The Confessions of Saint Augustine (Outler)/Book I/Chapter IV


 * The Majesty of God is supreme: and his perfections cannot be expressed.

What art Thou then, my God? what, I ask, but the Lord God? "For who is Lord but the Lord, or who is God except our God?" (Ps. xviii. 31 Vulg.). O Thou Most highest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent; most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present; fairest, yet most strong; firm fixed, yet incomprehensible; who changest not, yet changest all thing; never new, never old; yet who makest all things new, and "bringest age upon the proud, and they know it not;" ever working, ever at rest; that gatherest, yet lackest nothing; that bearest, and fillest, and coverest; that createst, and nourishest, and makest perfect; that seekest, yet possessest all thing. Thou dost love without passion; Thou art jealous without anxiety; Thou repentest without grief; Thou art angry without disquiet; Thou changest Thy works, without changing Thy purpose; Thou receivest again what Thou dost find, yet didst never lose; never in need, yet Thou rejoicest in gains; never covetous, yet Thou demandest usury. Thou receivest over and above, that Thou mayest owe; and who hath aught that is not Thine. Thou payest debts, that owest none; Thou forgivest debts, yet losest nothing. And what have I yet said, my God, my life, my holy joy? or what saith any when he speaks of Thee? Yet woe to them that speak not of Thee, since they that speak most are even as the dumb.