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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
in the true Faith and Church Catholic. We all
wondered; we, that they were so great, and he, that
they had not reached us.
Thence his discourse turned to the flocks in the
Monasteries, and their holy ways, a sweet smelling
savour unto Thee, and the fruitful deserts of the
wilderness, whereof we knew nothing. And there
was a Monastery at Milan, full of good brethren,
without the city walls, under the fostering care of
Ambrose, and we knew it not. He went on with
his discourse, and we listened in intent silence,
He told us then how one afternoon at Triers, when
the Emperor was taken up with the Circensian
games, he and three others, his companions, went
out to walk in gardens near the city walls, and there
as they happened to walk in pairs, one went apart
with him, and the other two wandered by them-
selves; and these, in their wanderings, lighted upon
a certain cottage, inhabited by certain of Thy ser-
vants, “poor in spirit, of whom is the kingdom of
heaven”’ (Matt. v. 3), and there they found a little
book, containing the life of Antony. This one of
them began to read, admire, and kindle at it; and as
he read, to meditate on taking up such a life, and
giving over his secular service to serve Thee. And
these two were of those whom they style agents
for the public affairs. Then suddenly, filled with
an holy love, and a sober shame, in anger with
himself he cast his eyes upon his friend, saying,
“Tell me, I pray thee, what would we attain by all
these labours of ours? what aim we at ? what serve
we for? Can our hopes in court rise higher than to
be the Emperor’s favourites? and in this, what is
there not brittle, and full of perils? and by how
many perils arrive we at a greater peril? And when
arrive we thither?. But a friend of God, if I wish it,
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