Works, Book 4 · Letter 74
EPISTLE LXXIV.
Dr. Twisse's Fifteenth Letter to Mr. Mede, about Mr. Potter's Book, and the Holiness of Times and Places; with some reflexions upon a Passage in the Inscription of his Discourse upon 1 Cor. 11. 22. as also an Extract of Mr. Potter's Letter relating to some passages in Mr. Mede's Letter touching the Number 666.
Dear Sir,
I Think my self happy that I am the medius Terminus to convey Passages between you and Mr. Potter. I received this Letter from him but on Friday last, which here I send you enclosed; wherein you will find him to rest satisfied with that you write concerning —as also how well he is satisfied with that of yours, having nothing to except against ought; but rather you extended that which he delivered somewhat farther than he intended it. You see he is desirous to see the division of his Book into Sections made by your hands, and marginal Annotations; and what else you can hear objected by any against it. I pray satisfie him as far as it lieth in your power. He is a very meek and ingenuous man; and now you see what way lie his studies, I would you would imploy him in ought that you shall find needful; for I find him very desirous to gratifie any friend: As I wrote to him about some things, which what they were I know not; but he hath promised to answer unto all. He is exceeding studious in his way. But is it not possible to get his Book turned into Latine in your Vniversity, especially this Vacation-time, and things standing as they do with you?
I have lately received a*viz. his Discourse about Churches, &c. 1 Cor. 11. 22. Book from you by the hands of Mr. Hartlib, for which I heartily thank you. The Title you give in your Dedication, Sublati discriminis inter sacrum & profanum Assertori eximio, I doubt will do you wrong with many, and make them to conceive that the sacrum & profanum you speak of is in your account only in respect of Place, and not at all in respect of Time. But I know the contrary, which makes me wonder at it the more. I had recourse unto you about the Holiness of Places long ago, meerly for information; and I was then as abrasa tabula, apt to receive ought that I saw reason for. But to this hour I am not satisfied, whether the fault be in my Understanding, or in my Affections, God knows, or in the insufficiency of Evidence convincing. And that my Affection should sway me, I have this reason against it; I find my self naturally pliable that way which you take, even to superstition, as now I find, calling my self to examination. And to your interpretation of that in Paul, 1. Cor. 11. 22. I have been very prone; insomuch that the way others take to the contrary seemed to me at first sight wondrous strange, that I understood not so much as their meaning at the first, nor did I come to understand what they would, without some plodding: and when I did understand it, it seemed harsh unto me; untill I came to examine what it is to despise or dishonour a Place, and compared it with Dishonouring of Days. And surely neither Days nor Places are to be honoured by us, but God in them: Yet I find a vast difference between Time and Place, though you sometimes said there was the same reason of both. But I find not the same reason in the more general notions of them, much less in the special. It is true, natural actions require Time and Place for the performance of them, the unity whereof together with the unity of the Subject necessarily concur to the individuation of them, if I remember aright my old Philosophy. And the meeting of many about the same action requires set Times and Places: But by Places you mean Churches, which are not Places natural; the like cannot be said of Times. Then as for the special consideration of them; It is apparent that proportion of Time is very momentous for the advancing of Morality and Piety; as by setting apart one day in a week for God's publick and solemn service, a greater advancing of Piety is made by far than by the sequestring of one day only in a month or in a year for this: and we find nothing answerable hereunto in Place at all, least of all as commanded either by God or man.
Lastly, as touching the particularity of Time and Place compared together; will you say there is as little evidence for the particular Day to be kept holy to the Lord, as for the particular Place? Sure I am S. Gregorie's is going down, if not altogether down, to be built elsewhere as they think good; we never yet heard the like of the Lord's-Day. Yet I would you could prevail but so far with your great Lord, to draw him to be Assertor eximius sublati discriminis inter sacrum & profanum as well in Time as in Place: though I despair of ever being brought to acknowledge there is no difference between these; least of all to believe that Holiness of Place is more religiously to be observed than Holiness of Time.
But notwithstanding the difference between us herein, you shall always be as dear to me as you have been; and that not as a civil Friend only, but as my Christian Brother too; were our differences in opinion greater than these: For I manifestly perceive how easie a thing it is for good men to take your way about the Holiness of Place; and hereunto my self have been exceeding prone. But do you think indeed that foreign was the word of Ignatius? or can you give any instance of the like, either in his time, or in an 100 years after him? I wish you all happiness as to my self, and rest
Iuly 2. 1638. Yours ever in the Lord much obliged and most assured, Will. Twisse.