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THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE CITTY OF GOD: Written by Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, vnto Marcellinus.
Of the method which must of necessity be vsed in this disputation. CHAP. 1.
IF the weake custome of humaine sence durst not bee so bold, as to oppose it selfe against the reasons of apparant truth, but would yeeld this languid infirmitie vnto whole∣some instruction, as vnto a medicine which were fittest to apply, vntill by Gods good assistance, and faiths ope∣ration it were throughly cured; then those that can both iudge well, and instruct sufficiently, should not need many words to confute any erronious opinion, or to make it fully apparant vnto such, as their desires would truly in∣forme. But now, because there is so great and inueterate a d•…•…sease rooted in the mindes of the ignorant, that they will (out of their extreame blindnesse, where∣by they see not what is most plaine, or out of their obstinate peruersnesse whereby they will not brooke what they see) defend their irrationall and bru∣tish opinions, after that the truth hath beenetaught them as plaine as one man can teach another: hence it is, that (a) there ariseth a necessitie, that bindeth vs to dilate more fully of what is already most plaine, and to giue the truth, not vnto their eyes to see, but euen into their heads, as it were to touch and feele. Yet notwithstanding this by the way: What end shall wee make of alteration, if we hold that the answerers are continually to be answered? For, as for those that either cannot comprehend what is said vnto them, or else are so obstinate in their vaine opinions, that though they do vnderstand the truth, yet will not giue it place in their minds, but reply against it, as it is written of them: like spec∣tators of iniquitie, those are eternally friuolous: And if wee should binde our selues to giue an answer to euery contradiction that their impudencie will thrust forth, (how falsly they care not, so they do but make a shew of opposition vnto our assertions) you see what a trouble it would be, how endlesse, and how fruitlesse. And therefore (sonne Marcelline) I would neither haue you, nor any other (to whom this our worke may yeeld any benefit in Iesus Christ) to read this volume with any surmise, that I am bound to answer whatsoeuer you or they shall heare obiected against it: least you become like vnto the women of whom the Apostle saith, that they were alwayes learning, and neuer able to come * 1.1 vnto the knowledge of the truth.