A14095:174
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.
Now see whether any of these are competible unto God. Your self have observed and approved the Hebrews conceit in calling him [Greek or Hebrew] Place. Let this then pass for a peculiar being of God in all his creatures, whether visible or invisible, corporal or spiritual, namely that as he hath made them, so he contains them, preserves them, ordereth them, filleth them all with his effects, and works the good pleasure of his own will in them, and by them. And this his presence, it is impossible he should withdraw from them, •ave as he shall be pleased •o destroy them, and take all being from them; and lastly that his very essence is as indistant from the meanest worm, as from the most glorious Angel. But to talk, of Gods piercing or penetrating all things not with his effects only, but with his essence, as the light pierceth the air, I dare not entertain any such g•osse conceit of the most simple and spiritual nature of God, for fear attributing extension unto his essence, and such as should continue though the World were destroyed, and make room for the essence of God, to extend it self in Uacuo, and the parts thereof (which are merely imaginary) as well as in the World, and in the parts thereof, like as before I have argued. The power of God doth exercise it self, according to the pleasure of his will: And therefore it seems wondrous strange to me, that you should ascribe power to God, to dispose of his essence, as touching the placing of it in space local.
Now see whether any of these are competible unto God. Your selfe have observed and approoved the Hebrewes conceyte in calling him 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Place. Let this then passe for a peculiar being of God in all his creatures, whether visible or invisible, corporall or spirituall, namely that as he hath made them, so he conteynes them, praeserves them, ordereth them, fillethe them all with his effects, and workes the good pleasure of his owne will in them, and by them. And this his presence, it is impossible he should withdrawe from them, •ave as he shall be pleased •o destroy them, and take all beinge from them; and lastly that his very essence is as indistant from the meanest worme, as from the most glorious Angell. But to talke, of Gods piercing or penetrating all thinges not with his effects only, but with his essence, as the light piercth the ayre, I dare not enterteyne any such gosse conceyte of the most simple and spirituall nature of God, for feare attributinge extension unto his essence, and such as should continue thoughe the World were destroyed, and make roome for the essence of God, to extende it selfe in Uacuo, and the parts therof (which are merely imaginary) as well as in the World, and in the parts therof, like as before I have argued. The power of God dothe exercise it selfe, according to the pleasure of his will: And therfore it seemes wonderous strange to me, that you should ascribe power to God, to dispose of his essence, as touching the placinge of it in space locall.