Augustine: Earlier Writings

Name: Augustine: Earlier Writings
Author: Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo

Christian Classics

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Earlier writings of Augustine of Hippo, translated by J. H. S. Burleigh.

Chapters 258

approve. I do not approve of what I said in my prayer: "God ≈ 3 min
begets and he who is begotten is one/' I ought to have said "are ≈ 3 min
cated in the liberal arts doubtless, in learning them, draw them ≈ 16 min
all truths are true; the Wisdom, in, by and through whom all ≈ 4 min
one substance eternal and true, where there is no strife, no con- ≈ 4 min
thou dost leave a man he perishes. But thou dost not, for thou ≈ 12 min
is. across? R.—Butpossibility be divided lengthwise? A.—It ≈ 8 min
Reason is the power of the soul to look, but it does notR,—Yes. look. ≈ 19 min
that I do not greatly fear except that it hinders myA.—Even ≈ 11 min
torture me? Why do you cut so deep? I am not too hardened for ≈ 4 min
something that istoo? means. R.—Therefore, when A.—By no ≈ 12 min
could I think so, when therewhen falsity is no more? A.—How ≈ 4 min
of the senses, can be comprehended by the intellect? A,—I do ≈ 8 min
wonder if falsity will be found to be anything else than what is not ≈ 4 min
divided into two classes. In the one the resemblance is between ≈ 4 min
that falsity resides in verisimifitude. Take hearing. There again ≈ 19 min
of definitions, divisions and distinctions of parts? A.—As wassaid before, all that is contained in the rules of dialect ≈ 12 min
ways. Our problem was, What is Truth? and I see that not even ≈ 4 min
not perish, because if the whole world, nay, if Truth itself ≈ 4 min
is said to be true except what isA.—Certainly. R.—Nothingis that by which anything that is true is true? ≈ 23 min
subtlety when we begin to discuss the intelHgence, which it is ≈ 17 min
the use of words than either to teach or to call something to ≈ 12 min
would, I imagine, have no hesitation in saying that whatever ≈ 7 min
gesture? Ad.—ToTo the sense of hearing. Aug.—And ≈ 7 min
syllabic name pronounced by the voice is a different thing from ≈ 4 min
every name is a word, so every word is a name, could you point ≈ 4 min
rectly say that all words are names. is easy. I sup- Aug.—That ≈ 7 min
pudence, may not agree, but on the contrary^ may assert that he ≈ 11 min
also other things which are not signs. Likewise, without a sign, ≈ 7 min
where signs signify not other signs but what we have agreed to ≈ 4 min
But if I ask whether homo is a noun, what answer will you give ≈ 8 min
are to be preferred to their signs, it is nevertheless true that ≈ 4 min
your admissions and an excellent way of expounding your ≈ 4 min
and teaching are different things? If they were Ad.—Certainly. ≈ 4 min
without signs, (b) knowledge should be more precious to us ≈ 4 min
right to hesitate about our conclusions. Suppose someone ≈ 4 min
find that nothing is learned even by its appropriate sign. If I ≈ 4 min
caput, for the first time, not knowing whether it is merely a ≈ 4 min
rest. But even when I have come to know them all, I still do not ≈ 4 min
coverings, the sound of whose name we remember, unless we ≈ 4 min
we do not listen to anyone speaking and making sounds outside ≈ 4 min
with the mind, that is, with the intelUgence and with reason, ≈ 8 min
the mind of the speaker, if it is uncertain whether he knows what ≈ 4 min
the seed of innumerable dissensions and strifes. The speaker in- ≈ 4 min
hear what is said, and enter into lengthy arguments over things ≈ 4 min
whole problem of the usefulness of words, for their usefulness ≈ 5 min
tions arose which I could not solve or which required lengthy ≈ 3 min
pleading their cause, because in these books I said much in ≈ 4 min
the grace of God, because it was not under discussion. Hence ≈ 4 min
act w hich he could by no means avoid? Sin has been committed, ≈ 4 min
disputed as if I were already arguing against it. All good things, ≈ 24 min
taught to do evil. If that is true I ask from whom have we learning a good thing? Ev.—\yho learned to do wrong. Aug.—Is ≈ 3 min
which we learn to do well and one by which we learn to do evil. ≈ 8 min
you look for the evil in the outward act you discover difficulties. ≈ 4 min
remember that we have undertaken to try to understand what ≈ 4 min
against such an accusation, for in the state where it is in force it ≈ 4 min
the actual laws, perhaps, which are found in human statute- ≈ 4 min
reason, which must always be obeyed, by which the evil de- ≈ 19 min
mains for you to tell me if you can, whether you think there is ≈ 4 min
I cannot deny that.soul justly pays the penalty for its sin. Ev.— ≈ 8 min
not ask me any more questions.Aug.—Then do I do not know. Ev.—Why? ≈ 4 min
our will to enjoy or to be without so great and so true a good. ≈ 8 min
such a man's life is laudable? reason at all. Every- Ev,—No ≈ 8 min
temporal things, to cleanse it and turn it towards eternal things. ≈ 15 min
you know that we derive our origin from God? You have not ≈ 8 min
beginning of our former discussion. We cannot deny that be- ≈ 4 min
common bodily senses—seeing, ≈ 4 min
hesitate to call it the interior sense. But unless the information ≈ 12 min
covered to be inferior to reason, and possessed by us in common ≈ 12 min
private sun or moon or stars or the like, though each of us sees ≈ 4 min
other senses. It is pertinent to the present discussion to observe ≈ 4 min
the senses of sight and hearing in the fashion we are now dis- ≈ 4 min
matters, and so have quickly found a reply. But suppose some- ≈ 4 min
But you will easily see that numbers are not conveyed to us by ≈ 4 min
next to one, and is found to be the double of one. The double of ≈ 4 min
given ability and who are not clouded by obstinacy, are driven ≈ 4 min
but the truth in which the chief good is beheld and possessed? ≈ 4 min
may not be able to express it in words, but if you had no notion ≈ 16 min
numbers and value wisdom highly, because counting is easier ≈ 12 min
Truth is our God who liberates us from death, that is, from the ≈ 4 min
smell, and more like the things we hear and see. For tvevy word ≈ 12 min
them or above them; all that creep or fly or swim; all have ≈ 4 min
among things which are but signs of thy working, who love thy ≈ 4 min
you find any mutable thing which is not contained in some ≈ 4 min
which is but has not Hfe, that which is and has Hfe three—that ≈ 4 min
agreed by us both, that body occupies by nature a lower rank ≈ 4 min
is numbered among the best good things which a man can have. ≈ 4 min
the unchangeable good as something that is common property ≈ 4 min
good that is common to all, obtains man's first and best good ≈ 8 min
see that it is in the soul, but to whom itis blameworthy? Ev.—I ≈ 19 min
has foreknowledge of what I am going to will, since nothing can ≈ 4 min
foreknowledge? Is it because it is foreknowledge simply, or be- ≈ 7 min
have been better if sinful souls did not exist, but take care also ≈ 4 min
minds, they look for them also with their eyes in the wrong ≈ 4 min
in the eternal enjoyment of their Creator; and their happiness ≈ 4 min
utility. Reason judges by the Hght of truth, and correctly sub- ≈ 4 min
19. If he says: I don't want to die, not because I prefer to live ≈ 8 min
desire you have to exist. For if you wish more and more to exist, ≈ 4 min
matter. It seems to me that no one, when he commits suicide ≈ 8 min
the moon, because though its light is less, it is not unhappy; his ≈ 4 min
said may have this to urge against our argument: If our being ≈ 4 min
is punished through the instrumentality of inferior creatures. ≈ 4 min
corruptible things, yet it preserves, so far as it can, the image of ≈ 8 min
nature, brought the devil, whom he has always had and will ≈ 4 min
order of the universe would suffer loss if they did not exist and ≈ 4 min
34. When sin has been committed the soul, which has its ≈ 7 min
our discourse, listen to what I am going to say. Every rational ≈ 4 min
fault. And nothing has a fault to be blamed if it has not a nature ≈ 4 min
less powerful one with no fault on either side, if by fault we ≈ 4 min
is hostile to the nature of the thing in which it exists as a fault. ≈ 4 min
them to last any longer, so that all things may happen in their ≈ 4 min
Creator. Therefore it is not permitted to the soul to escape pay- ≈ 4 min
gratuitously. If anyone says God owes him something for his ≈ 4 min
does not do what he ought. Indeed, that the wrong-doer suffers ≈ 4 min
48. Augustine.—SincQ will is the cause of sin, you now ask ≈ 4 min
willing? Either it is a will, in which case we have not got beyond ≈ 4 min
has not the freedom of will to choose to do what he ought; or ≈ 8 min
he cannot do rightly though he wishes, are called sins because ≈ 4 min
it, who cansouls of all men since born derive their origin from ≈ 4 min
and are sent out to quicken and rule the bodies of individuals ≈ 4 min
itLord God, but come of their own accord to inhabit bodies, ≈ 4 min
in contemplation, a way out of temporalities has been prepared ≈ 11 min
from that condition that the soul begins to progress and to ad- ≈ 4 min
him the power to rise from such beginnings to ability to attain the ≈ 8 min
ment of Christ's Baptism can do to infants, seeing that many of ≈ 4 min
it, is often occasioned by the bodily torments which infants ≈ 4 min
69. These casuists, who ask questions of that kind not because ≈ 4 min
kind of creature which can come under the consideration of the ≈ 4 min
wise, he could at least receive a commandment which he ought ≈ 4 min
cause the first man to depart from God, or did he become ≈ 4 min
75. Here it may be asked, if man had impressions from both ≈ 4 min
able. Yet in contemplating sovereign wisdom the mutable ≈ 4 min
eternal light, that is, of unchangeable truth and wisdom, that, ≈ 2 min
been no error in religion had not the soul worshipped in place ≈ 3 min
religion in our times, which to know and follow is most sure and ≈ 3 min
and as piously as you can; for God aids such." This is not to be ≈ 4 min
tary evil, that there would be no such thing as sin unless it were ≈ 4 min
Christ that "He did nothing by violence, but every-thing by per- ≈ 4 min
permitted to last till our times, lest the soul should always seek ≈ 4 min
all order is of God." But the apostle does not use these very ≈ 4 min
and binding our souls to him alone [religantes], whence religion ≈ 21 min
earth and are listened to most gladly and with veneration. After ≈ 4 min
would see by whose authority measures are best taken for man's ≈ 4 min
who have chosen to have different religious rites from ours such ≈ 7 min
has done for the salvation of the human race,prophetictime—whathistoryGod of the dispensation of divine providence in ≈ 4 min
that they which are approved may be made manifest among ≈ 4 min
have already done so and partly because I intend to do so again, ≈ 4 min
Creator, or become vain in our thoughts. That is the rule of per- ≈ 4 min
and expounded to seekers in many ways. Omnipotent God may ≈ 4 min
not create death, nor does he take pleasure in the destruction of ≈ 4 min
overcomes the desires which it has fed to its own undoing by ≈ 4 min
which we owe to the primal sin, in its own time and order the ≈ 4 min
advantage, not God's. God needs no good thing from others, ≈ 4 min
and warning. The old servitude was past and the day of liberty ≈ 4 min
deigned to assume, was an education in morals. His resurrec- ≈ 4 min
same God for the reason that our people are not bound by the ≈ 4 min
matter, that matter was made out of absolutely nothing. If it ≈ 4 min
difficulty that ensues from vice is the penalty which it suffers. ≈ 4 min
loves God, is a good thing of the lowest order, and beautiful in ≈ 4 min
ing, because they set more store by their ears than by their ≈ 11 min
that has arisen among men concerning the worship of the one ≈ 4 min
may be a moderate man after his kind, or he may transgress the ≈ 12 min
serving unity and making the whole beautiful. Symmetry ≈ 4 min
are produced by nature or are worked out by the arts, have a ≈ 4 min
to say why intelligible things please us, and why when we are ≈ 4 min
it,completely achieve the unity they aim at, or fall far short of ≈ 4 min
nothing to the mind except what they actually see. If not only the ≈ 4 min
being influenced by imaginations derived from things seen in ≈ 8 min
can show the beholder nothing but their form, and that they ≈ 7 min
assumed has given us an example for our warning. "Bid these ≈ 4 min
true, at least make up your mind whether you have any doubt ≈ 4 min
the human form is not evil, because it exhibits manifest traces ≈ 4 min
the beauty of the universe. That which we abhor in any part of ≈ 4 min
to be blamed is spurned in comparison with what is better. ≈ 8 min
or temporal process. By its potency it is greater than all space, ≈ 8 min
life can be, some pointer towards happiness can be found, be- ≈ 4 min
of our mind is unconquerable though only as we are subject to ≈ 4 min
all the good things he wants to have himself, and should not ≈ 4 min
flesh are loved, or sons, or wives, or kinsfolk, or relatives, or ≈ 4 min
poral relationships. Let a man love his neighbour as himself ≈ 4 min
repay favours received, his enemy to cultivate patience, anyone ≈ 4 min
tion of rest to come, and so is not crushed. What can harm him ≈ 8 min
answer with one voice that truth is better. And yet we are so ≈ 4 min
numerable worlds. Others have thought that God cannot exist ≈ 4 min
97. All that I have said about the light of the mind is made ≈ 4 min
to repose in history and what in intelligence; what we ought to ≈ 8 min
for they know that certain knowledge which is within, and they ≈ 4 min
whole life is a round of seeing spectacles, striving, eating, drink- ≈ 4 min
senses, to believe and praise the works of God, to cultivate love ≈ 4 min
imagining. Any kind of truth is better than any fiction we may ≈ 4 min
Air is purer and clearer than these, though it can also be foggy; ≈ 8 min
and his Wisdom who makes every wise soul wise, and his Gift ≈ 4 min
because no creature comes between our minds and him whom ≈ 5 min
already found the truth, whompraiseworthy—those who have ≈ 3 min
betvveen true knowledge, i.e., rational knowledge, and belief in ≈ 4 min
universally are either foolish or wise," may seem to contradict ≈ 4 min
he was in the flesh, I added, "Why, you ask, do not such things ≈ 4 min
begun to refute the Manichees and to attack their absurdities, ≈ 19 min
and clever similes, and such censures generally, can be most ≈ 8 min
used Scripture. When it was objected that his disciples plucked ≈ 4 min
ment of the two Testaments. I need not say that this is used by ≈ 4 min
tory, aetiology and analogy are found in the New Testament. ≈ 4 min
none effect, at the same time compel us to approve of these ≈ 11 min
what they are pleased to call the error of the Catholic Church. ≈ 11 min
religion. We are undertaking an entirely new enterprise. We ≈ 4 min
where it is to be found, you are assuming that you know what it ≈ 4 min
in the Church. Who asserts it? Enemies forsooth. I do not at ≈ 4 min
Faith by some legal penalty, by the power of adversaries, by the ≈ 4 min
for the first time inquiring to what religion we are to entrust our ≈ 8 min
why, in being taught, you must begin with faith and not rather ≈ 8 min
me a reason so that I might follow where he led without any ≈ 11 min
27. Again, let me put this to you which I trust will even more ≈ 8 min
provide a solution for this great difficulty. We ought not to be ≈ 12 min
Christ unless some indubitable reason is given, they are not ≈ 121 min
to believe that there is no creature which has not been created ≈ 4 min
words with which we try to show what is in our minds. We do ≈ 8 min
there can be no thing which is the opposite of God. For if God ≈ 4 min
our mutable nature was assumed by the unchangeable Wisdom ≈ 4 min
Jesus Christ had Mary as his mother on earth. That dispensa- ≈ 4 min
woman's internal organs," as if it might appear that we must ≈ 4 min
day, the first-born of his brethren who were to follow him, whom ≈ 8 min
effable nature, for something similar is met with even in things ≈ 4 min
books about the Father and the Son, trying to explain, as far as ≈ 4 min
tures have not as yet discussed the doctrine of the Holy Spirit ≈ 4 min
communion, whether we call it Deity or Love or Charity, is not ≈ 4 min
sins, but we must by all means believe that our sins will not be ≈ 4 min
times there are said to be only two, for soul and spirit are spoken ≈ 8 min
which is infallible. He who finds this incredible is fixing his ≈ 4 min
expressed in a few words, which they are to hold faithfully. ≈ 1 min
according to our poor capacity. They all come from the so- ≈ 19 min
it is found fault with in these words. Therefore we must under- ≈ 4 min
creased, since it could not be resisted when grace was not yet ≈ 4 min
said, "sin is latent," in other words, "is thought to be dead." ≈ 4 min
just and good." It commands what ought to be commanded, ≈ 4 min
that the law is spiritual but I am carnal." Thus he clearly shows ≈ 12 min
tive ought not to presume on his own strength. Paul rebuked the ≈ 4 min
we have expounded, possibly some may think that the apostle ≈ 4 min
fault with the law, what are we to make of these: "I delight in ≈ 4 min
of death"? Because "sin, that it might be shown to be sin, ≈ 8 min
through the whole Epistle, and I shall seek guidance from it. It ≈ 4 min
other passage he says, "By the grace of God we are saved, and ≈ 8 min
knowledge of all things, and foresaw the faith that was to be in ≈ 4 min
there had been, even when they were in their mother's womb, ≈ 4 min
tion, whether the merits of faith do not precede the mercy of ≈ 4 min
serve the younger," and "Esau have I hated"? How could he ≈ 4 min
mind of the hearer or reader of these words, and so he immedi- ≈ 4 min
Esau, so that he was not called and had not faith inspired in him ≈ 4 min
could neither believe him who called, nor despise his calling, ≈ 4 min
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God ≈ 4 min
that every one who is called follows it, how will it be true that ≈ 4 min
14. Here someone will say, why was not Esau called in such ≈ 4 min
goes on. "The Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very pur- ≈ 4 min
Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid." Let this truth, ≈ 4 min
and he leaves whom he will. Both he who is aided and he who is ≈ 4 min
how both of these Scripture passages can be true: "Thou hatcst ≈ 16 min
relevant to the matter we are dealing with, and which wonder- ≈ 4 min
justified and have demonstrated for us the understanding of ≈ 4 min
grace" we are to understand not election of the justified to ≈ 27 min

Author	Augustine of Hippo
Language	English
Era	Modern
Categories	Christian Classics · Theology · Early Church
Length	258 chapters · ≈ 27 h 29 min read
Formats	Web Book · PDF

Augustine: Earlier Writings

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