Augustine of Hippo

“ And then mark how he excites himself to lust as by celestial authority; "But what God?" saith he. Why, he that shakes the topmost temples of the heavens with his thunder. And may not I, weak man, the same thing do? Eh, but that I did, and merrily." (Terence, Eun. Act iii. Sc. 5.) Not one whit more easily are the words learnt for all this vileness; but by their means the vileness is committed the more boldly. Not that I blame the words, being, as it were, vessels elect and precious ”

“ Compare Wisdom xiv. 5, "Therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood, and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved." Of this passage S. Rabanus Maurus writes, "What sea, save the tempestuous ocean of this naughty world? ”