The City of God, Volume IIAugustine, of Hippo, Saint
ReligionChristian
The City of God, Volume II
Augustine, of Hippo, Saint
Apologetics -- Early works to 1800; Kingdom of God -- Early works to 1800
his household, all within his reach, even as he would wish his
neighbour to do the same for him if he needed it; and consequently
he will be at peace, or in well-ordered concord, with all men, as
far as in him lies. And this is the order of this concord, that a
man, in the first place, injure no one, and, in the second, do good
to every one he can reach. Primarily, therefore, his own household
are his care, for the law of nature and of society gives him readier
access to them and greater opportunity of serving them. And hence the
apostle says, "Now, if any provide not for his own, and specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel."[643] This is the origin of domestic peace, or the
well-ordered concord of those in the family who rule and those who
obey. For they who care for the rest rule,--the husband the wife,
the parents the children, the masters the servants; and they who
are cared for obey,--the women their husbands, the children their
parents, the servants their masters. But in the family of the just
man who lives by faith and is as yet a pilgrim journeying on to the
celestial city, even those who rule serve those whom they seem to
command; for they rule not from a love of power, but from a sense of
the duty they owe to others--not because they are proud of authority,
but because they love mercy.
15. _Of the liberty proper to man's nature, and the servitude
introduced by sin,--a servitude in which the man whose will is
wicked is the slave of his own lust, though he is free so far
as regards other men._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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