By: Thomas F. Booher
I was once told online by Wayne Sparkman, who I believe is the historian of the PCA, that The Arraignment of Error by Samuel Bolton needs to be read by ministers and members in our Reformed/Presbyterian churches today. Sadly, this book is out of print, and is hard to get a copy. I got a copy a couple years ago, and have just now gotten around to reading it with some care. I wish I had sooner. I am going to quote from the book freely, beginning in the 11th chapter, which really gets to the meat of the book and many of the continuing controversies in Reformed circles over doctrine, authority of eldership/presbyteries, etc., and who may judge rulings by elders, presbyteries, councils, who may dissent from the judgments of these authorities, etc.
I also recorded a video, as seen below, reading and interspersing my comments on contemporary issues in our Reformed/Presbyterian Churches. I recorded on my iPad, which was a mistake. The audio and video are not great and out of sync, but if you just listen to it, you can hear a good chunk of the 11th chapter even if you do not have the book yourself.
"We are easily deceived if we do not examine doctrines. Most men who are carried away are drawn aside for want of examination. It may be that they examine the quality of the doctors, not of the doctrine; they look upon men and see them to be men of great parts and learning, men of holy life and conversation, men perhaps who know much of God's mind, and thereupon they swallow all that they offer. They embrace all that they tender, and never examine whether the things they hold forth are conformable to the Word of God. Why, the most learned men, the most knowing men, the most holy men may be deceivers; they may lead you away with an error, and therefore, seeing such ease of deceit, there is great need of examination lest while they thirst after the gospel they drink poison, lest while truth is their thirst error may be their drink." Page 130
"I have here given you a taste of divines who might be alleged, you see, to be a cloud of witnesses to the truth that it is the duty of all to examine not only the opinions of private men, but the sentences and determinations of synods and councils, and to receive or reject them as they shall be found consonant or dissonant to the Word of God." Samuel Bolton, "The Arraignment of Error," page 134.
Westminster Divine Samuel Bolton, The Arraignment of Error, 142ff.
"It is one thing to be a heretic, another thing to be so reputed. There is nothing more common than that they who have gotten public power and authority to join with them should count them as heretics who reject their decrees and determinations, because they are persuaded they have decreed nothing but what is according to the rule of the Word. But if they are deceived, as it has often turned out, and the other exposition is the truth, those who are called heretics are really the orthodox ones. To reject the decrees of councils does not make a man a heretic; but to reject the truth, the Word of God, does. And therefore it is needful to examine and to judge things lest, while we would avoid being called heretics, we begin to be heretics.
...I told you there were two forms of examination: one public, the other private. And I laid down the position that it was the duty of every Christian not only to examine private opinions, but the sentences and determinations of councils and synods, and to reject or receive them as they shall be evidenced to be consonant or dissonant to the Word of God
...Let us then give to synods and councils that which is their right. It is their right and office to expound Scriptures, to unfold and determine controversial doctrines, and to declare their sentences and decrees to the churches. But let us not give to them that which is God's divine right, to submit to their definitions and determinations of faith without any scrutiny, examination, or judgment whether they are according to God's mind or not. A learned divine said 'Let us charge the people with that which is profitable to them so that they do not rashly or proudly reject the sound and orthodox decrees of councils and those set over them; but let us not prescribe that which is beastly and servile, so that, without any scrutiny or examination, they subscribe to the judgment and impositions of them over them.' This is, as one speaks, to transform men into beasts, to rob them of reason. This is to go into another's opinion with the feet rather than the heart.
My brethren! you have now a council, an assembly at work about the reformation of the worship of God. We all know it has been corrupted, and blessed be God we have so many hopes it will be reformed. We have an assembly of choice and godly men who, I persuade myself, look to God for His direction. But they are but men, though choice men; they do not claim an unerring privilege; none will say they are infallible, and therefore it is our work to examine. They have public and ministerial judgment, and are to determine, define, and declare the doctrines of faith and manner of worship unto the churches of God. Judicious discretion is left to us; everyone has liberty, nay we are bound to examine and judge the definitions and determinations of them. They desire not that their authority shall be valid with you unless they bring the authority of God, nor that you should hear them unless you hear God in them. It is their work to propound, to determine, and to declare; your work is to examine, to prove, and to judge."
"I see a spirit in some men who look to what authority will settle; others, to what way will preferment lie. And as the wind follows the abundance of exhalations, so they go where there is most abundance from the world. I see others standing and inquiring as to which way such holy or learned me go, but few who will take the pains to inquire what is the mind of God. They ask indeed with Pilate, "What is truth? What is the way of God?" But they will not dig into the mine of Scripture to find this treasure; they will not take pains to search. They hope that godly men and learned men will not settle anything but what is good, and there they rest. What is this but resolving our faith into the determinations of men? This we are not to do, though we follow the best of men, because it is sinful, it is not certain, it is not safe, nor is it a way suitable for men.
This is the position, that it is our duty to examine the doctrine and determinations of synods and councils. And let it be our practice." Westminster Divine John Bolton, The Arraignment of Error, 147-8.
"It should be our inquiry in all our opinions, 'What is God's answer?' Men say this, others say that, but what does God say? The Judge is to be sought from heaven, but what need is there to knock at heaven's door when we have His Word, His mind, in Scripture? You are not to seek the heavenly Judge from the clouds, but from the Scriptures.
So then, that to which God sends us, and that with which we are to consult in all controversies of faith, doctrine, or worship, is certainly the rule. But it is to the Word that God sends us, and with the Word we are to consult in all controversies of faith. We, I say -- not only private men, but synods and councils. Therefore, certainly, this is the rule whereby opinions ought to be tried....
It is one reason why our divines say that no man or company of men, no synods or councils, can be supreme judges of opinions because they are not able to foresee what errors and doubts may arise, yea, even out of their own determinations. They resolve only those doubts and controversies which arise in their time, but they cannot foresee what may arise afterward. But God foresees all. He knew all that would arise, and furnished the Scriptures with the sufficiency to remove all doubts and resolve all truths necessary for our salvation...
It is that Scripture to which we are to inquire, and with which we are to consult, in all doctrines of faith and worship; and not only we, but councils and synods are to go to the Word and to the testimonies. And their judgment is no further valid than it is founded upon the sure foundation of the Word of God. And therefore it must be the supreme judge and, by consequence, the only rule to which we are to inquire in all points of faith and worship...
Much more might be said on this point. It is the great controversy in which our great champions -- Whitaker, Reynolds, and Davenant -- have combatted the papists, and it is the great truth which they fought for in their own generations. And it was not new to them. It has been the constant tenet of all the learned in all ages of the church. Do not believe the argument and our dispute, but let us search the Scriptures, inquire of the apostles, ask of the prophets, and inquire of Christ; let them determine...
You see I have shown you two things: who is to examine, and by what rule they are to examine. I have charged one thing upon you as your duty at all times: it is the duty of everyone to examine. And I have given you here the rule by which you are to try: The Word of God. This is the touchstone. It is not men, not councils, not synods, much less the Pope, whose unerring authority the papists set above councils. But it is the Word of God which is the rule and judge, and therefore by the Word the Council of Nicea both tried and condemned the Arian heresy; by this the Council of Carthage, of Melevis, of Orange, tried and condemned the Pelagian heresy. As a heathen philosopher said, 'He who makes the law judge makes God judge, but he who makes man the judge substitutes a beast instead.' And he gives this reason: because the best men are wrested with affections, but the law is free of these perturbations...
Men look upon truth as a foolish passion that leads them into bogs. Most men would entertain truth as a servant, but few as a king; they would own so much as might be serviceable to them, but they will not own any more, not so much as may master them. So long as they may live on truth, they like it; but when it turns on them, nay, turns on the best of their comforts, their estates, wives, children, possessions, nay, even liberty and life, this is hard. And he who does not see truth to be his honor, his riches, his friend, his liberty, and his life -- that man will never own truth alone.
In the pursuit and inquiry after truth in these days, beware of a double spirit; beware there is no treachery in you; beware of being biased with corrupt affections. Ask the way to Zion with your faces thitherward, that is, with resolution to go there when it is revealed. Be not only willing to know, but stand resolved to do. And when God sees you willing to do, He will make you able to know."
Samuel Bolton, The Arraignment of Error, selections from pages 157-163.
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