The Confessions Of Saint Augustine
translated by Edward B. Pusey, D.D.
Table of Contents
Book I 10
Chapter I -He proclaims the greatness of God, whom he desires to seek and invoke, being awakened by him. 10
Chapter II -That the God whom we invoke is in us, and we in him. 10
Chapter III -Everywhere God wholly filleth all things, but neither heaven nor Earth containeth him. 11
Chapter IV -The majesty of God is supreme, and his virtues inexplicable. 12
Chapter V -He seeks rest in God, and pardon of his sins. 12
Chapter VI -He describes his infancy, and lauds the protection and eternal providence of God. 13
Chapter VII -He shows by example that even infancy is prone to sin. 15
Chapter VIII -That when a boy he learned to speak, not by any set method, but from the acts and words of his parents. 17
Chapter IX -Concerning the hatred of learning, the love of play, and the fear of being whipped noticeable in boys: and of the folly of our elders and masters. 18
Chapter X -Through a love of ball-playing and shows, he neglects his studies and the injunctions of his parents. 19
Chapter XI -Siezed by disease, his mother being troubled, he earnestly demands baptism, which on recovery is postponed--his father not as yet believing in Christ. 20
Chapter XII -Being compelled, he gave his attention to learning; but fully acknowledges that this was the work of God. 21
Chapter XIII -He delighted in latin studies and the empty fables of the poets, but hated the elements of literature and the Greek language. 22
Chapter XIV -Why he despised Greek literature, and easily learned Latin. 23
Chapter XV -He entreats God, that whatever useful things he learned as a boy may be dedicated to him. 24
Chapter XVI -He disapproves of the mode of educating youth, and he points out why wickedness is attributed to the Gods by the poets. 25
Chapter XVII -He continues on the unhappy method of training youth in literary subjects. 26
Chapter XVIII -Men desire to observe the rules of learning, but neglect the eternal rules of everlasting safety. 27
Book II 30
Chapter I -He deplores the wickedness of his youth. 30
Chapter II -Stricken with exceeding grief, he remembers the dissolute passions in which, in his sixteenth year, he used to indulge. 30
Chapter III -Concerning his father, a freeman of Thagaste, the assister of his son's studies, and on the admonitions of his mother on the preservation of chastity 32
Chapter IV -He commits theft with his companions, not urged on by poverty, but from a certain distaste of well-doing. 34
Chapter V -Concerning the motives to sin, which are not in the love of evil, but in the desire of obtaining the property of others. 35
Chapter VI -When he delighted in that theft, when all things which under the appearance of good invite to vice are true and perfect in God alone. 36
Chapter VII -He gives thanks to God for the remission of his sins, and reminds everyone that the supreme God may have preserved us from greater sins. 38
Chapter VIII - In his theft he loved the company of his fellow-sinners. 39
Chapter IX - It was a pleasure to him also to laugh when seriously deceiving others. 39
Chapter X -With God there is true rest and life unchanging. 40
Book III 40
Chapter I -Deluded by an insane love, he, though foul and dishonourable, desires to be thought elegant and urbane. 40
Chapter II -In public spectacles he is moved by an empty compassion. He is attacked by a troublesome spiritual disease 41
Chapter III -Not even when at church does he suppress his desires. In the School of Rhetoric he abhors the acts of the subverters. 43
Chapter IV -In the nineteenth year of his age (His father having died two years before) he is led by the "Hortensius" of Cicero to "Philosophy," to God, and a better mode of thinking. 44
Chapter V -He rejects the sacred scriptures as too simple, and as not to be compared with the dignity of Tully. 45
Chapter VI -Deceived by his own fault, he falls into the errors of the Manichaeans, who gloried in the true knowledge of God and in a thorough examination of things. 46
Chapter VII -He attacks the doctrine of the Manichaeans concerning evil, God, and the righteousness of the patriarchs. 48
Chapter VIII - He argues against the same as to the reason of offences. 50
Chapter IX -That the judgment of God and men, as to human acts of violence, is different. 52
Chapter X -He reproves the triflings of the Manichaeans as to the fruits of the Earth. 53
Chapter XI -He refers to the tears, and the memorable dream concerning her son, granted by God to his mother. 53
Chapter XII -The excellent answer of the Bishop when referred to by his mother as to the conversion of her son. 55
Book IV 55
Chapter I -Concerning that most unhappy time in which he, being deceived, deceived others; and concerning the mockers of his confession. 56
Chapter II -He teaches rhetoric, the only thing he loved, and scorns the soothsayer, who promised him victory. 56
Chapter III -Not even the most experienced men could persuade him of the vanity of astrology, to which he was devoted. 57
Chapter IV -Sorely distressed by weeping at the death of his friend, he provides consolation for himself. 59
Chapter V -Why weeping is pleasant to the wretched. 61
Chapter VI -His friend being snatched away by death, he imagines that he remains only as half. 62
Chapter VII -Troubled by restlessness and grief, he leaves his country a second time for Carthage 63
Chapter VIII -That his grief ceased by time, and the consolation of friends. 63
Chapter IX -That the love of a human being, however constant in loving and returning love, perishes; while he who loves God never loses a friend 64
Chapter X -That all things exist that they may perish, and that we are not safe unless God watches over us. 65
Chapter XI -That portions of the world are not to be loved; but that God, their author, is immutable, and his Word eternal. 66
Chapter XII -Love is not condemned, but love in God, in whom there is rest through Jesus Christ, is to be preferred. 67
Chapter XIII -Love originates from grace, and beauty enticing us. 68
Chapter XIV -Concerning the books which he wrote "On the Fair and Fit," dedicated to Hierius. 69
Chapter XV -While writing, being blinded by corporeal images, he failed to recognise the spiritual nature of God. 71
Chapter XVI -He very easily understood the liberal arts and the categories of Aristotle, but without true fruit. 73
Book V 75
Chapter I -That it becomes the soul to praise God, and to confess unto him. 75
Chapter II -On the vanity of those who wished to escape the omnipotent God. 76
Chapter III -Heaving heard Faustus, the most learned Bishop of the Manichaeans, he discerns that God, the author both of things animate and inanimate, chiefly has care for the humble. 76
Chapter IV -That the knowledge of terrestrial and celestial things does not give happiness, but the knowledge of God only. 79
Chapter V -Of Manichaeus pertinaciously teaching false doctrines, and proudly arrogating to himself the Holy Spirit. 79
Chapter VI -Faustus was indeed an elegant speaker, but knew nothing of the liberal sciences. 81
Chapter VII -Clearly seeing the fallacies of the Manichaeans, he retires from them, being remarkably aided by God. 82
Chapter VIII -He sets out for Rome, his mother in vain lamenting it. 84
Chapter IX -Being attacked by fever, he is in great danger 86
Chapter X -When he had left the Manichaeans, he retained his depraved opinions concerning sin and the origin of the Saviour. 87
Chapter XI -Helpidius disputed well against the Manichaeans as to the authenticity of the New Testament. 90
Chapter XII -Professing rhetoric at Rome, he discovers the fraud of his scholars. 90
Chapter XIII -He is sent to Milan, that he, about to teach rhetoric, may be known by Ambrose. 91
Chapter XIV -Having heard the Bishop, he perceives the force of the catholic faith, yet doubts, after the manner of the modern academics. 92
Book VI 93
Chapter I -His mother having followed him to Milan, declares that she will not die before her son shall have embraced the Catholic faith. 93
Chapter II -She, on the prohibition of Ambrose, abstains from honouring the memory of the Martyrs. 95
Chapter III -As Ambrose was occupied with business and study, Augustin could seldom consult him concerning the Holy Scriptures. 96
Chapter IV -He recognises the falsity of his own opinions, and commits to memory the saying of Ambrose. 98
Chapter V -Faith is the basis of human life; man cannot discover that truth which holy scripture has disclosed. 99
Chapter VI -On the source and cause of true joy,--the example of the joyous beggar being adduced. 101
Chapter VII -He leads to reformation his friend Alypius, seized with madness for the Circensian games. 102
Chapter VIII -The same when at Rome, being led by others into the Amphitheatre, is delighted with the Gladitorial games. 104
Chapter IX -Innocent Alypius, being apprehended as a thief, is set at liberty by the cleverness of an architecht 105
Chapter X -The wonderful integrity of Alypius in judgment. the lasting friendship of Nebridius with Augustin. 107
Chapter XI -Being troubled by his grievous errors, he meditates entering on a new life. 108
Chapter XII -Discussion with Alypius concerning a life of celibacy. 110
Chapter XIII -Being urged by his mother to take a wife, he sought a maiden that was pleasing unto him. 112
Chapter XIV -The design of establishing a common household with his friends is speedily hindered. 112
Chapter XV -He dismisses one mistress, and chooses another. 113
Chapter XVI -The fear of death and judgment called him, believing in the immortality of the soul, back from his wickedness, him who aforetime believed in the opinions of Epicurus. 114
Book VII 115
Chapter I -He regarded not god indeed under the form of a human body, but as a corporeal substance diffused through space. 115
Chapter II -The disputation of Nebridius against the Manichaeans, on the question "Whether God be corruptible or incorruptible." 117
Chapter III -That the cause of evil is the free judgment of the will. 118
Chapter IV -That God is not corruptible, who, if he were, would not be God at all. 119
Chapter V -Questions concerning the origin of evil in regard to God, who, since he is the chief god, cannot be the cause of evil. 120
Chapter VI -He refutes the Divinations of the astrologers, deduced from the constellations. 121
Chapter VII -He is severely exercised as to the origin of evil. 124
Chapter VIII -By God's assistance he by degrees arrives at the truth. 125
Chapter IX -He compares the doctrine of the Platonists concerning the Logos with the much more excellent doctrine of Christianity. 126
Chapter X -Divine things are the more clearly manifested to him who withdraws into the recesses of his heart. 128
Chapter XI -That creatures are mutable and God alone immutable. 129
Chapter XII -Whatever things the good God has created are very good. 129
Chapter XIII -It is meet to praise the creator for the good things which are made in Heaven and Earth. 130
Chapter XIV -Being displeased with some part of God's creation, he conceives of two original substances. 131
Chapter XV -Whatever is, owes its being to God. 132
Chapter XVI -Evil arises not from a substance, but from the perversion of the will 132
Chapter XVII -Above his changeable mind, he discovers the unchangea ble author of truth. 132
Chapter XVIII -Jesus Christ, the mediator, is the only way of safety. 134
Chapter XIX -He does not yet fully understand the saying of John, that "the word was made flesh." 134
Chapter XX -He Rejoices that he proceeded from Plato to the Holy Scriptures and not the reverse. 135
Chapter XXI -What he found in the sacred books which are not to be found in Plato. 136
Book VIII 138
Chapter I -He, now given to divine things, and yet entangled by the lusts of love, consults simplicanus in reference to the renewing of his mind. 138
Chapter II -The pious old man rejoices that he read plato and the scriptures and tells him of the rhetorician victorinus having been converted to the faith through the reading of the sacred books 140
Chapter III -That God and the Angels rejoice more on the return of one sinner than of many just persons. 142
Chapter IV -He shows by the example of victorinus that there is more joy In the conversion of nobles. 144
Chapter V -Of the causes which alienate us from God. 145
Chapter VI -Pontitainus' account of Antony, the founder of monachism, and of some who imitated him. 147
Chapter VII -He deplores his wretchedness, that having been born thirty-two years, he had not yet found out the truth. 150
Chapter VIII -The conversation with Alypius being ended, he retires to the garden whither his friend follows him. 151
Chapter IX -That the mind commandeth the mind, but it willeth not entirely 153
Chapter X -He refutes the opinion of the Manichaeans as to two kinds of minds,--one good and the other evil. 154
Chapter XI -In what manner the spirit struggled with the flesh, that it might be freed from the bondage of vanity. 156
Chapter XII -Having prayed to God, he pours forth a shower of tears, and, admonished by a voice, he opens the book and reads the words in Rom. XIII. 13; by which, being changed in his whole soul, he discloses the divine favour to his friend and his mother. 158
Book IX 160
Chapter I -He praises God, the author of safety, and Jesus Christ, the redeemer, acknowledging his own wickedness. 160
Chapter II -As his lungs were affected, he meditates withdrawing himself from public favour. 161
Chapter III -He retires to the villa of his friend Verecundus, who was not yet a Christian, and refers to his conversion and death, as well as that of Nebridius. 162
Chapter IV -In the country he gives his attention to literature, and explain the Fourth Psalm in connection with the happy conversion of Alypius. He is troubled with toothache. 164
Chapter V -at the recommendation of Ambrose, he reads the prophecies of Isaiah, but does not understand them. 168
Chapter VI -He is baptized at Milan with Alypius and his son Adeodatus. the book "De Magistro." 168
Chapter VII -Of the Church hymns instituted at Milan; of the Ambrosian Persecution raised by Justina; and of the discovery of the bodies of two martyrs. 169
Chapter VIII -Of the conversion of Evodius, and the death of his mother when returning with him to Africa; and whose education he tenderly relates. 170
Chapter IX -He describes the praiseworthy habits of his mother; her kindness towards her husband and her sons. 173
Chapter X -A conversation he had with his mother concerning the kindom of heaven. 175
Chapter XI -His mother, attacked by fever, dies at Ostia. 177
Chapter XII -How he mourned his dead mother. 179
Chapter XIII -He entreats God for her sins, and admonishes his readers to remember her piously. 181
Book X 184
Chapter I -In God alone is the hope and joy of man. 184
Chapter II -That all things are manifest to God. That confession unto him is not made by the words of the flesh, but of the soul, and the cry of reflection 184
Chapter III -He who confesseth rightly unto God best knoweth himself. 185
Chapter IV -That in his confessions he may do good, he considers others. 186
Chapter V -That man knoweth not himself wholly. 187
Chapter VI -The love of God, in his nature superior to all creatures, is acquired by the knowledge of the senses and the exercise of reason. 188
Chapter VII -That God is to be found neither from the powers of the body nor of the soul. 190
Chapter VIII -Of the nature and the amazing power of memory. 190
Chapter IX -Not only things, but also literature and images, are taken from the memory, and are brought forth by the act of remembering. 193
Chapter X -Literature is not introduced to the memory through the senses, but is brought forth from its more secret places. 194
Chapter XI -What it is to learn and to think 195
Chapter XII -on the recollection of things mathematical. 195
Chapter XIII -Memory retains all things. 196
Chapter XIV -Concerning the manner in which joy and sadness may be brought back to the mind and memory 196
Chapter XV -In memory there are also images of things which are absent 198
Chapter XVI -The privation of memory is forgetfulness. 199
Chapter XVII -God cannot be attained unto by the power of memory, which beasts and birds possess. 200
Chapter XVIII -A thing when lost could not be found unless it were retained in the memory. 201
Chapter XIX -What it is to remember. 202
Chapter XX -We should not seek for God and the Happy life unless we had known it. 202
Chapter XXII -A happy life is to rejoice in God, and for God. 205
Chapter XXIII -All wish to rejoice in the truth. 205
Chapter XXIV -He who finds truth, finds God. 207
Chapter XXV -He is glad that God dwells in his memory. 207
Chapter XXVI -God everywhere answers those who take counsel of him. 208
Chapter XXVII -He grieves that he was so long without God. 208
Chapter XXVIII -On the misery of human life. 209
Chapter XXIX -All hope is in the mercy of God. 209
Chapter XXX -Of the perverse images of dreams, which he wishes to have taken away. 210
Chapter XXXI -About to speak of the temptations of the lust of the flesh, he first complains of the lust of eating and drinking. 211
Chapter XXXII -Of the charms of perfumes which are more easily overcome. 214
Chapter XXXIII -He Overcame the pleasures of the ear, although in the church he frequently delighted in the song, not in the thing sung. 215
Chapter XXXIV -Of the very dangerous allurements of the eyes; on account of beauty of form, God, the creator, is to be praised. 216
Chapter XXXV -Another kind of temptation is curiosity, which is stimulated by the lust of the eyes 218
Chapter XXXVI -A third kind is "pride," which is pleasing to man, not to God. 220
Chapter XXXVII -He is forcibly goaded on by the love of praise. 222
Chapter XXXVIII -Vain-glory is the highest danger. 224
Chapter XXXIX -Of the vice of those who, while pleasing themselves, displease God 224
Chapter XL -The only safe resting-place for the soul is to be found in God. 225
Chapter XLI -Having conquered his triple desire, he arrives at salvation. 226
Chapter XLII -In what manner many sought the mediator. 226
Chapter XLIII -That Jesus Christ, at the same time God and man, is the true and most efficacious mediator 227
Book XI 228
Chapter I -By confession he desires to stimulate towards God his own love and that of his readers. 228
Chapter II -He begs of God that through the Holy Scriptures he may be led to truth. 229
Chapter III -He begins from the creation of the world--not understanding the Hebrew text. 231
Chapter IV -Heaven and Earth cry out that they have been created by God. 232
Chapter V -God created the world not from any certain matter, but In his own word. 232
Chapter VI -He did not, however, create it by sounding and passing word. 233
Chapter VII -By his co-eternal word he speaks, and all things are done. 234
Chapter VIII -That word itself is the beginning of all things, in the which we are instructed as to evangelical truth. 234
Chapter IX -Wisdom and the beginning. 235
Chapter X -The rashness of those who inquire what God did before he created Heaven and Earth. 236
Chapter XI -They who ask this have not as yet known the eternity of God, which is exempt from the relation of time. 236
Chapter XII -What God did before the creation of the world. 237
Chapter XIII -Before the times created by God, times were not. 238
Chapter XIV -Neither time past nor future, but the present only, really is. 239
Chapter XV -There is only a moment of present time 239
Chapter XVI -Time can only be perceived or measured while it is passing 241
Chapter XVII -Nevertheless there is time past and future. 241
Chapter XVIII -Past and future times cannot be thought of but as present. 242
Chapter XIX -We are ignorant in what manner God teaches future things. 243
Chapter XX -In what manner time may properly be designated. 244
Chapter XXI -How time may be measured. 244
Chapter XXII -He prays God that he would explain this most entangled enigma. 245
Chapter XXIII -That time is a certain extension. 246
Chapter XXIV -That time is not a motion of a body which we measure by time. 247
Chapter XXV -He calls on God to enlighten his mind. 248
Chapter XXVI -We measure longer events by shorter in time. 248
Chapter XXVII -Times are measured in proportion as they pass by. 249
Chapter XXVIII -Time in the human mind, which expects, considers, and remembers. 252
Chapter XXIX -That human life is a distraction, but that through the mercy of God he was intent on the prize of his heavenly calling. 253
Chapter XXX -Again he refutes the empty question, "What did God before the creation of the world?" 253
Chapter XXXI -How the Knowledge of God differs from that of Man. 254
Book XII 255
Chapter I -The Discovery of Truth is Difficult, but God Has promised that he who seeks shall find 255
Chapter II -Of the double heaven,--the visible, and the heaven of heavens. 255
Chapter III -Of the Darkness upon the deep, and of the invisible and formless earth. 256
Chapter IV -From the Formlessness of matter, the beautiful world has arisen. 256
Chapter V -What may have been the form of matter. 257
Chapter VI -He confesses that at one time he himself thought erroneously of matter. 257
Chapter VII -Out of nothing God made heaven and earth. 258
Chapter VIII -Heaven and Earth were made "In the beginning;" afterwards the world, during six days, from shapeless matter. 259
Chapter IX -That the Heaven of Heavens was an Intellectual creature, but that the Earth was invisible and formless before the days that it was made. 260
Chapter X -He begs of God that he may live in the true light, and may be instructed as to the mysteries of the sacred books. 261
Chapter XI -What may be discovered to him by God. 261
Chapter XII -From the formless Earth God created another Heaven and a visible and formed Earth. 263
Chapter XIII -Of the intellectual Heaven and formless Earth, out of which, on another day, the firmament was formed. 264
Chapter XIV -Of the depth of the Sacred Scripture, and its enemies. 264
Chapter XV -He argues against adversaries concerning the Heaven of Heavens. 265
Chapter XVI -He wishes to have no intercourse with those who deny divine truth. 268
Chapter XVII -He mentions five explanations of the words of Genesis I. 268
Chapter XVIII -What error is harmless in sacred scripture. 270
Chapter XIX -He enumerates the things concerning which all agree. 271
Chapter XX -Of the words, "in the beginning," Variously understood. 271
Chapter XXI -Of the explanation of the words, "The Earth was invisible." 272
Chapter XXII -He discusses whether matter was from eternity, or was made by God. 273
Chapter XXIII -Two kinds of disagreements in the books to be explained. 275
Chapter XXIV -Out of the many true things, it is not asserted confidently that Moses understood this or that. 275
Chapter XXV -It behoves interpreters, when disagreeing concerning obscure places, to regard God the author of truth, and the rule of charity. 276
Chapter XXVI -What he might have asked of God had he been enjoined to write the Book of Genesis. 278
Chapter XXVII -The style of speaking in the Book of Genesis is simple and clear. 278
Chapter XXVIII -The words, "In the beginning," and, "The Heaven and the Earth," are differently understood. 279
Chapter XXIX -Concerning the opinion of those who explain it "At first he made." 281
Chapter XXX -In the great diversity of opinions, it becomes all to unite charity and divine truth. 282
Chapter XXXI -Moses is supposed to have perceived whatever of truth can be discovered in his words. 283
Chapter XXXII -First, the sense of the writer is to be discovered, then that is to be brought out which divine truth intended. 284
Book XIII 284
Chapter I -He calls upon God, and proposes to himself to worship him. 284
Chapter II -All creatures subsist from the plenitude of divine goodnss. 285
Chapter III -Genesis I. 3,--of "Light,"--He understands as it is seen in the spiritual creature. 286
Chapter IV -All things have been created by the grace of God, and are not of him as standing need of created things. 287
Chapter V -He recognises the Trinity in the first two verses of Genesis. 287
Chapter VI -Why the Holy Ghost should have been mentioned after the mention of Heaven and Earth. 288
Chapter VII -That the Holy Spirit brings us to God. 289
Chapter VIII -That nothing whatever, short of God, can yield to the rational creature a happy rest. 289
Chapter IX -Why the Holy Spirit was only "Borne over" the waters. 290
Chapter X -That nothing arose save by the gift of God. 291
Chapter XI -That the symbols of the Trinity in man, to be, to know, and to will, are never thoroughly examined. 291
Chapter XII -Allegorical explanation of Genesis, Chapter I, concerning the origin of the church and its worship. 292
Chapter XIII -That the renewal of man is not completed in this world. 293
Chapter XIV -That out of the children of the night and of the darkness, children of the light and day are made. 294
Chapter XV -Allegorical explanation of the firmament and upper works, Ver. 6. 295
Chapter XVI -That no one but the unchangeable light knows himself. 297
Chapter XVII -Allegorical explanation of the sea and the fruit-bearing earth--verses 9 and 11. 297
Chapter XVIII -Of the lights and stars of Heaven--of day and night, ver. 14. 298
Chapter XIX -All men should become lights in the firmament of Heaven. 300
Chapter XX -Concerning reptiles and flying creatures (ver. 20),--the sacrament of baptism being regarded. 301
Chapter XXI -Concerning the living soul, birds, and fishes (Ver. 24),--the sacrament of the eucharist being regarded. 302
Chapter XXII -He explains the divine image (ver. 26.) of the renewal of the mind. 305
Chapter XXIII -That to have power over all things (ver. 26) is to judge spiritually of all. 306
Chapter XXIV -Why God has blessed men, fishes, flying creatures, and not herbs and the other animals. 308
Chapter XXV -He explains the fruits of the Earth (ver. 29) of Works of mercy. 310
Chapter XXVI -In the confessing of benefits, computation is made not as to the gift," but as to the "fruit,"--that is, the good and right will of the giver. 311
Chapter XXVII -Many are ignorant as to this, and ask for miracles, which are signified under the names of "fishes" and "Whales." 313
Chapter XXVIII -He proceeds to the last verse, "All things are very good,"--that is, the work being altogether good. 313
Chapter XXIX -Although it is said eight times that "God saw that it was good," yet time has no relation to God and his word. 314
Chapter XXX -He refutes the opinions of the Manichaeans and the Gnostics concerning the origin of the world. 314
Chapter XXXI -We do not see "That it was Good," but through the spirit of God, which is in us. 315
Chapter XXXII -Of the particular works of God, more especially of man. 316
Chapter XXXIII -The world was created by God out of Nothing. 317
Chapter XXXIV -He briefly repeats the allegorical interpretation of Genesis (Chapter 1), and confesses that we see it by the Divine Spirit. 318
Chapter XXXV -He prays God for that peace of rest which hath no evening. 319
Chapter XXXVI -The seventh day, without evening and setting, the image of eternal life and rest in God. 319
Chapter XXXVII -Of rest in God, who ever worketh, and yet is ever at rest. 319
Chapter XXXVIII -Of the Difference between the knowledge of God and of men, and of the repose which is to be sought from God only. 320
<--Table Of Contents
