Answ. 1. The text may as fitly (at least) be translated [Will a Blackmore change his skin, &c.] Yet the word [Cannot] is brought in in the application; for here it is all one: That is, the meaning is, that some custom in sin doth cause such a settled Ill disposition or Habit, as without special Grace is never overcome: Which signifieth no more, than a r••ted wilfulness and Love of sin, and enmity to Good. 2. But the meaning is not to affirm these two sorts of Impotency to be of the same nature [An Ethiopian cannot change his skin, were he never so willing] and [he cannot ⟨p. 45⟩be willing to change it, without Grace.] But you cannot say that an accustomed sinner cannot learn to do good were he never so willing: nor yet that he can be as easily willing as the Ethiopian, nor as hardly made willing as the Leopard. 3. Figurative speeches are frequent in Scripture, and may alike be used by us in the like cases. But in Controversies a trope is an equivocal till explained, and must not be used without necessity and explication. 4. Where the text once saith, They could not believe or repent, it saith many and many times They would not. 5. The phrase [They could not believe, because Isaiah saith, &c.] Joh. 12. 39. notoriously speaketh but of an Impossibilitas Logica consequentiae, and not of a physical disability in themselves, though it intimateth a settled wilfulness. 6. When it's said, Act. 4. 14. [They could say nothing against it,] it signifieth not a want of physical power, but mediate advantage. It's said of Christ, Mark 1. 45. He could no more enter into the City—6. 5. He could there do no mighty work because of their unbelief. 7. 24. He could not be hid. Isa. 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard? Jer. 15. 1. My mind could not be towards this people. Mark▪ 3. 20. They could not so much as eat bread. 1. Thes. 3. 1. When we could no longer forbear, &c.—1 Joh. 3. 9. He cannot sin—Heb. 9. 5. Of which we cannot now speak particularly. Act. 4. 16. We cannot deny it. And 19. 36. These things cannot be spoken against. Joh. 7. 7. The world cannot hate you. Luk. 11. 7. I cannot rise and give thee, (and yet he did.) Luk. 14. 20. I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come. Mar. 2. 19. They cannot fast. Neh. 6. 3. I cannot come down. So Gen. 34. 14. & 44. 26. 2 Cor. 13. 8. Numb. 22. 18. & 24. 13. Jos. 24. 19. 1 Sam. 25. 17. Psal. 77. 4. and other places;
Answ. 1. The text may as fitly (at least) be translated [Will a Blackmore change his skin, &c.] Yet the word [Cannot] is brought in in the application; for here it is all one: That is, the meaning is, that some custome in sin doth cause such a setled Ill disposition or Habit, as without special Grace is never overcome: Which signifieth no more, than a r••ted wilfulness and Love of sin, and enmity to Good. 2. But the meaning is not to affirm these two sorts of Impotency to be of the same nature [An Ethiopian cannot change his skin, were he never so willing] and [he cannot ⟨p. 45⟩be willing to change it, without Grace.] But you cannot say that an accustomed sinner cannot learn to do good were he never so willing: nor yet that he can be as easily willing as the Ethiopian, nor as hardly made willing as the Leopard. 3. Figurative speeches are frequent in Scripture, and may alike be used by us in the like cases. But in Controversies a trope is an equivocal till explained, and must not be used without necessity and explication. 4. Where the text once saith, They could not believe or repent, it saith many and many times They would not. 5. The phrase [They could not believe, because Esaias saith, &c.] Joh. 12. 39. notoriously speaketh but of an Impossibilitas Logica consequentiae, and not of a physical disability in themselves, though it intimateth a setled wilfulness. 6. When it's said, Act. 4. 14. [They could say nothing against it,] it signifieth not a want of physical power, but mediate advantage. It's said of Christ, Mark 1. 45. He could no more enter into the City—6. 5. He could there do no mighty work because of their unbelief. 7. 24. He could not be hid. Isa. 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard? Jer. 15. 1. My mind could not be towards this people. Mark▪ 3. 20. They could not so much as eat bread. 1. Thes. 3. 1. When we could no longer forbear, &c.—1 Joh. 3. 9. He cannot sin—Heb. 9. 5. Of which we cannot now speak particularly.
