Will And Grace

Sed interrogas et ais: quomodo intellegendum est infirmatum humanae mentis arbitrium? Ad tenuata liberatas eius ita gratiae adminicula plus requirit, sicut homo longa infirmitate confectus adiutoriis ac solaciis gressu titubante magis indiget. Igitur sicut post inveteratam luxuriae consuetudinem reparatio continentiae multo labore constabit et sicut longo temulentiae usu captivata sobrietas cum violentia rigidae crucis vix recipitur, quae prius, cum inlaesa teneretur, parvo negotio servabatur, siquidem cum voluptate quadam inviolata conscientia possidetur, et quemadmodum post diversa carnalium blandimenta vitiorum, quae facile prima aetas statum suum retinens calcare potuisset, cum magno luctamine velut contra ardui montis ascensum ad virtutis viam reditur, ita humani arbitrii a Deo concessa liberatas florem vigoremque gratiae suae perdidit, tamen ipsa non periit, ut divina munera non tam interdicta sibi sentiat, quam cum summo labore ac sudore per adiutorii patrocinium sibi repetenda esse cognoscat. Sanctus Faustus Reiensis, De Gratia, Caput IX Source: Migne PL 58.795a-b

But you enquire and say: 'How should the weak will of the human mind be understood?' With its freedom reduced, so the help of grace becomes more needed, as a man oppressed by a long infirmity is more in of need of helpers and support to take his faltering steps. Therefore after the inveterate custom of luxury the repair of continence is a great labour, and as captive so long to the use of drunkeness he can scarely receive the toil of the firm cross, which before unharmed he held and bore as a small matter, just as when he who possesses a conscience unviolated by pleasure, after the attractions of many different carnal vices, which in his first state he was easily able to crush under foot, then with great struggle, as if making a difficult ascent of a mountain, so he returns to the way of virtue. So thus has the freedom of the human will given by God lost the vigorous flower of grace, but it does not perish, and so he must think no Divine gift forbidden to himself, which with great labour and sweat, through the guardianship of the helper, he knows he should return to himself. Saint Faustus of Riez, On Grace, Chap 9