A14095:817
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.
Lastly, by this doctrine of yours it will follow that God knew the world would be made, before ever God determined to make••, to wit, by virtue of his infinite knowledge. Now what a fair way this openeth unto Atheism, let the wise and learned Reader judge indifferently. Heretofore I confess you seemed to maintain the existence of all things from everlasting in eternity; which if it were true, then this might minister an apparent ground of Gods knowledge of all things, be they never so contingent, for as much as they are supposed to exist before him. But here you have assigned nothing for the ground hereof hitherunto, but only the infinity of Gods knowledge. But in the next sentence I think you cast about for this also. As Balaam did many ways to serve his turn in the course of his divinations; and all is fish that comes to your net; so it may serve your turn to oppose in this question, the determination of Gods will. Well, thus ⟨p. 327⟩it is: For as Gods essence is present in every place as it were an ubiquitary centre, (for indeed if a body were infinite, everywhere might be imagined a centre: and you do much affect to compare the nature of God to impossibilities, and sometimes prefer him so far, as to compare him to just nothing,) so is his eternity or infinite duration coexistent to every part of succession, and yet withal is round about. He it is that drives things future upon us, being from eternity as well beyond as on this side of them. We have been acquainted with these absurd paradoxes of yours heretofore, so that now we cease to admire them. But first we do deny the comparative coherence So, which hath force of an argument by way of comparison: but it hath no force here, because there is no proportion betwixt the things compared. Gods presence is in every place, no marvel; for all places do ex•st together. And so if all times did exist together, God eternity should coexist with all times: But it is impossible that all times should exist together, because time consists in succession of parts: But as one time and the things therein shall exist after another, so God shall coexist with them. So then Gods presence is in every place, and Gods eternity coexists with every time, and that indivisibly: but with a great difference:
Lastly, by this doctrine of yours it will follow that God knew the world would be made, before ever God determined to make••, to wit, by vertue of his infinite knowledge. Now what a faire way this openeth unto Atheisme, let the wise and learned Reader judge indifferently. Heretofore I confesse you seemed to maintaine the existence of all things from everlasting in eternity; which if it were true, then this might minister an apparent ground of Gods knowledge of all things, be they never so contingent, for as much as they are supposed to exist before him. But here you have assigned nothing for the ground hereof hitherunto, but onely the infinity of Gods knowledge. But in the next sentence I thinke you cast about for this also. As Balaam did many wayes to serve his turne in the course of his divinations; and all is fish that comes to your net; so it may serve your turne to oppose in this question, the determination of Gods will. Well, thus