The Arraignment of Error, To the reader – Approbation
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THe multitude of prevailing opinions at this time was the great ground; and the preſervation of my own people was the main end of the undertaking the following Diſcourſe. I had not (in my first undertaking the work) thought it would have been ſo large as now it is, but it ſwell'd under my hand, and I hope thou wilt eſteem its bigneſse to be its perfection, not its diſeaſe. It uſually fares with works of this nature, as with our Maſters bread, they multiply in the breaking. The whole is digeſted into ſix Queſtions, ſet down in the Title page, from which Generals many other particular Queries are deduced, diſcuſsed and reſolved. In the firſt part my great deſign hath been to fence from errour, and to put a ſtop to the wantonneſse of mens ſpirits in the handing and receiving of opinions. In the body of the Diſcourſe I have laid down the Examens of opinions, and the Characters of truth. And in the cloſe of the whole, I kept this in my eye, as the mark I aimed at, to drive on a happy agreement among thoſe who did conſcientiouſly differ. Wherein it is my hope, if my extreme deſire of a happie accommodation hath (in thy thoughts) carried me too farre, I may obtain the excuſe of my affection, For it is not granted (ſay ſome) to love and to be wiſe. I am not ignorant that eſſaies of this nature have often proved, not only Abortive, but the trouble of the Parent. And therefore politick men, as they will reſerve themſelves, and not ſpeak all their heart: ſo they will not ingage themſelves beyond their power of retreat, if they ſhall after ſee reaſon for it. You know whoſe ſpeech it was, That he would launce no farther into the Sea, then he might ſafely return to ſhore again; Thou wilt ſee in this Diſcourſe I am not of that verſatilis ingenij. And indeed the greatneſſe of the evil of diviſion, and the miſerie that doth attend it, with my vehement deſire of a happie Accommodation of our differences, not too dear to be bought out even with our blouds, hath over-powred me to ſpeak my whole heart, and to lay out my whole ſtrength without thoſe politick reſerves. Though I would give all reverence to the reſults of other Churches, yet would I ſet up none as Hercules Columns, beyond which nothing more is to be known, nor nothing more to be enquired; We have the ſame Starre to ſail by, which others have, and it ſhines as bright in our Horizon, as in any part of the Chriſtian world. Nor can it be any ſcandall and offence to other Churches, if in all th ngs we come not up to them: as they take their own juſt libertie to conſult their own peace, ſo may we. We ſee in part the miſchiefs of diviſions; It is indeed the blazing Comet, which portends more evil, then all our enemies can bring upon us; but when ſhall we be one? Shall we yet be dividing wedges, cleaving our ſelves into ſplinters, and renting our ſelves into further diviſion? We have had ſome waies of accord; but do all waies of accord ſet us at farther distance? Do means of union prove waies of diſunion? Do reaſons for agreement turn to arguments of further difference? A ſad omen! and gives us cauſe to fear, that if yet we will continue two, God may finde a third to chaſtize us both, God being as carefull to chaſtize his peoples wantonneſſe, as to relieve his peoples wants: from the duſt he will have means for the one; and from the dead he can raiſe inſtruments for the other. However I fear that both parties will have cauſe hereafter to repent that they are two, though no third party be uſed (which God avert) as a means to make us one. The foreſight of the miſery of lengthening out our differences, prevailed with me to attempt that which I have done in this Diſcourſe by way of healing and accommodating of them; towards which, if theſe weak endeavours may be ſerviceable, or put on ſome abler pen to attempt the like, I have my deſires, and good men their prayers, if not, I have given in my vote. And (as a learned Authour ſaith in attempts of another nature) It will be enough for me, L Verulā.if theſe weak endeavours may be reckoned among the beſt ſort of wiſhes. And I may be eſteemed,
An earnest breather after truth and peace, S. BOLTON.
Gentle Reader,
THou wilt finde in the peruſall of this Diſcourſe (notwithſtanding all our care) ſome literall faults, theſe I preſent to be amended, and the other I beg (wanting time of further peruſuall) may be indulged.
Pag 3. l 5 r foreign p 9. l. 1. mar r foreign. p. 9. l. 34. for notable, r. not able. p. 78 l 9 r ſcrupled p 101. l c. r audire p. 119. l. 22 m. r. novem. p. 125. l. ult r obliqui. p. 341. l. 33. r. terrours p. 343. l 6. r modi…am p. 360 l. 19. r. our. l. 31 1. speak.
I Have with much ſatisfaction, and content peruſed this Treatiſe, intituled [The Arraignment of Errour] And finding it to be very ſolid and judicious, pious, and exceeding ſeaſonable towards the healing of the preſent differences of our times, I allow it to be printed and publiſhed.
John Downam.