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Full Title
The confessions of S. Augustine: in ten books.
Author
Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. Woodroffe, Paul, ill. Housman, Clemence, ill. Housman, Lawrence. Chivers, Cedric, Book designer.
Date Added
10 January 2014
Language
English
Publish Date
1900
Publisher
London : Kegan Paul, Trench Trübner & Co. Ltd.
Source
Contributions from Augustinian Theologians and Scholars
Topic
Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. Catholic Church > Algeria > Hippo (Extinct city) > Bishops > Biography. Christian saints > Algeria > Hippo (Extinct city) > Biography. Hippo (Extinct city) > Biography.
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OCR
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nor did I now desire to be more certain of Thee, but
more stedfast in Thee. But for my temporal life,
all was wavering, and ‘‘my heart had to be purged
from the old leaven’’ (x Cor. v. 7). ‘*The Way"
(John, xiv. 6), the Saviour Himself, well pleased me,
but as yet I shrunk from going through its straitness.
And Thou didst put into my mind, and it seemed
good in my eyes, to go to Simplicianus, who seemed
to mea good servant of Thine; and Thy grace shone
in him. I had heard also, that from his very youth
he had lived most devoted unto Thee. Now he was
grown into years; and by reason of so great age
spent in such zealous following of Thy ways, he
seemed to me likely to have learned much experi-
ence; and so he had. Out of which store, I wished
that he would tell me (setting before him my anxieties)
which were the fittest way for one in my case to
walk in Thy paths.
For, I saw the church full; and one went this
way, and another that way. But I was displeased,
that I led a secular life; yea now that my desires no
longer inflamed me, as of old, with hopes of honour
and profit, a very grievous burthen it was to under-
go so heavy a bondage. For, in comparison of Thy
sweetness, ‘‘and the beauty of Thy house which I
loved”’ (Ps. xxvi. 8), those things delighted me no
longer. But still I was enthralled with the love of
woman; nor did the Apostle forbid me to marry,
although he advised me to something better, chiefly
wishing ‘‘ that all men were as himself was”’ (1 Cor.
vii. 8). But I being weak, chose the more indulgent
place; and because of this alone, was tossed up and
down in all beside, faint and wasted with withering
cares, because in other matters, I was constrained
against my will to conform myself to a married life,
to which I was given up and enthralled. I had heard
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