sacrament of the altar.8 We have explained to them about the sacrament of the
258 SAINT AUGUSTINE - SERMONS
"I'll do that too."5 He's told, "But you're a believer now, don't do it; you've been baptized, been bom again, your hopes have changed radically, your morals should change too." And he answers, "Why are So-and-so and Such-and-such believers, then?"
I don't want to say any more; I mean, who could run through the whole list? That's why, my dear brothers and sisters, when you live bad lives, you that are already believers, you will have a bad account to give to God both about yourselves and about these new Christians.
The "infantes " exhorted to model themselves on good Catholics
2.1 am now going to address them, telling them to be grain on the threshingfloor, not to follow the chaff which is whirled around by the wind, and with which they would be lost; but to stay put on the floor with the weight of charity,6 so that they may eventually reach the kingdom of immortality.
So you then, brothers and sisters, you, sons and daughters, you, the new offspring of mother Church, I beg you by what you have received to fix your eyes on the one who called you, who loved you, who went looking for you when you were lost, who enlightened you when you were found; and not to follow the ways of the lost, for whom the name of "faithful" is just a mistake; I mean, we're not asking what they are called, but whether they fit their name. If they have been bom, where is their new mode of life? If they are of the faithful, believers, where is their faith? I hear the name, let me also recognize the reality.
Choose for yourselves the ones to imitate; those who fear God, who enter the church7 of God with reverence, who listen carefully to the word of God, commit it to memory, chew over it in their thoughts, carry it out in their actions; choose them for your imitation. And don't let a little voice say to you, "And where are we to find such people?" Be such people yourselves, and you will find such people. Like always sticks to like; if you live an abandoned sort of life, only abandoned people will attach themselves to you. Start living a good life, and you'll see how many companions surround you, what a wonderful brotherhood you can rejoice in. Finally, you can't find anyone to imitate? Be the sort of person someone else should imitate.
Sermon on the eucharist
3. We owe a sermon at the altar of God today to the "infants" about the sacrament of the altar.8 We have explained to them about the sacrament of the symbol, or creed, on what they ought to believe; we have explained about the sacrament of the Lord's prayer, how they ought to make their petitions; and about the sacrament of the font and baptism.9 But about the sacrament of the sacred altar, which they have seen today, they have as yet heard nothing. Today they are owed a sermon on this subject. That's why this sermon has to be short, both because of the hard work it is for me, and because of their edification.10