Praise God, the Sabbath Day (Sunday) is almost here! We get to go back to church. In order to help us get ready for worship, here are great words from Augustine’s “City of God” book. (This comes from the entirety of Book 1, Chapter 35). . . .
“Sons of the Church lie hidden among the ungodly; and there are false Chris-tians within the Church.
“Such is the reply (which could have been amplified and extended) which the redeemed household of servants of the Lord Christ—the pilgrim city of Christ the King—may return to its enemies.
“She must bear in mind that among these very enemies are hidden her future citizens; and when confronted with them she must not think it a fruitless task to bear with their hostility until she finds them confessing the faith. In the same way, while the City of God is on pilgrimage in this world, she has in her midst some who are united with her in participation in the sacraments, but who will not join with her in the eternal destiny of the saints. Some of these are hidden; some are well known, for they do not hesitate to murmur against God, whose sacramental sign they bear, even in the company of his acknowl-edged enemies. At one time they join his enemies in filling the theaters, at an-other they join with us in filling the churches.
“But, such as they are, we have less right to despair of the reformation of some of them, when some predestined friends, as yet unknown even to them-selves, are concealed among our most open enemies. In truth, these two cities are interwoven and intermixed in this era, and await separation at the last judgment. My task, as far as I shall receive divine assistance, will be to say what I think necessary in explanation of the origin, development, and ap-pointed end of those two cities. And this I shall do to enhance the glory of the City of God, which will shine the more brightly when set in contrast with cities of other allegiance."
