9. Ibid., vi. 12.
326 ST. AUGUSTINE through our consenting to being made captives, are they also called our capturers.
Those then who have led us captive, the devil and his angels, when have they spoken unto us, and when have they asked of us the words of songs? what then do we understand? That, when those in whom the devil worketh ask such things of us, he is to be understood to ask, who worketh in them. The Apostle saith, And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past.^ He sheweth that, having been redeemed, he has already begun to come forth from Babylon. But still what saith he yet? That we contend with our enemies. And that we may not wax wroth with men, who attack us with persecutions, the Apostle has diverted our efforts from hatred of men, and guided them to struggle with certain spirits, whom we see not, and yet we contend with them. For he saith. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, that is, against men, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.^ What means he by 'this world?' The lovers of this world. These he also calleth darkness, that is, unjust, wicked, unbelievers, sinners; whom, when they have come to believe, he congratulateth after this fashion, saying, Ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.^^ So then
8. Eph. u. 1-3.
9. Ibid., vi. 12. 10. Eph. V. 8.