and Decreesofgod, &c. 228. Every mans_Natural faculties may be called Moral Powers as to the obligation, asbeing obligedby God toMoral Good. zas. And becaufe obligation prefuppofeth fome true Power to obey, mediátely or immediately, prefent or former whenthe Law was made,there- fore mans Natural faculties, though undifpofed,are thus farcalled a moral power CO the commanded act. SECT. XI. whether God bind Men, to Impoifibilities. 230. His leads us to the queftion, Whether God bind men t things impafible. Where we mutt needs diftinguifh r. O difability Antecedent to the Law, and Confequent. 2. Mediate and Im 3. Between Impoffibles as Inch, and as Things Hated or Nille 4. BetweenPrimary andsecondary. Moral acts. And fo I anfwer, 231. I. NoLaw ofGod ( or loft men ) biidethto thingsNaturally1m poftble before the Law was made and broken , by an Immediate obi' gation. 23 2. A juft Lawmay antecedently bind us mediate'', to that which i immediately impoble. So he that cannot Read, may be bound to Read mediarely ; that is, wirft toLearn, and then to Read. And Paulrequireth men to work with their hands, that they mayhave togive to him that need- eth, ( and thentogive) ) which yet before they have got it, is im- pofïible. 233. The obligation of .aLaw ceafeth, when the thing cómmanded be- cometh impoffiblewithout the fubjects fault. 234. Every fin is Voluntarium-prohibitum ; And fo far as Impojible things may be Voluntariaprohibita ( which is all the doubt) fo far they may be fins. fui bind,- h us at once to allthatwe muftrdoato the End of our Liv ex s. parte As if a Matter in the Morning command his fervant his work till night. Therefore as if that fervant purpofelybreak his Spade or other Tools that he maynot work, he is not therefore fo difobliged as to be guiltlefs 3 even fo when manby fin difableth himfelf to his commandedduty,the Law is not changed,but is 1till the fame, nor is he therebyexcufed. 236. Here the Primary fin is that which contracted the Impotency The secondary fin is the Impotency it felf, thuswilfully contracted and feat- ed in the will. The third rank is thenot doing ofall that was wrft com- manded, and the doing of all that was forbidden. 237. But if it be not only a Moral Vicious Impotency that is contracted (fuchas the habitual unwillingnefs in queflion) but a Phyficalimpotency (as if a man drunk himfelf ftark mad, or blind, &c.) this is afin ( and the confequent acts andomiff ons) not limply in it felfconfìdered, butfecundurri quid, andparticipatively, as it partaketh of the frft fin, which is defcribed it felf to be [a Voluntary forbidden atl difabling us tofuture duty, and virtually containing a pnfoel life to theend.] 238. But if itbe thisPhyfical zmpofbility that is contracted, then though the Lawchangenot, yet the Subjects capacity being changed, ftrictly and properly God is not Paid after to Oblige him by that Law, becaufe he is net Receptive and .Capable of fuch new obligations And yet he is not difobliged as to hisbenefit. forno man getteth a right to any benefit by 39 p Puando pr,eceptum fupe,- f naturale obligar, non potefI vitari percatan contra il- - lud abfqueauxilid grati,,-. cl pet. à S. iofeph. Thee, Univerf. Tñheol. de alai- p.83. _ AUiac.camerac t. q. t¢ R. faith , r. We cannot be boundtoa liimpleim- pof ability : 2. We may be bound to Will an S Impoffibility(as thathis hn part had not been, though hedoubt ofthis.) 4. He may be bound to that which is not in his power,to doofhimfelf í So every one is bound, babere graham ; es libet niacin fidem infu- fan: : & tames non eft in creaturspoteltate attivis his That a neceffity contra- fledby our own fault (as bydrunkennefs) excu- feels not fron, guilt, fee Auguft. 1. de Natur. & Grat.c. 67. e'e AAquin. to. 4. d. go. q. a.a. r.
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