The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-08-03
OUR RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
OLD CHURCH CALENDAR.


Jnly 81. Seventh Sunday after Trinity.
August I. Eighth Sunday after Trinity.
The truth Of the Gospel proved BY the lives
Of It's professors This NO said, last week, 10
the best evidences fot Christianity. And We
referred. especially, to domestic religion, and
the wifs's unstudied influence, By which the
husband may Be won.
The history Of Monica ID case Ia point
She was the mother Of Saint Augustine, aud
to her he owed under God, bis own conversion
from sin and unbellef 10 faith afd holiness,
whereby he became the greatest Hight that the
Christian Church has had since the Apostles.
Late In life he wrote bis spiritual biography
ID book which he called bis g Confessions. .
This, instead Of being addressed to the
courteous reader or the general public, or
some honored friend, is addressed TO God It
Is reverent, humble opening of his whole
heart to tho Heart-searcher, and is altogether
one Of the most remarkable autobiographies
ever written. This much Is said to explain
the peculiar phrassology OF the extract follow
Ing, taken from translation of his Confess
ions. Listen to what Augustine tells Of
Monica, his mother, at home:
!" Brought up soberly and modestly, and
made subject rather by Thee. o Lord, 20 her
parents, than BY her parents to Thee SO soon
as she was Of q marriageable age, they be-
slowed her on husband She served him as
her lord, and did her diligence to win him
unto Thee, preaching Thee unto him, by her
conversation by which Thou ornamentest her,
making her reverently amiable and admirable
unto her husband. And abe so endured all
wrongs as never to have any quarrel with her
husband thereon, for she had learnt not to
resist an angry husband, not in deed only, but
not even In word. Only when he was smooth
she would give an account of her actions, lest
haply he had over hastily taken offence. In
word, while many matrons, who had rhildcr
husbands yet bore even in their faces marks
of shame. and would in familiar talk t,ame
theit husbands lives Monica would blame
their tongues, giving them. as in jest earnest
advice. And when they, knowing what an
iii-tempered husband she endured, tnafselled
that 1t had never been heard, nor by any token
perceived, that be had beaten his wife, or
that there had even BEEN amy domestic differ
ence between thetn even for one day, and
contidentialy asking the reason, she taught
them her practice above mentioned. Those
wives who observed II, found the good and
those who observed II not, suffered. Finally,
her own husband, towards the very end Of his
earthly life did she gain unto Thee nor had
she ever to complain of that In him as be-
lever, which, before he was believer, she
had borne fiom him. Also her mother-ih-iaw,
who was at flrst by evil tongues, incensed
against her, she so overcame by persevering
endurance and meekness, that they lived to-
gether with remarkable sweetness of mutual
kindness. Yea, she showed herself such a
peacemaker, that whatsoever knew her did,
through her, much praise and love and honor
Thee, O Lord. For through the witness of
her holy conversation, they perceived Thy
Presence in her heart"