A14095:852
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.
As for Gods encompassing of time as the circumference doth the centre (whereunto you may add the circular duration formerly spoken of) and the penetrating of the whole scroll of succession from end to end, wherein you so much please your self as in rare notions, I take them to be no better then sick mens dreams: we have nauseated enough upon them, you needed not to have repeated them, yet you will have these conceits of yours to be received for precious truths, as Mountebanks commend their oils and balms, and not so only, but to be as clear as the Sun also. It is well that paper blusheth not. Every man seeth how the brightness of the Sun doth pierce the air, doth every man acknowledge God to encompass time by his eternity? Sure I am Durand censures this conceit as absurd. Yet I deny not but that others might dote upon it as well as your self, taking it upon trust without examination.
As for Gods incompassing of time as the circumference doth the center (wherunto you may adde the circular duration formerly spoken of) and the penetrating of the whole scroll of succession from end to end, wherein you so much please your selfe as in rare notions, I take them to be no better then sicke mens dreames: we have nauseated enough upon them, you needed not to have repeated them, yet you will have these conceyts of yours to be receyved for precious truths, as Mountebanks commend their oyles and balmes, and not so only, but to be as cleere as the Sunne also. It is well that paper blusheth not. Every man seeth how the brightnes of the Sunne doth pierce the ayre, doth every man acknowledge God to incompasse time by his eternitie? Sure I am Durand censures this conceit as absurd. Yet I deny not but that others might doate upon it as well as your selfe, taking it upon trust without examination.
And the corruptness of mans mind may appear in this very vanity, that he pleaseth himself many times in such notions as he understands not. Again, doth every man that clearly sees how the same pierceth the air, as clearly see how Gods eternity doth penetrate all time both all that is past and that which is to come, in such sort as indivisibly (for eternity is indivisible) to coexist with it? For hitherto tends the reach of your meaning. A most absurd conceit. For therhence it would follow that all parts of time past, and all parts of time to come do coexist together at this present; For if eternity doth now coexist with them, then at this present they must needs coexist with it, and consequently they must exist at this present, (otherwise how could they coexist) whence it followeth that both time past should be present, and also time to come, As absurd and void of all reason is that speech of yours, when you say that Gods finger hath drawn columns of possibilities. God knows things possible, I confess, but his finger hath not drawn these possibilities, no more than he hath drawn himself and his own omnipotent nature. For nothing is required to the denomination of the possibility of any thing, but this, that God is armed with almighty power, whereby he is able to bring it to pass. Now amongst possible things some are brought forth immediately by God, some by second causes, whether by God or by second causes, they are all known to God, and who doubts now adays of this? yet this is the whole contents of your last sentence, which you have commended unto us so embroidered with art, and with the needle work of quilting eloquence, as if you travailed in childbirth to be delivered of words and phrases, which many times vent untruths, commonly deliver but vulgar sense, and sometimes end in no sense. Yet when a man or ox or ass brings forth any thing that is possible; you say it is like the embroiderer who fills the drawers obscure pattern with conspicuous branches of silk, gold, or silver, which yet notwithstanding is fulfilled in bringing forth that which is accounted the eighth deadly sin among the Irish; were ever quaint terms and silken similitudes worse bestowed?