ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO 79 On Scripture matters, besides the works just mentioned, St. Augustine's en- lightened views are found in twelve books on the "Literal Sense of Genesis; in these he seems to have divined all modern objections and theories about this work of Moses. On the seven first books of the Bible, he has left us seven treatises. "An Explanation of the Psalms," a correspondence with St. Jerome on the Epistle to the Galatians, four books on the agreement of the Evangel- ists, tvo on Gospel questions, and a book on " Things That are not Seen," should not be unknown to Biblical students. Nor was the Pagan attitude toward Catholic Truth forgotten. He had passed through tlfr phase, and knew the Pagan mind. He put down their difficul- ties, reasoned away their doubts, threw light on their darkness, led them on in truth, in " The True Religion," " Eighty-three Questions," " The Christian Doctrine," and an early treatise on the " Immortality of the Soul." But by far his greatest and most enduring works are his "Confessions" and " The City of God." The former, at once a poem, a history, and a treatise of phi- losophy, beautifully expresses the trials and efforts of a human soul striving for truth and happiness away from God, and the ecstatic sentiments of the same soul on the attainment of both truth and happiness in the faith and virtues of Jesus Christ and in His Gospel. The other, in eloquent and philosophical vein, dis- courses on the Church of God on earth and in heaven ; shows the hollowness of all opinions, thoughts, and efforts contrary to the eternal order which is God ; is, as it were, an encyclopedia of all that he had written before, an exhaustless sum- mar)' of refutation against heresy and paganism, and an analysis of the glories and benefits of Christianity. St. Augustine in its composition occupied all the time from 413 to 426 the period of his momentous struggle against Pelagianism. The lines of intellectual and religious thought which called forth the just mentioned and other productions of St. Augustine's brilliant genius, have con- tinued all along the centuries even till now. The same movements exist ; the same tendencies, though more intense in their working, actuate men toward truth ; and the same obstacles impede their progress ; objections, in other forms perhaps, yet substantially the same, are urged against the very points against which the sainted pontiff wrote and struggled God, Creation, the Bible, Christ, human infirmity or human strength, man's power to attain truth unaided, and his freedom from any supernatural dependence. No wonder that Augustine, who had passed through all these phases of action, should have always been called upon for effective weapons in the warfare, and that he should have been the supreme authority in such questions for many an age in the Latin or Western Church. His sounds are as clear to-day, and his arguments are 'as convincing and potent. The student and the dialectician and the theologian can ill afford to be unfamiliar with the great doctor's thoughts. All these writings everywhere evidence the beauty of his character, as his ac- tions were ever in accord with evangelical perfection. There is wonderful power of mercy, compassion, and love, in all. He had been weak himself, hence he treated weakness with gentleness. Two things rendered him indulgent ; a sad
