City of God by Augustine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Firstly we are taught that the reason there is a lack of peace is because of sin.
Then we see that the basic difference between the two cities in their mutual pursuit of peace is that the city of man seeks peace in this life, while the city of God seeks peace in the next. The city of man attempts to obtain peace through administration of justice as a commonwealth, yet always fails to some extent because it does not acknowledge God (although some of its writers, e.g. Porphyry do say some favourable things about Christ).
What grabbed me
Another great reading on peace: 'But a household of human beings whose life is not based on faith is in pursuit of an earthly peace based on the things belonging to this temporal life, and on its advantages, whereas a household of human beings whose life is based on faith looks forward to the blessings which are promised as eternal in the future, making use of earthly and temporal things like a pilgrim in a foreign land, who does not let himself be taken in by them or distracted from his course towards God, but rather treats them as supports which help him more easily to bear the burdens of "the corruptible body which weighs heavy on the soul"; they must on account be allowed to increase the load. Thus both kinds of men and both kinds of households alike make use of the things essential for this mortal life; but each has its own very different end in making use of them.'
Which peace are you using your life to obtain, earthly peace or heavenly peace?
Commence Book 20 by reading Chapters 1 to 8.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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