Seventeen Short Treatises of Saint Augustine

Book excerpt: THE present volume consists of seventeen short works of St. Augustine, all taken from the VIth volume of the Benedictine Edition, except the last, which was inserted from the VIIIth volume as connected in some degree with several of the others, and important in itself. The first and last may be classed together as relating to the general principles of evidence in Religion, and the last but one with some of the earlier ones, as going over the Creed with a particular exposition. There is of course some repetition of matter in the several expositions of the Creed, but it was thought worth while to put them together, both in order to give a more complete view of his teaching, and in order to shew how much of it was based on the Creed, and how it was used by the Christians of that time. The Treatise on Catechizing the Unlearned is remarkable as a specimen of the times, besides its great value in shewing what was thought the most needful instruction, and giving hints for conveying it, for which purpose it should be compared with the Sermon to the Catechumens. Aeterna Press