A14095:41
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.
Hence you proceed to a rule of Decorum in all resemblances, that so you may make way to betray your learning in Hieronymus Vida his Poetry, passing his censure upon a comparison of Homer, wherein he compares Ajax retiring ⟨p. 21⟩from the Trojans unto an hard kinned ass, driven with bats or staves out of a corn field, by a company of children. The comparison is justified by Vida, but thought not fit to be applied in like sort unto Turnus, unless a Lyon be put in the place of the ass, in the judgement of those courtly times wherein Virgil lived, thereby desiring belike to justify Virgil also. I still attend, when those scattered rays you promised us, of that glorious light, you spake of, will break forth; But it may be, we are not yet come to the Horizon, whose edges and skirts alone can discover them. But yet to stay our stomachs you tell us by the way; that the Holy Prophets in their courtly Decorum observed in framing comparisons, are nothing inferior to any Poet, though as good as Virgil & Homer also. They are something beholden unto you, for your good word. Your instance is out of Isaiah 31. 4. Like as the Lyon & young Lyon roaring on his pray, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion & for the hill thereof. I begin to conceive, this was it you went with child withal, in casting your self upon this digression touching the resembling of the nature of God. And because the comparing of Virgil with Homer, is a pretty point of humanity learning; and you had observed this passage in Scripture suitable to that of Turnus his description in Virgil: to vent this piece of learning, you have drawn in by the cares a discourse or rather an inquiry, Howe Gods essence is to be resembled, the issue whereof is but this, that the Prophet observes a very courtly decorum, in resembling him unto a Lyon.
Hence you proceede to a rule of Decorum in all resemblances, that so you may make way to betray your learninge in Hieronymus Vida his Poetry, passinge his censure upon a comparison of Homer, wherin he compares Ajax retiringe ⟨p. 21⟩from the Troians unto an hards kinned asse, driven with batts or staves out of a corne fielde, by a company of children. The comparison is justified by Vida, but thought not fitt to be applyed in like sort unto Turnus, unles a Lyon be put in the place of the asse, in the judgement of those courtly times wherin Virgill lived, therby desiring belike to justify Virgill allso. I still attend, when those scattered rayes you promised us, of that glorious light, you spake of, will breake foorthe; But it may be, we are not yet come to the Horizon, whose edges and skirts alone can discover them. But yet to stay our stomachs you tell us by the way; that the Holy Prophets in their courtly Decorum observed in framinge comparisons, are nothing inferior to any Poet, though as good as Virgill & Homer allso. They are something beholden unto you, for your good woord. Your instance is out of Esay 31. 4. Like as the Lyon & yong Lyon roaring on his pray, when a multitude of sheepheards is called foorthe against him, he will not be afrayde of their voyce, nor abase himselfe for the noyse of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come downe to fight for Mount Sion & for the hill therof. I beginne to conceive, this was it you went with childe withall, in casting your selfe upon this digression touching the resemblinge of the nature of God. And because the comparing of Virgill with Homer, is a prety point of humanitie learninge; and you had observed this passage in Scripture suitable to that of Turnus his description in Virgill: to vent this piece of learninge, you have drawne in by the cares a discourse or rather an inquiry, Howe Gods essence is to be resembled, the issue wherof is but this, that the Prophet observes a very courtly decorum, in resembling him vnto a Lyon.