Choose a topic from Part 3a:
1. A sin forgiven is forgiven. A man may, indeed, commit anothersin like the one forgiven, but he does not fall back intoforgiven sin. It is not possible for the stain of past sins, andthe debt of punishment incurred by them, to return upon theforgiven sinner. A sin may be worse because of like sins previouslyforgiven. But the past sins themselves, once pardoned, do notreturn.
2. Only in the sense that a man who is pardoned returns tosins like those forgiven, and thereby shows base ingratitude to theforgiving God, is it said that forgiven sins return upon thesinner.
3. Therefore, if a man has obtained forgiveness of mortalsins, and later commits others, his ingratitude does not bring backupon him the debt of punishment due to all past mortal sins. Still,there must be some proportion in this business. The more frequentand grievous one's past mortal sins have been, the greater isthe debt of punishment incurred by subsequent mortal sin.
4. We must not say that the ingratitude of a forgivensinner who commits mortal sins anew, is a special mortal sin initself. This ingratitude is regularly a circumstance only of thenew mortal sin which the offender commits. If, however, therelapsing sinner has an actual contempt of God and the favor hereceived in his earlier pardon, his ingratitude is a specialsin.
"This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. "
Thomas á Kempis
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"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.
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Thomas á Kempis
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"We must not be behind time in doing good; for death will not be behind his time. "
St Phillip Neri
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