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Church History for Children

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Church History for Children

4 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Augustine (4)

It was busy in the streets of Milan. Church was out and many people were walking home.

Some talked a little bit about the sermon they had heard. “That was a nice sermon this morning.”

“Oh, yes, Bishop Ambrose preached so earnestly!”

Augustine and his mother Monica were also walking home from the church. They didn’t talk much. Monica was still thinking about the sermon. Her eyes were shining. Augustine, too, was thinking about the church service, but his face looked troubled.

Surely, it was a nice sermon. Ambrose could say everything so nicely. Augustine always liked to hear the bishop. He also wanted to learn how to impress people with nice words. But now he also started to listen to what the bishop was saying. The bishop was warning the people all the time that they needed a new heart. It had shaken Augustine up quite a bit, and now he came out of the church so unhappy. He felt that the bishop preached about things he did not understand. What was a new heart? And he spoke about God, but who was God? Augustine did not know. The bishop also talked about the law of God. He warned about many sins. Augustine felt that those sins also were in his heart. But why? And what could he do about it?

Augustine had many questions. Augustine had a nice job in Milan now, he was not poor anymore, and maybe one day he would become a very important man, but… Augustine was not happy.

Augustine was walking in the garden. He was thinking — again — about his unhappy feelings. His heart was full of sins; he knew that. But what could he do about it? He did not know. It was impossible for him not to sin. Sometimes he wanted to live a holy life. But then again … he sinned so much. Was there anyone who could help him?

Where could he find rest? Suddenly he fell on his knees under a big tree. He was weeping and crying, “O God, how long yet? Deliver me from sin! Pardon my many sins!”

Augustine did not know the way anymore. He just sighed and prayed. Suddenly he heard something. Next door, the neighbor’s children were playing outside. One of the children was singing a song: “Take up and read! Take up and read!”

Augustine did not hear the other words, only that line, “Take up and read!” Those words seemed to him to be the voice of God.

He went inside and took the Bible. Oh, if only the Lord would show him what to do!

He opened the Bible and read a little piece in Romans: “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”

Augustine felt that this was an answer from the Lord. He was ashamed. The Lord also knew all his sins. But now the Lord still was saying to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to shed His blood for lost sinners.” What a wonder that was … for such a sinner.

Now there was peace in the heart of Augustine, a peace he never had known before.

It was quiet in the church of Milan. The bishop Ambrose had finished his sermon. He came down from the pulpit.

Close to the front Monica was sitting with tears in her eyes. She could not comprehend it: After thirty-two years the Lord had heard her prayers. Augustine was to be baptized, together with his son and a friend.

She saw the old bishop coming to the front. Deeply affected, he pronounced the solemn words: “Augustine, I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Not long after this Monica died. How remorsefully Augustine wept about the loss of his dear mother!

He went back to Africa and became a bishop in the little town of Hippo. He labored there for thirty- five years. Augustine wanted to do whatever he could for the church of God. Sometimes there were people who did not preach the right things about the Lord and His service. One of them was Pelagius. He said that men were born without sin. But Augustine knew from himself that this was not the truth. All people came into the world with a sinful heart. He wanted the people to know the truth. He wanted to warn them against all those wrong sayings. Therefore, Augustine wrote several instructive books.

Finally Augustine died, too. He could never sin anymore. Now he was with his Lord forever.

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 januari 1995

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Church History for Children

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 januari 1995

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's