A14095:955
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.
For even men do freely keep their promises though not always willingly, because when they promised they might be of one judgement and disposition, and when they come to performance they may be of another. But all such change and alteration is not to be found in God. Every honest Magistrate is free to recompense every man according to his evil ways; for it becomes him not to make any such promise that whatsoever he commits, he will not punish him. And look what a good Magistrate resolves upon, when facts are ⟨p. 396⟩committed either good or evil; the like may God decree from everlasting. For no Magistrate knows so well what man hath committed, as God from everlasting knows what he will commit. And more then that, God knows how to keep man from evil courses, or to expose him to evil courses, by having mercy on whom he will, and hardening whom he will; which power and wisdom is not incident to a creature. Besides all this, a Magistrate is bound by duty, to recompense every man according to his works. But God is not bound by any such duty, to any such course. He can pardon one and punish another; have mercy on one and deal severely with another. Of many men taken in the same transgression he can give repentance to some, deny repentance unto others. And if he hath made any such promise as this. If his children 1forsake my law and walk not in my judgements, if they break my statutes and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgressions with the rod and their iniquity with strokes, yet my loving kindness will I not take from him, neither will I falsify my truth; they to whom such promises are made, may be assured hereby that God is bound to perform as much, bound I say by moral obligation in such sort, as it is impossible he should do otherwise, yet shall he perform it never a whit the less freely; First in respect that he doth it not by coaction and necessitation, and because he is as well pleased still to do it as to promise it. For as much as look of what judgement and disposition he was when he promised, of the same he is when he makes it good; and consequently performs it as willingly as he made it.
For even men doe freely keep their promises though not alwayes willingly, because when they promised they might be of one judgement and disposition, and when they come to performance they may be of another. But all such change and alteration is not to be found in God. Every honest Magistrate is free to recompence every man according to his evill wayes; for it becomes him not to make any such promise that whatsoever he committs, he will not punish him. And looke what a good Magistrate resolves upon, when facts are