The Confessions Of Saint Augustine

1 Chapter I Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised 2 Chapter II And how shall I call upon my God, my God and Lord 3 Chapter III Do the heaven and earth then contain Thee, since Thou fillest them? or dost Thou 4 Chapter IV What art Thou then, my God? what, but the Lord God? For who is Lord 5 Chapter V Oh! that I might repose on Thee! Oh! that Thou wouldest enter into my heart 6 Chapter VI Yet suffer me to speak unto Thy mercy, me 7 Chapter VII Hear, O God. 8 Chapter VIII Passing hence from infancy, I came to boyhood, or rather it came to me 9 Chapter IX O God my God, what miseries and mockeries did I now experience 10 Chapter X And yet, I sinned herein, O Lord God, the Creator and Disposer of all things 11 Chapter XI As a boy, then, I had already heard of an eternal life 12 Chapter XII In boyhood itself, however so much less dreaded for me than youth 13 Chapter XIII But why did I so much hate the Greek 14 Chapter XIV Why then did I hate the Greek classics, which have the like tales? For Homer 15 Chapter XV Hear, Lord, my prayer; let not my soul faint under Thy discipline 16 Chapter XVI But woe is thee, thou torrent of human custom! Who shall stand against thee? how 17 Chapter XVII Bear with me, my God, while I say somewhat of my wit 18 Chapter XVIII But what marvel that I was thus carried away to vanities 19 Chapter I I will now call to mind my past foulness 20 Chapter II And what was it that I delighted in, but to love 21 Chapter III For that year were my studies intermitted: whilst after my return from Madaura a neighbour 22 Chapter IV Theft is punished by Thy law, O Lord, and the law written in the hearts 23 Chapter V For there is an attractiveness in beautiful bodies, in gold and silver 24 Chapter VI What then did wretched I so love in thee 25 Chapter VII What shall I render unto the Lord, that, whilst my memory recalls these things 26 Chapter VIII What fruit had I then wretched man! in those things 27 Chapter IX What then was this feeling? For of a truth it was too foul 28 Chapter X Who can disentangle that twisted and intricate knottiness? Foul is it 29 Chapter I To Carthage I came, where there sang all around me in my ears a cauldron 30 Chapter II Why is it, that man desires to be made sad 31 Chapter III And Thy faithful mercy hovered over me afar. 32 Chapter IV Among such as these, in that unsettled age of mine 33 Chapter V I resolved then to bend my mind to the holy Scriptures 34 Chapter VI Therefore I fell among men proudly doting, exceeding carnal and prating 35 Chapter VII For other than this, that which really is I knew not 36 Chapter VIII Can it at any time or place be unjust to love God with all his 37 Chapter IX Amidst these offences of foulness and violence, and so many iniquities 38 Chapter X These things I being ignorant of, scoffed at those Thy holy servants and prophets. 39 Chapter XI And Thou sentest Thine hand from above, and drewest my soul out of that profound 40 Chapter XII Thou gavest her meantime another answer, which I call to mind 41 Chapter I For this space of nine years from my nineteenth year to my eight-and-twentieth we lived 42 Chapter II In those years I taught rhetoric, and, overcome by cupidity 43 Chapter III Those impostors then, whom they style Mathematicians, I consulted without scruple 44 Chapter IV In those years when I first began to teach rhetoric in my native town 45 Chapter V And now, Lord, these things are passed by, and time hath assuaged my wound. 46 Chapter VI But what speak I of these things? for now is no time to question 47 Chapter VII O madness, which knowest not how to love men 48 Chapter VIII Times lose no time; nor do they roll idly by 49 Chapter IX This is it that is loved in friends; and so loved 50 Chapter X Turn us, O God of Hosts, show us Thy countenance 51 Chapter XI Be not foolish, O my soul, nor become deaf in the ear of thine heart 52 Chapter XII If bodies please thee, praise God on occasion of them 53 Chapter XIII These things I then knew not, and I loved these lower beauties 54 Chapter XIV But what moved me, O Lord my God, to dedicate these books unto Hierius 55 Chapter XV But I saw not yet, whereon this weighty matter turned in Thy wisdom 56 Chapter XVI And what did it profit me, that scarce twenty years old 57 Chapter I Accept the sacrifice of my confessions from the ministry of my tongue 58 Chapter II Let the restless, the godless, depart and flee from Thee 59 Chapter III I would lay open before my God that nine-and-twentieth year of mine age. 60 Chapter IV Doth then, O Lord God of truth, whoso knoweth these things 61 Chapter V But yet who bade that Manichaeus write on these things also 62 Chapter VI And for almost all those nine years, wherein with unsettled mind I had been their 63 Chapter VII For after it was clear that he was ignorant of those arts in which I 64 Chapter VIII Thou didst deal with me, that I should be persuaded to go to Rome 65 Chapter IX And lo, there was I received by the scourge of bodily sickness 66 Chapter X Thou recoveredst me then of that sickness, and healedst the son of Thy handmaid 67 Chapter XI Furthermore, what the Manichees had criticised in Thy Scriptures 68 Chapter XII I began then diligently to practise that for which I came to Rome 69 Chapter XIII When therefore they of Milan had sent to Rome to the prefect of the city 70 Chapter XIV For though I took no pains to learn what he spake 71 Chapter I O Thou, my hope from my youth, where wert Thou to me 72 Chapter II When then my mother had once, as she was wont in Afric 73 Chapter III Nor did I yet groan in my prayers, that Thou wouldest help me 74 Chapter IV Ignorant then how this Thy image should subsist, I should have knocked and proposed the 75 Chapter V Being led, however, from this to prefer the Catholic doctrine 76 Chapter VI-- I panted after honours, gains, marriage; and Thou deridedst me. 77 Chapter VII These things we, who were living as friends together 78 Chapter VIII He, not forsaking that secular course which his parents had charmed him to pursue 79 Chapter IX But this was already being laid up in his memory to be a medicine hereafter. 80 Chapter X Him then I had found at Rome, and he clave to me by a most 81 Chapter XI And I, viewing and reviewing things, most wondered at the length of time from that 82 Chapter XII Alypius indeed kept me from marrying; alleging that so could we by no means with 83 Chapter XIII Continual effort was made to have me married. 84 Chapter XIV And many of us friends conferring about, and detesting the turbulent turmoils of human life 85 Chapter XV Meanwhile my sins were being multiplied, and my concubine being torn from my side as 86 Chapter XVI To Thee be praise, glory to Thee, Fountain of mercies. 87 Chapter I Deceased was now that my evil and abominable youth 88 Chapter II It was enough for me, Lord, to oppose to those deceived deceivers 89 Chapter III But I also as yet, although I held and was firmly persuaded that Thou our 90 Chapter IV For I was in such wise striving to find out the rest 91 Chapter V And I sought |whence is evil,| and sought in an evil way 92 Chapter VI But this time also had I rejected the lying divinations and impious dotages of the 93 Chapter VII Now then, O my Helper, hadst Thou loosed me from those fetters 94 Chapter VIII But Thou, Lord, abidest for ever, yet not for ever art Thou angry with us 95 Chapter IX And Thou, willing first to show me how Thou resistest the proud 96 Chapter X And being thence admonished to return to myself, I entered even into my inward self 97 Chapter XI And I viewed the other things below Thee, and perceived that they neither altogether are 98 Chapter XII And it was manifested unto me, that those things be good which yet are corrupted 99 Chapter XIII And to Thee is nothing whatsoever evil: yea, not only to Thee 100 Chapter XIV There is no soundness in them, whom aught of Thy creation displeaseth 101 Chapter XV And I looked back on other things; and I saw that they owed their being 102 Chapter XVI And I perceived and found it nothing strange, that bread which is pleasant to a 103 Chapter XVII And I wondered that I now loved Thee, and no phantasm for Thee. 104 Chapter XVIII Then I sought a way of obtaining strength sufficient to enjoy Thee 105 Chapter XIX But I thought otherwise; conceiving only of my Lord Christ as of a man of 106 Chapter XX But having then read those books of the Platonists 107 Chapter XXI Most eagerly then did I seize that venerable writing of Thy Spirit 108 Chapter I O my God, let me, with thanksgiving, remember, and confess unto Thee Thy mercies on 109 Chapter II To Simplicianus then I went, the father of Ambrose a Bishop now in receiving Thy 110 Chapter III Good God! what takes place in man, that he should more rejoice at the salvation 111 Chapter IV Up, Lord, and do; stir us up, and recall us 112 Chapter V But when that man of Thine, Simplicianus, related to me this of Victorinus 113 Chapter VI And how Thou didst deliver me out of the bonds of desire 114 Chapter VII Such was the story of Pontitianus; but Thou, O Lord 115 Chapter VIII Then in this great contention of my inward dwelling 116 Chapter IX Whence is this monstrousness? and to what end? Let Thy mercy gleam that I may 117 Chapter X Let them perish from Thy presence, O God, as perish vain talkers and seducers of 118 Chapter XI Thus soul-sick was I, and tormented, accusing myself much more severely than my wont 119 Chapter XII But when a deep consideration had from the secret bottom of my soul drawn together 120 Chapter I O Lord, I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant 121 Chapter II And I resolved in Thy sight, not tumultuously to tear 122 Chapter III Verecundus was worn down with care about this our blessedness 123 Chapter IV Now was the day come wherein I was in deed to be freed of my 124 Chapter V The vintage-vacation ended, I gave notice to the Milanese to provide their scholars with another 125 Chapter VI Thence, when the time was come wherein I was to give in my name 126 Chapter VII Not long had the Church of Milan begun to use this kind of consolation and 127 Chapter VIII Thou that makest men to dwell of one mind in one house 128 Chapter IX Brought up thus modestly and soberly, and made subject rather by Thee to her parents 129 Chapter X The day now approaching whereon she was to depart this life which day Thou well 130 Chapter XI What answer I made her unto these things, I remember not. 131 Chapter XII I closed her eyes; and there flowed withal a mighty sorrow into my heart 132 Chapter XIII But now, with a heart cured of that wound 133 Chapter I Let me know Thee, O Lord, who knowest me 134 Chapter II And from Thee, O Lord, unto whose eyes the abyss of man's conscience is naked 135 Chapter III What then have I to do with men, that they should hear my confessions -- 136 Chapter IV But for what fruit would they hear this? Do they desire to joy with me 137 Chapter V For Thou, Lord, dost judge me: because, although no man knoweth the things of a 138 Chapter VI Not with doubting, but with assured consciousness, do I love Thee 139 Chapter VII What then do I love, when I love my God? who is He above the 140 Chapter VIII I will pass then beyond this power of my nature also 141 Chapter IX Yet not these alone does the unmeasurable capacity of my memory retain. 142 Chapter X But now when I hear that there be three kinds of questions 143 Chapter XI Wherefore we find, that to learn these things whereof we imbibe nor the images by 144 Chapter XII The memory containeth also reasons and laws innumerable of numbers and dimensions 145 Chapter XIII All these things I remember, and how I learnt them I remember. 146 Chapter XIV The same memory contains also the affections of my mind 147 Chapter XV But whether by images or no, who can readily say? Thus 148 Chapter XVI What, when I name forgetfulness, and withal recognise what I name? whence should I recognise 149 Chapter XVII Great is the power of memory, a fearful thing 150 Chapter XVIII For the woman that had lost her groat, and sought it with a light 151 Chapter XIX But what when the memory itself loses any thing 152 Chapter XX How then do I seek Thee, O Lord? For when I seek Thee 153 Chapter XXi But is it so, as one remembers Carthage who hath seen it? No. 154 Chapter XXII Far be it, Lord, far be it from the heart of Thy servant who here 155 Chapter XXIII It is not certain then that all wish to be happy 156 Chapter XXIV See what a space I have gone over in my memory seeking Thee 157 Chapter XXV But where in my memory residest Thou, O Lord 158 Chapter XXVI Where then did I find Thee, that I might learn Thee? For in my memory 159 Chapter XXVII Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days 160 Chapter XXVIII When I shall with my whole self cleave to Thee 161 Chapter XXIX And all my hope is no where but in Thy exceeding great mercy. 162 Chapter XXX Verily Thou enjoinest me continency from the lust of the flesh 163 Chapter XXXI There is another evil of the day, which I would were sufficient for it. 164 Chapter XXXII With the allurements of smells, I am not much concerned. 165 Chapter XXXIII The delights of the ear had more firmly entangled and subdued me 166 Chapter XXXIV There remains the pleasure of these eyes of my flesh 167 Chapter XXXV To this is added another form of temptation more manifoldly dangerous. 168 Chapter XXXVI And Thou knowest how far Thou hast already changed me 169 Chapter XXXVII By these temptations we are assailed daily, O Lord 170 Chapter XXXVIII Yet the word which cometh out of the mouth 171 Chapter XXXIX Within also, within is another evil, arising out of a like temptation 172 Chapter XL Where hast Thou not walked with me, O Truth 173 Chapter XLI Thus then have I considered the sicknesses of my sins in that threefold concupiscence 174 Chapter XLII Whom could I find to reconcile me to Thee? was I to have recourse to 175 Chapter XLIII But the TRUE Mediator, Whom in Thy secret mercy Thou hast showed to the humble 176 Chapter I Lord, since eternity is Thine, art Thou ignorant of what I say to Thee? or 177 Chapter II But how shall I suffice with the tongue of my pen to utter all Thy 178 Chapter III I would hear and understand, how |In the Beginning Thou madest the heaven and earth. 179 Chapter IV Behold, the heavens and the earth are; they proclaim that they were created 180 Chapter V But how didst Thou make the heaven and the earth? and what the engine of 181 Chapter VI But how didst Thou speak? In the way that the voice came out of the 182 Chapter VII Thou callest us then to understand the Word, God 183 Chapter VIII Why, I beseech Thee, O Lord my God? I see it in a way 184 Chapter IX In this Beginning, O God, hast Thou made heaven and earth 185 Chapter X Lo, are they not full of their old leaven 186 Chapter XI Who speak thus, do not yet understand Thee, O Wisdom of God 187 Chapter XII See, I answer him that asketh, |What did God before He made heaven and earth?| 188 Chapter XIII But if any excursive brain rove over the images of forepassed times 189 Chapter XIV At no time then hadst Thou not made any thing 190 Chapter XV And yet we say, |a long time| and |a short time| 191 Chapter XVI And yet, Lord, we perceive intervals of times, and compare them 192 Chapter XVII I ask, Father, I affirm not: O my God 193 Chapter XVIII Permit me, Lord, to seek further. 194 Chapter XIX Thou then, Ruler of Thy creation, by what way dost Thou teach souls things to 195 Chapter XX What now is clear and plain is, that neither things to come nor past are. 196 Chapter XXI I said then even now, we measure times as they pass 197 Chapter XXII My soul is on fire to know this most intricate enigma. 198 Chapter XXIII I heard once from a learned man, that the motions of the sun 199 Chapter XXIV Dost Thou bid me assent, if any define time to be |motion of a body?| 200 Chapter XXV And I confess to Thee, O Lord, that I yet know not what time is 201 Chapter XXVI Does not my soul most truly confess unto Thee 202 Chapter XXVII Courage, my mind, and press on mightily. 203 Chapter XXVIII But how is that future diminished or consumed, which as yet is not? or how 204 Chapter XXIX But because Thy loving-kindness is better than all lives 205 Chapter XXX And now will I stand, and become firm in Thee 206 Chapter XXXI O Lord my God, what a depth is that recess of Thy mysteries 207 Chapter I My heart, O Lord, touched with the words of Thy Holy Scripture 208 Chapter II The lowliness of my tongue confesseth unto Thy Highness 209 Chapter III And now this earth was invisible and without form 210 Chapter IV How then should it be called, that it might be in some measure conveyed to 211 Chapter V So that when thought seeketh what the sense may conceive under this 212 Chapter VI But I, Lord, if I would, by my tongue and my pen 213 Chapter VII But whence had it this degree of being, but from Thee 214 Chapter VIII But that heaven of heavens was for Thyself, O Lord 215 Chapter IX And therefore the Spirit, the Teacher of Thy servant 216 Chapter X O let the Light, the Truth, the Light of my heart 217 Chapter Xi Already Thou hast told me with a strong voice 218 Chapter XII These things considered, as much as Thou givest, O my God 219 Chapter XIII This then is what I conceive, O my God 220 Chapter XIV Wondrous depth of Thy words! whose surface, behold! is before us 221 Chapter XV |Will you affirm that to be false, which with a strong voice Truth tells me 222 Chapter XVI With these I now parley a little in Thy presence 223 Chapter XVII For they say, |Though these things be true, yet did not Moses intend those two 224 Chapter XVIII All which things being heard and well considered, I will not strive about words 225 Chapter XIX For TRUE it is, O Lord, that Thou madest heaven and earth 226 Chapter XX Out of these truths, of which they doubt not whose inward eye Thou hast enabled 227 Chapter XXI And with regard to the understanding of the words following 228 Chapter XXII For should any attempt to dispute against these two last opinions 229 Chapter XXIII These things then being heard and perceived, according to the weakness of my capacity which 230 Chapter XXIV But which of us shall, among those so many truths 231 Chapter XXV Let no man harass me then, by saying, Moses thought not as you say 232 Chapter XXVI And yet I, O my God, Thou lifter up of my humility 233 Chapter XXVII For as a fountain within a narrow compass, is more plentiful 234 Chapter XXVIII But others, unto whom these words are no longer a nest 235 Chapter XXIX But he that no otherwise understands In the Beginning He made 236 Chapter XXX In this diversity of the TRUE opinions, let Truth herself produce concord. 237 Chapter XXXI So when one says, |Moses meant as I do| 238 Chapter XXXII Lastly, O Lord, who art God and not flesh and blood 239 Chapter I I call upon Thee, O my God, my mercy 240 Chapter II For of the fulness of Thy goodness, doth Thy creature subsist 241 Chapter III That which Thou saidst in the beginning of the creation 242 Chapter IV What then could he wanting unto Thy good, which Thou Thyself art 243 Chapter V Lo, now the Trinity appears unto me in a glass darkly 244 Chapter VI But what was the cause, O true-speaking Light? -- unto Thee lift I up my 245 Chapter VII Hence let him that is able, follow with his understanding Thy Apostle 246 Chapter VIII Angels fell away, man's soul fell away, and thereby pointed the abyss in that dark 247 Chapter IX But was not either the Father, or the Son 248 Chapter X Blessed creature, which being itself other than Thou, has known no other condition 249 Chapter XI Which of us comprehendeth the Almighty Trinity? and yet which speaks not of It 250 Chapter XII Proceed in thy confession, say to the Lord thy God 251 Chapter XIII But as yet by faith and not by sight 252 Chapter XIV Behold, I too say, O my God, Where art Thou? see 253 Chapter XV Or who, except Thou, our God, made for us that firmament of authority over us 254 Chapter XVI For altogether, as Thou art, Thou only knowest; Who art unchangeably 255 Chapter XVII Who gathered the embittered together into one society? For they have all one end 256 Chapter XVIII So, Lord, so, I beseech Thee, let there spring up 257 Chapter XIX But first, wash you, be clean; put away evil from your souls 258 Chapter XX Let the sea also conceive and bring forth your works 259 Chapter XXI And hereby, in Thy Word, not the deepness of the sea 260 Chapter XXII For behold, O Lord, our God, our Creator, when our affections have been restrained from 261 Chapter XXIII But that he judgeth all things, this answers to his having dominion over the fish 262 Chapter XXIV But what is this, and what kind of mystery? Behold 263 Chapter XXV I would also say, O Lord my God, what the following Scripture minds me of 264 Chapter XXVI But they are fed by these fruits, that are delighted with them 265 Chapter XXVII I will then speak what is TRUE in Thy sight 266 Chapter XXVIII And Thou, O God, sawest every thing that Thou hadst made 267 Chapter XXIX And I looked narrowly to find, whether seven, or eight times Thou sawest that Thy 268 Chapter XXX And I heard, O Lord my God, and drank up a drop of sweetness out 269 Chapter XXXI But they who by Thy Spirit see these things 270 Chapter XXXII Thanks to Thee, O Lord. 271 Chapter XXXIII Let Thy works praise Thee, that we may love Thee 272 Chapter XXXIV We have also examined what Thou willedst to be shadowed forth 273 Chapter XXXV O Lord God, give peace unto us: for Thou hast given us all things 274 Chapter XXXVI But the seventh day hath no evening, nor hath it setting 275 Chapter XXXVII For then shalt Thou rest in us, as now Thou workest in us 276 Chapter XXXVIII We therefore see these things which Thou madest, because they are