Yea, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?
Read Chapter 12
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Let us try to find out who is the opponent with whom we should agree, fearing that he might deliver us to the judge, and the judge deliver us to the officer. Let us try to find him and be in agreement with him. If you are committing a sin, your adversary is the word of God. For instance, perhaps you may like to get drunk. It says to you, “Do not do that.” You may like to frequent the circus and indulge in frivolities. It says to you, “Do not do that.” You may like to commit adultery. The word of God says to you, “Do not do it.” In whatever sins you wish to follow your own will, it says to you, “Do not do that.” It is the enemy of your will until it becomes the assurance of your salvation. Oh, what an honest and helpful enemy! Sermon
He has shown that it is our duty to be watchful in seeking to be delivered quickly from our sins and to escape from blame before we arrive at the end of our natural lives…. Without exception, all of us on earth are guilty of offenses. Wicked Satan has a lawsuit against us and accuses us, because he is the enemy and the exactor. While we are on the way, before we have arrived at the end of our present life, let us deliver ourselves from him. Let us do away with the offenses of which we have been guilty. Let us close his mouth. Let us seize the grace that is by Christ that frees us from all debt and penalty and delivers us from fear and torment. Let us fear that if our impurity is not cleansed away, we will be carried before the judge and given over to the exactors, the tormentors, from whose cruelty no one can escape. They will exact vengeance for every fault, whether it is great or small. Commentary on Luke, Homily
But then who could know the times of him of whom he had no evidence to prove his existence? Justly also does He upbraid them for "not even of themselves judging what is right."
