A14095:23
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.
For God worketh all things according to the 1counsel of his will. And his will I hope you will not deny to be eternal. Yet you seem to strengthen your opinion with a reason of State. Therefore be like (amongst other reasons yet concealed) you decline the acknowledgement of Gods all decreeing providence; because that Tenet is a forerunner of ruin to most flourishing states, where it grows common, and comes to full light. Heathen States then undoubtedly, had never any experience of such ruins, proceeding from any such cause: I doubt not but you will accommodate this your prophecy, or political observation, unto Christian States. And what Ecclesiastical history (I pray) hath afforded you this oracle? Noah ancient history I am persuaded, do you rely upon in this; for as much as you will not acknowledge that ⟨p. 8⟩this opinion which you impugn, was received amongst any States of ancient times. Is it then (as it is most likely) that the later times experience hath cast you upon this interpretation of Gods providence, whereupon you are bold to make rules, & to commend them unto posterity? And I pray answer me, was the Kingdom of Bohemia one of those flourishing States, wherein the conceit of Gods all decreeing providence, was a forerunner to the ruin of it? And did Prince Palatine, & the lady Elizabeth, or their Associates, bring in this conceit amongst them? did this opinion grow common there? Did that Kingdom consist of more Protestants then Papists? Or amongst the Protestants, was the number of Calvinists more, then of Lutherans? Speak plainly, & say, the choosing of a Calvinist to be their King, was the ruin of the State, & of the Provinces, which were as members incorporate thereinto: say Calvinism was the ruin of the upper & the lower Palatinate. And hereupon let your Almanac of Prognostications proceed, & be bold to tell the States of the Lowe Countries, that this Tenet is a forerunner of their ruin also, & unless they & we forthwith turn Arminians, we are like to be lost, & fall into the hands of Papists. But of what Papists? Not such as Thomists, & the Dominicans, the most learned Divines in the Church of Rome (for they maintain that God determineth the will of Men & Angels to every act of theirs whether good or evil, as touching the substance of the act, by influence general;
For God woorketh all thinges according to the 1