Tractates on the Gospel of John
164 ST. AUGUSTINE
1 1 . For they who have a case and wish to plead before the emperor seek out some learned jurist by whom their petitions may be composed for them, lest, perhaps, if they plead otherwise than they ought, they not only may not get what they ask, but also may receive^^' a punishment instead of a benefit. And so when the apostles were seeking to pray and found no way in which to approach God the emperor, they said to Christ, "Lord, teach us to pray."''' That is you, our jurist, God's counselor, rather, his fellow judge, compose petitions for us. And the Lord taught them from the book of the heavenly Law; he taught them how to pray.
(2) And in that which he taught them he put a certain provision: "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." If you do not ask according to the Law, you will be culpable. Having become culpable, do you tremble before the emperor? Offer the sacrifice of humility; offer the sacrifice of mercy. Say in your petitions, "Forgive me because I, too, forgive." But if you say [it], do [it]. (3) For what will you do, where will you go, if you lie in your petitions? You will not, as is said in the forum, lose the benefit of the rescript, "^^ but you will not even obtain a rescript. For it is a principle of forensic law that what one has obtained may not benefit him who has lied in his petitions. But this is the situation among men; for a man can be deceived. The Emperor could have been deceived when you have sent him petitions; for you have said what you wanted, and he to whom you have said it doesn't know whether it is true.
(4) He has sent you down to be refuted by your adversary so that, if you were convicted of a lie before the judge, because he was not to grant it, not knowing whether you lied, you will lose the very benefit of the rescript there where you took the rescript. But God, who knows whether you lie or tell the truth, does not effect a loss of benefit for you in the judgment;
36. Some codices have "may deserve" instead of "may receive." 37. Lk 1 1.1. 38. Mt 6.12.
39. The "rescript," rescriptum, was an emperor's official response to anyone seeking an opinion or some advice from him.