Augustine of Hippo, On Continence. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 3 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.
Passages · 32
- On Continence Chapter 1 — 1. It is difficult to treat of the virtue of the soul, which is called Continence, in a manner fully suitable and worthy; but He, whose great gift this virtue is, will help our littleness under the burden of so great…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 2 — 2. And lest it should seem that necessary Continence was to be hoped for from the Lord only in respect of the lust of the lower parts of the flesh, it is also sung in the Psalm; “Set, O Lord, a watch to my mouth, and…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 3 — 3. Lastly, to show more plainly the inner mouth, which by these words he meant, after having said, “Set a watch, O Lord, to my mouth, and a door of Continence around my lips,” he added straightway, “Cause not my…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 4 — 4. For which cause our Lord Himself also with His own mouth saith, “Cleanse what are within, and what are without will be clean.” And, also, in another place, when He was refuting the foolish speeches of the Jews, in…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 5 — 5. And on this account that, which, the parts that beget being bridled by modesty, is most chiefly and properly to be called Continence, is violated by no transgression, if the higher Continence, concerning which we…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 6 — 6. But it is one thing to fight well, which now is, when the strife of death is resisted; another thing not to have an adversary, which will then be, when death, “the last enemy,” shall be destroyed. For Continence…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 7 — 7. This conflict none experience in themselves, save such as war on the side of the virtues, and war down the vices: nor doth any thing storm the evil of lust, save the good of Continence. But there are, who, being…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 8 — 8. Such soldiers the Apostolic trumpet enkindles for battle with that sound, “Therefore let not,” saith he, “sin reign in your mortal body to obey its lusts; nor yield your members weapons of unrighteousness unto…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 9 — 9. And also, when he exhorts us, that we live not after the flesh, lest we die, but that by the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the flesh, that we may live; surely the trumpet which sounds, shows the war in which we…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 10 — 10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, “Cursed is every one that…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 11 — 11. But some one will say to me that it is one thing to live after man, another thing to live after the flesh; because man forsooth is a rational creature, and there is in him a rational soul, whereby he differs from…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 12 — 12. When, therefore, you hear it said, “Sin shall not reign over you;” have not thou confidence of thyself, that sin reign not over thee, but of Him, unto Whom a certain Saint saith in prayer, “Direct my paths after…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 13 — 13. In this so great conflict, wherein man under Grace lives, and when, being aided, he fights well, rejoices in the Lord with trembling, there yet are not wanting even to valiant warriors, and mortifiers however…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 14 — 14. And some indeed, who are used to excuse their own sins, complain that they are driven to sin by fate, as though the stars had decreed this, and heaven had first sinned by decreeing such, in order that man should…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 15 — 15. And there are also they who in excuse of their sins so accuse God, as to say that sins are pleasing to Him. For, if they were displeasing, say they, surely by His most Almighty power He would by no means suffer…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 16 — 16. But God wanted not power to make man such as that he should not be able to sin: but He chose rather to make him such, as that it should lie in his power to sin, if he would; not to sin, if he would not;…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 17 — 17. Now therefore let us return to that, wherefore we have said what we have. We have need of Continence, and we know it to be a divine gift, that our heart fall not away unto evil words, to make excuses in sins. But…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 18 — 18. All we therefore, who believe in the Living and True God, Whose Nature, being in the highest sense good and incapable of change, neither doth any evil, nor suffers any evil, from Whom is every good, even that…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 19 — 19. For the flesh lusts after nothing save through the soul, but the flesh is said to lust against the spirit, when the soul with fleshly lust wrestles against the spirit. This whole are we: and the flesh itself,…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 20 — 20. There are therefore in us evil desires, by consenting not unto which we live not ill: there are in us lusts of sins, by obeying not which we perfect not evil, but by having them do not as yet perfect good. The…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 21 — 21. That, therefore, the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, that there dwelleth not in our flesh good, that the law in our members is opposed to the law of the mind, is not a mingling of two natures caused of contrary…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 22 — 22. I say not, therefore, with what error, but with what utter madness, do the Manichees attribute our flesh to some, I know not what, fabled “race of darkness,” which they will have hath had its own nature without…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 23 — 23. The Apostle has made known to us certain three unions, Christ and the Church, husband and wife, spirit and flesh. Of these the former consult for the good of the latter, the latter wait upon the former. All the…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 24 — 24. If what we have made mention of out of the Apostolic Epistles seem to you to fall short of an answer, hear yet others, if ye have ears. What saith the utterly mad Manichæan of the Flesh of Christ? That it was not…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 25 — 25. But, say they, how is the flesh by a certain likeness compared unto the Church? What! doth the Church lust against Christ? whereas the same Apostle said, “The Church is subject unto Christ.” Clearly the Church is…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 26 — 26. Thus much will suffice to have treated on behalf of true Continence against the Manichees deceitfully continent, lest the fruitful and glorious labor of Continence, when it restrains and curbs the lowest part of…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 27 — 27. There are also they who, in doing open service to evil demons, contain from pleasures of the body, that, through their means, they may satisfy unlawful pleasures, the violence and glow whereof they contain not.…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 28 — 28. Far be it therefore that we say of continence, of which Scripture saith. “And this very thing was wisdom, to know whose gift it was,” that even they possess it, who, by containing, either serve errors, or…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 29 — 29. Thus the spirit of man, cleaving unto the Spirit of God, lusts against the flesh, that is, against itself: but for itself, in order that those motions, whether in the flesh or in the soul, after man, not after…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 30 — 30. But, after that he had made mention of these evils, he added and said, “On account of which cometh the wrath of God on the sons of unbelief.” Surely it was a wholesome alarm that believers might not think that…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 31 — 31. “But now do ye also,” saith he, “put down all;” and he makes mention of several more evils of that sort. But what is it, that it is not enough for him to say, “Do ye put down all,” but that he added the…vatican.va
- On Continence Chapter 32 — 32. But whether keenly contending, that we be not overcome, or overcoming divers times, or even with unhoped and unlooked for ease, let us give the glory unto Him Who giveth continence unto us. Let us remember that a…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 112 verses
Genesis 46:27 · Psalm 14:1 · Psalm 30:6 · Psalm 30:7 · Psalm 34:14 · Psalm 41:4 · Psalm 65:2 · Psalm 66:4 · Psalm 85:12 · Psalm 94:19 · Psalm 103:2 · Psalm 103:3 · Psalm 119:133 · Psalm 141:3 · Psalm 141:4 · Wisdom 8:21 · Wisdom 9:15 · Sirach 37:16 · Jeremiah 17:5 · Matthew 6:12 · Matthew 6:13 · Matthew 10:22 · Matthew 12:45 · Matthew 15:11 · Matthew 15:17 · Matthew 15:18 · Matthew 15:19 · Matthew 15:20 · Matthew 19:11 · Matthew 23:26 · Luke 3:6 · Luke 12:35 · Luke 12:36 · Luke 24:39 · John 1:14 · John 8:44 · John 13:23 · John 17:2 · Romans 3:20 · Romans 4:15 · Romans 5:20 · Romans 6:12 · Romans 6:13 · Romans 6:14 · Romans 7:7 · Romans 7:17 · Romans 7:18 · Romans 7:22 · Romans 7:23 · Romans 7:25 · Romans 8:10 · Romans 8:12 · Romans 8:13 · Romans 8:14 · Romans 10:3 · Romans 12:1 · Romans 13:1 · Romans 14:23 · 1 Corinthians 1:13 · 1 Corinthians 1:30 · 1 Corinthians 1:31 · 1 Corinthians 3:1 · 1 Corinthians 3:2 · 1 Corinthians 3:3 · 1 Corinthians 3:5 · 1 Corinthians 6:15 · 1 Corinthians 7:6 · 1 Corinthians 7:7 · 1 Corinthians 11:12 · 1 Corinthians 11:31 · 1 Corinthians 11:32 · 1 Corinthians 12:12 · 1 Corinthians 12:18 · 1 Corinthians 12:24 · 1 Corinthians 12:25 · 1 Corinthians 12:26 · 1 Corinthians 15:44 · 1 Corinthians 15:55 · 1 Corinthians 15:56 · Galatians 2:16 · Galatians 2:20 · Galatians 5:16 · Galatians 5:17 · Galatians 5:18 · Galatians 5:19 · Galatians 5:20 · Galatians 5:21 · Galatians 5:22 · Galatians 5:23 · Galatians 5:24 · Ephesians 5:22 · Ephesians 5:23 · Ephesians 5:24 · Ephesians 5:25 · Ephesians 5:26 · Ephesians 5:27 · Ephesians 5:28 · Ephesians 5:29 · Philippians 2:13 · Colossians 3:1 · Colossians 3:2 · Colossians 3:3 · Colossians 3:4 · Colossians 3:5 · Colossians 3:6 · Colossians 3:7 · Colossians 3:8 · 2 Timothy 2:8 · Hebrews 5:14 · James 1:14 · James 2:14 · 1 John 1:8