Edition Masquer
De Trinitate

XXIV.

[XXIV] Qui ergo vident suam mentem quomodo videri potest et in ea trinitatem istam de qua multis modis ut potui disputavi, nec tamen eam credunt vel intellegunt esse imaginem dei. Speculum quidem vident, sed usque adeo non vident per speculum qui est per speculum nunc videndus ut nec ipsum speculum quod vident sciant esse speculum, id est imaginem. Quod si scirent, fortassis et eum cuius est hoc speculum per hoc quaerendum et per hoc utcumque interim videndum esse sentirent fide non ficta corda mundante ut facie ad faciem possit videri qui per speculum nunc videtur. Qua fide cordium mundatrice contempta quid agunt intellegendo quae de natura mentis humanae subtilissime disputantur nisi ut ipsa quoque intellegentia sua teste damnentur? In qua utique non laborarent et vix ad certum aliquid pervenirent nisi poenalibus tenebris involuti et onerati corpore corruptibili quod aggravat animam. Quo tandem merito inflicto malo isto nisi peccati? Unde tanti mali magnitudine admoniti sequi deberent agnum qui tollit peccatum mundi.

Traduction Masquer
The Fifteen Books of Aurelius Augustinus, Bishop of Hippo, on the Trinity

Chapter 24.--The Infirmity of the Human Mind.

They, then, who see their own mind, in whatever way that is possible, and in it that Trinity of which I have treated as I could in many ways, and yet do not believe or understand it to be an image of God, see indeed a glass, but do not so far see through the glass Him who is now to be seen through the glass, that they do not even know the glass itself which they see to be a glass, i.e. an image. And if they knew this, perhaps they would feel that He too whose glass this is, should by it be sought, and somehow provisionally be seen, an unfeigned faith purging their hearts, ¹ that He who is now seen through a glass may be able to be seen face to face. And if they despise this faith that purifies the heart, what do they accomplish by understanding the most subtle disputes concerning the nature of the human mind, unless that they be condemned also by the witness of their own understanding? And they would certainly not so fail in understanding, and hardly arrive at anything certain, were they not involved in penal darkness, and burdened with the corruptible body that presses down the soul. ² And for what demerit save that of sin is this evil inflicted on them? Wherefore, being warned by the magnitude of so great an evil, they ought to follow the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world. ³