A heavenly treasure of confortable meditations and prayers written by S. Augustin, Bishop of Hyppon in three seuerall treatises of his meditations, soliloquies, and manual. Faithfully translated into English by the R. F. Antony Batt monke, of the holy order of S Bennet of the Congregation of England

That our Saluation is from God. CHAPT. XXIV.

I therfore, that am the worke of thy handes, will confesse vnto thee in thy feare, for that I will not put my confi∣dence in my bowe, neither is my sworde the thing that shall saue me, but thy right hande, and thy arme, and the light of thy countenance.

Certainely I shoulde despaire, were it not that thou art my hope, that hast crea∣ted me, whose propertie is neuer to for∣sake those that hope in thee. Because thou art our Lord God, full of sweetnes and patience, mercifullie disposing all thinges. For whether we sinne or sinne not, we are still thy creatures, and thou dost still esteeme•• and make accounte of vs? Verily al of vs are as the leafe of a tree, and euery man liuing is meerely vanitie, soe that our life (whilst we liue in this worlde) is as a puffe of winde.

If we therefore thy poðre pupills chāce to fall, be not offened, because thou o Lord our God knowest the brickle sub∣stance, wherof we were made. Wilt thou therfore (o God of inestimable fortitude)

shewe thy power against a lease, that with euerie pusse of winde is caried hither and thither, or wilt thou persecute a little stu∣ble or strawe? Wilt thou o eternall king of Israel) damne a dogge? Wilt thou damne a flea? Wee hau•• heard o Lord of thy mercie, that thou art neither the au∣thor of deathe, neither dost thou reioyce at the damnation of those that die.

Wherfore I besee••n thee o Lord, that thou wilt not permit that, which thou hast not made, to haue the vpper hande of me thy creature, whom thou hast made. For if thou dost grieue at our damnation, what doth hinder thee o Lord (that canst doe any thinge) from reioycing alwaies at our saluation? Thou (o Lord) canst saue me if thou wilt, but I of my self, although I desire it, cannot doe it.

The multitude of my miseries is ••oe greate, that albeit I haue a will to doe well, yet I want power to performe. I cannot desire what is good, v••lesse it be thy will likewise; neither haue I power to performe what I doe desire, vnlesse thy power strengthen me; sometimes I am vnwilling to doe that good which I haue power to performe, were it not, that thy will must be donne in earthe, as it is in heauen.

Moreouer I knowe not what I am

willing or able to performe▪ vnlesse thou illuminate me with thy wisedome. Yea although I knowe what to doe, and am willing and able to doe the same, yet my wisedome (for that it is imperfect and vaine) doth leaue it vndonne, if I be not ayded by thy true wisedome.

All thinges therfore doe depende of thy will, neither is any man able to with∣stande the same, who art Lord of all thin∣ges, and hast power ouer euery particular creature, effecting both in heauen and earthe, in the sea, and in bottomelesse depthes, whatsoeuer seemeth good to thy diuine pleasure. Let thy sacred will therfore be fulfilled in vs, who doe call vppon thy holy name to the end, that this noble worke of thine, which thou hast created for thy glorie, doe not perishe euerlastinglie. For what man is there borne of a woman, that is able to liue and escape deathe and damnation, if thou alone, (who art the liuing way of all life, by whom all thinges liue and haue their being) doe not deliuer him?