Friday, March 11, 2016

A Voice from the Past - Augustine

There are two causes that lead to sin: either we do not yet know our duty, or we do not perform the duty that we know. The former is the sin of ignorance, the latter of weakness. Now against these it is our duty to struggle; but we shall certainly be beaten in the fight, unless we are helped by God, not only to see our duty, but also, when we clearly see it, to make the love of righteousness stronger in us than the love of earthly things, the eager longing after which, or the fear of losing which, leads us with eyes open into known sin.

Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 AD, Enchiridion, Chapter 81 (translated by Professor J. F. Shaw, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Philip Schaff, Hendrickson Publishers, 2012, First Series, Vol. 3, p. 264)

Do we need God's guidance even to know what is right? What are the implications of this? 

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