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CONFESSIONS:

OR,

PRAISES of GOD.

In TEN BOOKS.

Newly translated into ENGLISH from the
Original LAΤΙΝ.

Quid autem meorum Opufculorum frequentius &
delectabilius innotefcere potuit, quam Libri
Confeffionum mearum. St. Auguft. L. de Dono
Perseverantiæ, с. 20.

DUBLIN: Printed by FARRELL KIERNAN,
in Chrift-Church-Yard, for RICHARD CROSS,
Bookfeller, at the Globe, in Bridge-Street.

MDCCLXX.

18-2-1003:

:

THE

PREFACE. AMONGST all the spiritual Works pub

lisb'd by the Holy Fathers, none has been either more universally esteemed in all Ages, or read with greater Profit than the Confeffions of St. Augustine: The general Approbation they met with in the Church of God, when they first came out, bas stuck by them ever since, no-ways abated in 13 Centuries. So that there is no need of a long Preface to recommend to the Publick a Work So generally known and admired.

The proper Character of these Books is thus truly and modeftly set down by the Saint himself in the 6th Chapter of the 2d Book of bis Retractations, or Review of his Writings. "The Books of my "Confeffion, says be, both in my evil and " in my good Things, praise God ever just and ever good: Andraise up towards him the Un"derstanding and Affection of Man. At least

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as to myself, they had this Effect on me when " they were written, and have still when they are read. What others think of them they can best tell. However, I know that many " of my Brethren bave been and are much taken " with them." So far the Saint. I shall only add, that whosoever will read these Books feriously and attentively, will quickly be convinced by his own Experience, that they perfectly answer this Character: And that they are every-where full of the most tender Affections of the Love of God;

and

and carry along with them all the Powers of th Soul towards this fovereign Good.

As to this new Translation, which we bere pre Sent the English Reader, we shall say nothing els in favour of it, but that we have labour'd wit all possible Diligence, both to do Justice to th Saint, by faithfully representing bis true Mean ing; and to the Reader by making that Mean ing as plain and intelligible to him as the Subjec would permit: In which Points fome former Tran flations of these Books seem to have been defective

We have on purpose omitted the three la Books, which have no relation to the Life of St Augustine, but were added by Way of a mystica Interpretation of the first Chapter of Genefis Because the Contents of them are for the moj Part fo hard and obfcure, that they would be o Small Edification to those for whose Benefit thi Translation is chiefly designed.

As for the Scripture Texts alledg'd by the Saint he always followsthe old Italick Version, agreeabl for the most Part to the vulgar Latin, which the Reader will be pleased to take notice of, that b may belefssurprised if he finds the Saint quoting tha Scripture differently from the English Bible which in many Places differs not a little from the antient Latin Versions followed by the Holy Fathers.

As to the reft, we heartily wish the Reader a Share in that Spirit of Love, which dictatea thefe Books; and beg for ourselves a Remembrance in bis Prayers.

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He admires the Majesty of God, and defires to praise and invoke him.

1.

T

HOU art great, O Lord, and exceedingly to be praised, Pfalm 144. Great is thy Power, and of thy Wisdom there is no End, Pfalm 146. And yet Man has a mind to praise thee, who is one Part of thy Creation; Man bearing about him his Mortality, the Testimony of his Sin, and the Testimony that thou, God, refiftest the proud; and yet this Man being a Piece of thy Creation defires to praise

thee.
Thou makest it delightful to him to
praise thee; because thou hast made us for
thee, and our Hearts are not at rest till they
reft in thee. Give me, O Lord, to know

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