A14095:943
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.
Very well observed, and therefore let us think it fit to maintain that Gods decrees are still in making, and none of them made, no not the decree of creation, nor of redemption, nor of sanctification, of all the holy Patriarchs & Prophets that ever were; lest otherwise we should spoil God of his liberty. By the same reason let us maintain that God is a doing still, but never doth any thing, lest after he hath done it he have no longer any liberty to do it or leave it undone. These conceits have as much wisdom as sobriety in them, being equally removed from both. For what sober man would make doubt but that Methuselah was as free and had as great liberty of will the last year of his age as he was or had when he was but 10. years old, notwithstanding many things had been done by him in the space of 900. years, which to do or not to do in the last year of his age was not a thing indifferent unto him. And were it not a mad thing to affirm that the longer a man lives the more he loseth of his liberty? or that the more idly a man liveth, the more liberty he keeps in store, and the more painful he is, the more his ⟨p. 389⟩liberty perisheth?
Very well observed, and therefore let us think it fit to mainteyne that Gods decrees are still in making, and none of them made, no not the decree of creation, nor of redemption, nor of sanctification, of al the holy Patriarchs & Prophets that ever were; lest otherwise we should spoile God of his liberty. By the same reason let us maintain that God is a doing stil, but never doth any thing, lest after he hath done it he have no longer any libertie to doe it or leave it undone. These conceites have as much wisedome as sobriety in them, being equally removed from both. For what sober man would make doubt but that Methusaleh was as free and had as greate liberty of will the last yeare of his age as he was or had when he was but 10. yeares old, notwithstanding many thinges had beene done by him in the space of 900. yeares, which to doe or not to doe in the last yeare of his age was not a thinge indifferent unto him. And were it not a madde thing to affirme that the longer a man lives the more he loseth of his liberty? or that the more idlely a man liveth, the more liberty he keepes in store, and the more painfull hee is, the more his ⟨p. 389⟩liberty perisheth?