A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

478 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[436]Immediately my countenance was changed, and I began mostearnestly to consider whether it was usual for children in anykind of game to sing such words; nor could I remember everto have heard the like anywhere. So, restraining the torrent ofmy tears, I rose up, interpreting it in no other way than as acommand to me from Heaven to open the book and read thefirst chapter I should light upon. For I had heard of Anthony[see also § 77, e], that accidentally coming in whilst the Gospelwas being read, he received the admonition as if what was readwas addressed to him: “Go and sell that thou hast, and give tothe poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come andfollow me” [Matt. 19:21]. And by such oracle was he forthwithconverted unto Thee. So quickly I returned to the place whereAlypius was sitting; for there had I put down the volume of theApostles, when I rose thence. I seized, I opened, and in silenceI read that paragraph on which my eye first fell: “Not in riotingand drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strifeand envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make notprovision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof” [Rom. 13:13,14]. No further would I read; there was no need; for instantly, asthe sentence ended, by a light, as it were, of security infused intomy heart, all the gloom of doubt vanished away.Closing the book, then, and putting either my finger between,or some other mark, I now with a tranquil countenance madeit known to Alypius. And he thus disclosed to me what waswrong in him, which I knew not. He asked to look at what Ihad read. I showed him; and he looked even further than I hadread, and I knew not what followed. This, in fact, followed:“Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye” [Rom. 14:1]; whichhe applied to himself, and discovered to me. By this admonitionwas he strengthened; and by a good resolution and purpose, verymuch in accord with his character (wherein, for the better, hewas always far different from me), without any restless delayhe joined me. Thence we go to my mother. We tell her—she