in knowledge
of classical literature, is his inferior in intellectual acuteness;
and certainly no other theologian of the earlier ages of the Church
has done so much as has Saint Augustine to influence the thought of
its strongest minds.

Augustine (Aurelius Augustinus) was a Numidian by birth. He had a
Christian mother, whose devotion resulted in his conversion, as well
as in that of his father, who seems to have been a man of liberal
mind, aware of the value of literary education. Augustine was well
versed in the Latin classics. The extent of his knowledge of Greek
literature has been questioned, but it is conceded that he knew the
language, at least well enough for purposes of comparative study of
the Scripture text.

As a young man, his ideas of morality, as we know from his
'Confessions,' were not severe. He was not extraordinarily
licentious, but he had the introspective sensitiveness which seems
to characterize great genius wherever it is found, and in his later
life he looked with acute pain on the follies of his youth.

Becoming a Christian at the age of twenty-three, he was ordained a
priest four years later, and in 395 became Bishop of Hippo. Of his
literary works, his book 'The City of God' is accounted his masterpiece,
though it is not so generally read as his 'Confessions.' The sermon
on the Lord's Prayer here given as an illustration of his style in
the pulpit, is from his 'Homilies on the New Testament,' as
translated in Parker's 'Library of the Fathers.'

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The order established for your edification requires that ye learn
first what to believe, and afterwards what to ask. For so saith the
Apostle, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved." This testimony blessed Paul cited out of the Prophet; for by
the Prophet were those times foretold, when all men should call upon
God; "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved." And he added, "How then shall they call on him in whom they
have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? Or how shall they hear without a preacher? Or how
shall they preach except they be sent?" Therefore were preachers
sent. They preached Christ. As they preached, the people heard; by
hearing they believed, and by believing called upon him. Because
then it was most rightly and most truly said, "How shall they call
on him in whom they have not believed?" therefore have ye