The life of S. Augustine. The first part: Written by himself in the first ten books of his Confessions faithfully translated.

CHAP. III.

Why more joy for men converted, than had they been alwayes Professors.

[† GOod God, how comes it to passe in man, that he rejoyceth much more in the safety of a soul des∣pair'd of, or delivered out of some extream peril, than, where his hopes of him were always great or the danger escaped, but little? And so thou also (Father of mercies) rejoycest more over one penitent, than over ninety nine just persons, who need no repentance. And with much consolation we hear it, when we hear in thy word, how the over-joyed shepheard brought home on his own shoulders the strayed sheep: And how the lost groat was

brought back into thy treasures with the great joy, * of the woman that found it, and also * of her neighbours. And the solemn gladness of thy whole house hath forced tears from us, when in thy Church it is read, concern∣ing thy younger son: that he had been dead, and was alive again; had been lost, and was found. But this thy extraordinary rejoycing is properly in us only, and in thy Angels, satisfied with holy charity; whilst thou art alwayes the same; who knowest all those things, alwayes, after the same manner, which neither abide alwayes, nor on the same manner.

How then comes it to passe, in a soul, that it is more delighted in things found again, or restored, than in those alwayes possest? For many other things witness this, and all places are full of testimonies, that so it is. The conquering Emperour solemnizeth a triumph, but first undergoes a battel, and how much his peril is grea∣ter in the fight, so much is his joy in the triumph. A tem∣pest ariseth at sea and threatens shipwrack: all grow pale with the fright of approaehing death. The heaven and sea become serene and calme; and their joy is now excessive, because, before, their fear was so. A dear friend falls sick, and his pulse indicates some danger? all, that long for his recovery, become sick in mind, as he in body: he becomes somewhat better and walks a little about, yet not restored to his former strength: and there is al∣ready such mirth upon this, as was not before, when he went about, healthful and lusty. And so all the plea∣sures of this humane life arise from some precedence of pain, and that not only casual and undesired, but many times purposely and industriously procured. Eating and drinking are no delight without the foregoing molestation of hung••r and thirst. And drunkards by eating salt things provoke that biting heat, which drinking may afterward, with the more pleasure, quench and allay. And between contracts and nuptials, 'tis ordered, some time should intercede, lest, when once married, he should lesse va∣lue her being possessed, whom he first longed not for being, after espousals, deferred. This holds in wick∣ed and prophane, this in lawful and allowed, joyes; this in the sincerest love and friendship; this in him, who had been dead and was alive, had perished and was recovered. Every where greater joy is preceded with greater anxiety.

What is this (O Lord my God), that, whenas thou

art an eternal joy to thy self, and when as some-things al∣so, that are from thee, rejoyce perpetually about thee, How is it, that this inferiour part of thy creature so alter∣nately ebbs and flows, is grieved and contented, displea∣sed and reconciled?

Is this the limited measure of their being? and the set proportion thou wouldst allot to them, when, from the highest heaven to the lowest parts of earth, from the beginning to the end of times, from the Angel to the Worm, from the first motion to the last, the several sorts of thy good creatures were placed by thee every one in their proper seats, and all thy just and upright works were acted by thee, every one in their proper seasons? Woe is me; How high art thou in the highest, & how profound art thou in the lowest of them? never departing from us, and yet we hardly attaining un∣to thee.

Notes

• †

  A di∣gression till the 5. Chap∣ter. Luk. 15.7