Chapter 28 [XXV.]—Concupiscence Remains After Baptism, Just as Languor Does After Recovery from Disease; Concupiscence is Diminished in Persons of Advancing Years, and Increased in the Incontinent.

If the question arises, how this concupiscence of the flesh remains in the regenerate, in whose case has been effected a remission of all sins whatever; seeing that human semination takes place by its means, even when the carnal offspring of even a baptized parent is born: or, at all events, if it may be in the case of a baptized parent concupiscence and not be sin, why should this same concupiscence be sin in the offspring?—the answer to be given is this: Carnal concupiscence is remitted, indeed, in baptism; not so that it is put out of existence, but so that it is not to be imputed for sin. Although its guilt is now taken away, it still remains until our entire infirmity be healed by the advancing renewal of our inner man, day by day, when at last our outward man shall be clothed with incorruption.98    1 Cor. xv. 53. It does not remain, however, substantially, as a body, or a spirit; but it is nothing more than a certain affection of an evil quality, such as languor, for instance. There is not, to be sure, anything remaining which may be remitted whenever, as the Scripture says, “the Lord forgiveth all our iniquities.”99    Ps. ciii. 3. But until that happens which immediately follows in the same passage, “Who healeth all thine infirmities, who redeemeth thy life from corruption,”100    Ps. ciii. 4. there remains this concupiscence of the flesh in the body of this death. Now we are admonished not to obey its sinful desires to do evil: “Let not sin reign in your mortal body.”101    Rom. vi. 12. Still this concupiscence is daily lessened in persons of continence and increasing years, and most of all when old age makes a near approach. The man, however, who yields to it a wicked service, receives such great energies that, even when all his members are now failing through age, and those especial parts of his body are unable to be applied to their proper function, he does not ever cease to revel in a still increasing rage of disgraceful and shameless desire.

CAPUT XXV.

28. Concupiscentia remanet post Baptismum velut languor post sanatum morbum. Concupiscentia in proficientibus minuitur, in incontinentibus augetur. Si autem quaeritur, quomodo ista concupiscentia 0430 carnis maneat in regenerato, in quo universorum facta est remissio peccatorum; quandoquidem per ipsam seminatur, et cum ipsa carnalis gignitur proles parentis etiam baptizati; aut certe si in parente baptizato potest esse et peccatum non esse, cur eadem ipsa in prole peccatum sit: ad haec respondetur, dimitti concupiscentiam carnis in Baptismo, non ut non sit, sed ut in peccatum non imputetur. Quamvis autem reatu suo jam soluto, manet tamen, donec sanetur omnis infirmitas nostra proficiente renovatione interioris hominis de die in diem, cum exterior induerit incorruptionem. Non enim substantialiter manet, sicut aliquod corpus, aut spiritus: sed affectio est quaedam malae qualitatis, sicut languor. Non ergo aliquid remanet, quod non remittatur; cum fit, sicut scriptum est, propitius Dominus omnibus iniquitatibus nostris: sed donec fiat et quod sequitur, Qui sanat omnes languores tuos, qui redimit de corruptione vitam tuam (Psal. CII, 3, 4); manet in corpore mortis hujus carnalis concupiscentia. Cujus vitiosis desideriis ad illicita perpetranda non obedire praecipimur, ne regnet peccatum in nostro mortali corpore. Quae tamen concupiscentia quotidie minuitur in proficientibus et continentibus, accedente etiam senectute multo maxime. Qui vero ei nequiter serviunt, tantas in eis vires accipit, ut plerumque jam aetate deficientibus membris, eisdemque partibus corporis ad illud opus moveri minus valentibus, turpius et procacius insanire non desinat.