Nicene and Post Nicene-Fathers, Vol. I:
The Confessions: Chapter XIII

Chapter XIII.—That the Renewal of Man is Not Completed in This World.

14. But as yet “by faith, not by sight,” 1218 for “we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope.” 1219 As yet deep calleth unto deep 1220 but in “the noise of Thy waterspouts.” 1221 And as yet doth he that saith, I “could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,” 1222 even he, as yet, doth not count himself to have apprehended, and forgetteth those things which are behind, and reacheth forth to those things which are before, 1223 and groaneth being burdened; 1224 and his soul thirsteth after the living God, as the hart after the water-brooks, and saith, “When shall I come?” 1225 “desiring to be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven;” 1226 and calleth upon this lower deep, saying, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 1227 And, “Be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children,” that in “understanding ye may be perfect;” 1228 and “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?” 1229 But now not in his own voice, but in Thine who sentest Thy Spirit from above; 1230 through Him who “ascended up on high,” 1231 and set open the flood-gates of His gifts, 1232 that the force of His streams might make glad the city of God. 1233 For, for Him doth “the friend of the bridegroom” 1234 sigh, having now the first-fruits of the Spirit laid up with Him, yet still groaning within himself, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of his body; 1235 to Him he sighs, for he is a member of the Bride; for Him is he jealous, for he is the friend of the Bridegroom; 1236 for Him is he jealous, not for himself; because in the voice of Thy “waterspouts,” 1237 not in his own voice, doth he call on that other deep, for whom being jealous he feareth, lest that, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in our Bridegroom, Thine only Son. 1238 What a light of beauty will that be when “we shall see Him as He is,” 1239 and those tears be passed away p. 195 which “have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” 1240

Footnotes

2 Cor. 5.7.

Rom. 8.24.

The “deep” Augustin interprets (as do the majority of Patristic commentators), in Ps. xli. 8, sec. 13, to be the heart of man; and the “deep” that calls unto it, is the preacher who has his own “deep” of infirmity, even as Peter had.

Ps. 42.7.

1 Cor. 3.1.

Phil. 3.13.

2 Cor. 5:2, 4.

Ps. 42:1, 2.

2 Cor. 5.2.

Rom. 12.2.

1 Cor. 14.20(margin).

Gal. 3.1.

Acts 2.19.

Eph. 4.8.

Mal. 3.10.

Ps. 46.4.

John 3.29.

Rom. 8.23.

John 3.29.

Ps.42.7.

2 Cor. 11.3, and 1 John 3.3.

1 John 3.2.

Ps. 42.3.