A26883:2136
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
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.
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