3. Is. xlvi. 8.
154 ST. AUGUSTINE
Maker in our very hearts hath written this truth, That which to thyself thou wouldest not have done, do not thou to another} Of this truth, even before that the Law was given, no one was suffered to be ignorant, in order that there might be some rule whereby might be judged even those to whom Law had not been given. But lest men should complain that something had been wanting for them, there hath been written also in tables that which in their hearts they read not. For it was not that they had it not written, but read it they would not. There hath been set before their eyes that which in their conscience to see they would be compelled; and as if from without the voice of God were brought to them, to his own inward parts hath man been thus driven, the Scripture saying. For in the thoughts of the ungodly man there will be questioning.^ Where questioning is, there is law. But because men, desiring those things which are without, even from themselves have become exiles, there hath been given also a written law: not because in hearts it had not been written, but because thou wast a deserter from thy heart, by Him that is every where thou art seized, and to thyself within art called back. Therefore the written law, what crieth it, to those that have deserted the law written in their hearts? Return ye transgressors to the heart.^ For who hath taught thee that thou wouldest have no other man draw near thy wife? Who hath taught thee, that thou wouldest not have a theft committed upon thee? who hath taught thee, that thou wouldest not suffer wrong, and whatever other thing either universally or particularly might
1. Matt. vii. 12.
2. Wisd. i. 9.
3. Is. xlvi. 8.
POLITICAL WRITINGS 155 be spoken of? For many things there are, of which severally if questioned men with loud voice would answer, that they would not suffer. Come, if thou art not willing to suffer these things, art thou by any means the only man? dost thou not live in the fellowship of mankind? He that together with thee hath been made, is thy fellow; and all men have been made after the image of God, unless with earthly covetings they efface that which He hath formed. That which therefore to thyself thou wilt not have to be done, do not thou to another. For thou judgest that there is evil in that, which to suffer thou art not willing: and this thing thou art constrained to know by an inward law; 5iat in thy very heart is written. Thou wast doing somewhat, and there was a cry raised in thy hands: how art thou constrained to return to thy heart when this thing thou sufferest in the hands of others? Is theft a good thing? No! I ask, is adultery a good thing? All cry. No! Is man-slaying a good thing? All cry, that they abhor it. Is coveting the property of a neighbour a good thing? No! is the voice of all men. Or if yet Aou confessest not, there draweth near one that coveteth thy property: be pleased to answer what thou wilt have. All men therefore, when of these things questioned, cry that these things are not good. Again, of doing kindnesses, not only of not hurting, but also of conferring and distributing, any hungry soul is questioned thus; "thou sufferest hunger, another man hath bread, and there is abundance with him beyond suflSciency, he knoweth thee to want, he giveth not: it displeaseth thee when hungering, let it displease thee when full also, when of another's hungering thou shalt have known. A stranger wanting shelter cometh into thy country, he is not taken
156 ST. AUGUSTINE in: he then crieth that inhuman is that city, at once among barbarians he might have found a home. He feeleth the injustice because he suffereth; thou perchance feelest not, but it is meet that thou imagine thyself also a stranger; and that thou see in what manner he will have displeased thee, who shall not have given that, which thou in thy country wilt not give to a stranger." I ask all men. True are these things? True. Just are these things?
Just.
But hear ye the Psalm. // truly therefore justice ye speak, judge right things, ye sons of men. Be it not a justice of lips, but also of deeds. For if thou actest otherwise than thou speakest, good things thou speakest, and ill thou judgest. For if thou actest as thou judgest; if asked which is better, gold or faith, thou art not so far perverse and erring from all truth as to answer that gold is better: thou preferrest therefore, when asked, to gold, faith; thou hast spoken justice. Hast thou heard the Psalm? // truly therefore justice ye speak, judge right things, ye sons of men. And where shall I prove thee not to judge as thou hast spoken? I already have got thine answer setting faith before gold. Behold from some place or other a friend hath come, and without witness gold he hath entrusted to thee; he alone knoweth this, and thou, as far as regardeth men. There is there another witness, that is not seen, and yet seeth: and the man to thee in a secret place and in thy closet perchance, in the absence of witnesses, gold hath entrusted; the witness that is present, not in a chamber of walls is present, but in the couches of your consciences. He h^th entrusted and hath departed, to no one of his friends he hath made it known, hoping himself to return and to receive
POLITICAL WRITINGS 157 from his friend that which he had given: such is the uncertainty of things human, he is dead, he hath left an heir, hath left a son: the son knoweth not what his father had, what to thee he entrusted: return thou, return transgressor to the heart, there written the law is: That which to thyself thou wilt not have to be done, to another do thou not. Suppose thyself to have entrusted, to none of thy friends to have told it, to have died, to have left a son; what wouldest thou wish to be rendered to him by thine own friend? Answer, judge the case, the judge's tribunal is in thy mind, there is sitting there God, there is at hand for accuser conscience, for torturer fear. Amid things of men thou art, in the fellowship of men thou art engaged: think what thou wouldest have to be rendered to thy son by thy friend. I know what answer thy thought maketh. So judge thou, as thou hearest judge, a voice there will be; the voice of truth holdeth not its peace; not with lips it crieth, but a cry is raised out of the heart: incline thine ear, there be thou with the son of thy friend. Thou seest perchance also a man in need wandering about, knowing not what his father had, where he hath placed it, to whom he entrusted it; think also of thy son, suppose that man to Uve whom thou despisest as dead, thyself deem dead in order that thou mayest Uve. But something else covetousness doth enjoin; doth enjoin contrary to God; God one thing, another thing covetousness: one thing in Paradise our Maker, another thing athwart it, the serpent, the deceiver. Let there come into thy mind first thy fall; for this reason mortal thou art, for this reason toihng, for this in the sweat of thy face eating bread, for this reason thorns and thistles for thee the earth beareth: by example learn that which
158 ST. AUGUSTINE thou wouldest not by precept. But cupidity prevaileth; why not rather truth? And where is that which thou wast speaking? Behold, thou art meditating to deny the deposit of gold; behold, thou art meditating from the heir of thy friend altogether to hide it. I had asked a little before which would be the more precious, and which would be the better, gold, or good faith. Wherefore one thing sayest thou, another thing doest? Fearest thou not this voice, // truly justice ye speak, judge right things, ye sons of men? Behold thou hast told me that better is good faith, and in thy judgment better thou hast considered gold to be. Thou hast not judged as thou hast spoken; true things thou hast spoken, and false things thou hast judged: therefore even when thou wast speaking justice, truly thou didst not speak. For // truly justice ye speak, judge right things, ye sons of men. When to me concerning justice thou wast making answer, it was for shame, not with openness thou wast speaking.
this that I am proposing, examine thyself therein, weigh thyself thereon, ascend the tribunal of thy mind thereon, and place thyself before thyself, and judge thyself; and if thou shalt find thyself amiss, amend thyself. I propose then: God saith in His Law, that a thing found must be restored: God saith in His Law, which He gave to His first people, for whom Christ had not yet died, that a thing found as belonging to another must be restored; if anyone, for example, should find on the road a bag of money belonging to another, that he ought to restore it. But he does not know to whom? Ignorance doth not excuse itself, if avarice is not supreme.
b. Sermons, CLXXVUI, 8-9.
POLITICAL WRITINGS 159
I will tell you, Beloved, since it was God's gift; and there are among the people of God who do not hear the Word of God in vain; I will tell what a poor man did when I was settled in Milan; so poor was he, as to be a grammarian's usher; but decidedly a Christian, tiiough the grammarian was a heathen; better the vail than the Chair. He foimd a bag, if the number does not escape me, with about two hundred dollars; mindful of the Law he put up a public notice. For he knew that it ought to be restored; but to whom to restore it, he knew not. He put up a public notice: "Whosoever has lost some pieces of silver, let him come to such a place, and enquire of such a man." The man who was wandering about in lamentation every where, having discovered and read the notice, came to him. And that he might not by some chance be seeking for what was another's, the poor usher asked for proofs, asked the quality of the bag, the seal, the number of pieces too. Aid when he was faithfully answered in all, he restored what he had found. But the other, filled with joy, and seeking to make him some return, offered him as a tithe twenty pieces; and he would not receive it. He offered him as little as ten; he would not receive it. He asked him at least to receive five; he would not. The man in anger threw down the bag. *T have not lost any thing!" said he: "if you will not receive any thing of me, neither have I lost any thing." What a contest my Brethren, what a contest, what a battle, what a conflict! The theatre, the world; the Spectator, God. At last, being overcome, our poor man received what was offered; he forthwith laid it all out upon the poor, he left not one single piece in his own house.
What is this? If I have made any impression on