The Arraignment of Error, Table of contents
THE Generall Proſpect OF THE ENSVING DISCOVRSE.
THE generall enducement unto the enſuing Diſcourſe, Pag. 1.
The coherence of the Text, and the diviſion of it, p. 2, 3.
The ſeverall Doctrines contained in it, and the main Doctrine propounded, viz.
Doct. That there ſhall be many dangerous and erroneous opinions toward the end of the world, which ſhall ſeduce and carry away many. 4, 5.
This Diſcourſe is carried on in way of reſolution to ſix main Queſtions. 5.
Qu. 1. How it may ſtand with Gods ends, with Sata… ends, with a mans own ends, that there ſhould be erroneous opinions? p. 6.
The ſeverall branches of this Queſtion are ſpoken unto; and, 1. It is ſhewed how it may ſtand with Gods ends. ibid.
1. It may ſtand with Gods ends,
1. His mercifull ends to the good.
1. To them brought in.
2. To them in purpoſe to call.
2. His judiciall ends to the bad.
ibid.
1. With his mercifull ends, viz. to them brought in, 1. To fift and try,
1. Their conditions.
2. Their graces.
3. Their grounds.
4. Their ….
The two firſt are only ſpoken unto.
1. To ſift and try their conditions; where ſix conditions are laid down to which God hath promiſed direction in truth, and preſervation from undoing errours p. 7, 8.
2. To try their graces: vvhere are five graces laid down, which God doth eſpecially try by permitting of errours 1. Their knowledge. 2. Their love. 3. Their zeal. 4. Their ſtability. 5. Their ſincerity. p. 8, 9, 10, 11.
A ſecond mercifull end which God hath to his own people, is to exerciſe and quicken their graces, this inſtanced in four graces, viz. 1 Their knowledge. 2. Their zeal. 3. Their faith. 4. Prayer. p. 12. 10 15.
A third mercifull end, to make them keep cloſer,
1. To him.
2. To his Word,
p. 55.
A fourth mercifull end, to commend his love to them, p. …6.
A fift, to diſcover to us where our ſtrength is, ib.
A ſixt, to make us prize truth more while we live, 17
A ſeventh, to make us wary of what we receive, 18. to 21
2. It may ſtand with Gods mercifull ends to them in his purpoſe to call, viz. 1 To awaken them. 2 To beat them off their ſandy foundations. 3 To clear the way of truth to them, 21 to 25
2. The permiſſion of errours may ſtand with Gods judiciall ends to the bad,
1. To the promoters.
2. To the receivers.
1. For the puniſhment of ſome former way of ſinne, where five ſins are named, wherefore God doth ſuffer men to be carried away with errours, 27, 28
2. For the further hardening of their hearts; where are divers waies ſet down of Gods hardening the heart, 29
…. The ſecond generall branch of the 1. Queſtion. viz. How it may ſtand with Satans ends,
1 To the good.
2 To the bad, 30
To the good,
1 To ſeduce, 31
2 To unſettle, 32
3 To ſhake, 33
4 To perplex, 34
5 To prejudice entertainment of truth, 35
Solutions to ſome objections made by thoſe who reſt in the light of their fore-fathers, without ſeeking further, rejecting what ever hath not been of former reception, 37. to 40
2 It may ſtand with Satans ends to the bad,
1 Receivers.
2 Promoters. 41
1 Receivers,
1 To leſſen the belief of things known.
2 To diſcourage them from doing any thing.
3 To ſuit himſelf to the tempers of men, 42
4 To corrupt and defile them more, 43
5 To beget diſlike of the waies of God, 45, 46
2 Promoters
1 To make their conditions more irrecoverable, 46
2 To encreaſe their ſin, 47 to 4…
3 To encreaſe their torments, 50. to 52
3 The third generall branch of the firſt Query, viz. How it may ſtand with mans ends,
1 The contrivers.
2 The actours.
Contrivers'
1 To blaſt the truth.
2 To divide the profeſſours of it, 52
Actours, to advance their
1 Ambitious
2 Covetous
3 Voluptuous
ends. 53, 54.
Qu. 2. What may be the grounds of abounding errours? 55
Anſw. The grounds are four,
1 Satan, 57
2 Corruption of mens hearts, 58
3 Mens readineſſe to drinke in every opinion, 59. to 64
4 Want of good diſcipline, 64. to 68
Queſt. 3. What are the grounds that ſo many are carried away? …8
Anſw. The generall grounds are,
1 Weaknes incident to the godly,
1 Weaknes of judgment, 68
2 Want of ſtability, 69
3 Too much credulity, 71. to 77
Where five grounds are laid down of our credulity, 72. to 78
2 Wickednes proper to the wicked, 77
Qu. 4. Who thoſe are that are in danger to be carried away, and led aſide with errours, 78
Four things firſt premiſed. 78. to 84
The anſwer laid down in ſeven particulars,
1 All ſuch who have not retained the notions of God in a holy and pure heart, 84
2 All ſuch who have not entertained the truth with love of it, ibid.
3 All ſuch who have not walked ſutably to thoſe truths which God hath revealed to them, 85
4 All ſuch who have embraced former truth out of partiall reſpects, 86
5 All ſuch who are not grounded and eſtabliſhed in the truth, 87
6 Such who have rejected truths received upon corrupt grounds, 88
7 All ſuch who have the world for their god, ibid.
Four ſorts of men noted, who will never hold to truth, 89
Means of eſtabliſhment in the truth, held forth from the Scripture, 90
Qu 5. What may be the examen… of opinions?
This branched into four leſſer Queſtions.
1 Who are to examine? 90
2 By what rule we are to examine? 90
3 Who is to judge? 90
4 What ar… the Diagnoſticks? 90
qu 1. Who are to examine opinions?
The errour of the Papiſts; and ſome diſtinctions …ouching examination premiſed, 90 to 91
A main poſition laid down in anſwer to the Queſtion, viz. That every one is bound to examine, not only private opinions, but even the ſentences, definitions, determinations of Councels, Synods, &c. and to embrace them, or reject them, as they are conſonant, or diſſonant to the word of God, 94
1 This poſition firſt clear'd by Scripture. 94, 95
2 Confirmed by arguments, 96-103
3 Strengthned by teſtimony. 103. to 106
4 Objections are anſwered, 106. to 112
And this main poſition applied to our times. 112. to 118
Queſt. 2. What is the rule by which we muſt examine?
After ſome generals are premiſed, the anſwer is laid down, that the Scripture is the rule and touch-ſtone whereby opinions muſt be tried, 118, 119
This confirmed by divers arguments, wherein the properties of a rule are laid down, 119. to 126
Some objections anſwered, 126 to 130
Queſt. 3. Who ſhall judge that this is Gods minde in Scripture?
Some generals premiſed; together with ſome diſtinctions of judges, and truths, and doctrines to be judged, 130. to 134
And ſome generall anſwers laid down, 134 to 137
Some more particular anſwers formed out of thoſe premiſed diſtinctions, with ſome directions to finde out truths doubtfull, 137. to 144
Queſt 4. What are the Diagnoſticks, where
1 The falſe marks.
2 The true.
1 The falſe marks, or the commonly received Characters of truth and errour are 1. Examined in ſix Queries, viz.
Qu. 1. Whether antiquity, or the ancientneſſe of an opinion, is not a true Char…cter of truth? 145
After ſome diſtinctions the anſwer is laid down, 145, 146, &c.
Qu 2. Whether the newneſſe of an opinion is not a ſufficient mark to diſcover it an errour? 147
Four diſtinctions premiſed to the anſwer of this, and the Query anſwered in two concluſions, with ſome admonitions to us in theſe times, 147-154
Qu 3. Whether the wickedneſſe of them that maintain it be not ſufficient to evidence an opinion to be erroneous?
Some generall anſwers laid down, to which are annexed four rules requiſite to be obſerved; if you would judge of an opinion to be erroneous by the wickedneſſe of the maintainers, 154. to 163
Qu. 4. Whether the holineſſe of thoſe who are the publiſhers and receivers of an opinion, be not ſufficient to diſcover their doctrine to be truth?
Some generall diſtinctions are premiſed, and the Query anſwered in four concluſions, 163. to 169
Qu. 5. Whether this be not ſufficient to evidence an opinion to be true, that it in maintained by learned men; and on the contrary, an opinion to be an errour, becauſe maintained by thoſe that are illiterate and unlearned? 169
1 The divers diſtinctions and acceptations of learning, 169. to 175
And thereupon anſvvers framed, 175. to 182
Qu. 6. VVhether the multitude, or pancity of them, who are the divulgers, and entertainers of an opinion, be not ſufficient to characterize an errour or truth.
After the terms explained, the Query is anſwered at large in many particulars, 182. to 190
The myſterious workings, and energy of errour laid forth in ſeven branches 190. to 204
2 The true and infallible Characters of divine truth.
1 Character. Divine truth is word-revelation, 205
This branched into three maximes.
1 What ever the word of God doth plainly and evidently hold forth, that is infallibly truth, 206
2 What ever may be collected by way of manifeſt conſequences, or made out by evident deductions from the word, is certainely a truth, 107
Yet three Cautions are laid down concerning this, 207. to 209
3 Maxim. What ever may be made evident to be conſonant to Gods minde, or the main end of God in Scripture, though there be no particular place for it, yet doubtleſſe it is a truth, 210
2 Charact. That which doth really and truly advance all God in Chriſt, is certainly a truth of God.
This branched forth into four particulars, and many opinions in our daies examined by it. 210. to 216
3 Char. That which doth really advance the whole work of grace, in the hearts and lives of Saints, that is certainly a truth of God, 217
This branched into four particulars, and fix eminent operations of truth ſaid down, 217. to 214
As 1. It hath a ſoul-humbling power: upon which ſome Objections are anſwered, 221. to 228
2 It hath a heart-changing power, 228
3 It hath a ſin-ſubduing power. 230
4 It hath a heart-quickning power, ibid.
5 It hath a heart-inflaming power, 231
6 It hath a heart-raiſing, ſpiritualizing power, ibid
Uſe The whole applied to our times, 233
The application branched into ſome
1 Cautions.
2 Directions, 235
1 Cautions, where are four laid down, 1 Beware of being too credulous; where three great grounds of mens credulouſneſſe are noted, 235-236
2 Beware of prejudices, 237
3 Beware of being biaſſed with corrupt affections; where four great biaſſes are laid down, 239. to 243.
4 Beware of wilfulneſſe and perverſneſſe.
Two directions.
1 Conſult impartially, and diligently with the Word of God, and God in the Word, 244
This branched forth into four particulars, and ſeven mediums laid down to enable us to finde out the right ſenſe of Scripture, 244. to 250
Direct. 2. Get an humble heart, 25…
Direct 3. Labour to be renewed in the ſpirits of your mindes, ib.
Direct. 4. Get a heart prepared for the entertainment of truth.
5 Enquire diligently, 252
6 Walk anſwerably, 252
Queſt. 6. What waies God hath left us in his Word for the ſuppreſſing of errour, and reducing of erroneous perſons? 253
Some generals premiſed.
The anſwer compriſed under two heads,
1 Eccleſiaſtical. 255
2 Civil. 255
Eccleſiaſticall are
1 Fraternall, 257
2 P…ſt…all,
3 Judiciall,
1 Congregationall
1 Admonition, 258, 259.
2 Excommunicatiō
2 Synodicall.
Some Objections upon Matth. 28.17. anſwered, 261. to 265
The Synodicall means, 265
This branched into four particulars, 1 What a Synod is? where many caſes are reſolved, 266. to 273
2 That God hath ſet up ſuch an Ordinance as this is, and in what caſes needfull, 273
3 That this means hath been bleſſed and ſucceſfull, 276
4 What power God hath endued and enabled a Synod withall, 279
Divers opinions laid down, 280
Our agreements in the negative laid down in ſix particulars, 281, 284
The power of a Synod, as relating to the Queſtion, laid down in theſe three particulars, 285
1 The power they have as relating to erroneous Doctrines, laid forth in three particulars, and an Objection anſwered, 285-287
2 Their power, as relating to erroneous perſons, laid forth in 4. branches, 287-190
3 Their power, as relating to erring Churches, laid down in ſix branches, 290-295
Object. concerning the difference betwixt our Synods, and that in Act. 15. anſwered, 295-302
The Queſt is concluded in a diſcourſe upon the divers opinions concerning Excommunication of a whole Church, and of delivering up to Satan, 302-30…
The grants of the Brethren, laid out in ſix particulars concerning the nature and power of Synods, 308-311
2 The civil and Magiſteriall means, 311
This ſummed up in five particulars,
q. 1. What power the Magiſtrate is ſaid not to have? this is ſaid forth under four particulars, 312-319
q. 2. What the power of the Magiſtrate is aſſerted to be, as relating to this Queſt.
Severall opinions concerning this, whereof two of them extremes, one middle, 31…-321
q 3. Whether there be any ſuch power warranted? and ordained of God, as is aſſerted? ibid.
The Query reſolved, and Objections anſwered, 321-325
q. 4. Whether ſuch a power be needfull to the Church? This is anſwered in four Concluſions, 326-329
q. 5. How this power is to be diſpenced? where ſix neceſſary Rules or cautionary advices are laid down in anſwer to this Queſtion.
Rule 1. This power is to be diſpenced rightly, 329
Rule 2. This power is to be diſpenced knowingly, 331
Rule 3. This power is to be diſpenced wiſely and prudentially, 334
Set down in three things, viz. It muſt be diſpenced with diſtinction of
Errours.
Perſons.
Penalties.
1 It is to be diſpenced with diſtinction of errours.
VVhere are four kindes of errours laid down unſufferable, 334-336
2 This power is to be diſpenced with diſtinction of perſons, 336
VVhere ſeven rules are laid down, ſerving to diſcover a man truly conſcientious in an errour, from one pretending conſcience for his errour, 337 —342
3. This power is to be diſpenced with diſtinction of penalties, 342
Some errours are to be healed with patience, 343
Rule 4. This power is to be diſpenced orderly, 344
It is not the only means, the firſt means, nor the means to be uſed alone, 346
Ru. 5. This power is to be diſpenced piouſly and religiouſly, upon religious grounds, in a religious manner, for religious ends, 347
Ru. 6. This power is to be diſpenced mercifully and ch…ritably, 348
The Diſcourſe concluded with ſome deſires, motives and waies of Accommodation, 349
Firſt, It is ſhewed that this accommodation is poſſible, in reſpect of God, in reſpect of our differences, and in reſpect of the perſons differing 349
2 It is exceeding deſirable,
1 To Chriſt.
2 In it ſelf.
3 To us.
4 To all the Churches of Chriſt.
Unto theſe motives ſome waies are laid down ſubſervient to this Accommodation, 355
1 That all would get their hearts in love with peace and union, 355
2 Silent all characterizing names. ibid.
3 Bury up, and forget all bitter, and diſtaſtefull paſſages, 356
4 Retract unjuſt charges, inconſequentiall and ſtrained deductions faſtened upon either. 357
5 That there be a truce and ceſtation from all matters of ſtrife and contention agreed on, 358
6 Set up a brotherly and amicable conference; where four things are ſuggeſted, requiſite to the well managing thereof, ibid.
Three main things to be endeavoured by the undertakers of this conference, 360
1 All unneceſſary controverſies are to be avoided, ibid.
2 To conclude and eſtabliſh our agreements, 36…
3 To accommodate our differences, 362
And with the earneſt deſires of a happy Accommodation, the work is concluded.