A14095:993
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 before he made the world, he was no less good, then since the creation; and though he had never made it, yet had he continued every way as good as now he is. And in that dispensation of this his goodness, which proceeds not from his joy and happiness, though you say so, but from the counsel and freedom of his will; though as touching the comforts ⟨p. 415⟩of this life, God maketh his rain to fall, and Sun to shine as well upon the wicked as upon the righteous; yet as touching the dispensation of his grace, though he be most good, that way also, yet it is but towards whom he will; for that Oracle of God, I will have mercy on whom I will; and again, He hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth, must sway more with us, then any vain conceit or imagination of man to the contrary. And why do you call this world a vale of misery? is it not in respect of Gods judgements, as well as in respect of sin? which judgements of God have their course as well as mercies, how then doth perpetual joy and comfort more uncessantly issue from him, then light from the Sun, to refresh this vale of misery? Surely as the Prophet said, his song should be of mercy and of judgement: so doth God also sometimes mourn unto us, that we may weep, as well as at other times draw us to dance after his pipe.
For before he made the world, he was no lesse good, then since the creation; and though he had never made it, yet had he continued every way as good as now he is. And in that dispensation of this his goodnesse, which proceeds not from his joy and happinesse, though you say so, but from the counsell and freedome of his will; though as touching the comforts ⟨p. 415⟩of this life, God maketh his raine to fall, and Sun to shine as well upon the wicked as upon the righteous; yet as touching the dispensation of his grace, though he be most good, that way also, yet it is but towards whom he will; for that Oracle of God, I will have mercy on whom I will; and againe, He hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardneth, must sway more with us, then any vaine conceit or imagination of man to the contrary. And why doe you call this world a vale of misery? is it not in respect of Gods jugements, as well as in respect of sinne? which judgements of God have their course as well as mercies, how then doth perpetuall joy and comfort more uncessantly issue from him, then light from the Sunne, to refresh this vale of misery? Surely as the Prophet said, his song should bee of mercy and of judgement: so doth God also sometimes mourne unto us, that we may weepe, as well as at other times draw us to dance after his pipe.