The Augustine Library

In which the unity of angelic nature is shown to diverge not by essence but by the choice of will, where blessedness stems from cleaving to the immutable God and misery from turning away to lesser goods. And so the Creator’s design is traced through all creatures, ranking their order and glory, while acknowledging that the cause of evil will is a mysterious deficiency within the will itself, oppos...

In which the nature of creation is examined with due reverence, rejecting errors that obscure the goodness of God’s work and recognising the presence of the Holy Trinity woven throughout all things. We are gently led to discern the image of the divine in our own existence and love, while contemplating the angelic beings as distinct communities reflecting light and darkness, all within the harmony...

In which the nature of the simple and unchangeable Trinity is contemplated as one God in three distinct persons, exemplifying the unity of substance and quality without division or change. Therein also is explored the blessedness and fall of angels and men, the divine foreknowledge and eternal goodness in creation, and the rejection of notions that attribute natural evil to the Creator, affirming...

In which the origin and nature of the two cities—the earthly and the heavenly—are contemplated through sacred Scripture, beginning with the creation of the world and the formation of angels as part of God's divine work. Augustine reflects on the mysteries of time and creation, urging a humble acceptance of the eternal wisdom by which light, rest, and spiritual beings were brought into being under...

In which the sacred writings and divine mysteries are attested by the miraculous works that educate the faithful and distinguish the true worship of the one God from the deceptive honours paid to lesser powers. It is shown how the revelation of Christ as both Priest and Sacrifice unveils the universal path of salvation, surpassing worldly philosophies and false rites, guiding souls through grace t...

In which Saint Augustine deliberates upon the nature of true worship and sacrifice, affirming that divine honour is due solely to the one supreme God served by good angels, and dissects the errors of philosophers and theury practitioners who err in attributing such honours to spirits or demons. He further illustrates how divine miracles—wrought through angelic ministry to confirm faith—distinguish...

In which the nature and position of demons as intermediaries between gods and men are carefully examined, revealing their eternal misery and incapacity to truly mediate blessedness, while affirming that the true and good mediation comes solely through Christ, who unites divine immortality with human mortality. It is further contemplated how the notion of gods’ purity and avoidance of human contact...

In which Saint Augustine examines and refutes the notion that demons, considered intermediaries between gods and men by some philosophers, may be good or capable of mediating true blessedness. He elucidates the nature of demons as passion-driven and inferior to the divine, contrasting their fleeting and disturbed existence with the eternal, tranquil life that belongs solely to God.

In which the nature and folly of worshipping demons, those aerial beings neither superior in virtue nor deserving of honour, are carefully examined and contrasted with the true piety of men who seek God directly. Refuting ancient philosophies and superstitions, it is shown that such veneration is misplaced, and that true worship is due only to the one Creator, with the faithful called to emulate t...

In which the diligent examination of natural theology is entrusted especially to the discourse with the Platonic philosophers, who, surpassing others in wisdom, acknowledge the one true God as the Maker and source of blessedness, though they still allot sacred rites to many gods. Thus, while embracing the virtues of their pursuit and their near approach to divine truth, we observe their faltering...

In which the nature and origin of the pagan gods are examined through the lens of human folly and misguided reverence, revealing rites and interpretations that obscure the true and singular God. And in this contemplation, the soul is invited to discern the difference between mutable idols and the everlasting Creator, whose true worship alone offers salvation and illumination.

In which the nature and office of the gods revered in civil theology are examined with care, revealing how those deemed “select” neither truly possess nor administer the highest good, but share in trivial and ignoble functions overshadowed by obscure powers beyond their fame. And thus, through the contemplations of Varro’s natural theology and the inconsistencies of myth, the likeness of these dei...

In which the sacred rites and images once reverenced in the city are scrutinised with an unflinching eye, revealing their resemblance to theatrical fables and the absurd multiplicity of functions assigned to gods, fostering neither true reverence nor eternal hope. The discourse further contrasts these civil beliefs with the enlightened freedom of philosophy and the higher aspirations of eternal fe...

In which the discourse turns to the folly of worshipping many gods for eternal life, analysing the teachings of Varro who, despite his learning, exposes the gods as human inventions rather than true divine beings. The tripartite division of theology—fabulous, natural, and civil—is examined, revealing that mythical fables and civic rites alike fall short of bringing true salvation, and urging the r...

In which the earthly glory of Rome is contemplated as a gift from God that, while rooted in the love of human praise—a vice subdued yet not crucified—served to restrain greater evils and provide examples of virtue for contemplation. The subsequent chapters discern the fleeting nature of human dominion and praise, urging Christians to seek true happiness and glory in the eternal city of God, where...

In which the nature of fate is carefully examined and found to be a fallacious explanation for the rise and fortunes of kingdoms, as the true order is governed by the providence of God who foreknows all things without denying human free will. The virtues and ambition of the ancient Romans are praised for their role in the empire’s expansion, whilst the mistaken reliance on astrology and fatalism i...

In which the vain multitude of false gods is examined, revealing how gifts such as virtue and felicity have been mistaken for deities, and the true worship due only to the one God, giver of all good things, is obscured by this folly. Yet, amidst the manifold errors and customs imposed by men and demons alike, there shines the wisdom that earthly kingdoms and every true blessing are ordained by the...

In which the origin and vastness of earthly kingdoms, especially Rome’s empire, are examined with a discerning eye, revealing the folly in attributing their rise and endurance to the multitude of feeble pagan gods who govern trifling matters. It is shown that true divine providence and justice, rather than the fanciful deities of mythology, undergird the course of human history, and that genuine f...

In which the chronicled calamities and civil strifes that plagued the Roman Republic reveal the impotence of the gods ever worshipped for worldly prosperity, as even sacred rites and temples failed to shield the city and its allies from ruin and despair. And through a judicious reflection on wars, pestilences, and betrayals, the vanity of relying on such gods becomes evident, revealing a deeper ho...

In which the chronic afflictions of Rome and her empire are laid bare, demonstrating that the multitude of gods venerated by her peoples offered no shelter from misery or warfare even in times of great splendour and ritual observance. The narrative meditates on the futility of divine favour as claimed by the Romans, exposing the turbulent and often tragic nature of their histories under kings and...

In which the decline of the Roman republic is revealed not as the work of virtuous gods, but as a consequence of the corrupt example and silent neglect of the demonic forces they worshipped, whose influence only deepened societal vices and accelerated ruin. And so, amidst the licentious spectacles and avaricious pursuits that once claimed divinity’s favour, a call is made to embrace the Christian...

In which we are invited to survey the manifold calamities that befell the Romans ere the advent of Christ and to discern how their false gods, far from protecting, allowed and even fostered their moral corruption. We are led to consider the baseness of their religious rites, the messengers of misrule among gods and men alike, and the profound failure of pagan deities to impart virtue or safeguard...

In which the profound trials of Christian chastity and virtue under the cruelty of captivity are examined, emphasising that true purity resides in the soul’s steadfast will rather than the body’s tribulations. Moreover, the discourse unfolds a firm Christian teaching against suicide, advocating endurance of suffering with hope and faith, and contrasting earthly vanities with the eternal city of Go...

In which the sacred contrast between the eternal city of God and the earthly city is drawn forth amid the recent tribulations of Rome, revealing how the merciful intercession of Christ’s name preserved many even under the barbarians' hand, a compassion unheard of in the customary cruelties of war. And in this light, the faithful are admonished to view temporal losses and sufferings as a divine dis...

In which the gift of virginity is shown to be sustained not by personal merit but by divine grace, calling for humble recognition of God’s unchanging providence and constant aid in obedience and repentance. Thus, virgins are urged to practise true humility, beware pride, and faithfully follow the gentle Lamb with love, mindful always that perfection is veiled until tested by trial, and that charit...