On Christian Doctrine and The Enchiridion

Name: On Christian Doctrine and The Enchiridion
Author: Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo

Public DomainTheology

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Chapters 271

JL ture wliicli I think might with great advantage be ≈ 2 min
mine, because they have failed to understand the rules here ≈ 2 min
understand what is here set do^\Ti, my answer is, that I am ≈ 3 min
Grace, and boast that they understand and can explain Scrip- ≈ 3 min
not strongly insist on them. For, as I am dealing with ≈ 3 min
» 2 Cor. xii. 2-4, ≈ 3 min
the prophet, and did not understand what he read, was not sent ≈ 3 min
divine illumination, understands the obscurities of Scripture, ≈ 3 min
he sees before him : he who teaches reading, does it that ≈ 7 min
things are learnt by means of signs. I now use tlie word ≈ 3 min
others which are to be used, others still which enjoy and use. ≈ 3 min
its own sake. To use, on the other hand, is to employ what- ≈ 3 min
the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are at the same time the ≈ 3 min
worthy way ? Nay, I feel that I have done nothing more ≈ 3 min
even by those who believe that there are other gods, and who ≈ 3 min
living, they only can form any conception of Him that is not ≈ 3 min
you know that a life of unchangeable wisdom is preferable to ≈ 3 min
truth which lives unchangeably, and since the triune God ≈ 3 min
had not Wisdom condescended to adapt Himself to our weak- ≈ 3 min
He appeared to mortal men in the form of mortal flesh, He ≈ 3 min
so this remedy took up sinners to heal and restore them. ≈ 3 min
shows us ; ^ and it is even called His spouse.^ His body, then, ≈ 3 min
Compare E]»h. i. 23 with Kom. xii. 5. ' Kcv. xix. 7, xxi. ≈ 3 min
whatsoever it should bind on earth might be bound in heaven, ≈ 3 min
which consists in the putting, away of former, habits and for- ≈ 3 min
begin lierc to be conformed to the truth, falls when the body ≈ 3 min
objects of enjoyment which we have spoken of as eternal and ≈ 3 min
look at the matter clearly, because no oue_ought to love even ≈ 3 min
ever, to be loved, but those only which are either united with ≈ 3 min
if it is able to lord it over its companions, tliat is, other men. ≈ 3 min
question was ever raised by any sect. But neither does any ≈ 3 min
spirit, make war upon their own body as if it were a natural ≈ 4 min
loving, that is, in what measure he may love himself so as to ≈ 3 min
every man should love liimself and his own body,—seeing, that ≈ 3 min
an unprejudiced estimate of things, and keeps his affections ≈ 3 min
you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to ≈ 3 min
those to whom we render services, partly those who render ≈ 3 min
angels. For they are happy in the enjoyment of Him whom ≈ 3 min
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not ≈ 3 min
who ought to show to us, the offices of mercy is by right called a ≈ 3 min
that which we love for its own sake , and that nothing is a ≈ 3 min
For wdien we use objects, we do so with a view to the full ≈ 7 min
and the Word, by whom all things were made, had been made ≈ 3 min
tlie discussion about things, this is the sum : that we should ≈ 3 min
Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpreta- ≈ 3 min
the writer intended, goes astray, but not through any false- ≈ 3 min
swalljowed up in that perfect bliss to which we shall come : ≈ 3 min
love, and who keeps a iirm hold upon these, does not need ≈ 9 min
Natural signs are those which, apart from any intention or ≈ 3 min
living beings mutually exchange for the purpose of showing, ≈ 3 min
thoughts to one another^ some relate to the sense of sight, some ≈ 3 min
> John xii. 3-7 ; Mark xiv. 8. « Matt. ix. 20. ≈ 3 min
which brings a remedy for the terrible diseases of the human ≈ 3 min
and manifold obscurities and ambiguities, substitutino- one ≈ 3 min
aspect than if no such figure were drawn from the sacred books, ≈ 3 min
by the fear of God to seek the knowledge of His will, what He ≈ 4 min
upon this oT)ject shining from afar, and has felt that owing to ≈ 3 min
mentioned, for it is about it that I have set myself to speak ≈ 3 min
this judgment is to be exercised, is contained in the follow- ≈ 6 min
meek and pious disposition seek the will of God. And in pur- ≈ 3 min
the understanding of Scripture, if only readers were not care- ≈ 6 min
not well known, is deceived b}' an ambiguity in the original ≈ 3 min
is which the several translators endeavour to express, each ≈ 3 min
just in proportion as they are weak ; and they are weak just ≈ 3 min
wards. I am treating at joresent of uulcnown signs, of which, ≈ 3 min
is to be preferred to the others, for it keeps closer to the words ≈ 7 min
of them should chance to bring the reader to a stand-still, ≈ 3 min
obscure, as when we do not know the nature of the animals, ≈ 6 min
* John xxi. 11. ≈ 3 min
stition, which represent the nine Muses as daughters of Jupiter ≈ 3 min
so, still we ought not to give up music because of the super- ≈ 3 min
worshipping of idols are superstitious, pertaining as they do ≈ 3 min
practices, that are to be observed if any part of the body should ≈ 3 min
those who were called genethliaci, on account of their attention ≈ 3 min
fate of those who are born from such an observation, is a great ≈ 3 min
and briefest moment of time that separates the birth of twins, ≈ 3 min
after evil things are, by a secret judgment of God, delivered ≈ 3 min
are part of a guilty superstition, springing out of a baleful ≈ 3 min
arranged with the devils by that previous understanding in the ≈ 3 min
of the mind of the Christian, we must then look at human ≈ 3 min
of this kind, wliich are intended as representations of things, ≈ 3 min
convenience for the necessary intercourse of life, the Christian ≈ 3 min
among human institutions those things which men have handed ≈ 3 min
chronology of past times assists us very much in understanding ≈ 3 min
Greeks, wha^a great question our own Ambrose has set at ≈ 3 min
former institutions of men are described, the history itself is ≈ 3 min
tion, in ^vllich not a past but an existing state of things is made ≈ 3 min
which something is made which, when the effort of the work- ≈ 3 min
48. There remain those branches of knowledge which per- ≈ 3 min
to false conclusions, by following out to its logical conse- ≈ 3 min
thing devised by men, but is observed a;nd noted by them ≈ 3 min
the resurrection, both the law of the inference is valid, and ≈ 3 min
52. Therefore it is one thing to know the laws of inference, ≈ 3 min
tition, although it is frequently applied to falsities, is not itself ≈ 3 min
argument, which is called eloquence, and these rules are not ≈ 3 min
so much for ascertaining: the meanincr as for settini? forth the ≈ 3 min
dullest apprehension that this was not created by man, but was ≈ 3 min
things as to be inclined to boast himself one of the learned, ≈ 3 min
and ahle young men, who fear God and are seeking for ≈ 3 min
and names found in Scripture, in the Hebrew, and Syriac, and ≈ 3 min
our brethren done ? Do we not see with what a quantity ol ≈ 3 min
in the w^ay I have indicated, shall enter upon his investigations, ≈ 3 min
garments which the people of Israel brought with them out of ≈ 4 min
2. THE INTERPRETING FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS LITERALLY. THE AUTHOK ≈ 3 min
I tare for a kno\vled«j;e of His will. And when he has ≈ 3 min
must see in the first place that there is nothing wrong in our ≈ 3 min
" In principio erat xerhum, et verlum erat apud Deuiii, et Deus ≈ 3 min
against the faith in either way you take it, and therefore must ≈ 3 min
either by the rule of faith or by the context, there is nothing ≈ 3 min
biguous punctuations are to be observed likewise in the case of ≈ 3 min
sound of syllables ; and this of course has relation to pronun- ≈ 3 min
not relate either to punctuation or pronunciation, are to be ≈ 3 min
I am next to speak, demand no ordinary care and diligence. ≈ 3 min
differed widely from what it was in the case of the other nations ; ≈ 3 min
did this, because men who had for their gods idols made with ≈ 7 min
homage to, any significant object without knowing what it ≈ 3 min
14. But in addition to the foresroin^ rule, which guards us ≈ 3 min
to their inherent sinfulness, but rather by reference to their ≈ 3 min
in word or deed, that is ascribed in Holy Scripture to God or ≈ 3 min
actual deeds, which appear to the inexperienced to be sinful, ≈ 3 min
of an earthly kingdom, foreshadowing and foretelling the king- ≈ 3 min
than their own meet with the record of such actions, unless ≈ 3 min
reignS through its supremely just laws of love to God for His ≈ 3 min
or thinks he has attained, to a higher grade of spiritual life, ≈ 3 min
about steeping themselves in a multitude of debaucheries, or ≈ 3 min
to honour and praise good and holy men, because they them- ≈ 3 min
passion, they could never have restrained themselves from im- ≈ 3 min
used their wives appears chiefly in this, that when this same ≈ 3 min
V recorded in the Old Testament are to be taken not literally only, ≈ 3 min
he may be able to see and to trace out in them a figure of ≈ 3 min
to any expression that we are trying to understand is, whether ≈ 3 min
likeness to each other, we are not to suppose there is any rule ≈ 3 min
For things that signify now one thing and now another, signify ≈ 3 min
their signification, but each one of them denotes not two only ≈ 3 min
more interpretations are put upon the same words of Scripture, ≈ 3 min
that what is doubtful in it cannot be cleared up by indubitable ≈ 3 min
authors of our Scriptures use all those forms of expression ≈ 3 min
for the speech of the vulgar makes use of them all, even of ≈ 3 min
written most triumphantly against the Donatists (and herein ≈ 3 min
rules, attributes so much value to them that it would appear ≈ 7 min
of the Lord; but this indeed is not a suitable name, for that is ≈ 3 min
and may be designated in other terms as relating to the spirit ≈ 3 min
For so he calls it, intending that by species should be under- ≈ 3 min
are often said of such a kind as evidently apply to it also, or ≈ 7 min
the carnal Israel which is of one nation, by newness of grace, ≈ 3 min
rule by which we_ can frequently discover or con-of times,—a ≈ 3 min
mate which Holy Scripture more highly favours, such as seven, ≈ 3 min
» Mntt. xii. 40. " Comp. Ps. cxi.x. 104 with .xxxiv. 2. ≈ 3 min
sons of Noah are recounted, it is said : " These are the sons ≈ 3 min
form ; as, for example, our Lord says in the gospel : " The same ≈ 3 min
the devil and his hodi/. For he is the head of the wicked, ≈ 3 min
and the law, make one meaning to be understood where ≈ 4 min
JL iriiic, wa.s at the commencenient divided into two ≈ 3 min
a stop to the expectations of readers who may think that I am ≈ 3 min
either of truth or falsehood, who will dare to say that truth in ≈ 3 min
when you add a tongue thoroughly sldUed by exercise and ≈ 3 min
by learning words and phrases from those who do speak, why ≈ 3 min
Holy Scripture, the defender of the true faith and the oppo- ≈ 3 min
by nearly every one in cases where speech is the agency employed. ≈ 6 min
whose divinely-inspired writings constitute the canon, which ≈ 3 min
cry up their own form of language as superior to that of our ≈ 3 min
and how wisely he has said it, in the following passage : " We ≈ 3 min
refutes certain false apostles who had gone out from the ≈ 3 min
sections wliich the Greeks call Kofjufiaja, and the clauses and ≈ 7 min
the Apostle Paul because he is our great orator. For when ≈ 6 min
in this speech ? In the first place, the invective itself ; with ≈ 3 min
is announced as approaching, when it is added : " Ye that ≈ 3 min
pleasure for the sense of hearing. And here, when he had ≈ 3 min
20. But now as to the sentence which follows all these : ≈ 3 min
eloquence could be found in this passage which I have chosen ≈ 3 min
those writings of theirs which there is no difficulty in under- ≈ 3 min
in their proper force, or are understood with great difficulty, ≈ 3 min
about what sounds well, compared with what clearly expresses ≈ 3 min
understood, not only in conversations, whether with one person ≈ 3 min
making people like what they disliked, nor in maldng them do ≈ 3 min
eloquent man must speak so as to teach, to delight, and to ≈ 3 min
course be instructed before they can be moved. And perhaps ≈ 4 min
do not care for truth unless it is put in the form of a pleasing ≈ 3 min
30. And so much labour has been spent by men on the ≈ 3 min
when it is said, " I will praise Thee among much people,"^ no ≈ 3 min
and holy, and. good (and he ought never to say anything else), ≈ 3 min
or what they should teach, since the Holy Spirit makes them ≈ 3 min
good, should not despise any of those three objects, either to ≈ 3 min
these three directions, as laid down by himself, in regard to ≈ 3 min
secular affairs (and what were these but matters of money ?), ≈ 3 min
ought to conduct secular cases, either for themselves or for ≈ 3 min
1 matters, he ought not always to be speaking of them in a ≈ 3 min
have an example of the calm, subdued style in the Apostle ≈ 3 min
perate style : " Kebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a ≈ 7 min
defective in that grace of speech which consists in harmonious ≈ 3 min
style just spoken of, chiefly in that it is not so much decked ≈ 3 min
that the persecutions of this world should be overcome by ≈ 3 min
epistle is written in the subdued style, except at the end, ≈ 3 min
profound, and are so written that one who is not content with ≈ 7 min
encomium on virginity from Cyprian : " Now our discourse ≈ 3 min
when he is holding up before virgins who have made their ≈ 3 min
their treatment of a subject which both of them have touched. ≈ 3 min
" Hence arise these incentives to vice, that women, in their ≈ 3 min
mingle these various styles : on the contrary, every variety of ≈ 3 min
should be alternated with what other, and the places where it ≈ 3 min
we are not to suppose on that account that he is speaking in ≈ 3 min
was to teach them what they were ignorant of, or to persuade ≈ 3 min
by the two styles last mentioned is the one which it is most ≈ 3 min
little while ago ^ as necessary to be fulfilled by any one who ≈ 3 min
case of the Christian orator, be neither altogether without ≈ 3 min
hearer's mind by the majestic style (and this is always neces- ≈ 3 min
of the speaker will count for more in securing the hearer's ≈ 3 min
they themselves do not perform ; but they would do good to ≈ 3 min
compliance, speak not only quietly and temperately, but even ≈ 3 min
but cannot compose anything to deliver. Now, if such men ≈ 7 min
pected or desired. But the reader or hearer who finds pleasure ≈ 290 min
ties which through the bounty of our Lord I am enabled to ≈ 3 min
yourself in such efforts, I would not have you to be disturbed ≈ 6 min
of hearing me shows me that my utterance is not so frigid ≈ 6 min
the first instance from what is written in the text, " In the ≈ 3 min
be kept fixed uj)on tlie end of the commandment, whicli is ≈ 7 min
of the Lord than that God might show His love in us, com- ≈ 7 min
he is not of that weak type of character to which such an ≈ 3 min
came, to wit, that man might learn how much God loves him ; ≈ 3 min
• Matt. xxii. 40. ≈ 7 min
he has met with some divine warning, or with some divine ≈ 6 min
resurrection should be set forth, and, so far as the capacity ≈ 6 min
overlooked. I mean the case of one coming to you to receive ≈ 10 min
schools of the grammarians and professional speakers, whom ≈ 3 min
the kind of discourse intended, so that I may show you by an ≈ 10 min
stance that our hearer docs not apprehend what we mean, so ≈ 3 min
things as are already prepared for our use and expressed in a ≈ 13 min
us, to continue discoursing on to the set limit when we fail to ≈ 3 min
listened to us with all readiness, becomes exhausted either by ≈ 10 min
of giving up some other employment, on which, as the more ≈ 3 min
so as not to be capable of delivering a discourse of a calm and^ ≈ 3 min
of somethinq- in which we ourselves have erred or sinned, we ≈ 3 min
that which, previous to the promise which I made, I was ≈ 7 min
that some one has come to us who desires to be made a Chris- ≈ 87 min
* Adopting nam si in spectacidis cum ilUs esse ciipiebas et eis inhcej-ere. Au- ≈ 7 min
have been teaching some uninstructed person in my presence, ≈ 22 min
J- on the most solid foundation of apostolic teaching, ≈ 2 min
for the opinion that God the Father is not almighty : not ≈ 6 min
we ought to uphold the opinion that there is no creature which ≈ 3 min
and those words of ours, by which we endeavour to set forth ≈ 3 min
made by the Father ; for, according to the word of an evange- ≈ 3 min
us,"^ the same Wisdom which was begotten of God conde- ≈ 7 min
minds that there cannot possibly exist any nature contrary to ≈ 3 min
with a view to our salvation and restoration, and with the ≈ 3 min
deny that our Lord Jesus Christ had in Mary a mother upon ≈ 3 min
impair this faith in us, to the effect that there should appear ≈ 3 min
tas) of our Lord on our behalf in His being born : it was also ≈ 3 min
FROM the dead, the first-begotten for bretliren destined to come ≈ 3 min
place of blessedness He has likewise promised unto us, say- ≈ 3 min
' Kom. i. 23. « Matt. xxv. 33. ≈ 3 min
human dispensation, .having both been thus systematically dis- ≈ 3 min
ference to an ineffable Nature, when even in those objects ≈ 7 min
learned and spiritual^ men have conducted discussions in ≈ 7 min
not been as yet, on the part of learned and distinguished ≈ 7 min
said -communion, which we call either .Godhead, or Love, or ≈ 3 min
toward God, when it was said, " Thou slialt love the Lord thy ≈ 3 min
sins, but we ought most thoroughly to believe that those things ≈ 3 min
spirit, soul, and again are consists,—namely, body,—which ≈ 13 min
Creed to Christian novices, to be held l)y them. And these ≈ 6 min
Adam, sin of, results of the, to his Catechetical instruction, 265, etc. ; ≈ 4 min
Ambrose, examples of style from, 155, Christ, purges the Church by afflic- ≈ 4 min
Body, the, death of, man's peculiar relation of, as Son to the Father, ≈ 4 min
Comnianrls and prohibitions, rules for use, 9 ; of man, 28. ≈ 5 min
Death of the body is man's peculiar without works, is dead, 222. ≈ 5 min
Dialectics, use of, in interpreting Fire, saved by, expounded, 223. ≈ 5 min
Egyptians, spoiling of the, typical God, in what sense ineflable, and what ≈ 5 min
Hearers, to be moved as well as in- angels, 194 ; will be explained at ≈ 5 min
Men, fallen, God's judgments on, of (iod's free grace, 242. ≈ 4 min
Neighbour, who is our, 25 ; love to lle]»entance, true, the mercy of God ≈ 4 min
Satan, as an angel of light, 217. Superstitious nature of human insti- ≈ 4 min
Sin, results of Adam's, 194, etc. ; sin, ≈ 4 min

Author	Augustine of Hippo
Language	English
Era	Classic
Categories	Theology · Bible Study · Early Church
Length	271 chapters · ≈ 22 h 58 min read
Formats	Web Book · PDF
Status	Public Domain

Public Domain.

On Christian Doctrine and The Enchiridion

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