A26923:679
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches by reconciling explication without much disputing. Written by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1691
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.
§. 13. The moral Power given by Grace, consisting in the right Disposition of the Will, is not of the same kind with the Natural Power or Faculty: And the Words [CAN] and [CANNOT] used of both sorts, have not the same signification, ⟨p. 177⟩but are equivocal; otherwise Sin and Grace should change mans Species. Those Disputants therefore that confound them for the sounds sake, deceive the Auditors.
§. 14. We must say then, That quoad vires, vel potentiam naturalem, every man can believe, who hath the use of Reason, Objects revealed, and extrinsic necessary Causes; that is, He wanteth not the natural Faculty or Power, nor needeth another natural Faculty, but only the Excitation, Illumination, and right Disposition of that which he hath: But as to the said right Disposition, or moral Power, no one can truly repent and believe without that Grace which must so dispose him: Common Grace must dispose him to a common Faith, and special Grace to a saving Faith.
§. 14. We must say then, That quoad vires, vel potentiam naturalem, every man can believe, who hath the use of Reason, Objects revealed, and extrinseck necessary Causes; that is, He wanteth not the natural Faculty or Power, nor needeth another natural Faculty, but only the Excitation, Illumination, and right Disposition of that which he hath: But as to the said right Disposition, or moral Power, no one can truly repent and believe without that Grace which must so dispose him: Common Grace must dispose him to a common Faith, and special Grace to a saving Faith.
§. 15. It is more proper to say, That an Unbeliever, and unholy Sinner will not repent and believe, than that he cannot; though that also may be truly said, if well explained. But the meaning is not, that he cannot, though he sincerely would: Nor yet that he cannot be willing, for want of the natural Power of willing: But, 1. That he hath a Logical, and, 2. A moral Impotency; that is, an Indisposition; he wanteth both Disposition, Habit, and Act, but not the Faculty.