[John XXII] Again, this heretic says that "to say that there are some things consumable by use, and yet that they cannot be used, implies a manifest contradiction". [44.2]
[Ockham] Here he answers another objection the appellant mentions. And first he states it; second, he answers it, in the following part [Chapter 45]. The objection is clear in itself. To support it, the attackers say that it must be known that when someone denies absolutely without any distinction some ambiguous proposition with many different senses, he is understood to deny every sense of it, unless it is customary for that proposition to be taken in one sense and not in another (for then, because of the custom of taking the ambiguous proposition in one sense and not in another, he is often understood to be denying the customary sense and not the other). But the proposition, "Things consumable by use cannot be used", either has one sense only, or, if it has many, the sense in which "to use" is taken in the meaning it has in sacred Scripture is more customary, or not less usual, than the other. Anyone who denies that proposition absolutely, without distinction, is therefore understood to deny every sense, or at least the common sense. But the attacked has often denied the proposition "Things consumable by use cannot be used" absolutely, without any distinction; therefore the appellant could rightly attribute to him the interpretation that he denied it with "use" (and likewise "to use") taken in the meaning it has in sacred Scripture, since it is taken thus more commonly. But in that way it implies a manifest contradiction to say that there are some things consumable by use that nevertheless cannot be used, because no things are said to be consumable by use except because they can be used; therefore, if there are things consumable by use that cannot be used, they can and cannot be used. [44.25]
[Upon the letter] Implies a contradiction: This is true, taking "use" and "to use" as they are taken in theology, which is a customary way of taking them. [44.28]