I love how vulnerable Augustine is throughout Confessions. However, I can't help but find his introspection slightly comical. He not only talks about the depravity of his adolescence, he goes all the way back to infancy. "I have personally watched and studied a jealous baby." Yet, I must admit that the degree to which his sinful nature grieves him is convicting. Throughout the entire first four books, he laments his mistakes even though he couldn't control some of them (back to the infancy thing)! I don't think I have ever lamented over something I did in infancy--laughed, yes, grieved, no. Augustine had a very clear idea of what he deserved for his sins and a very clear reverence for what the cross accomplished.
I commented on Briana and Darby's posts.
I find it interesting that he has this particular view of sin where he sees it for how intense and evil it is. I agree with you that it is convicting that he grieves so greatly over his sinful nature - it helps put the weight of sin it into perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think that what Augustine is getting at through his account of childhood sinfulness is the clear inherency of sin in humanity. Even at infancy, a child has selfish motives. This enhances the saving truth of the Gospel as it brings out our sole need for God's mercy and Christ's grace in our lives!
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