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The Ordinatio of John Duns Scotus
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Ordinatio. Book 4. Distinctions 1 - 7
Book Four. Distinctions 1 - 7
Fourth Distinction. Fourth Part. About Equal or Unequal Reception of the Thing and not the Sacrament, and about Conferring Baptism in Doubtful Cases
Question One. Whether All the Baptized Receive the Effect of Baptism Equally
I. To the Question
A. Opinion of Others and its Rejection

A. Opinion of Others and its Rejection

143. And it is said [Alexander of Hales, William of Melitona, Richard of Middleton] that baptism has several effects of the sort, yet in a certain order, because it has causing grace and remitting the tinder [of original sin] and the like; but it is plain that the tinder is remitted equally in all the baptized.

144. But this claim is not true unless it be understood in a sane way; because the tinder, since it is in the flesh or in some bodily power, cannot be diminished formally by grace, which is in the soul, because there is no formal repugnance between it and grace, since they are not of a nature to come to be in the same subject; but the tinder is said to be diminished as to the effect that it was accustomed to cause in the soul, namely sin; for according as grace is increased, the tinder has less efficacy in inclining to sin.

145. Let a suitable example be taken about a small stone tied to the wings of an eagle; because if the motive power of the wing were to grow it would, however much it grew, never diminish the weight of the stone (because they are not opposites nor in the same subject); yet the weight of the stone would be diminished as to its effect; for the more the power in the wing is greater, the more the stone impedes less the ascending or flying of the eagle.