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


 * He thanks God for benefits conferred on him in boyhood.

Yet, Lord, to Thee, the Creator and Governor of the universe, most excellent and most good, thank were due to Thee our God, even hadst Thou willed that boyhood only should be mine. For even then I was, I lived, and felt; and had my preservation; a trace of that most hidden Unity, from which I had my being; I guarded by the inward sense the entirety of my senses, and in these little things, and in my thoughts about little things, I began to take delight in truth. I hated to be deceived, had a vigorous memory, was well furnished with language, was comforted by friendship, avoided pain, shame, and ignorance. In so small a creature, what was not wonderful, not admirable? But all are gifts of my God: it was not I, who gave them to myself; and good these are, and these together are myself. Good, then, is he that made me, and he is my good; and before him do I exult for every good which even as a boy I had. For herein was my sin, that not in Him, but in His creatures—myself and others—I sought for pleasures, grandeurs, realities, and so fell headlong into sorrows, confusions, errors. Thanks be to Thee, my joy and my glory and my confidence, my God, thanks be to Thee for Thy gifts; but do Thou preserve them to me. For so wilt Thou preserve me, and those things shall be increased and perfected, which Thou hast given me, and I myself shall be with Thee, since even that I am is of Thy gift to me.