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  CONFESSIONS - BOOK X - CHAPTER XXXIII
  by St. Augustine
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49. The delights of the ear drew and held me much more powerfully, but
thou didst unbind and liberate me. In those melodies which thy words
inspire when sung with a sweet and trained voice, I still find repose;
yet not so as to cling to them, but always so as to be able to free
myself as I wish. But it is because of the words which are their life
that they gain entry into me and strive for a place of proper honor in
my heart; and I can hardly assign them a fitting one. Sometimes, I seem
to myself to give them more respect than is fitting, when I see that our
minds are more devoutly and earnestly inflamed in piety by the holy
words when they are sung than when they are not. And I recognize that
all the diverse affections of our spirits have their appropriate
measures in the voice and song, to which they are stimulated by I know
not what secret correlation. But the pleasures of my flesh--to which the
mind ought never to be surrendered nor by them enervated--often beguile
me while physical sense does not attend on reason, to follow her
patiently, but having once gained entry to help the reason, it strives
to run on before her and be her leader. Thus in these things I sin
unknowingly, but I come to know it afterward.

50. On the other hand, when I avoid very earnestly this kind of
deception, I err out of too great austerity. Sometimes I go to the point
of wishing that all the melodies of the pleasant songs to which David\\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-augustine/confessions-book-x-chapter-xxxiii/
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