St. Augustine of Hippo - Powerful WISDOM of the Saints PART 3

It is not that we keep his commandments first and that then he loves, but that he loves us and then we keep his commandments. This is that grace which is revealed to the humble but hidden from the proud. Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by accidents of time or place or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you. If you keep silent, keep silent by love. If you speak, speak by love. If you correct, correct by love. If you pardon, pardon by love. Let love be rooted in you and from that root nothing but good can grow. We made bad use of immortality and so ended up dying. Christ made good use of mortality so that we might end up living. The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works. Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible. God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them. The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences. There can only be two basic loves. The love of God unto the forgetfulness of self or the love of self unto the forgetfulness and denial of God. Late have I loved you, O beauty ever ancient and ever new. Late have I loved you.