|
The glorious city of God is my theme in this work, which you, my
dearest son Marcellinus, suggested, and which is due to you by my
promise. I have undertaken its defence against those who prefer their
own gods to the Founder of this city, a city surpassingly glorious,
whether we view it as it still lives by faith in this fleeting course of
time, and sojourns as a stranger in the midst of the ungodly, or as it
shall dwell in the fixed stability of its eternal seat, which it now
with patience waits for, expecting until "righteousness shall return
unto judgment," and it obtain, by virtue of its excellence, final
victory and perfect peace. A great work this, and an arduous; but
God is my helper. For I am aware what ability is requisite to
persuade the proud how great is the virtue of humility, which raises
us, not by a quite human arrogance, but by a divine grace, above all
earthly dignities that totter on this shifting scene. For the King
and Founder of this city of which we speak, has in Scripture uttered
to His people a dictum of the divine law in these words: "God
resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." But this,
which is God's prerogative, the inflated ambition of a proud spirit
also affects, and dearly loves that this be numbered among its
attributes, to "Show pity to the humbled soul, And crush the sons
of pride."
And therefore, as the plan of this work we have undertaken requires,
and as occasion offers, we must speak also of the earthly city,
which, though it be mistress of the nations, is itself ruled by its
lust of rule.
|
|