Required reading
Confessions by Augustine (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Book X.
My summary
Augustine now begins to confess his sins. But firstly he gives an extensive discussion on the mystery of the memory and how we know things.
Then he confesses three major sins:
(i) the lust of the flesh;
(ii) the lust of the eyes;
(iii) the ambition of the world (pride).
What grabbed me
Augustine is so right to be wary of the sin of pride: 'But when not the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul, nor he blessed who doth ungodlily, but a man is praised for some gift which Thou hast given him, and he rejoices more at the praise for himself than that he hath the gift for which he is praised, he also is praised, while Thou dispraisest; better is he who praised than he who is praised. For the one took pleasure in the gift of God in man; the other was better pleased with the gift of man, than of God.'
Confessions by Augustine (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Book X.
My summary
Augustine now begins to confess his sins. But firstly he gives an extensive discussion on the mystery of the memory and how we know things.
Then he confesses three major sins:
(i) the lust of the flesh;
(ii) the lust of the eyes;
(iii) the ambition of the world (pride).
What grabbed me
Augustine is so right to be wary of the sin of pride: 'But when not the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul, nor he blessed who doth ungodlily, but a man is praised for some gift which Thou hast given him, and he rejoices more at the praise for himself than that he hath the gift for which he is praised, he also is praised, while Thou dispraisest; better is he who praised than he who is praised. For the one took pleasure in the gift of God in man; the other was better pleased with the gift of man, than of God.'
What a shocking sin that takes the praise God deserves and applies it to oneself. And we are all guilty of it.
Next week's reading
Read Book XI.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
Read Book XI.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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