A14095:739
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.
but in the mean t•me they consider not, that if they be the phrases of the Holy Ghost, ere th•y are aware they are found to charge the Holy Ghost with blasphemy. And the truth being rightly uttered, is far enough off even from harshness also, as well as from error, yea from harshness unto mens affections, though never so corrupt. As for example, what good soever there is found in such actions, we acknowledge God to be the author of it, but not of the the malice or evil that cleaves to it; yet that also we say God will have come to pass, but only by his permission. For, Non aliquid sit nisi volente Deo, Not any thing comes to pass (saith Austin) but God willing 1it; and he comprehends both good and evil, as appears by that which follows, vel sinendo ut siat, as in case it be evill, vel ipse faciendo, as in case it be good. But of both these he pronounceth that not any thing comes to pass but God willing ⟨p. 285⟩it. The like may be manifested to have been acknowledged by Anselmus, Hugo de Sancto Victore, and Bradwardine, yea and our greatest adversaries. For Bellarmine even in the midst of his heat against us, professeth, that Bonum est esse malum, Deo permittente: It is good that there should be evil by Gods permission: and if it be good, I pray you why is it not lawful for GOD to will it, seeing upon the same ground it was affirmed long ago by St. Austin that God doth 2will it. But as for Arminius, never any man was known to be smitten with the spirit of giddiness in opposing this truth more then he; for sometimes he professeth, It was Gods will that Ahab should fill up the measure of his sins, and how I pray 3could that be, but by adding sin unto sin? Again, he professeth that it was Gods will that the Jews should proceed so far as they did proceed in their ignominious handling of Christ; and every man knows that they proceeded to a very foul degree of blasphemy and impiety therein. Last of all, it is true that Aquinas and Durandus both oppose this, but herein Aquinas manifestly opposeth Austin, though he names him not. And again, I desire no better trial of this truth then their oppositions. For if I do not make it appear that their arguments are merely sophistical, and manifestly unsound, let me be accounted a blasphemer in the maintaining of this Tenet.