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246 THE HISTORY OF HERESIES,
11.
THAT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO OBSERVE THE DIVINE LAW.
5. Man having lost his free will, the sectarians say that it is
impossible for him to observe the precepts of the Decalogue, and
especially the first and tenth commandments. Speaking of the
tenth commandment,
" Thou shalt not covet," &c., won concupisces,
they say it is quite impossible to observe it, and they found the
impossibility on a fallacy. Concupiscence, they say,
is itself a
sin, and hence, they assert that not alone motions of concu
piscence, in actu secundo, which precede consent, are sinful, but
also movements, in actu primo, which precede reason, or adver
tence itself. Catholics, however, teach, that movements of con
cupiscence, in actu primo, which precede advertence, are neither
mortal nor venial sins, but only natural defects proceeding from
our corrupt nature, and for which God will not blame us. The
movements which precede consent are at most only venial sins,
when we are careless about banishing them from our minds after
we perceive them, as Gerson and the Salmanticenses, following
St. Thomas, teach, for in that case the danger of consenting to
the evil desired, by not positively resisting and banishing that
motion of concupiscence, is only remote, and not proximate.
movements of carnal delecta
Doctors, however, usually except
tion, for then it is not enough to remain passive, negative se
habere, as Theologians say, but we should make a positive re
sistance, for, otherwise, if they are any way violent, there is
great danger of consenting to them. Speaking of other matters,
however, the consenting alone (as we have said) to the desire of
a grievous evil is a mortal sin. Now, taking the commandment
in this sense, no one can deny that with the assistance of Divine
Grace, which never fails us, it is impossible to observe it.
If one
advertently consents to a wicked desire, or takes morose delecta
tion in thinking on it, he is then guilty of a grievous, or, at all
events, of a light fault, for our Lord himself says :
in thy strength the desires of thy heart" (Eccl, v, 2) ;
"
Follow not
" Go not