A14095:160
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.
And is there not reason for it: For Gods essence hath no respect to outward things, as his power hath, and his operation hath. And see, whether by ascribing place to him, you shall not be driven to acknowledge that God is in Uacuo, which opinion but erst you impugned. For suppose many Angels existent in the air, (as some are called Princes of the air,) and so within the hollow of the moon, and suppose God should annihilate all that body of Element or Elements within the hollow of the moon, the bodies and spheres of the Heavens only remaining. It will not follow herehence that the Angels supposed to be within the hollow of the moon, shall be annihilated, because they being abstract substances, and undependant on any matter, shall exist still, and consequently shall be in Uacuo. For Vacuum is only a voidness of bodies, not of Spirits. And who doubts, but that God could have created spiritual substances only, and not bodily; in which case they must be said to be in Uacuo, or no where without them. Then again suppose these Spirits themselves within the hollow of the moon should be annihilated; yet God shall not cease to be existent there, upon the annihilation of Angels, like as Angels did not cease to exist there, upon the annihilation of bodies: and consequently God himself shall exist in Vacuo; and all this cometh to pass by placing his essence there in distinction from his presence, and from his power. Do not all confess that God is no where without himself as contained, but only as containing? now to contain is the work of his power, and of his will, & not of his essence, save as his essence, and power, and will are all one reality in God. And so God may be said to be every where, not only three manner of ways, to wit, by his essence, by his presence, & by his power: but more manner of ways, to wit, by his knowledge, by his wisdom, by his will, by his goodness. Yet all these shall be but one way, as all these are but one in God. But yet in proper speech as Gods essence is no where, but it may content us to say, that God ever was and is in himself only: so his goodness is no where, but in himself, his knowledge, wisdom, and understanding no ⟨p. 108⟩where but in himself; his will & mercy and justice no where but in himself; his power to make, to preserve, to work no where but in himself:
And is there not reason for it: For Gods essence hathe no respect to outward thinges, as his power hathe, and his operation hathe. And see, whether by ascribing place to him, you shall not be driven to acknowledge that God is in Uacuo, which opinion but erst you impugned. For suppose many Angells existent in the ayre, (as some are called Princes of the ayre,) and so within the hollowe of the moone, and suppose God should annihilate all that body of Element or Elements within the hollowe of the moone, the bodies and spheares of the Heavens only remayninge. It will not followe herehence that the Angells supposed to be within the hollowe of the moone, shall be annihilated, because they being abstract substances, and undependant on any matter, shall exist still, and consequently shall be in Uacuo. For Uacuum is only a voydenes of bodies, not of Spirits. And who doubts, but that God could have created spirituall substances only, and not bodily; in which case they must be sayde to be in Uacuo, or no where without them. Then agayne suppose these Spirits themselfes within the hollowe of the moone shoulde be annihilated; yet God shall not cease to be existent there, upon the annihilation of Angells, like as Angells did not cease to exist there, upon the annihilation of bodies: and consequently God himselfe shall exist in Vacuo; and all this commeth to passe by placing his essence there in distinction from his presence, and from his power. Doe not all confesse that God is no where without himselfe as conteyned, but only as conteyninge? now to conteyne is the worke of his power, and of his will, & not of his essence, save as his essence, and power, and will are all one realitie in God. And so God may be sayde to be every where, not only three manner of wayes, to witt, by his essence, by his presence, & by his power: but more manner of wayes, to witt, by his knowledge, by his wisedome, by his will, by his goodnes. Yet all these shall be but one way, as all these are but one in God. But yet in proper speeche as Gods essence is no where, but it may content us to say, that God ever was and is in himselfe only: so his goodnes is no where, but in himselfe, his knowledge, wisedome, and understanding no