The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

Bernard describes the steps of sin, how it comes to its height. First time it is importable, next time heavy, ¹no more importable, then easy, then light, then sweet, at last necessary; and what was at first importable to be committed, is now impossible to be omitted. And St. Austin confirms this by a story of his own Mother, who by sipping of the Cup at first when she filled the Wine, learnt at last to take almost whole Cups, Qui modica non spernit paulatim decidit, is his good note upon it, he that makes a small matter of small sins, is in the ready way to fall into the greatest. Every new relapse into a former sin, is like the adding of a new figure to the first cypher, which raiseth the sinners account ten or an hundred times more.

Bernard describes the steps of sin, how it comes to its height. First time it is importable, next time heavy, ¹no more importable, then easie, then light, then sweet, at last necessary; and what was at first importable to be committed, is now impossible to be omitted. And St. Austin confirms this by a story of his own Mother, who by sipping of the Cup at first when she filled the Wine, learnt at last to take almost whole Cups, Qui modica non spernit paulatim decidit, is his good note upon it, he that makes a small matter of small sins, is in the ready way to fall into the greatest. Every new relapse into a former sin, is like the adding of a new figure to the first cypher, which raiseth the sinners account ten or an hundred times more.

1. 1Prima importabile, processu temporis grave, paulo post leve, postea placet & suave est, ad extremum, quod erat imp•rtabile ad faciendum, est impossibile, ad continendum, Bern. de Cons. Ex voluntate perversa facta est consuetudo, & dum consuetudini non resistitur facta est necessitas, Aug. cons. l. 8. Ad illum modicum, quotidiana modica addendo in eam consuetudinem lapsa erat, ut prope eam plenos mero caliculos inhianter hauriret. Conf. l. 9.