Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
May it therefore never happen that we say to you, Live as you like! Don"t worry! God will never condemn anyone"it is enough that you keep the Christian faith. He redeemed you, he shed his blood for you"he will not damn you. If the desire to go and enjoy a show comes over you, do that too! After all, what is so bad about that? And these festivals that they celebrate in the whole city, with people rejoicing and feasting and (so they think) amusing themselves"while they are actually ruining themselves"at public tables " you go too, celebrate, do not worry! God"s mercy is so boundless, he will let everything slide! "Crown yourselves with rosebuds before they wither!" And in the house of your God, feast there too, whenever you want! Stuff yourselves with food and drink along with your friends. Indeed, these creatures were given that you might enjoy them. Can God have given these things to the godless and the pagans, and not to you? If we were to make speeches like this to you, perhaps more people would join us. And if some perhaps noticed that we were saying things that were not entirely correct, we would alienate those few, but we would gain the favor of the great majority. If we were to act in this way, however, we would be proclaiming to you not the words of God and of Christ but our own words. We would be shepherds who pasture themselves, and not the sheep. - "Sermon 46.3.8"
