Augustine of Hippo, On Patience. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 3 (Schaff, 1887), public domain.
Passages · 26
- On Patience Chapter 1 — 1. That virtue of the mind which is called Patience, is so great a gift of God, that even in Him who bestoweth the same upon us, that, whereby He waiteth for evil men that they may amend, is set forth by the name of…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 2 — 2. The patience of man, which is right and laudable and worthy of the name of virtue, is understood to be that by which we tolerate evil things with an even mind, that we may not with a mind uneven desert good…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 3 — 3. Look we then, beloved, what hardships in labors and sorrows men endure, for things which they viciously love, and by how much they think to be made by them more happy, by so much more unhappily covet. How much for…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 4 — 4. Nay more; for is it not so that even for open wickednesses, not to punish but to perpetrate them, men put up with many most grievous troubles? Do not authors of secular letters tell of a certain right noble…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 5 — 5. When therefore thou shall see any man suffer aught patiently, do not straightway praise it as patience; for this is only shown by the cause of suffering. When it is a good cause, then is it true patience: when…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 6 — 6. But yet, seeing that for lusts’ sake, or even wickednesses, seeing, in a word, that for this temporal life and weal men do wonderfully bear the brunt of many horrible sufferings, they much admonish us how great…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 7 — 7. Though indeed the welfare even of the body is then more providently consulted for if its temporal life and welfare be disregarded for righteousness’ sake, and its pain or death most patiently for righteousness’…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 8 — 8. But although patience be a virtue of the mind, yet partly the mind exercises it in the mind itself, partly in the body. In itself it exercises patience, when, the body remaining unhurt and untouched, the mind is…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 9 — 9. It is indeed a greater fight of patience, when it is not a visible enemy that by persecution and rage would urge us into crime which enemy may openly and in broad day be by not consenting overcome; but the devil…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 10 — 10. To this man let them look who put themselves to death when they are sought for to have life put upon them; and by bereaving themselves of the present, deny and refuse also that which is to come. Why, if people…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 11 — 11. Let then the Saints hear from holy Scripture the precepts of patience: “My son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand thou in righteousness and fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation: bring thine heart…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 12 — 12. But concerning true patience, worthy of the name of this virtue, whence it is to be had, must now be inquired. For there are some who attribute it to the strength of the human will, not which it hath by Divine…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 13 — 13. But they answer and speak, saying, “If the will of man without any aid of God by strength of free choice bears so many grievous and horrible distresses, whether in mind or body, that it may enjoy the delight of…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 14 — 14. They which say these things, do not understand that as well each one of the wicked is in that measure for endurance of any ills more hard, in what measure the lust of the world is mightier in him; as also that…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 15 — 15. For, as the Divine utterances testify, “God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God dwelleth in him.” Whoso therefore contends that love of God may be had without aid of God, what else does…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 16 — 16. Here some man shall say; “If the concupiscence of the bad, whereby it comes that they bear all evils for that which they lust after, be of the world, how is it said to be of their will?” As if, truly, they were…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 17 — 17. Now this election the Apostle demonstrating to be, not of merits going before in good works, but election of grace, saith thus: “And in this time a remnant by election of grace is saved. But if by grace, then is…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 18 — 18. Whence also the just of old, before the Incarnation of the Word, in this faith of Christ, and in this true righteousness, (which thing Christ is unto us,) were justified; believing this to come which we believe…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 19 — 19. Since the case is so, what is man, while in this life he uses his own proper will, ere he choose and love God, but unrighteous and ungodly? “What,” I say, “is man,” a creature going astray from the Creator,…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 20 — 20. Let thus much have been said with regard to charity, without which in us there cannot be true patience, because in good men it is the love of God which endureth all things, as in bad men the lust of the world.…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 21 — 21. But if it be goaded on and inflamed with deceitful visions and unclean incentives by the devilish spirit, associated and conspiring therewith in malignant agreement, this spirit makes the will of the man either…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 22 — 22. But the pleasure of the Creator, of which is written, “And from the river of Thy pleasure wilt Thou give them to drink,” is of far other kind, for it is not, like us, a creature. Unless then its love be given to…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 23 — 23. But if moreover any not having charity, which pertaineth to the unity of spirit and the bond of peace whereby the Catholic Church is gathered and knit together, being involved in any schism, doth, that he may not…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 24 — 24. But it may well be asked, whether this patience likewise be the gift of God, or to be attributed to strength of the human will, by which patience, one who is separated from the Church doth, not for the error…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 25 — 25. So then, as we are not to deny that this is the gift of God, we are thus to understand that there be some gifts of God possessed by the sons of that Jerusalem which is above, and free, and mother of us all, (for…vatican.va
- On Patience Chapter 26 — 26. Cry we therefore with the spirit of charity, and until we come to the inheritance in which we are alway to remain, let us be, through love which becometh the free-born, not through fear which becometh bondmen,…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 91 verses
Genesis 21:10 · Genesis 21:12 · Genesis 25:5 · Genesis 25:6 · Exodus 33:19 · 2 Samuel 16:5 · 2 Samuel 16:6 · 2 Samuel 16:7 · 2 Samuel 16:8 · 2 Samuel 16:9 · 2 Samuel 16:10 · 2 Samuel 16:11 · 2 Samuel 16:12 · Job 2:10 · Psalm 5:5 · Psalm 8:4 · Psalm 9:18 · Psalm 10:3 · Psalm 14:6 · Psalm 16:2 · Psalm 36:9 · Psalm 56:7 · Psalm 59:10 · Psalm 62:5 · Psalm 71:4 · Psalm 71:5 · Psalm 123:4 · Proverbs 3:11 · Proverbs 3:12 · Sirach 2:1 · Sirach 2:2 · Sirach 2:3 · Sirach 2:4 · Sirach 2:5 · Sirach 2:14 · Isaiah 11:2 · Jeremiah 17:5 · Habakkuk 2:4 · Matthew 5:10 · Matthew 13:30 · Matthew 19:19 · Matthew 26:49 · Luke 21:18 · Luke 21:19 · John 8:23 · John 12:6 · John 21:15 · Romans 1:25 · Romans 4:4 · Romans 5:5 · Romans 5:6 · Romans 8:15 · Romans 8:18 · Romans 8:23 · Romans 8:24 · Romans 8:25 · Romans 8:35 · Romans 8:36 · Romans 8:37 · Romans 8:38 · Romans 8:39 · Romans 9:2 · Romans 9:7 · Romans 9:8 · Romans 9:15 · Romans 9:16 · Romans 10:4 · Romans 11:5 · Romans 11:6 · Romans 12:12 · 1 Corinthians 1:30 · 1 Corinthians 1:31 · 1 Corinthians 13:3 · 1 Corinthians 13:4 · 1 Corinthians 13:7 · 2 Corinthians 4:17 · Galatians 4:26 · Galatians 4:30 · Galatians 5:6 · Ephesians 2:8 · Ephesians 2:9 · Ephesians 5:29 · Philippians 1:29 · Philippians 2:12 · Philippians 2:13 · James 1:17 · James 3:15 · 1 John 2:15 · 1 John 2:16 · 1 John 4:10 · 1 John 4:16