not do bodily work, to what thing they give even if all were able, they ought to do it by
BIA THE WORKS OF
ST. AUGUSTIN, that each doth the more quickly profit when he reads good things, the quicker he is in doing what he reads?
of warfare: likewise ought themselves also to obey his precepts, in sympathizing with the weak, and unshackled by love of private wealth, to labor with their hands for the common good, and submit to their superiors without a murmur; that there may be made up for them out of the oblations of good believers that which, while they labor and do some work whereby they may get their living, yet still by reason of bodily infirmities of some, and by reason of ecclesiastical occupations or erudition of the doctrine which bringeth salvation, they shall account to be lacking.
21. Moreover, if discourse must be bestowed upon any, and this so take up the speaker that he have not time to work with his hands, are allin the monastery able to hold discourse unto brethren which come unto them from another kind of life, whether it be to expound the divine lessons, or concerning any questions which may be put, to reason in an wholesome manner? Then since not all have the ability, why upon this pretext do all want to have nothing else to do? Although even if all were able, they ought to do it by turns; not only that the rest might not be taken up from necessary works, but also because it sufficeth that to many hearers there be one speaker. 'To come now to the Apostle; how could he find time to work with his hands, unless for the bestowing of the word of God he had certain set times? And indeed God hath not willed this either to be hidden from us. For both of what craft he was a workman, and at what times he was taken up with dispensing the Gospel, holy Scripture has not left untold. Namely, when the day of his departure caused him to be in haste, being at Troas, even on the first day of the week when the brethren were assembled to break bread, such was his earnestness, and so necessary the disputation, that his discourse was prolonged even until midnight,? as though it had slipped from their minds that on that day it was not a fast:4 but when he was making longer stay in any place and dis-
20. For what these men are about, who will not do bodily work, to what thing they give up their time, I should like to know. '' To prayers," say they, ' 'and psalms, and reading, and the word of God." A holy life, unquestionably, and in sweetness of Christ worthy of praise; but then, if from these we are not to be called off, neither must we eat, nor our daily viands themselves be prepared, that they may be put before us and taken. Now if to find time for these things the servants of God at certain intervals of times by very infirmity are of necessity compelled, why do we not make account of some portions of times to be allotted also to the observance of Apostolical precepts? For one single prayer of one who obeyeth is sooner heard than ten thousand of adespiser. As for divine songs, however, they can easily, even while working with their hands, say them, and like as rowers with a boat-song," so with godly melody cheer up their very toil. Or are we ignorant how it is with all workmen, to what vanities, and for the most part even filthinesses, of theatrical fables they give their hearts and tongues, while their hands recede not from their work ? What then hinders a servant of God while working with his hands to meditate in the law of the Lord, and sing unto the Name of the Lord Most High?? provided, of course, that to learn what he may by memory rehearse, he have times set apart. For to this end also those good works of the faithful ought not to be lacking, for resource of making up what is necessary, that the hours which are so taken up in storing of the mind that those bodily works cannot be carried on, may not oppress with want. But they which say that they give up their time to reading, do they not there find that which the Apostle enjoineth? Then what perversity is this, to refuse to be ruled by his reading while he wishes to give up his time thereto; and that he may spend more time in reading what is good, therefore to re-
S ea e puting daily, who can doubt that he had certain hours set apart for this office? For at Athens, because he had there found most studious inquirers of things, it is thus written of him: '' He disputed therefore with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the Gentile inhabitants 5 in the market every day to those who were there.''® Not, namely, in the synagogue every day, for there it.was his custom to discourse on the sabbath; but '' in the market,' saith he, *' every day;'' by reason, doubtless, of the studiousness of the Athenians, For so it follows: '' Certain however of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers conferred with him.'' And a little after, it says: ''Now the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else
3 Acts xx. 7. 4S. Augustin therefore assumes that the Christians of the Apostolic age did not break their fast before receiving the Eucharist, See St. Chrys. on Stat, Hom. ix. § 2. 'Ir. p. 159, and note g. 5 Tots "Lovdaiors Kat ToLs oeBopevors Kat ev Ty ayopa KaTa TWacay HMEpav Mpos TOVS TapatvyxavovTas. For kai tois weBopnevors Aug. has e¢ Gextibus incolis: for which some mss. have Gentibus in wiculis.
fuse to do what is read? For who knows not
6 Acts xvii. 17, 18, 21.
xiii. 6 I Celeumate. 2 Ps. i. 2;