A14095:1115
A discovery of D. Jacksons vanity. Or A perspective glass, whereby the admirers of…A discovery of D. Iacksons vanitie. Or A perspective glasse, wherby the admirers of…
A discovery of D. Jacksons vanity. Or A perspective glass, whereby the admirers of D. Jacksons profound discourses, may see the vanity and weakness of them, in sundry passages, and especially so far as they tend to the undermining of the doctrine hitherto received. Written by William Twice, Doctor of Divinity, as they say, from whom the copy came to the pressA discovery of D. Iacksons vanitie. Or A perspective glasse, wherby the admirers of D. Iacksons profound discourses, may see the vanitie and weaknesse of them, in sundry passages, and especially so farre as they tende to the undermining of the doctrine hitherto received. Written by William Twisse, Doctor of Divinitie, as they say, from whom the copie came to the presse
Amsterdam: printed by the successors of Giles Thorp, 1631
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.
Yet having proceeded thus far, my resolution is to go on, and to consider what you bring. What think you of Adams love in the state of innocency, was it perfect, or no? Though without sin awhile, yet he fell into sin: so did the Angels before him, so should we, though as perfect as they, if God should not uphold us. Yet our love in greatest perfection could not be so much as a shadow of Gods love, there being no resemblance between them: our love being a love of duty, Gods love to us of mere grace and mercy. Besides, between the fruits of Gods love to us, and the fruits of our love towards God, no colour of resemblance. Man is bound heartily to desire the good of all; but God is free, and hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when 1heaven was shut three years and six months, and great famine was throughout all the land: But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta a city of Sidon, unto a certain widow. Also many lepers were in Israel in the days of Elesaeus the prophet, yet none of them was made clean but Naaman the Syrian. And if Gods will had been to do the best that might be, he could have cured no doubt all other lepers as well as Naaman, and succoured other widows as well as the widow of Sarepta. Yet I confess, Gods good will exceeds ours, not intensively only, but extensively also: for not a sparrow falleth to the ground 2without the providence of our heavenly Father: he saveth both man and beast, and heareth the young Ravens that call 3upon him: the eyes of all do wait upon the Lord, and he gives them their meat in due season.
Yet having proceeded thus farre, my resolution is to go on, and to consider what you bring. What thinke you of Adams love in the state of innocency, was it perfect, or no? Though without sinne awhile, yet hee fell into sinne: so did the Angells before him, so should wee, though as perfect as they, if God should not uphold us. Yet our love in greatest perfection could not be so much as a shadow of Gods love, there being no resemblance betweene them: our love being a love of duety, Gods love to us of meere grace and mercy. Besides, betweene the fruits of Gods love to us, and the fruits of our love towards God, no colour of resemblance. Man is bound heartily to desire the good of all; but God is free, and hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. Many widowes were in Israel in the daies of Elias, when