the state of a person who cannot sin; or a grace, privilege, or principle, which puts him out of a possibility of sinning.

The schoolmen distinguish several kinds and degrees of impeccability: that of God belongs to him by nature: that of Jesus Christ, considered as man, belongs to him by the hypostatical union: that of the blessed is a consequence of their condition: that of men is the effect of a confirmation in grace, and is rather called impeccance than impeccability; accordingly divines distinguish between these two: this distinction is found necessary in the disputes against the Pelagians, in order to explain certain terms in the Greek and Latin fathers.