Candide - Voltaire

Three Homilies on the Devil by St. John Chrysostom.

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, delivered these three homilies, most likely at Antioch, about the role of demons in our life. The summary for each one follows: 1) Against those who say that demons govern human affairs, and who are displeased at the chastisement of God, and are offended at the prosperity of the wicked and the hardships of the just. 2) Against those who object because the devil has not been put out of the world: and to prove that his wickedness does no harm to us—if we take heed: and concerning repentance. 3) That evil comes of sloth, and virtue from diligence, and that neither wicked men, nor the devil himself, are able to do the wary man any harm. The proof of this from many passages, and amongst others from those which relate to Adam and to Job.

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Of Education.

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Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola by Frances Alice Forbes.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491– 1556) was a Spanish knight from a local Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and was its first Superior General. After being seriously wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, he underwent a spiritual conversion while in recovery. De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony purportedly inspired Loyola to abandon his previous military life and devote himself to labour for God. He died in July 1556, was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and declared patron of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

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Philosophy of Teaching by Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Saint Augustine's De Magistro, Englished here under the title of "The Philosophy of Teaching or a Study in the Symbolism of Language", was written about A.D. 389, probably during the third year after his conversion. He was baptized by Saint Ambrose in Milan at Easter time, 387. A chief aim of the translator has been to do something to counteract a widely prevalent tradition in the "history of education", which exhibits the Christian Fathers unfairly and untruthfully as patrons of "reaction" and leaders in a "retrograde movement".

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St Augustine's Treatise on the City of God by Saint Augustine of Hippo.

After the storming and the sack of Rome by the Goths under their king, Alaric, the worshippers of false gods or heathen, as we call them, tried to prove that this calamity was due to the Christian religion, and began more fiercely and bitterly than ever to blaspheme the true God. This it was that kindled my zeal for the House of God, and induced me to defend the City of God against the calumny and misrepresentations of her foes. After many serious interruptions this great undertaking, which was extended over many years, was at length finished in twenty-two books. Of these, the first five are written in answer to those who believe that worldly prosperity is insured by the old polytheistic religion of Rome, and that calamities have followed by reason of its neglect.

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On The Predestination Of The Saints by Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Wherein the truth of predestination and grace is defended against the semi-Pelagians — those people to wit, who by no means withdraw altogether from the Pelagian heresy, in that they contend that the beginning of salvation and of faith is of ourselves; so that in virtue, as it were, of this precedent merit, the other good gifts of God are attained. Augustine shows that not only the increase, but the very beginning also of faith is in God's gift. On this matter he does not disavow that he once thought differently, and that in some small works, written before his episcopate, he was in error, as in that exposition, which they object to him, of propositions from the epistle to the Romans. But he points out that he was subsequently convinced chiefly by this testimony, "but what have you that you have not received?" which he proves is to be taken as a testimony concerning faith itself also.

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Theophilus or Love Divine by Pierre Du Moulin.

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Practical Treatise of Fear by John Flavel.

Wherein the various kinds, uses, causes, effects, and remedies thereof are distinctly opened and prescribed, for the relief and encouragement of all those that fear God in these doubtful and distracting times.

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Commentary on the Epistle to the Colossians by John Calvin.

Accordingly, not long after this Epistle was written, three Churches of great renown perished by a mournful as well as horrible occurrence—a bright mirror truly of divine judgment, if we had but eyes to see it. The Colossians had been, not indeed by Paul, but with fidelity and purity by Epaphras and other ministers, instructed in the gospel; but immediately afterwards, Satan had, with his tares, crept in, (Matt. xiii. 25,) according to his usual and invariable manner, that he might there pervert the right faith.

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Preparations for Sufferings by John Flavel.

That sufferings, both bodily and mental, are the lot of humanity, the testimony of scripture and reason abundantly confirm. But whatever may be their nature or their intensity, the mind well-grounded in the hope of a glorious immortality through faith in the merits of the Redeemer, and looking at the glory that shall follow, will “hold out stedfast unto the end,” and say with joy, “it was good for me that I was afflicted.” To illustrate this position by a variety of sound, convincing, and scriptural arguments, and examples, is the aim of this well-timed publication.

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