A14095:250
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 so likewise as by his word he made all things, so by the power of his mighty word he supports all things. Heb. 1. And 1therefore all things both touching their being and duration, depend upon the mighty word of God: this we have ground for: But that they depend upon his eternity, we have no ground to affirm; though it is true that both God, and his Word, and Spirit are eternal, otherwise he could not be the Creator of the World. Upon the back of this, you come in with a new Paradox, namely that From all eternity, there was a possibility for us to be; as if it were possible for a creature to be from all eternity.
And so likewise as by his word he made all things, so by the power of his mighty word he supports all things. Heb. 1. And 1therefore all things both touching theyr being and duration, depend upon the mighty word of God: this we have ground for: But that they depend upon his eternity, we have no ground to affirme; though it is true that both God, and his Word, and Spirit are eternall, otherwise he could not be the Creator of the World. Vpon the back of this, you come in with a new Paradox, namely that From all eternity, there was a possibility for us to be; as if it were possible for a creature to be from all eternity.
Yet I know some Schoolmen have maintained it (as what will not wild wits dare to undertake): but doth it therefore become a Divine, to suppose it without all proof? I hold it to be impossible, and Durand's reasons to the contrary are more pregnant, in my judgement, then any that are brought for it: to wit, that then, years and months, days and hours should be equal; for each of them, even years, should be infinite, and days, and hours, yea and minutes past, should be but infinite; whence he infers, that to every minute should be equal to an year; and albeit he invadeth only eternity of things in motion; yet I see no reason to the contrary, but the argument is appliable as well to all created things, though not subject to motion, though the evidence of deduction is not so manifest as in case of motion.