The Essential Augustine
the city of this world: as there is one holy city, Jerusalem, one unholy, Babylon; all the unholy belong to Babylon, even as all the holy to Jerusalem. But he slideth from Babylon to Jerusalem. How but by Him who justifieth the ungodly: Jerusalem is the city of the saints, Babylon of the wicked: but He cometh who justifieth the ungodly, since it is said, "I will think" not only "upon Rahab," but "upon Babylon," but with whom? "With them that know Me."...
THE CHURCH AND THE CITY OF GOD*
"The Lord is. great in Sion, and high above all peo4. ple" (ver. 2)....He whom I spoke to thee of as above the Cherubim, is great in Sion. Ask thou now, what is Sion? We know Sion to be the city of God. The city of Jerusalem is called Sion, and is so called according to a certain interpretation, for that Sion signifieth watching, that is, sight and contemplation, for to watch is to look forward to or gaze upon or strain the eyes to see. Now every soul is a Sion if it trieth to see that light which is to be seen. For if it shall have gazed upon a light of its own, it is darkened; if upon His, it is enlightened. But, now that it is clear that Sion is the city of God; what is the city of God, but the Holy Church? For men who love one another, and who love their God who dwelleth in them, constitute a city unto God. Because a city is held together by some law; their very law is Love, and that very Love is God; for openly it is written, "God is Love." He therefore who is full of Love is full of God; and many full of love constitute a city full of God. That city of God is called Sion; the Church therefore is Sion. In it God is great....
THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOLY CITYt
... This city is therefore now in building; stones are 4. cut down from the hills by the hands of those who preach truth, they are squared that they may enter into an everlasting structure. There are still many stones in the hands of the Builder: let them not fall from His hands, * On Psalm 98, 4; trans. Nicene. {On Psalm 121, 4; trans. Nicene.