Church Lamps 'The lamp that burneth and shineth.'-S. John, v. 35. S. AUGUSTINE BISHOP OF HIPPO BRIEF PASSAGES FROM HIS WRITINGS Not only the most illustrious of the Christian Fathers, but one of the profoundest thinkers of antiquity.' S. AUGUSTINE. I. GREAT art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and of Thy wisdom there is no end. And man, a portion of Thy creation, wishes to praise Thee; man, that bears about with him his mortality, the witness of his sin, even the witness that Thou resistest the proud: yet man, being a portion of Thy creation, wishes to praise Thee. Thou dost excite us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless till it find rest in Thee. Lord, teach me to know and understand which is first, to call on Thee or to praise Thee; and, again, to know Thee or to call on Thee. But who is there that calls on Thee without knowing Thee? For he that knows Thee not may call on Thee as other than Thou art. Or is it rather that we call on Thee that we may know Thee? But how shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe without a preacher? And those who seek the Lord shall praise Him; for those who seek shall find Him, and those who find shall praise Him. Let me seek Thee, Lord, by calling on Thee; and call on Thee, believing in Thee: for Thou hast been preached unto us. My faith, O Lord, calls on Thee; the faith which Thou hast given me, which Thou hast breathed into me through the incarnation of Thy Son, through the ministry of Thy preacher.*-Confessions, i. c. I. II. WHO will grant me to find rest in Thee; to have Thee enter into my heart and inebriate it, so that I may for * S. Ambrose. get my griefs and embrace Thee, my only good? What art Thou to me? Have compassion on me, that I may utter it. What am I to Thee that Thou commandest my love, and if I render it not art angry with me, and threatenest me with grievous sorrows? Is it, then, a slight sorrow to love Thee not? Oh ! for Lord my Say unto Speak Thy mercies' sake, tell me, O God, what Thou art to me. my soul, 'I am thy salvation.' so that I may hear. Behold, Lord, my heart is before Thee; open Thou the ears thereof, and say unto my soul, 'I am thy salvation.' And when I hear this, let me run and take hold on Thee. Hide not Thy face from me. Let me die-lest I die for ever-if so I may see Thy face. Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous; repair Thou it. It has that within which must offend Thine eyes; I confess and know it. But who will cleanse it? or to whom shall I cry but to Thee? |