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TWO Courtiers at Trevers, while the Em∣peror was at a Publick Shew, diverting themselves in some Gardens near the City, in one of them found a certain Cottage inhabited by some Religious Men, and there the LIFE of
St. Antony; which one of them began to read, and to admire, and be inflamed, and while read∣ing to think of taking up such a Life, and leaving the Service of the World to serve God. And presently being suddenly filled with a Holy Love and modest Shame, he, angry at himself, cast his Eyes upon his Friend, and says to him, Tell me, I pray thee, whether do we aspire to arrive by all these our Labours? What do we seek? For what do we strive? Can our Hope be greater in the Court, than to be Favourites with the Emperor? And what is there there not frail and full of Dangers? And by how many Dangers do we proceed to greater Danger? And how long shall this be? But if I would be the Friend of God, behold, I am made so presently. This he said, and being in Labour in the bringing forth a New Life, he turned his Eyes again to the Book, and read on, and was inwardly changed where God only sees, and his Mind was set free from the World, as presently appeared. For as he read, and rouled over the Waves of his Heart, he sometimes groaned, and considered, and, at last, resolved upon better things; and having given up himself to God, he saith to his Friend, I have now broken off from those hopes of ours, and have resolved to serve God; and this I begin from this very hour in this very place. If thou be'est loth to follow me, do not hinder me. The other answered, That he would stick to his Companion in so great an At∣chievement,
and of so great Merit. And both, now being Religious, have built the Tower (saith St. Augustin) with the proper Expence of Leaving all and following Christ, and fixing their Heart in Heaven remain in that Cottage.
Two other Courtiers, who had parted from them, and been walking in other parts of the Gardens, coming to call them to return, they told them their Resolution, and how it was wrought and confirmed in them: At which they, though not yet so resolved, fell into Tears, and congratulating their State desired their Pray∣ers. But two Virgins, to whom these Converts had been contracted, when they heard of it, did likewise consecrate their Virginity to the Lord.
And St. Augustin himself was so affected with the Relation of it by Potitianus, who was one of those who returned, that it was a chief occasion of his Conversion, and after many Conflicts in himself, which he expresseth very pathetically in the next chapter, he broke out at last into these earnest Expressions to his Friend Alipius: What do we suffer? What is this? What hast thou heard? The Ʋnlearned get up, and take Heaven by force; and we with all our Learning, without heart, be∣hold where we wallow in Flesh and Blood. Is it because they are gone before, that we are ashamed to follow? and are we not ashamed at least not to follow? And these throws of the New Birth never ceased till his Conversion was perfected.