I wish I could have the functional vitality of brain-chemically-fuelled mind to spend more time with this saint, reading his thoughts, because he is good company for my own. But, I only digressed into here when I was actually willing [inadequately, lol] to find something else which I knew was in my small-but-growing kindle library in order to answer a large needing-answered question which had arisen inside me while trying to answer an objection posed to my mind by outside-persons while I was enjoyably loving learning from a particular stretch of scripture [which I do want to read and learn above all other things, and have only recently recovered the brain-mind cure to what obstructed my begun progress in that before..] which I thought I could remember reading once the answer I needed in an other kindle download from months ago — trouble is, these kindle books are rarely formatted to make navigation through their content in any way quick or easy [e.g. if you cannot even see which book or chapter you are in, displayed, it is hard to find it again let alone find it in the first place]; and, my discipline of will to not be distracted by outer interruptions and redirections and whatnot is nowhere near what I wish it could be; and, also, I lack any more the degree of multitasking ability which I inwardly yearningly need to achieve the amount my mind wants to do, when it is working! The chemical brain fuel I have lacked-again for so many months has improved significantly, and thus happily, in very recent weeks, and in that progress I alas wish to do more than I can .... to make up for so much lost time .... and then the progress feels less happy than it actually is, and I must try yet-as-ever for the self-discipline and inward-self-patience to coax myself to stick to just one thing, for now, and hope to sustain it. Here then, however regrettable, is my last excursion for now into the nourishing company of Saint Augustine (I dont know which one ..lol.. there are many!). .......... Then I intend to stick just with [mainly] Saint Paul. :) • Concerning Faith of Things Not Seen [1887] by Saint Augustine Edited by Philip Schaff; Translated by Charles Lewis Cornish The Complete Works of Saint Augustine — Kindle edition 2011; Kindle Locations 138048-138066 [2] But, say they, those things which are in the mind, in that we can by the mind itself discern them, we have no need to know through the eyes of the body; but those things, which you say unto us that we should believe, you neither point to without, that through the eyes of the body we may know them; nor are they within, in our own mind, that by exercising thought we may see them. And these things they so say, as though any one would be bidden to believe, if that, which is believed, he could already see set before him. Therefore certainly ought we to believe certain temporal things also, which we see not, that we may merit [1653] to see eternal things also, which we believe. But, whosoever thou art who wilt not believe save what thou seest, lo, bodies that are present thou seest with the eyes of the body, wills and thoughts of thine own that are present, because they are in thine own mind, thou seest by the mind itself; tell me, I pray thee, thy friends will towards thee by what eyes seest thou? For no will can be seen by the eyes of the body. What? see you in your own mind this also which is going on in the mind of another? But if you see it not, how do you repay in turn the good will of your friend, if what you cannot see, you believe not? Will you haply say that you see the will of another through his works? Therefore you will see acts, and hear words, but concerning your friends will, that which cannot be seen and heard you will believe. For that will is not color or figure, so as to be thrown upon the eyes; or sound or strain, so as to glide into the ears; nor indeed is it your own, so as to be perceived by the motion [1654] of your own heart. It remains therefore that, being neither seen, nor heard, nor beheld within thyself, it be believed, that thy life be not left deserted without any friendship, or affection bestowed upon thee be not repaid by thee in return. Where then is that which thou saidest, that thou oughtest not to believe, save what thou sawest either outwardly in the body, or inwardly in the heart? Lo, out of thine own heart, thou believest an heart not thine own; and lendest thy faith, where thou dost not direct the glance of thy body or of thy mind. Thy friends face thou discernest by thy own body, thy own faith thou discernest by thine own mind; but thy friends faith is not loved by thee, unless there be in thee in return that faith, whereby thou mayest believe that which in him thou seest not. Although a man may also deceive by feigning good will, and hiding malice: or, if he have no thought to do harm, yet by expecting some benefit from thee, feigns, because he has not, love.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 13:31:00 +0000
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