how many, among the Orthodox, by their Heats, and Indiſcretions, have contributed too much toward the Propagation of Errour, as well as they, that have run to the contrary Extreme in their oppoſing Socinian, and Arminian Notions.
Whether, in Imitation of the Italian Combinators, there are any amongſt us have joyn'd themſelves to the Orthodox, with a Deſign to ſubvert the Truths, they profeſs to own, and introduce the Contrary they pretend a Zeal againſt, I will not ſay: But this will I ſay; that, tho' my Charity to Men, whoſe Principles are very different from what I hold (who I believe ſincere, and open in their Enunciations) is by many, that know me, obſerv'd to be of a Latitude, as they think, to a Fault; yet, not being able to abide any of theſe Hypocritical, and Deceitful Trickings, in Matters Religious, which, to my great Sorrow I ſee now, tho' formerly I could not believe, I ſhall, for the unburthening my Conſcience, and for the ſake of the Ʋnwary, ſhow, that there are ſundry Principles advanced by Men of Reputation, among the ſound in the Faith, that do, in ther Tendency, leade to what theſe drive, who are of the worſt Sort, that is, the Engliſh Socinians. And that my Impartiality may appear, as I have not, ſo will I not forbear to expreſs my juſt Indignation againſt thoſe Antinonian Dotages, with their Miſchievous Effects, which have been, not only an Inlet to a looſe Life, but the Occaſion of hurrying ſo many into that wicked Hereſie.
And when I do, as I intend, this, I deſire to be found one neither ſo to affect to be Orthodox, as to become cenſorious towards my Brethren, who out of Judgement, or Conſcience differ from me, in any tolerable Opinion; nor ſo afraid to be Heterodox, as to decline the Examination, or Reception of any Momentous Point, that ſhall be offered me by another, whereof I am convinced, that it is firſt True, and then alſo profitable either for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, or Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs to the Church of God.
March the 4th. 1697. S. L.
ERRATA.
PAge 16. line 2. after Doctrine, read, in another Inſtance. P. 17. l. 8. for Perſonality, r. Deity. P. 63. l. 11. r. into. P. 81. l. 8. for confirming, r. confining. P. 83. l. 13. r. ſubrogatum, l. 14. r. ſubrogatur. P. 86. l. 1, 2. dele, or improve, l. 13. r. 1691. P. 124. l. 4. dele, till. P. 166. l. 28, 29. r. For, to the End they might. P. 184. l. 23. r. which. P. 195. l. 5. for one, r. on. P. 207. l. 2. after to, add be.