LETTERS OF ST. AUGUSTIN: PREFACE - PREFATORY NOTE - CONTENTS OF THE LETTERS

TRANSLATED BY

THE REV. J. G. CUNNINGHAM, M.A.

PREFACE.

THE importance of the letters of eminent men, as illustrations of their life, character, and times, is too well understood to need remark. The Letters of Cicero and Pliny have given us a more vivid conception of Roman life than the most careful history could have given; the Letters of Erasmus, Luther, and Calvin furnish us with the most trustworthy material for understanding the rapid movement and fierce conflict of their age; when we read the voluminous correspondence of Pope and his compeers, or the unstudied beauties of Cowper's letters of friendship, we seem to be in the company of living men; and modern history has in nothing more distinctly proved its sagacity, than by its diligence in publishing the Letters of Cromwell, of Washington, of Chatham, and of other historical personages.

For biography, familiar letters are the most important material. In a man's published writings we see the general character of his mind, and we ascertain his opinions in so far as he deemed it safe or advisable to lay these before a perhaps unsympathizing public; in his letters he reveals his whole character, his feelings as well as his judgments, his motives, his personal history, and the various ramifications of his interest. In his familiar correspondence we see the man as he is known to his intimate friends, in his times of relaxation and unstudied utterance.' Few men, in writing for the public, can resist the tendency towards a constrained attitudinizing, or throw off the fixed expression of one sitting for his portrait; and it is only in conversation, spoken or written, that we get the whole man revealed in a series of constantly varying and unconstrained expressions. And even where, as in Augustin's case, we have an autobiography, we derive from the letters many additional traits of character, much valuable illustration of opinions and progress.2

In their function of appendices to history they are equally valuable. It was a characteristic remark of Horace Walpole's, that "nothing gives so just an idea of an age as genuine letters; nay, history waits for its last seal from them." A still greater authority, Bacon, in his marvellous distribution of all knowledge, gives to letters the highest place among the "Appendices to History." "Letters," he says, "are, according to all the variety of occasions, advertisements, advices, directions, propositions, petitions commendatory, expostulatory, satisfactory; of compliment, of pleasure, of discourse, and all other passages of action. And such as are written from wise men are, of all the words of man, in my judgment, the best; for they are more natural than orations and public speeches, and more advised than conferences or present speeches. So, again, letters of affairs from such as manage them, or are privy to them, are of all others the best instructions for history, and to a diligent reader the best histories in themselves." s This is especially true of the Letters of Augustin. A large number of them are ecclesiastical and theological, and would in our day have appeared as pamphlets, or would have been delivered as lectures. There are none of his writings which do not receive some supplementary light from his letters. The subjects of his more elaborate writings are here handled in an easier manner, and their sources, motives, and origin are disclosed. Difficulties which his published works had ocCasioned are here removed, new illustrations are noted, further developments and fresh complications of heresy are alluded to, and the whole theological movement of the time is here reflected in a vivid and interesting shape. No controversy of his age was settled without his voice, and it is in his letters we chiefly see the vastness of his empire, the variety of subjects on which appeal was made to him, and the deference with which his judgment was received. Inquiring philosophers, puzzled statesmen, angry heretics, pious ladies, all found their way to the Bishop of Hippo. And while he continually complains of want of leisure, of the multifarious business of his episcopate, of the unwarranted demands made upon him, he yet carefully answers all. Sometimes he writes with the courier who is to carry his letter impatiently chafing outside the door j sometimes a promptly written reply is carried round the whole known world by some faithless messenger before it reaches his anxious correspondent; but, amidst difficulties unthought of under a postal system, his indefatigable diligence succeeds in diffusing intelligence and counsel to the most distant inquirers.

In the present volume we have, as usual, followed the Benedictine edition. Among the many labours which the Benedictine Fathers encountered in editing the works of Augustin, they undertook the onerous task of rearranging the Epistles in chronological order. The manner in which this task has been executed is eminently characteristic of their unostentatious patience and skill. Their order has been universally adopted; it is to this order that reference is made when any writer cites a letter of Augustin's; and therefore it matters less whether in each case the date assigned by the Benedictine editors can be accepted as accurate. It will be seen that we have not considered it desirable to translate all the letters. Of those addressed to Augustin we have omitted a few which were neither important in themselves nor indispensable for the understanding of his replies; and, when any of his own letters is a mere repetition of what he has previously written to another correspondent, we have contented ourselves, and, we hope, shall satisfy our readers, with a reference to the former letter in which the arguments and illustrations now repeated may be found.

No English translation of these Letters has previously appeared. The French have in this, as in other patristic studies, been before us. Two hundred years ago a translation into the French tongue was published, and this has lately been superseded by M. Poujoulat's four readable and fairly accurate volumes.

THE EDITOR. 1872.

In the second volume of Letters in Clark's series the editor adds the following

PREFATORY NOTE.

OF the two hundred and seventy-two letters given in the Benedictine edition of Augustin's works, one hundred and sixty are translated in this selection. In the former volume few were omitted, and the reason for each omission was given in its own place. As the proportion of untranslated letters is in this volume much larger, it may be more convenient to indicate brieflyhere the general reasons which have guided us in the selection.

We have omitted --

I. Almost all the letters referring to the Donatist schism, as there is enough on this subject in the works on the Donatist controversy (vol. iii. of this series) and in numerous earlier letters. This excludes -- 105, 106, 107, 108, 158, 129, 134, 141, 145, and 504.

II. AlmOst all the letters relating to Pelagianism, as the series contains three volumes of Augustin's anti-Pelagian writings (vols. iv. xii. xv.). This excludes--156, 157, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 181, 185, 183, 184, 184 bis, 186, 193, 194, 514, 505, 516, 507.

III. Almost all the letters referring to the doctrine of the Trinity, as this has been already given, partly in earlier letters, and more fully in the volume on the Trinity (vol. vii. of this series). This excludes--119, 120, 170, 174, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242.

IV. Almost all those which in design, style, and prolixity, are exegetical or doctrinal treatises rather than letters. This excludes-- 140, 147, 149, 152, 153, 154, 155, 162, 187, 190, 196, 197, 198, 199, 202 bis, 205.

V. Some of the letters written by others to Augustin. This excludes--94, 109, 121, 160, 168, 225, 226, 230, 270.

VI. A large number of miscellaneous smaller letters, as, in order to avoid going beyond the limits of one volume, it was necessary to select only the more interesting and important of these. This excludes--110, 112, 113, 114, 127, 161, 162, 171, 200, 206, 207, 221, 222, 223, 224, 233, 234, 235, 236, 243, 244; 247, 248, 249, 250, 252, 253, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268.

CONTENTS OF THE LETTERS.

I.--TO HERMOGENIANUS, ................................ 219

II. -- TO ZENOBIUS, .................................. 220

III, -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ................................ 220

IV. -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ................................. 222

V.--NEBRIDIUS TO AUGUSTIN, ........................... 223

VI.--NEBRIDIUS TO AUGUSTIN, .......................... 223

VII. -- TO NERBRIDIUS, ............................... 224

VIII.--NEBRIDIUS TO AUGUSTIN, ........................ 226

IX. -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ................................. 227

X.--TO NEBRIDIUS, .................................... 228

XI. -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ................................. 228

XIII. -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ............................... 230

XIV. -- TO NEBRIDIUS, ................................ 231

XV. -- TO ROMANIANUS, ................................ 232

XVI.- MAXIMUS TO AUGUSTIN, ........................... 233

XVII. -- TO MAXIMUS, ................................. 234

XVIII. -- TO COELESTINUS ............................. 235

XIX.--TO GAIUS ....................................... 336

XX.- TO ANTONIUS, . .................................. 236

XXI.- TO BISHOP VALERIUS, ............................ 237

XXII.--TO BISHOP AURELIUS, ........................... 239

XXIII.--TO MAXIMIN ................................... 242

XXV.--PAULINUS AND THERASIA TO AUGUSTIN, ............. 245

XXVI.--TO LECENTIUS, ................................. 246

XXVII. -- TO PAULINUS, . ............................. 248

XXVIII. -- TO JEROME, ................................ 251

XXIX. -- TO ALYPIUS, ................................. 253

XXX.--PAULINUS AND THERASIA TO AUGUSTIN, ............. 257

XXXI.--TO PAULINUS AND THERASIA, ..................... 258

XXXIII. -- TO PROCULEIANUS, .......................... 260

XXXIV.--TO EUSEBIUS, ................................. 262

XXXV.--TO EUSEBIUS, .................................. 263

XXXVI. -- TO CASULANUS, .............................. 265

XXXVII.- TO SIMPLICIANUS, ............................ 270

XXXVIII. -- TO PROFUTURUS, ........................... 271

XXXIX. -- JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, ........................ 272

XL.--TO JEROME, ...................................... 272

XLI.--TO AURELIUS, ................................... 275

XLII.- TO PAULINUS AND THERASIA ...................... 275

XLIII.--TO GLORIUS, ELEUSIUS ETC., ................... 276

XLIV.--TO ELEUSIUS GLORIUS AND THE TWO FELIXES,....... 285

XLVI.--PUBLICOLA TO AUGUSTIN, ........................ 290

XLVII.--TO PUBLICOLA, ................................ 292

XLVIII.--TO EUDOXIUS, ................................ 294

L.- TO THE MAGISTRATES OF SUFFECTUM, ................. 295

LI. -- TO CRISPINUS .................................. 296

LIII. -- TO GENEROSUS ................................ 298

LIV.--TO JANUARIUS,. ................................. 300

LV.--TO JANUARIUS,. .................................. 303

LVIII. -- TO PAMMACHIUS .............................. 316

LIX.--TO VICTORINUS, ................................. 317

LX.--TO AURELIUS, .................................... 317

LXI. -- TO THEODORUS, ................................ 318

LXII.--TO SEVERUS, . ................................. 319

LXIII.--TO SEVERUS, .................................. 319

LXIV.--TO QUINTIANUS, ................................ 321

LXV. -- TO XANTIPPUS, ................................ 322

LXVI.--TO CRISPINUS .................................. 323

LXVII. -- TO JEROME .................................. 324

LXVIII.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, ......................... 324

LXIX.--TO CASTORIUS, ................................. 325

LXXI. -- TO JEROME, .................................. 326

LXXII.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, .......................... 328

LXXIII. -- TO JEROME ................................. 329

LXXIV.--TO PRAESIDIUS ................................ 333

LXXV.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, ........................... 333

LXXVI.--TO THE DONATISTS ............................. 343

LXXVII. -- TO FELIX AND HILARINUS, ................... 344

LXXVIII.--TO THE CLERGY, ETC., OF THE CHURCH OF HIPPO, 345

LXXIX.--A CHALLENGE TO A MANICHAEAN TEACHER, ......... 349

LXXXI.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, .......................... 349

LXXXII.- TO JEROME, .................................. 349

LXXXIII.--TO ALYPIUS, ................................ 369

LXXXIV. -- TO NOVATUS, ............................... 363

LXXXV.--TO PAULUS .................................... 364

LXXXVI.- TO CAECILIANUS............................... 365

LXXXVII. -- TO EMERITUS, ............................. 365

LXXXVIII. -- TO JANUARIUS ............................ 369

LXXXIX.--TO FESTUS, .................................. 373

XC. --NECTARIUS TO AUGUSTIN, ......................... 376

XCI.--TO NECTARIUS ................................... 376

XCII.--TO THE LADY ITALICA, .......................... 380

XCIII.--TO VINCENTIUS ................................ 381

XCV. --TO BROTHER PAULINUS AND SISTER THERASIA, ...... 401

XCVI. -- TO OLYMPIUS, ................................ 404

XCVII. -- TO OLYMPIUS,................................ 405

XCVIII. -- TO BONIFACE, .............................. 406

XCIX.--TO THE VERY DEVOUT ITALICA. ................... 410

C. -- TO DONATUS, .................................... 411

CI.--TO MEMOR, ....................................... 412

CII. -- TO DEOGRATIAS, ............................... 414

CIII.--TO MY LORD AND BROTHER AUGUSTIN, .............. 425

CIV. -- TO NECTARIUS, ................................ 427

CXI.--TO VICTORIANUS ................................. 433

CXV. -- TO FORTUNATUS, ............................... 436

CXVI. -- TO GENEROSUS, ............................... 437

CXVI I.--FROM DIOSCORUS TO AUGUSTIN, ................. 437

CXVIII. -- AUGUSTIN TO DIOSCORUS,..................... 438

CXXII.--TO HIS WELL-BELOVED BRETHREN THE CLERGY, ETC., 450

CXXIII.--FROM JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, .................... 450

CXXIV.--TO ALBINA, PINIANUS, AND MELANIA, .............452

CXXV. -- TO ALYPIUS, ................................. 453

CXXVI.--TO ALBINA, ................................... 455

CXXX.--TO PROBA,. .................................... 459

CXXXI.--TO LADY PROBA ................................ 469

CXXXII.--TO VOLUSIANUS, .............................. 470

CXXXIII. -- TO MARCELLINUS,........................... 470

CXXXV.--TO BISHOP AUGUSTIN, .......................... 470

CXXXVI.- MARCELLINUS TO AUGUSTIN, .................... 472

CXXXVII.--TO LORD VOLUSIANUS, ........................ 473

CXXXVIII.--TO MARCELLINUS, ........................... 481

CXXXIX.--TO MARCELLINUS .............................. 488

CXLIII, -- TO MARCELLINUS ............................ 490

CXLIV.--TO THE INHABITANTS OF CIRTA .................. 494

CXLV,- TO ANASTASIUS, ................................ 495

CXLVI.- TO PELAGIUS .................................. 498

CXLVIII. -- TO FORTUNATIANUS ......................... 498

CL--TO PROBA AND JULIANA ............................. 503

CLI-- TO CAECILIANUS ................................. 504

CLVIII.--EVODIUS TO AGUSTIN, ......................... 509

CLIX.--TO EVODIUS,.................................... 503

CLXIII.--EVODIUS TO AUGUSTIN ......................... 504

CLXIV,--TO EVODIUS, .................................. 509

CLXV.--TO MARCELLINUS AND ANAPSYCHIA, ................ 522

CLXVI--TO JEROME,..................................... 523

CLXVII.--TO JEROME, .................................. 532

CLXIX.--TO EVODIUS, .................................. 539

CLXXII.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN, ........................ 543

CLXXIII.--TO DONATUS, ................................ 544

CLXXX. -- TO OCEANUS, ................................ 547

CLXXXVIII.--TO JULIANA, .............................. 548

CLXXXIX. -- TO BONIFACE,.............................. 552

CXCI.--TO SIXTUS, .................................... 554

CXCII.--TO CAELESTINE, ............................... 555

CXCV.--JEROME TO AUGUSTIN,. ......................... 556

CCI.- HUNORIUS AUGUSTUS AND THEODOSlUS AUGUSTUS

TO AURELIUS, ................................... 556

CCII.--JEROME TO ALYPIUS AND AUGUSTIN, ............... 557

CCIII.--TO LARGUS, ................................... 557

CCVIII.--TO FELICIA .................................. 558

CCIX.--TO CAELESTINE, ................................ 560

CCX.--TO FELICITAS RUSTICUS, ETC.s ................... 562

CCXI.--TO tHE NUNS ................................... 563

CCXII.--TO QUINTILANUS, · ............................ 568

CCXIII.--AUGUSTIN DESIGNATES ms SUCCESSOR,............ 568

CCXVIII.--TO PALATINUS, .............................. 572

CCXIX.--TO PROCULUS AND CYLINUS,...................... 572

CCXX.--TO BONIFACE, .................................. 573

CCXXVII.--TO ALYPIUS, ................................ 576

CCXXVIII. -- TO HONORATUS, ........................... 577

CCXXIX. -- TO DARIUS, ................................ 581

CCXXXI.--TO DARIUS,. ................................. 582

CCXXXII.--TO THE POEPLE OF MADAURA, .................. 585

CCXXXVII. -- TO CERETIUS, ............................ 587

CCXLV.--TO POSSIDIUS ................................. 587

CCXLVI. -- TO LAMPADIUS, . ........................... 588

CCL.--TO AUXILIUS,.................................... 589

CCLIV. -- TO BENENATUS, .............................. 591

CCLXIII.--TO SAPIDA .................................. 591

CCLXIX. -- TO NOBILIUS, .............................. 593