Augustin: Letters 414

414 350 (Ph 2,13 Ph 2,

351 (Gn 1,31, 2,2).

352 (Mt 22,10).

353 (Rm 8,20).

354 (Ex 20,7 Dt 5,11).

355 Rom.v. 5).

356 (Rm 8,24).

357 Figurate observandum praecipitur.

358 (Ps 46,11 Ps 46,

359 (Mt 11,28, 29.

360 (Ex 20,1–17; Dt 5,6–21.

415 361 (Ex illo habere caepit festivitatem suam.

362 (
1Co 15,53 1Co 15,

363 (Qo 11,2 which Aug. translates, “Da illis septem, et illis octo.”

364 (Mt 16,24).

365 (Rm 8,13).

366 (Ga 6,14 Ga 6,

367 Rom.vi. 6).

368 (Rm 2,6, 7).

369 (Ep 3,17–18).

370 (Ps 119,120 Septuagint version, kaqhvlwson ejk tou` fovbon sou taV" saVrka" mou ).

371 (Ph 1,23, 24).

372 (Ha 2,4).

416 373 (Rm 6,3, 4).

374 (Rm 8,23, 25).

375 (
Ps 94,19).

376 (Rm 12,12).

377 (1Co 15,54, 26, 51—the last of these verses being rendered by Augustin here, not as in the English version, but as given above).

378 (Lc 20,36).

379 (2Co 5,6, 7).

380 (Ph 3,12, 13).

381 (Rm vi 4).

382 In translating, we have ventured to take this title of Chap. 15,out of the place which the Benedictines have given to it, in the middle of a sentence of the preceding paragraph. There it almost hopelessly bewildered the reader. Here it prepares him for a new topic).

383 (Ex 34,28).

384 (1R 19,8).

417 385 (Mt 4,2 Mt 4,

386 (Rm 3,21).

387 Compare “octavus qui et primus,” and the remarks on the meaning of the number 8 in § 23).

388 We give the original of this very obscure paragraph:—“Numero autem quadragenario vitam istam propter ea figurari arbitror, quia denarius in quo est perfectio beatitudinis nostrae, sicut in octonario, quia redit ad primum, ita in hoc mihi videtur exprimi: quia creature, quae septenario figuratur adhaeret Creatori in quo declaratur unitas Trinitatis per umversum mundum temporaliter annuntianda; qui mundus et a quatuor ventis delimatur et quatuor elementis erigitur, et quatuor anni ternporum vicibus variatur. Decem autem quater in quadraginta consummantur, quadragenarius autem partibus suis computatus, addit ipsmn denarium et fiunt quinquaginta tanquam merces laboris et conttnentiae.”

389 Sacramentum.

390 (Ps 84,5 Ps 84,

391 (Ex 12,xix. 20,xxxi.

392 (Lc 11,20 Lc 11,

393 (Mt xii 28).

394 (Is 6,3,

395 (Is 53,7).

418 396 (1Co 13,5).

397 (2Tm 3,8).

398 (Ex 8,19).

399 (Ex 19,10, 11).

400 (Jn 7,39).

401 (Ps 132,8).

402 (1Jn 21,6, 11).

403 Ps, 12,6.

404 (Mt 20,9, 10.

405 The eighteenth in the English Bible.

406 (2S 22,2–51. The title of that book is in the LXX. the 2d book of Kings).

407 (Rm 1,3).

419 408 (Ac 9,4 Ac 9,

409 Such a triangle as this: 

410 (He refers to the significance of the standing upright as an emblem of resurrection).

411 Preaching. The word in the original is “disputatur,”—something much more lively an entertaining.

412 I have taken the liberty here of putting the beginning of the chapter and paragraph a sentence further on than in the Benedictine edition, so as to finish in sec. 34 the remarks on psalm-singing.

413 1Tim. 4,1–5).

414 (Tt 1,15).

415 (Mt 22,40).

416 1Tim. 1,5).

417 (Rm 13,10).

418 (1Co 8,1).

420 419 (1Co 13,4, 8).

420 Coloni).

421 (
1Co 9,15).

422 The primacy in Numidia belonged not to the bishop of the most important town, but to the oldest bishop).

423 The council held at Carthage in September 401.

424 (Ep iv.3).

425 (Rm 11,23 Rm 11,

426 Severus, bishop of Milevi in Numidia, had at one time been an inmate of the monastery of Augustin, and was held by him in the highest esteem).

427 Tillemont suggests that this may be “the sexton,” and not a proper name).

428 (Rm 15,1).

429 (1Jn iii.2.

421 430 (Rm 12,12 Rm 12,

431 (Rm 8,24, 25.

432 (Ps 27,14 Ps 27,

433 Pridie Natalis Domini.

434 See Council of Hippo, A.D. 393, Can. 38, and the third Council of Carthage, A.D. 397, Can. 47.

435 Ibid. Can. 47.

436 Council of Carthage, 13th Sept. 401).

437 Council of Carthage, 13th Sept. 401.

438 This title in the African Church seems equivalent to Primate when applied to a bishop. See: Letter LIX.

439 Held at Carthage, 13th Sept. 401).

440 Held at Carthage, A.D. 318 or 319, Can. 11.

422 441 About eighty persons, on a property which he had acquired, were compelled by Crispinus to undergo submersion, notwithstanding their groaning and protesting against this tyrannical act of their new landlord).

442 Papae.

443 Parvitas mea.

444 See: Letter XL. sec. 7, p. 274.

445 (Si xxii.6).

446 “Ut nemo in sese tentat descendere, nemo: Sed praecddenti spectatur mantica tergo.”—Sat. 4,29. See also Phaedrus, iv. 10.

447 Virgil, Aeneid, 5,369 seq.

448 Rufinus).

449 It would seem that there was some reason to fear lest Castorius should elsewhere devote his talents to some other calling, and that a deputation from Vagina had been sent to seek him and bring him to that place. Alypius and Augustin for some reason did not accompany the deputation, but sent this letter with them).

450 Jonah 4,6).

451 I have taken the liberty of making chap. ii begin at the end instead of the beginning of this sentence, where its interruption of the paragraph bewilders the reader).

423 452 Livy, book xxii.

453 Virgil, Eclogue ix).

454 See Jeromes Letter, LXVIII., sec. 2, p. 325).

455 See p. 325).

456 (
Mt 18,7 Mt 18,

457 (Mt 24,12).

458 (Jn 14,27 Jn 14,

459 (Jb 7,1, according to the LXX., and more correctly than in E.V.

460 (1Co 8,11 1Co 8,

461 (1Co 8,1 1Co 8,

462 (Jc 3,2 Jc 3,

424 463 (Mt 18,18 Mt 18,

464 (1Jn 4,16).

465 (2Co 6,7 2Co 6,

466 (Ep 6,13–17.

467 (1S 17,40–51.

468 (2Ch 16,19).

469 (Ps 4,7, according to the LXX.

470 (Ps lvii 7, 8.

471 (Ps lxxxi. 10.

472 (Ps lxviii 11, in LXX. version.

473 2 Cor xii 14.

474 (1Ch 12,17, 18.

425 475 (Ga 2,14 Ga 2,

476 Dispensatoria).

477 “Videntem meum Didymum ”—Didymus of Alexandria, who, at the time when Jerome wrote his book on ecclesiastical writers (A.D. 392), was above ninety-three years of age. He became blind when he was five years old, but by perseverance attained extraordinary learning, and was much esteemed).

478 The younger Apollinarius, who in 380 was excommunicated for error regarding the Incarnation. His works were valuable, but have been almost all lost, being not transcribed because of his lapsing into heresy).

479 (Ga 2,8 Ga 2,

480 Parvo tuguriunculo.

481 Majorum.

482 In the tenth book of his Stroniata, where he expounds the Epistle to the Galatians.

483 This year (404) was the year of Jn Chrysostom’s banishment from Constantinople, after being pontiff there for ten years).

484 (Ac 10,13–48.

485 (Ac 11,1–18.

426 486 (Ac 14,27, and 15,1–12.

487 (
Ga 1,18 Ga 1,

488 (Ga 2,1, 2, 14).

489 (Ac 15,41, 16,1–3.

490 (Ac 18,18 Ac 18,

491 (Ac 21,17–26.

492 (Ac 23,23, 28,14, 30.

493 Officiosum mendacium.

494 Homestam dispensationem.

495 (1Co 9,20).

496 (Rm 10,4 Rm 10,

427 497 (Mt 11,13 and Lc 16,16 Lc 16,

498 (Jn 5,18 Jn 5,

499 (Jn 1,16, 17.

500 (Jr 31,31, 32.

501 (Ga 5,2, 4, 18.

502 Dispensative.

503 (Ez 20,25 Ez 20,

504 (Ga 4,4 Ga 4,

505 Letter XL. sec. 5, p. 273.

506 (Rm 10,3).

507 (2M 7,1 2M 7,

508 Phil, 3,8.: Letter XL. sec.6, p.274.

428 509 Letter XL. 6, p. 274.

510 (
Ga 5,6 and 6,15).

511 (Jn 14,6 Jn 14,

512 Letter XXVIII. ch. 2,p. 251).

513 De optimo genere interpretandi.

514 Letter LXXI., sec. 5, p. 327).

515 The critic here referred to was Canthelius, whom Jerome abuses in his commentary on the passage, insinuating that the reason why the gourds found in this scion of a noble house a champion so devoted, was that they had often rendered him a service which ivy could not have done, screening his secret potations from public notice).

516 Alluding to the extent to which Rome was indebted to Africa for corn.

517 (Ps 4,2 Ps 4,

518 (Ps 2,7,8.

519 (Ga 3,16 Ga 3,

429 520 (Gn 22,18 Gn 22,

521 The original here is antithetical: “jam vos videtis, et adhuc invidetis.”

522 (Ps 22,16, 17, 18.

523 (Ps 22,27,28.

524 Psl. 1, 2.

525 (Lc 24,44, 47.

526 (Mt 24,12, 13.

527 (Mt 13,30–39).

528 Proceedings before Munatius Felix,: Letter LIII. sec. 4, p. 299).

529 Optatus, Donatist bishop of Thamugada, was cast into prison A.D. 397, and died there. He was a partisan of Gildo in his rebellion against Honorius, and shared the misfortunes, as he had participated in the crimes, of his chief.

530 (Jr 36,23, 30.

430 531 (Nb 16,31–33).

532 (Mt 24,12,13.

533 (
Mt 7,2 Mt 7,

534 (He refers to their visiting the tomb of Felix of Nola, in the hope that by some miracle there the innocent and the guilty would be distinguished. See: Letter LXXVIII. sec. 3, p. 346.

535 (Rm 15,4 Rm 15,

536 (Mt 13,43 Mt 13,

537 (Mt 18,7).

538 (Mt 24,12,13.

539 (Jn 4,24 Jn 4,

540 (1Co 12,9, 10, 30.

541 Third Council of Carthage, A.D. 397, Can. 7, 8).

542 (2Co 11,12,

543 (1P 5,8,

544 (2Co 6,14 2Co 6,

545 Aug translates, “be sober and righteous.”

546 (1Co 15,33, 34.

547 “Nor count it is a great thing that they despise you.”—Aug.

548 (Is 51,7, 8.

549 (1Co 4,5 1Co 4,

550 (Dt 29,29 Dt 29, verse is the nearest I can find to the words here quoted by the apostle. The reference in the Bened. edition to 1Co 5,12 must mistake.

551 (2Co 11,29 2Co 11,

552 (Ps 69,26, as translated by Aug.

553 (Ps 69,12 Ps 69,

432 554 (Lc 16,21–23).

555 (
2Co 7,5 and 11,26.

556 (Ps 94,12, 13.

557 Donatist bishop of Hippo.

558 (1Co 1,31 1Co 1,

559 (Ep 4,20, 21.

560 (Mt 23,3 Mt 23,

561 (1Co 9,27 1Co 9,

562 (Gn 9,27 Gn 9,

563 (Gn 21,10 Gn 21,

564 (Ml 1,2 Ml 1,

565 Gen 49,4.

566 (2S 13,14 2S 13,

433 567 (Ph 2,20, 21.

568 (
Ap 22,11).

569 Commiscuit.

570 (Ph 3,2 Ph 3,

571 (2Tm 2,17 2Tm 2,

572 In his Retractations 1,16, Augustin mentions his having defeated Fortunatus in discussion before he was made bishop of Hippo.

573 Ludamus.

574 Ludamus.: Letter LXXXI. On this unfortunate word of Jerome’s Augustin lingers with most provoking inguenuity.

575 See: Letter LXXII., sec. 2.

576 Letter LXVIII. sec. 2).

577 (Ga 2,14 Ga 2,

578 Gal 4:19.

579 * Ch. 1,21.

434 580 (Mt 26,75 Mt 26,

581 (2S 11,4, 17).

582 (Ac 16,3 Ac 16,

583 (Ac 18,18 Ac 18,

584 (Ac 21,26 Ac 21,

585 (Ac 21,21
586 (Ac 21,20–25.

587 (Ac 21,24).

588 (Ga 2,3–5.

589 See Jerome’s Letter, LXXV. sec. 16, p. 340.

590 (Ez 20,25).

591 See: Letter LXXV. sec 13, p. 338).

435 592 See: Letter LXXV. sec. 14, pp. 338, 339.

593 (
Lc 16,16 Lc 16,

594 (Jn 5,18 Jn 5,

595 (Jn 1,16, 17.

596 (Jr 31,31).

597 Kark 1,44.

598 (Jn 7,10 Jn 7,

599 (Ga 5,2
600 (Ga 2,21 Ga 2,

601 (Ga 5,4 Ga 5,

602 (Ga 5,18 Ga 5,

436 603 Jerome,: Letter LXXV. sec. 14, p. 339.

604 (
Ex 20,17 and Dt 5,21 Dt 5,

605 Evangelica maxime illustrations praedicari.

606 (Rm 7,13 Rm 7,

607 (Rm 5,20 Rm 5,

608 (Ga 3,19 Ga 3,

609 (Rm 13,10 Rm 13,

610 (Rm 5,5).

611 Letter LXXX. sec. 14, p. 339.

612 Mendacium offisiosum.

613 (Jc 5,12 Mt 5,37 Mt 5,

437 614 (Ps 5,6 Ps 5,

615 (1Co 4,2 1Co 4,

616 Cum ipsa fides in latino sermone ab eo dicatur appellata quia fit quod dicitur.

617 Jerome’s Letter, LXXV. sec. 6, p.335.

618 Ibid. sec. 4, p. 334).

619 In his Commentary on Galations.

620 In his letter, LXX., to Quintas; Ante-Nicene Fathers, Am. ed. vol. 5,p. 377.

621 Gal 1:20.

622 Letter XL. sec. 4, p. 273, quoted also by Jerome, LXXV. sec. 12, p. 338).

623 (1Tm 4,4 1Tm 4,

624 We follow here the reading of fourteen Mss., “agit” instead of “ait.

438 625 (1Tm 1,5 1Tm 1,

626 (1Co 9,19–22.

627 (Mt 7,12 Mt 7, Mt 7,

628 (Ga 7,2 Ga 7,

629 Letter LXXII. sec. 4).

630 Terence, Andria, Acti. Sc. 1.

631 (Pr 27,6 Pr 27,

632 2 Tim 2,20, 21.

633 Letter XL. sec 7, p. 274).

634 An important sentence, as indicating the estimation in which Augustin held the “consensus patrum” as an authority in the interpretation of Scripture.

635 * Ch. 4,6.

439 636 It is interesting to know that Jerome afterwards admitted the soundness of the view so ably and reasonably defended by Augustin in this letter concerning the rebuke of Peter at Antioch. In: Letter CLXXX., addressed to Oceanus, we have these words: “This question the venerable Father Jerome and I have discussed fully in letters which we exchanged; and in the last work which he teas published against Pelagius, under the name of Critobulus. he has maintained the same opinion concerning that event, and the sayings of the apostles, as I myself had adopted, following the blessed Cyprian.” See Jerome, book i., against the Pelagians, and Cyprian,: Letter LXX., to Quintus).

637 (2Co 2,7, 11.

638 This letter has not been preserved.

639 (
Ph 2,21 Ph 2,

640 (1Co 13,3 1Co 13,

641 Solidi.

642 (Jn 16,12 Jn 16,

643 (Mt 17,26, 27).

644 The text here gives latinâ. All that we know of the languages then spoken in Hippo would lead us to suppose that punicâ must have been written here by Augustin.

645 (1Co 9,27
646 (Mt 7,4 Mt 7,

440 647 Cataqua (?)).

648 Regionem Hipponensium Regiorum.

649 (
Rm 1,14).

650 * Ch. 9,4–6.

651 (Nb 16,31–35).

652 (Ga 6,5 Ga 6,

653 (Rm 14,4 Rm 14,

654 Optatus.

655 (Ps 2,8 Ps 2,

656 (Rm 13,2–4.

657 (Mt 5,10).

441 658 (Ps 72,11 Ps 72,

659 (Rm 11,23).

660 Rogatus, bishop of Cartenna in Mauritania, who left the Donatists and suffered much persecution at the hands of Firmus, a brother of Gildo; hence the Donatists were named by the Rogatists Firmiani See Augustin, Contra Literas Petiliani, book ii ch. 83).

661 Bishop of Casae Nigrae in Nunntdia, and at that time the Donatist primate, as the oldest of their bishops).

662 Hipponensium Regiorum).

663 (Ps 35,12 Ps 35,

664 (Ps 120,6, 7.

665 The actual heading of the Report stands thus: “A. GGG. NNN. Anulinus VC. proconsul Africae.” For the tnterpretation we are indebted to the marginal note on the Codex Gervasianus).

666 Dicationi meae.

667 Parvitas mea).

668 The value of the evidence of these wirnesses is apparent when we remember that they were all in a position to speak from personal knowledge of the persecution in A.D. 303 (under Diocletian and Maximian), and had in their public capacity some share in enforcing the demand made in that persecution for the surrender of the sacred books. These could tell whether Felix the Bishop of Aptunga was guilty or not of the unfaithfulness to his religion with which the faction of Majorinus reproached him.

442 669 Suspensum.

670 (
Pr 19,12 Pr 19,

671 (Si 27,29, and Pr xxvi. 27.

672 Donatist bishop of Hippo. See: Letter XXXIII. p. 260).

673 At Carthage, A.D. 403.

674 For a more detailed reference to this case, see: Letter CV. sec. 4. Crispinus was charged with an attempt to kill Possidius the bishop of Calama. See also Aug). Cont. Crescon. b. 3,c. 46, n. 50, and c. 47, n. 51).

675 (Is 66,5, as given by Augustin.

676 (Ac 15,9 Ac 15,

677 (1P 4,8).

678 (Mt 4,4 Mt 4,

679 (Ac 17,18 Ac 17,

680 Ge 22,18).

443 681 (Jn 1,33 Jn 1,

682 (Jr 17,5).

683 (He refers to a riot in which the Pagans, after celebrating a heathen festival, attacked the Christians on June 1, 408 A.D.

684 Eunuchus, Act 3,Sc. 5).

685 Here culminates in the original a play upon words, towards which Augustin has been working with the ingenuity of a rhetorician from the beginning of the second paragraph; but the zest of his wit is necessarily lost in translation, because in our language the words “flower” and “flourish” are not so immediately suggestive of each other as the corresponding noun and verb in Latin (flos and florere)).

686 Letter XC. p. 376).

687 The law of Honorius, passed on Nov. 24, 407, forbidding the celebration of public heathen solemnities and festivals (quidquam, solemnitatis agitare)).

688 (Rm 5,5 Rm 5,

689 (1Co 2,11 1Co 2,

690 (1Co 4,5 1Co 4,

691 (1Jn 1,5 1Jn 1,

444 692 (1Tm 6,16 1Tm 6,

693 (Ps 34,5 Ps 34,

694 (1Jn 3,2 1Jn 3,

695 (Col 3,10 Col 3,

696 (2Co 4,6 2Co 4,

697 (1Co 13,12).

698 (1Co 2,14 1Co 2,

699 (Jn 8,44 Jn 8,

700 (Mt 5,8 Mt 5,

701 ejn aivnigmati.

702 (1Co xiii.12.

445 703 (Jn 4,24).

704 Px. 108,5).

705 (Jr 2,30 Jr 2,

706 (Jn 13,36 Jn 13,

707 Prv. 27,6.

708 (Gn xii., Ge xxvi., xlii., and xliii..

709 (2Co 12,7–9.

710 (Mt 5,45 Mt 5,

711 (Lc 14,23 Lc 14,

712 (Jn 6,44).

713 (Gn 16,5 Gn 16,

446 714 (Ga 4,29 Ga 4,

715 (Ex 5,9 and 32,27.

716 (1R 18,4, 40.

717 (Mt 26,52 Mt 26,

718 (Ac 16,22, 23, 18,17.

719 parevdwken.

720 (Rm 8,32 Rm 8,

721 paravdonto".

722 (Ga 2,20 Ga 2,

723 paredw`.

724 (Jn 13,2 Jn 13,

725 (Ac 21,23, 24.

447 726 (1Co 5,5 1Co 5,

727 (1Tm 1,20 1Tm 1,

728 (Mt 5,10 Mt 5,

729 (Ps 101,5).

730 (Ps 2,10, 11, 1,2.

731 (Rm 10,2, 3).

732 (Mt 5,40 Mt 5,

733 See: Letter LXXXVIII. § 2).

734 “Quod volumus sanctum est.”—Tychonius.

735 (Mt 13,24–30.

736 (Ph 1,15, 18.

448 737 (Col 3,5).

738 (Pr 9,9 Pr 9,

739 (Pr 29,19).

740 (Jn 10,16 Jn 10,

741 (Gn 26,4 Gn 26,

742 (Ps 50,1 Ps 50,

743 (Ps lxxii.8.

744 (Da 6,23, 24.

745 (Pr 26,27 Pr 26,

746 (Rm 13,1–3.

747 (Ps 50,20 Ps 50,

449 748 (Ml 1,11 Ml 1,

749 (Ps 72,17–19.

750 (Lc 24,44–47).

751 (Ac 1,15, 8, and ii.

752 (Ps 19,4, Rm 10,18.

753 Typhus morticinae pelliculae.

754 (Ps 50,20 Ps 50,

755 (1Co 8,11 1Co 8,

756 (1Co 3,2 1Co 3,

757 (Mt 24,14 Mt 24,

758 (Lc 17,8 Lc 17,

450 759 (Ga 1,8 Ga 1,

760 (Lc 24,46 Lc 24,

761 Praeter.

762 (Lc 24,47 Lc 24,

763 (Ga 1,9 Ga 1,

764 Meridie; at noon, E. V. Ct 1,7.

765 Now Tunis.

766 Meridie.

767 (Ps 48,2 Ps 48,

768 (Ct 1,7 Ct 1,

769 (Jos 22,9–12).

451 770 (Ga 4,27 Ga 4,

771 Quoslibet is obviously the true reading.

772 (Ct 2,2 Ct 2,

773 (Ps 61,2 Ps 61,

774 In this and the other passages quoted, Augustin translates from the LXX.

775 (Ps 119,53 and 158.

776 (Ct 1,7 Ct 1,

777 (Ps 90,12 Ps 90,

778 (Ct 2,2 Ct 2,

779 (Ps lv. 14, 15.

780 Nisi cognoveris temetipsam.

781 Gregum.

452 782 (Ct 1,8 Ct 1,

783 (Mt 5,14 Mt 5,

784 (Is 2,2).

785 (Ps 45,11–16.

786 (1Jn 2,19 1Jn 2,

787 (Jn 21,17 Jn 21,

788 (Jn 10,16 Jn 10,

789 (Mt 7,14 Mt 7,

790 (Gn 22,14 Gn 22,

791 (Mt 8,11 Mt 8,

792 (Tt 2,4 periouvsio" being translated by Augustin “abundans,” where our version has “peculiar.”

453 793 (Ap 7,9 Ap 7,

794 skotomhvnh, LXX.

795 (Ps 11,2).

796 Vincentius had quoted from Hilary’s work, De Synodis adversum Arianos, a sentence to the effect that, with the exception of a very small remnant, the ten provinces of Asia in which he was settled were truly ignorant of God.

797 (Ga 3,1, 3.

798 (Ga 4,19 Ga 4,

799 (Ga 2,11–21).

800 (Mt 13,24–39.

801 (1Co 15,12 1Co 15,

802 (1Co 15,33, 34.

803 (1Co 3,3 1Co 3,

804 (1Co 4–7.

454 805 (1Co 2,14 1Co 2,

806 (1Jn 5,19
807 (1Jn 2,2 1Jn 2,

808 (Mt 3,12 Mt 3,

809 (Mt 24,31 Mt 24,

810 (Ps 12,1 Ps 12,

811 (Mt 24,12, 13.

812 (Ps 12,7 Ps 12,

813 (Ep 5,27).

814 Agrippinus, successor of Cyprian in the see of Carthage.

815 (Ph 3,15, 16.

455 816 (Ps lxvii. 1, 2.

817 See Ante-Nicene Fathers, Am. ed. vol. 5,p. 379.

818 Held at Carthage, A.D. 256.

819 (Pr 30,12, eźkgonon kakojn dikaion ejautoVn krivnei, thn d` ejxodon aujtou` ouvk ajpevniyen

820 (
1P 4,8 1P 4,

821 (Jn 15,2 Jn 15,

822 (1Co 13,3 1Co 13,

823 Letter LI. 21. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Am. ed. vol. 5,p. 332).

824 P. 387.

825 This Council at Carthage is not elsewhere mentioned).

826 (Ps lv. 18, Septuagint.

827 (Ac 19,5 Ac 19,

828 (Mt 21,25 Mt 21,

456 829 (Ph 1,15, 17.

830 (
1Co 1,14 1Co 1,

831 (1Co 3,6).

832 (Ga 5,19–21.

833 (Jc 4,6 Jc 4,

834 (Lc 18,8 Lc 18,

835 (Mt 3,12).

836 (Ps 50,1 Ps 50,

837 (Ps cxiii. 1–3.

838 (Pr 13,22 Pr 13,

839 Basilicae.

840 Disputationibus legalibus.

841 (Gn 22,18,

842 (Si 4,21,

843 (.

844 (Ga 2,18).

845 (Ga 1,23-24.

846 (Ps 94,19 Ps 94,

847 Possidus, bishop of Calama, was going to Rome to complain of the outrage of the Pagens of Calama, described in: Letter XCI. sec. 8, p. 378.

848 (Ps 103,10).

849 (2Co 12,7 2Co 12,

850 1ti 5,20.

458 851 (Mt 18,15 Mt 18,

852 (1Co 4,5 1Co 4,

853 (Mt 7,1 Mt 7,

854 (Rm 14,4 Rm 14,

855 (1Co 5,12,13.

856 (2Co 2,7, 11.

857 (Ps lv. 5–8, as given in the LXX.

858 (Jb 7,1).

859 (1Co 4,6 1Co 4,

860 (Ga 5,15 Ga 5,

861 (Ps lv. 6.

459 862 Animalia, 1Co 15,34).

863 (
1Co 15,16 1Co 15,

864 (Lc 24,15–43; Jn 20,14–29; Mc 16,12, 14.

865 (Ps 104,4 and He 1,7 He 1,

866 (Gn 18,2–9 and Gn 19,1–3.

867 (Gn 46,27).

868 This Olympius was appointed in 408 (A.D.) to the office of highest authority in the court of Honorius (magister officiorum), in room of Stilicho, who was put to death at Ravenna on account of suspected complicity with the authors of the sedition which threatened the life of the emperor at Pavia).

869 (Ez 18,4).

870 (Jn 3,5 Jn 3,

871 (1Th 5,19 1Th 5,

872 Cyprian, de Lapsis. See Ante-Nicene Fathers, Am. ed. vol. 5,p. 439).

460 873 (Nb 22,28 Nb 22,

874 (Ps 68,13).

875 (Lc 10,37).

876 As this is an importance, we give the original words: Sicut ergo secundum quemdam modum sacramentum corporis Christi corpus Christi est, sacramentum sauguinis Christi sangis Christi est, ita sacramentum fidei fides est.

877 (Rm vi.4.

878 (Rm 5,12 Rm 5,

879 Tillemont (vol. 13,note 44) conjectures that the word “non” before “nobis insinuare curavit” should not be in the text,—a conjecture which commends itself to our judgment, though it is unsupported by Mss.

The calamities referred to are the events connected with the seige of Rome by Alaric in the end of 408).

880 (Rm 12,15 and 5,3–5.

881 (1Co 12,26 1Co 12,

882 We have no further information regarding this affair. The prospect of an amicable settlement seems remote.

461 883 (Rm 13,1 Rm 13,

884 cxxiv. 8).

885 (Mt 5,44 Mt 5,

886 We regard Memori, not Memorio, as the true reading).

887 (Jn 8,36 Jn 8,

888 (Jn 8,38 Jn 8,

889 (Rm 1,21–25.

890 (Rm 7,24,25.

891 Quid numeri valeant.

892 (Sg 6,17 Sg 6,

893 De melo.

462 894 Gravitatem tuam.

895 Julian, son of Memor, afterwards a leading supporter of the Pelagian heresy).

896 (
Ps 91,1 Ps 91,

897 (Ps 68,6, Septuagint.

898 Qui nuliâ seminis conditione natus est.

899 (Rm 6,9).

900 (1Co 15,52 1Co 15,

901 Ineffabili nutui.

902 (Rm 1,20).

903 (Jn 14,6).

904 Augustin, having been informed by Hilary (Ep 219) that this passage was quoted by Semipelagians in defence of their error, made the following remark on it in his work De Praedestinatione Sanctorum, c. ix.: “Do you not observe that my design in this sentence was, without excluding the secret counsel of God and any other causes, to say, in reference to Christ’s foreknowledge, what seemed sufficient to reduce to silence the unbelief of the Pagans by whom the objection had been raised? For what is more certain than this, that Christ foreknew who would believe in Him, and in what time and place they would live? But I did not deem it necessary, in that connection, to investigate and discuss the question as to this faith in Christ preached to them, whether they would have it of themselves or would receive it from God—in other words, whether God merely foreknew, or also predestinated them. The sentence, therefore, ‘that it pleased Christ to appoint the time in which He would appear, and the persons among whom His doctrine was to be proclaimed, according to His knowledge of the times and places in which men would believe in Him,0’ might have been put thus: that it pleased Christ to appoint the time in which He would appear, and the persons among whom His doctrine was to be proclaimed, according to His knowledge of the times and places in which those would be found who had been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.”

463 905 Sacramenti.

906 On these words Augustin remarks in his Retractations, Book II. ch. xxxi.: “This I said, not meaning that any one could be, worthy through his own merit, but in the same sense as the apostle said, ‘Not of works, but of Him that calleth; it was said unto her, “The elder shall serve the younger” 0’ (Rm 9,11, 12),—a calling which he affirms to pertain to the purpose of God. For which reason he says, ‘Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace0’ (
2Tm 1,9): and again, ‘We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose0’ (Rm 8,28). Of which calling he says, ‘That our God would count you worthy of this calling0’ (2Th 1,11).”

907 (Gn 4,3,4).

908 (Ps 16,2, oźti tw`n ajgaqw`n mou ouj creian eźcei", LXX.

909 E.g., in the reply to Faustus, Book xxii.

910 (Ps 115,5, 6.

911 (Ps xcvi. 5: daimovnia, LXX.

912 (1Jn 5,21 1Jn 5,

913 (1Co 10,19, 20).

914 (Jn 3,18 Jn 3,

915 (Mt 7,2 Mt 7,

464 916 “Longam syllabam esse duorum temporum brevem unius etiam pueri sciunt.”—Quintil. 9,4, 47).

917 (
Pr 8,25, proV deV pavntwn bounw`n genna` me, LXX.

918 According to LXX.

919 (Pr 30,3, 4.

920 (Ep 4,10 Ep 4,

921 (Col 3,3 Col 3,

922 Augustin’s words are: quis convertit aquam in vestimento? from the LXX.: ti" sunestreyen udwr ejn imatiw.

923 (Ga 3,27 Ga 3,

924 (Ac 1,8).

925 (Mt 12,39, 40.

926 (Lc 5,32 Lc 5,

465 927 (Col 2,17 Col 2,

928 Vermis matutinus.

929 (Is 51,7, 8.

930 (Ps 22,The title in the LXX. is, “uJpir yh` ajntilhyevw" th`" eJwqinh`",” which Augustin translates, “pro susceptione matutina.”

931 (Ps 22,7, 8.

932 (Ps 22,16–18.

933 (Ps 22,27,28.

934 Letter XCI. p. 376).

935 Letter XCI. p. 376.

936 Letter CIII. p. 426).

937 Letter CXI. 9. p. 379).

466 938 (Pr 19,21).

939 Virgil). Ecl. 4,5.

940 (Ps 51,13 Ps 51,

941 (Ps 86,11 Ps 86,

942 (Ps 25,10 Ps 25,

943 (Jn 14,6 Jn 14,

944 Letter CIII. § 3. p. 426).

945 Oratio pro Q. Ligario.

946 (Lc 12,47, 48).

947 (Rm 8,18 Rm 8,

948 Song of the Three Holy Children, vers. 3–14

467 949 (Ez 28,3 Ez 28,

950 (Ez 14,14, 18, 20).

951 (Da 9,3–20.

952 (2M 7,18,19.

953 (Pr 3,12 Pr 3,

954 (He 12,6 He 12, He 12,

955 (1Co 11,31, 32).

956 Song of the Three Children, vers 15–22).

957 Consularis.

958 This officer, “magister memoriae,” was a private secretary of the emperor, and had, among other privileges of his office, the right of granting liberty to private individuals to travel by the imperial conveyances along the great highways connecting Rome with the remotest boundaries of the provinces. See Suetonitis, Vita Augnsti, chap. xlix., and Pliny, Letters, Books x.-xiv., and Codex Jnstiniani, Book xii. Title 51).

959 We conjecture from the context that this expresses the force of the obscure words, “saltem timeantur annonae.”

960 “Scire tuum nibil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.”—Persius, Sat. 1,27).

468 961 Cornicules. The lapse of centuries may have introduced into the north of Africa birds unknown in Augustin’s time. The translator has seen these birds in Egypt).

962 Barbarum.

963 Qui summe est.

964 Opportunissimo tempore.

965 We give the original of this exquisite sentence, both far its intrinsic value, and because it is a good example of that antithetic style of writing which makes the exact and felicitous rendering of Augustin’s words into any other language peculiarly difficult: Nisi humilitas omnia qaecumque bene facimus et praecesserit, et comitetur, et consecula fuerit, et proposita quam intueamur, et appsosita cui adhaereamus, et imposita qua reprimamur, jam nobis de aliquo bono facto gaudentibus totum extorquet de manu superbia.

966 The words of Cicero are: “Post, Anaximenes aera Deum statuit, eumque gigni, esseque immensum, et infinitum, et semper in motu: quasi aut aer sine ulla forma Deus esse possit, cum praesertim Deum non modo aliqua sed pulcherrima specie esse deceat: aut non omne quod ortum sit mortalitas consequatur.”—De Natura Deorum, Book 1).

967 Ipsam veritatem atque sapientiam.

968 The words of Cicero are these: “Nec vidit neque motum sensui junctum et continentem in infinito ullum esse posse, neque sensum omnino auo non tota natura pulsa sentiret.” Augustin, quoting probably from memory (see (§ 9), gives infinto as the dative of possession instead of in infinito).

969 Cicero, de Natura Deorum, lib. 1).

970 Litteriones ut militariter loquar.

971 Cicero, de Natura Deorum, lib. I).

469 972 (Ph 1,27).

973 (Ph 4,5, 6).

974 Paula, Eustochium, and other recluses of Bethlehem).

975 Two opinions have been advanced as to the signification of this enigmatical allusion to the events recorded in Jeremiah, chap. 43,Some think that Jerome refers to Rome, then occupied by the Goths. Others find here a reference to the state of the Church at Jerusalem at the time; perhaps under the name of Nebuchadnezzar some heretical bishop is designed).

976 The name Melania, though now almost as little known to the world at large as the fossil univalve molluscs to which palaeontologists have assigned the designation, was in the time of Augustin highly esteemed throughout Christendom. The elder Melania, a lady of rank and affluence, left Rome when it was threatened by Alaric, and spent thirty-seven years in the East, returning to the city in 445 A.D. her daughter-in-law, Albina, and her grand-daughter, the younger Melania (whose husband was the Pinianus mentioned here and in the two following letters), left Rome with her in 408 A.D., and after spending two years in Sicily, passed over into Africa, and fixed their residence at Thagaste, the native town of St. Augustin. A visit which they paid to him at Hippo was the occasion of the extraordinary proceedings. referred to in Letters CXXV. and CXXVI).

977 (2Co 11,29).

978 The “absis” was a chapel or recess in the choir, where the bishop was accustomed to stand surrounded by his clergy).

979 (Za 5,4 Za 5, calls it “Zachariae falx,” translating, as the LXX. have done: drevpanon.

980 (Ps 15,4).

981 Ad nostra subsellia.

982 (1Th 2,5).


Augustin: Letters 414