A26883:456
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.
201. There is in the very Essence of the Natural Power or faculty, besides the Vis vel Virt•s agendi, a certain Natural Inclination to some things, which is Inseparable from it, from which the Schoolmen say even of the Will that it is quaedam Natura, & pondus animae. So the soul is Inclined or propense (and not only Able) to Activity as such, to Intellection as such, to Volition as such; and objectively to Truth as such, and to Natural Good and felicity as such. And there is an Inclination of the ⟨p. 37⟩soul, which is not essential and inseparable, but is much under the power of the Will, and may be got and lost.
202. This adventitious Disposition, is found in the soul in various Degrees: 1. When it is in such a Degree only, as that immediately and properly without any other power added, the will may be said to be Able to Act thus or thus, then it is called a Moral Power: But when it is in such a degree, as that we are Disposed to Act promptly and easily, it is called a Habit.
203. He therefore that is so far disposed to any Good act, and whose Indisposition, or disposition to the contrary, is but such, as that in his present state, without any more help than *he hath, he can move his own will to the said act, and the difficulty is not so great, but that such Power sometime doth overcome it, is said to have a Moral Power. But he that wanteth not Natural force or power, but only a right Disposition of his Will, and so far wanteth it, as that none in his case do ever change their own acts to good, without more help and power than he hath, is said to be Morally unable or impotent: and not only to want the Habit.