Category: Augustine

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The greatest of all good

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It is the greatest of all good to take hold of God, and by abiding in Him to sin in nothing. Gregory Thaumaturgus. 1886. “A Metaphrase of the Book of Ecclesiastes.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius the Great, Julius Africanus, Anatolius and Minor Writers, Methodius, Arnobius, edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, translated by S. D. F. Salmond, 6:14. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company. Continue reading The greatest of all good

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Man of Man God of God

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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made…..And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:1-3, 14 Inspired by Novatians break down on Jesus according to Scripture… Continue reading Man of Man God of God

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The greatest pleasure

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Nothing so delights the faithful soul as the healthy consciousness of an unstained modesty. To have vanquished pleasure is the greatest pleasure; nor is there any greater victory than that which is gained over one’s desires. He who has conquered an enemy has been stronger, but it was stronger than another; he who has subdued lust has been stronger than himself. He who has overthrown an enemy has beaten a foreign foe; he who has cast down desire has vanquished a domestic adversary. Every evil is more easily conquered than pleasure; because, whatever it is, the former is repulsive, the … Continue reading The greatest pleasure

Augustine, FreedomLeave a comment

Be turned to God

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Forsake the idols which human error has invented. Be turned to God, whom if you implore He will aid you. Believe in Christ, whom the Father has sent to quicken and restore us. Cease to hurt the servants of God and of Christ with your persecutions, since when they are injured the divine vengeance defends them. For this reason it is that none of us, when he is apprehended, makes resistance, nor avenges himself against your unrighteous violence, although our people are numerous and plentiful. Cyprian of Carthage. 1886. “An Adress to Demetrianus.” In Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus, … Continue reading Be turned to God

Augustine, SalvationLeave a comment

You are indignant

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The sins of lying, of lust, of fraud, of cruelty, of impiety, of anger, God rebukes and finds fault with, and no one is converted to innocency….. You are indignant that God is angry, as if by an evil life you were deserving any good, as if all things of that kind which happen were not infinitely less and of smaller account than your sins. You who judge others, be for once also a judge of yourself; LOOK INTO THE HIDING-PLACES OF YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE; nay, since now there is not even any shame in your sin, and you are … Continue reading You are indignant

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What fear

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After all these things, in the conclusion of the prayer comes a brief clause, which shortly and comprehensively sums up all our petitions and our prayers. For we conclude by saying, “But deliver us from evil,” comprehending all adverse things which the enemy attempts against us in this world, from which there may be a faithful and sure protection if God deliver us, if He afford His help to us who pray for and implore it. And when we say, Deliver us from evil, there remains nothing further which ought to be asked. When we have once asked for God’s … Continue reading What fear