The
Enchiridion.
————————————
Argument.
Laurentius having asked Augustin
to furnish him with a handbook of Christian doctrine, containing in
brief compass answers to several questions which he had proposed,
Augustin shows him that these questions can be fully answered by
any one who knows the proper objects of faith, hope, and love. He
then proceeds, in the first part of the work (Chap. ix.—cxiii.),
to expound the objects of faith, taking as his text the Apostles’
Creed; and in the course of this exposition, besides refuting
divers heresies, he throws out many observations on the conduct of
life. The second part of the work (Chap. cxiv.—cxvi.) treats of
the objects of hope, and consists of a very brief exposition of the
several petitions in the Lord’s Prayer. The third and concluding
part (Chap. cxvii.-cxxii.) treats of the objects of love, showing
the pre-eminence of this grace in the gospel system, that it is the
end of the commandment and the fulfilling of the law, and that God
himself is love.