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  CONFESSIONS - BOOK VIII - CHAPTER VI
  by St. Augustine
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13. And now I will tell and confess unto thy name, O Lord, my helper and
my redeemer, how thou didst deliver me from the chain of sexual desire
by which I was so tightly held, and from the slavery of worldly
business.[252] With increasing anxiety I was going about my usual
affairs, and daily sighing to thee. I attended thy church as frequently
as my business, under the burden of which I groaned, left me free to do
so. Alypius was with me, disengaged at last from his legal post, after a
third term as assessor, and now waiting for private clients to whom he
might sell his legal advice as I sold the power of speaking (as if it
could be supplied by teaching). But Nebridius had consented, for the
sake of our friendship, to teach under Verecundus--a citizen of Milan
and professor of grammar, and a very intimate friend of us all--who
ardently desired, and by right of friendship demanded from us, the
faithful aid he greatly needed. Nebridius was not drawn to this by any
desire of gain--for he could have made much more out of his learning had
he been so inclined--but as he was a most sweet and kindly friend, he
was unwilling, out of respect for the duties of friendship, to slight
our request. But in this he acted very discreetly, taking care not to
become known to those persons who had great reputations in the world.
Thus he avoided all distractions of mind, and reserved as many hours as
possible to pursue or read or listen to discussions about wisdom.

14. On a certain day, then, when Nebridius was away--for some reason I
cannot remember--there came to visit Alypius and me at our house one
Ponticianus, a fellow countryman of ours from Africa, who held high
office in the emperor\\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-augustine/confessions-book-viii-chapter-vi/
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