A14095:526
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.
Yet you will bring a reason to prove the former assertion, and that is this, For that period of motion which must terminate the next Million of years shall have coexistence with eternity now existent, whose infinity doth not grow with succession, nor extend it self with motion; but stands immovable with times present, being eternally before times future, as well in respect of any set draught or point. Whence we imagine time future to come towards us, as in respect of the first revolution of the Heavens when time took beginning.
Yet you will bring a reason to prove the former assertion, and that is this, For that period of motion which must terminate the next Million of yeares shall have coexistens with eternity now existent, whose insinity doth not growe with succession, nor extend it selfe with motion; but stands immoovable with times present, being eternally before times future, as well in respect of any set draught or point. Whence we imagine time future to come towards us, as in respect of the first revolution of the Heavens when time tooke beginninge.
This reason hath number enough of words; but let us consider what is the weight of sense it carrieth; And this is an hard matter to do by reason of the obscurity that accompanieth it; one peculiar character of your discourse; For what do you mean by the next Million of years? I know not how to account them, whether in respect of the time present; and so they proceed of the next Million that are to come; or rather of the Million of years next past; For I presume, you mean it not of the first Million of years of the world, in case it were eternal: For if eternal, then it had no beginning, and consequently as it had no first year, so neither had it any first Million of years. Therefore I understand it of the next Million of years to this present, whether it be the Million next past, or next to come, all is one, and it must be true of both, as well as of either, that they are coexistent with eternity now existent; and what I pray of all this? when comes the form of Syllogism, whereby to conclude that God is not only before, but everlastingly before that which is without beginning. And that Gods continuance extends not only beyond, but everlastingly beyond that, which never shall have an end?