Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/210

 192 THE CLASSICAL HERITAGE [chap. just as we now assume their non-existence. Likewise he assumes the existence of angels, and reasons on their creation,^ and on their knowledge of God.'' He had also the universal habit of allegorical interpreta- tion,^ with fancies for the symbolism of numbers."* Augustine's final, most fatal, limitation was also of his time, as well as of the centuries which followed him. This was the prurient misconception of the normal and lawful relations between the sexes. The love of man for woman which holds passion could be but lust for Augustine ; it could not be holy, it held the creature down. He knew not the love which draws man and wife toward God. His words speak only of concupiscence. As his thoughts are wavering toward utter devotion to Christ, it is not the yearning for the companionship of a wife that distracts him. He is hindered by the passions of the flesh ; it is the habit of these that he cannot lay aside, that he longs for most sinfully, that in the end he will cut off utterly. His thoughts correspond to the verse which met his eyes as he suddenly opened the gospel in the crisis of his conversion, — not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envy- ing ; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in concupiscentiis.^ 1 E.g., Civ. Dei, XI, 9 and 32. ^ lb., XI, 29. ^ See, e.g., Civ. Dei, XI, 8 and 34; XIII, 21; Contra Faustum, XXII ; Sermo XXIV, on Gospel of John. In Serrao XVII, Sec. 8, etc., on Gospel of John, Augustine interprets Christ's words, " Take up thy bed and walk," to mean " Love your neighbor." ^E.g., Civ. Dei, XI, 30. 6 Con/., Vni, 29. See ib. , VI, 25 ; VIII, 12, 13, 17. Compare Civ. Dei, XIV, 16 et seq.