Posted by
Mark McConnell on Friday, October 27, 2006 1:22:57 PM
A loose adaptation of a relevant portion of Augustine's City of God.While the theocracy, the city of God sojourns on earth, it calls citizens out of all nations, and gathers a society of pilgrims together out of all languages. The heavenly city does not have any interest in differences in the customs, laws, or institutions by which earthly peace is secured and maintained: because, no matter how different they are they all tend toward one and the same end of earthly peace.For this reason, the heavenly city does not rescind or abolish these diversities; and on the contrary, it even preserves and adopts them, so long as no hindrance to the worship of the one supreme and true God is introduced by this adoption. Therefore, while a pilgrim, the city of God avails itself of earthly peace. And as far as it can, without injuring faith and godliness, the city desires and maintains a common agreement among men regarding the acquisition of the necessaries of life. Indeed, the heavenly city sees the earthly peace as having a bearing upon its pilgrimage toward the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God, and of one another in God. For the life that the heavenly city lives by faith is a social life. This society lives righteously when it refers by faith to the attainment of peace among men, through peace with God (which it has now, but only in hope). I say again, the life of the city of God is not a private matter; it is a social life.It has come to pass that the two cities could not have common laws of religion. The heavenly city has been compelled in this matter to dissent, and to become obnoxious to those who think differently, and to stand the brunt of their anger and hatred and persecutions. The only restraint upon the earthly city's hostility toward the city of God has been fear of the multitude of the Christians and, they hesitate to act because of what seems even to them to be God's protection accorded to them. Yet, they are certain that the Christians covet their city, and mean to possess it, and they are alarmed.However, the supreme good of the city of God is perfect and eternal peace - not of that kind which mortals pass into and out of by birth and death, but the peace of freedom from all evil forever. Who can deny that the future life is more blessed than this, or that in comparison with it this life is wretched, however richly abundantly blessed? For the true blessings of the soul are not now enjoyed; and it is therefore not true wisdom which does not direct ALL of its prudent observations, ALL of its manly actions, ALL of its virtuous self-restraint, and just arrangements, to that end alone in which God shall be ALL, and all shall be in a secure eternity and perfect peace. We do not seek your wretched city. We seek the peace of God: and this is to your benefit.