Mixture of Scholastical Divinity with Practical Part 2, Letters · Letter 3 – Commentary 2
To his Loving freind Mr T. C. these &c.
Sir,
I have received Dr Taylor his letter sent unto you, bearing date July 4th. What designe you had in concealing of it so long from me I cannot guesse. But if you had delivered it before I had sent you my objections, you would have eased me, and Dr Taylor of some trouble: for I should then have let alone these objections, and have only proved, that I did him no wrong, in charging him with the conclusions, against which these objections were directed; to wit, that no sinne is accidentall; that all sinne is essentiall, and intrinsicall.
Two things he layeth to my charge, want of care to understand him, and disingenuity.
1. Want of care to understand him. [If he had been (he sayth) as carefull to understand as he was forward to object, and mistake, he had eas…d you, and me of this little trouble.] But if the Dr had been a man of that ingenuity, which you fame him for, he would have confessed his carelesnesse in expressing of himselfe, and not have charged me with want of care to understand, that to bee his meaning which I could not understand to bee his meaning without offering violence to his words: he propounds two propositions (without any thing, but a copulative conjunction interposed betweene them) And unto the last of these propositions he subjoyneth 6 reasons. Now what rule of Logicke obliged me to cary the 5 last of these reasons backwards, and to place them between the above mentioned propositions, I readily confesse my selfe to be utterly ignorant, and shall be very ready to sit downe at the Doctor's feet, and to learne any such rule of him. If the Dr must have such liberty allowed him to make such unexampled transpositions, he is a very formidable adversary, not to be coped with by mortall wights, who cannot guesse, how he will in an after game sever these reasons, that he hath first joyned together.
Logicke informeth me that secondly signifies a relation of order betwixt it selfe and firstly. But now if two reasons be related unto not one, but several conclusions, I would faine know why one should be the first, and the other the second reason.
Besides here is a first reason, that hath no second reason following it, relating unto the same conclusion. There goeth a story of an Alderman in Oxford, that upon the reading of some records touching something controverted betwixt the Town, and University, he brake out into this expression; unlesse we can prove King Henry the 8th to be before King Henry the seventh the University will have the better of us: But if we can make it good, that King Henry the 8th was before King Henry the 7th, then there is no doubt, but that we shall in this … have a full Conquest over the Schollars. I take this to be a fable: … however give me leave to make application of it unto my present purpose. All the wrong, that the Dr can pretend, that I have done him, is because I did not place secondly before firstly, and if he can make it good, that I ought to have placed secondly before firstly, then I must needs confesse I have done him a great deale of Injury, and shall be ready to aske his pardon; and unlesse such proofe can be made, he must lay the blame upon the Confusion, and disorder of his own discourse: But to goe on. The Dr tels us, that this clause [it is an effect, or condition of nature, but no sinne properly, is the lesse principall part of the proposition:] both clauses then, according unto him, make but one proposition; and this is a great failing against that Logicke, which the learned have … used; for by that, … two clauses are not parts of one proposition, … severall, intire, distinct propositions.
But perhaps he may say, that they make one compounded proposition.
Unto this I shall reply, 1. That a compounded … consists ever of simple propositions. Now the last of these … (to say nothing of the first) is a compounded proposition it selfe, for it is an … proposition; and therefore, though these two clauses may make an … of severall propositions, yet they can never concurre to the Composition of one.
2. If both clauses make one … proposition, then it is a … proposition; because they are knit together by a copulative conjunction; Now a copulative proposition is not true, unlesse all parts be true; and … it is not proved to be true, unlesse all parts be proved to be true: Now the Doctor for the proofe of this pretended copulative proposition jumbleth together 6 reasons without any note of distinction to direct the …, … which part of the proposition (as he cals …) he should apply the … all reasons: and whether this proofe of a copulative … be not illog call, I … … any man, that knowes any thing in Logicke.
He informes you, that the first reason is to be … unto the latter part of the proposition (as he cals it) and the 5 other reasons unto the first part of the proposition. But what precept of …, or Grammar I have transgressed in … making such a distribution, or application of his reasons, he doth not … you.
But the Doctor directs you unto two wayes sor the … out of his meaning.
The First to leave out the second clause, and the reason relating unto it. Is I had (… he) … out the latter part of the proposition, and the reasons … to it, my sense had been as compleat, and my argument not the …, and my discourse no … ….
But the second clause being lest in, perturbeth, and confoundeth the sense, and occasioneth the mistake: and who (I pray) is to be blamed, the Dr for putting it into the …, or I for still keeping it in the Analysis of his words? … would be a strange, and unheard of way of analysing, that a Reader should loppe off two lines at a time of an authour: But it should seeme wee are to make such … to make your great Dr speake sense, only I would know by what warrant, and obligation.
A second way, which will make it extreamly plaine (as he tels you in the …) is to make the second part of the proposition (as he termes it) and the reason relating unto it to be a ….
But, 1. that this was not brought in by way of Parenthesis, who is in the fault?
Againe, 2. The Dr hath told us, that it is the second part of the same proposition with the foregoing clause, and if so, then it cannot be inserted as a … betwixt it, and the following proposition.
And besides, 3. If he bring in the words only by way of Parenthesis, I would … know what is to be done with 2ly, in this case he must new figure, and number his reasons. That which he figureth to be the second reason, must be the first, and his six reasons will prove to be but five.
The second thing that he chargeth me with is disingenuity. Besides this (saith he) if Mr Jeanes had so much ingenuity, as he pretends to have …, he would have perceived, &c.
1. As what he speakes of my pretending unto Logicke, I thinke unworthy of any answer, and shall leave it unto the Reader to judge of the wit, and ingenuity thereof.
2. It is no disingenuous part in me to charge the Dr with a conclusion, that I prove his words to be guilty of: For as for his meaning, I cannot guesse at it, but by his words, but I believe the unpartiall Reader, will judge it a very high point of … in the Dr, not to acknowledge the incommodious structure of his words.
But let us heare wherein my disingenuity consists. Is Mr Jeanes (saith he) had so much … as he pretends to have Logicke, he would have perceived that for me to meane, what he sayes I meane, had been the persect destruction of all my discourse, and all my intention.
If this be all; The Dr hath no reason to charge me with want of ingenuity in this particular; for I doe very weil perceive, that for him to meane, what I say, his words hold forth (for as for any secret, and reserved meaning, I have nothing to doe with) had been the perfect destruction of all his …, &c. But I believe the … meaning is, that it is an ingenuous part in me to … it possible; or probable for him to assert any thing, that is the perfect destruction of all his discourse, and all his intention. Now this I utterly deny. I have no such apprehension of the Doctor's …; but take him to be a man as likely to … himselfe, as other mortals.
There is one thing more, that the Dr add's concerning our blessed Saviour, that concupiscence taking it for those desires, which are purely naturall, and concreated is no sinne, because it was in Christ.
Unto which I answer that this is nothing unto the purpose; for the concupiscence in controversy is …, and never created, or concreated by God.
It is an inclination unto evill; and therefore irregular, and disorderly: it is that which the Apostle termeth, the sin, that dwelleth in him, Rom. 7. 17: which … him doe that evill, which he would not, vers: 19: which he hated, vers: 15. The law of his members warring against the law of his mind, vers: 23: the body of this death, from which he desired to be delivered, vers: 24: And (methinks) he should be affraid to ascribe this concupiscence unto Jesus Christ, who was the Lambe of God without blemish, and without spot, 1 Pet. 1. 19: holy, harmelesse, undefiled, separate from sinners, Heb. 7. 26: And thus I have according unto the Doctor's desire, taken notice of his answer, and shall not be so hasly as to write any thing against him, but that I shall stay a convenient time to heare the uttermost, that he can say; and when our Paper shall be made publicke unto all the World, I doe not doubt but there will be more that will accuse him of incogitancy, than me of impertinency. Many ingenious and learned men, and some, that otherwise admire the Dr, have made the same construction of his words, that I have, and thought that, he here forgat himselfe. I am informed that the Dr in a letter unto you, tels you, that he desires not to bee … with my … Logicke, I hope he reviles not Logicke as trisling, for … I know in what herd of writers to ranke him, and should decline him as an … adversary, who is an enemy to the very art of reason.
But it is not Logicke it selfe I believe, but my Logicke, that he thus bespatters: and if it be so, I shall returne nothing unto this his censure, but leave you, and others his admirers to judge of the humility, and … thereof.
I have heard that the Dr hath printed a very good Grammar, if he will also publish a Logicke, for the better information of such triflers as my selfe, I doe assure you, that I will very diligently peruse it, and if it be more solid, weighty, and …, than those which I have hitherto read, give him many thankes for it.
As for his last letter, I have not yet had the leasure fully to peruse it, but by that … view which I have taken of it, I find it to be as empty of reason, (though fuller of passion) as the former: you have given it out that it is unanswerable; but I shall desire you to have a little patience, and if I doe not give it a satisfying answer, I shall submit unto what penance you will injoyne me. In great hast I rest.
Your affectionate …, and servant, HENRY JEANES. Chedzoy August 31. 1657.
Mr C. thought, that the Doctor's letter would supersede all … sputation; but perceiving that I was unsatisfied, and that I intended a replication, he conveyed my objections unto the Doctor, which begat a very angry letter from him; unto which he would not vouchsafe so much as a superscription; but I saw the Contents concerned me, and therefore unto thee I shall present it, together with my answer thereunto, submitting both unto thy censure, and so shall rest
Devoted to thy spirituall service HENRY JEANES