A14095:499
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 first you suppose the beginning of succession may be taken backwards or forwards; but how is this possible? is succession indifferent to begin backwards or forwards? Is time indifferent to begin backwards or forwards? The first time is the beginning of it, but as for the last of time will any sober man call that the beginning of it, unless you make time like to a pudding, where a man may begin at which end he will. And surely I see no reason but a pudding may be in better sense, acknowledged to have two ends, then time two beginnings, Especially two such beginnings as you ascribe unto it, the one backwards and the other forwards; for begin at which end of a pudding, you will, you may be well said to go forwards and not backwards. Again suppose your own phrases be allowed you, and that the end of time may be taken for the beginning, yet where there is no end to be found how will you devise a beginning? As for example, Time we all know had a beginning but you suppose that time to come shall have no end, for though this world shall have an end, yet men and Angels shall have no end, but live with God for ever.
For first you suppose the beginning of succession may be taken backwards or forwards; but how is this possible? is succession indifferent to beginne backwards or forwards? Is time indifferent to beginne backwards or forwards? The first time is the beginning of it, but as for the last of time will any sober man call that the beginning of it, unlesse you make time like to a pudding, where a man may beginne at which end he will. And surely I see no reason but a pudding may be in better sense, acknowledged to have two ends, then time two beginnings, Especially two such beginnings as you ascribe unto it, the one backwards and the other forwards; for beginne at which end of a pudding, you will, you may be well sayd to goe forwards and not backwards. Agayne suppose your owne phrases be allowed you, and that the end of time may be taken for the beginning, yet where there is no end to be found how will you devise a beginning? As for example, Time we all know had a beginning but you suppose that time to come shall have no end, for though this world shall have an end, yet men and Angells shall have no end, but live with God for ever.
For the same reason, though God be infinitely preexistent before times past, yet he cannot be said no not in your phrase and your meaning, that he is infinitely preexistent to all times to come, the meaning whereof is to continue infinitely longer then all ages to come; for that were to suppose that God shall be when all ages have run their course and are come to an end, which you suppose shall never be. Thus from your Antipodes which you devise in the course of time, I come to the consideration of the Antipodes in respect of place and situation. And hereupon I remember what you delivered in the entrance upon this discourse of eternity, and it is this; whatsoever hath, been or rightly may be conceived of divine immensity, will in proportion as well suite unto eternity, and in like manner whatsoever is incident to space of place, the same in proportion may be verified of space of time. And