St. Augustine's 'City of God' #1 (De citate dei)

Preface explaining his design in undertaking this work. The glorious city of God is my theme in this work which you my dearest son Marcellinus suggested and which is due to you by my promise. I have undertaken its defence against those who prefer their own gods to the Founder of this city a city surpassingly glorious whether we view it as it still lives by faith in this fleeting course of time and sojourns as a stranger in the midst of the ungodly or as it shall dwell in the fixed stability of its eternal seat which it now with patience waits for expecting until righteousness shall return unto judgment and it obtain by virtue of its excellence final victory and perfect peace. A great work this and an arduous; but God is my helper. For I am aware what ability is requisite to persuade the proud how great is the virtue of humility which raises us not by a quite human arrogance but by a divine grace above all earthly dignities that totter on this shifting scene.