C H A P. 27. Hot, faith a Condition, hots not. 341 Popish. But Mr. Baxter tels us Apol. ag. Mr. Black p. 39. §.21. that he cloth not underftand the word de condicione contraCtus vendittonis & emptionis , vel emphyteuiis , or any the like that is propter pretium ; but it is the condition purx dunationis , but fome what partaking naturre feudi , as to fòme of the be- nefices. And yet this will not fufficiently clear the matter , efpecially feing that natura feudi is not fully explained , and the feud-duties , ( whether we look to the fir(' ufe of thefe donations ; or toperfe& practice , or whether we (peak of the highe(f degree, that is, of the Va(fallage of dukes, marqui- fes and Earles.... And fome are molt perfonal , being but yeerly penfions st which is extinct with the death of the .giver, or of the receiver. other divi- liions may be Peen in Craig de feudis lib. i. Dieg. i o. And as CO the way of gi- ving thefe : though it be faid to be by donation ; yet the Service required in moil, may be very onerous , to fpeak nothing of fuck, as are purchafed by money , or by excambion ; nor yet of fuch , as are burdened with that, which we call Ward , & Ward c3' geliefe. Mr. Baxter ibrd. definerh to us the condition of the Covenant , which he calleth poteßative condition , thus ; Attio voluntaria de futuro , a Deo legi(lcy- tore e Chriflo Tefiatore , in nova lege , fcedere , Teftarnento requifita , ut ex ejus præßatione , conßituatur jus attuale act beneficium : vel , ut obltgattonem & e- ventum f ufpcndat donec pr,efterur : for ( he addeth ) ex flipulatione conditionals neque obligatio neque auto ulla eft , anrequam conditio eventat ; quia quod eß its conditione , non eß in oblrgatrone. But fi: ('. as to the name poteßative condi- tion , as oppofed by the Lawyers to what is Cafual; & as importing that the peifon of whom that condition is required , hath tull power to performe ir, it he will , except fome inevitable & unfore- feen impediment fall out which is not ordinarily fupppfed ; how can any reckon Faith among(' thefe, unlefs they grant, that it is as much in Man's power to beleeve, as it is to one at Rome, to afcend the Capitol , if he fall not lick , or break not his leg ? Whereby to all, who are not Pelagians, Socinians & Arminians in this matter, butaucknowledge Faith/to be the pure gift of God , & wrought by the Spirit , Regenerating the foul & giving an heart of flesh it may be ma- nifeft, that no kinde of Conditions , fpoken of by Lawyers, who treat only of Compa&ts, & other Actions, betwixt man & man, can comprehend this matter ; whereof we are now (peaking. Where is there fuch an inflan- ce , in all the Law ,.of a perfon promifing to give or to do fuch or fuch a Fa- vour, Course, e, upon condition that he do fomething, which is not in his power, nor in his will, & which he only who promifeth, can make him able & willing to do ? This would either be looked on by them , as an impof- fible condition, which is next to none, or if the promifer should poffiblie ma- ke him to fulfil , as a cafual condition , or rather, as no proper condition at all. Ifa father should promife his little childe an apple, on condition he should touch the Crown of his fathers head with his finger , which were tm- poflible for him to do , uniefs the Father should either (loop fo low unto him with his head ; or take him up in his armes, that he may reach his head; who would call this a poteßatrveconditron? But next, what meaneth Mr. Bax- ter by this ¡us aduale ? is this the fame with jus in re as oppofed to Pis ad T t 2, rein n
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