"
There now remained only the choice of a Road. Saint Augustine dates his
own conversion from the day of his turning to the strait Christian
orthodoxy. Even the Platonic writings, had he known Greek, would not
have satisfied his desire. "For where was that Charity that buildeth
upon the foundation of Humility, which is Christ Jesus? . . . These
pages" (of the Platonists) "carried not in them this countenance of
piety--the tears of confession, and that sacrifice of Thine which is an
afflicted spirit, a contrite and humbled heart, the salvation of Thy
people, the Spouse, the City, the pledge of Thy Holy Spirit, the Cup of
our Redemption. No man doth there thus express himself. Shall not my
soul be subject to God, for of Him is my salvation? For He is my God,
and my salvation, my protectour; I shall never be moved. No man doth
there once call and say to him: 'Come unto me all you that labour.'"
The heathen doctors had not the grace which Saint Augustine instinctively
knew he lacked--the grace of Humility, nor the Comfort that is not from
within but from without. To these he aspired; let us follow him on the
path by which he came within their influence; but let us not forget that
the guide on the way to the City was kind, clever, wordy, vain old Marcus
Tullius Cicero. It is to the City that all our faces should be set, if
we knew what belongs to our peace; thither we cast fond, hopeless,
backward glances, even if we be of those whom Tertullian calls "Saint
Satan's Penitents.
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