Writings · early church · 4th–5th century · 243 / 482
NPNF1-01. The Confessions and Letters of St. Augustine, with a Sketch of his Life and Work
St. Augustine · early-church-fathers
He Begs of God that He May Live in the True Light, and May Be Instructed as to the Mysteries of the Sacred Books.
- Oh, let Truth, the light of my heart, not my own darkness, speak unto me! I have descended to that, and am darkened. But thence, even thence, did I love Thee. I went astray, and remembered Thee. I heard Thy voice behind me bidding me return, and scarcely did I hear it for the tumults of the unquiet ones. And now, behold, I return burning and panting after Thy fountain. Let no one prohibit me; of this will I drink, and so have life. Let me not be my own life; from myself have I badly lived,—death was I unto myself; in Thee do I revive. Do Thou speak unto me; do Thou discourse unto me. In Thy books have I believed, and their words are very deep.
Source: npnf101.xml