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IntraText Library
St. Augustine
On Christian Doctrine
IntraText CT - Text
BOOK II.
Argument
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BOOK
II
.
Argument
Having
completed
his
exposition
of
things
,
the
author
now
proceeds
to
discuss
the
subject
of
signs
.
He
first
defines
what
a
sign
is
,
and
shows
that
there
are
two
classes
of
signs
,
the
natural
and
the
conventional
.
Of
conventional
signs
(
which
are
the
only
class
here
noticed
),
words
are
the
most
numerous
and
important
,
and
are
those
with
which
the
interpreter
of
Scripture
is
chiefly
concerned
.
The
difficulties
and
obscurities
of
Scripture
spring
chiefly
from
two
sources
,
unknown
and
ambiguous
signs
.
The
present
book
deals
only
with
unknown
signs
,
the
ambiguities
of
language
being
reserved
for
treatment
in
the
next
book
.
The
difficulty
arising
from
ignorance
of
signs
is
to
be
removed
by
learning
the
Greek
and
Hebrew
languages
,
in
which
Scripture
is
written
,
by
comparing
the
various
translations
,
and
by
attending
to
the
context
.
In
the
interpretation
of
figurative
expressions
,
knowledge
of
things
is
as
necessary
as
knowledge
of
words
;
and
the
various
sciences
and
arts
of
the
heathen
,
so
far
as
they
are
true
and
useful
,
may
be
turned
to
account
in
removing
our
ignorance
of
signs
,
whether
these
be
direct
or
figurative
.
Whilst
exposing
the
folly
and
futility
of
many
heathen
superstitions
and
practices
,
the
author
points
out
how
all
that
is
sound
and
useful
in
their
science
and
philosophy
may
be
turned
to
a
Christian
use
.
And
in
conclusion
,
he
shows
the
spirit
in
which
it
behoves
us
to
address
ourselves
to
the
study
and
interpretation
of
the
sacred
books
.
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