The Confessions of St. Augustine

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 Excerpt: … 304 “TURN AWAY MINE EYES” CHAPTER XXXIV. tyoto Ije it, fn reference to fit allurements of tt THERE remains the pleasure of these eyes of my flesh, concerning which I now utter my confessions which the ears of Thy Temple hear, –those brotherly and kind ears; and so to include the temptations of the ” lust of the flesh,” which still agitate me, groaning and ” desiring to be clothed upon with my house which is from heaven.”‘ The eyes love fair and varied forms, bright and pleasant colours. Let not these things take hold of my mind; let God possess it, “Who made” these things “very good” indeed; but He is my Good, not they. And these are in contact with me during all the hours I am awake, nor am I given any rest by them; as I am by melodious voices, which sometimes subside altogether into silence. For the light, the queen itself of colours, pervading all things which we see, wherever I may be through the day, in its manifold undulations, soothes me when I am working at anything, and not observing it. And so greatly does it insinuate itself, that if it be suddenly withdrawn, it is longingly sought for; and if it be long absent, the mind is saddened. O Light which Tobias3 saw, when, with his own eyes closed, he taught his son the way of life, and went before him with the feet of charity, never making a false step. Or again, which Isaac4 saw, his fleshly 1 2 Cor. v. 2. Gen. i. 31. 3 Tobit iv. Gen. xxvii. “lest They Behold Vanity” 305 eyes being heavy and dim with age, when he was enabled, not discerning them, to bless his sons, but in blessing them discerned them. Or that which Jacob’ saw, when he, also blind with great age, with illumined heart, in his sons, threw light upon the different tribes of the future people, pre-signified by them; and laid his hands, …