In letter 159, Augustine wrote of his knowledge of Ghosts:
He writes...Our brother in Christ, Gennadius … told us that he doubted whether there was any life after death. As God would not abandon a man of his disposition and works of mercy, there appeared to him in sleep a handsome youth of dignified mien, who said to him: ‘Follow me.’
He followed and came to a certain city, where he began to hear, on his right, singing of such exquisite sweetness that it surpassed all known and ordinary sweetness. Then, as he listened, he asked what it was and his guide said it was the hymns of the blessed and the saints. I do not clearly remember what he said he saw on his left. When he awoke, the dream vanished and he thought of it only as one does of a dream.
But, on another night, behold, the same youth appeared to him again and asked whether he recognized him; he answered that he did so fully and perfectly. Then the youth asked where he had known him. He remembered what to reply to that, too, and described the whole vision and the hymns of the saints which the other had led him there to hear, recalling them with ease as a recent experience.
Thereupon, the youth asked whether he had been asleep or awake when he saw what he had described. He answered:
‘It was in a dream.’
The other said:
‘You remember well, it is true, that you saw all that in a dream, but you must know that even now you see, although you are asleep.’
When he heard that, he believed it was so and expressed it by his answer.
Then the one who was teaching him continued and said:
‘Where is your body now?’
He answered: ‘In my bedroom.’
‘And do you know,’ said the other, ‘that in that same helpless body, your eyes are fast shut and useless, and that you see nothing with those eyes?’
Gennadius answered: ‘I know it.’
His guide went on: ‘Then, with what kind of eyes do you see me?’
He fell silent at this, finding no reply, and, as he remained in doubt, the youth made known what he was trying to teach by these questions.
He went on: ‘As those eyes of flesh are now inactive and perform no function while your body lies asleep in bed, yet you have eyes with which you behold me and a sight of which you make use, so, when you die and the eyes of your flesh see nothing, there will be in you another life by which you will live and sense by which you will perceive. See to it that henceforth you do not doubt of the life which remains after death.’
Thus, Gennadius a newly faithful man, says that his doubt on this matter was removed, and what was his teacher but an Angel of the most High GOD!
He writes...Our brother in Christ, Gennadius … told us that he doubted whether there was any life after death. As God would not abandon a man of his disposition and works of mercy, there appeared to him in sleep a handsome youth of dignified mien, who said to him: ‘Follow me.’
He followed and came to a certain city, where he began to hear, on his right, singing of such exquisite sweetness that it surpassed all known and ordinary sweetness. Then, as he listened, he asked what it was and his guide said it was the hymns of the blessed and the saints. I do not clearly remember what he said he saw on his left. When he awoke, the dream vanished and he thought of it only as one does of a dream.
But, on another night, behold, the same youth appeared to him again and asked whether he recognized him; he answered that he did so fully and perfectly. Then the youth asked where he had known him. He remembered what to reply to that, too, and described the whole vision and the hymns of the saints which the other had led him there to hear, recalling them with ease as a recent experience.
Thereupon, the youth asked whether he had been asleep or awake when he saw what he had described. He answered:
‘It was in a dream.’
The other said:
‘You remember well, it is true, that you saw all that in a dream, but you must know that even now you see, although you are asleep.’
When he heard that, he believed it was so and expressed it by his answer.
Then the one who was teaching him continued and said:
‘Where is your body now?’
He answered: ‘In my bedroom.’
‘And do you know,’ said the other, ‘that in that same helpless body, your eyes are fast shut and useless, and that you see nothing with those eyes?’
Gennadius answered: ‘I know it.’
His guide went on: ‘Then, with what kind of eyes do you see me?’
He fell silent at this, finding no reply, and, as he remained in doubt, the youth made known what he was trying to teach by these questions.
He went on: ‘As those eyes of flesh are now inactive and perform no function while your body lies asleep in bed, yet you have eyes with which you behold me and a sight of which you make use, so, when you die and the eyes of your flesh see nothing, there will be in you another life by which you will live and sense by which you will perceive. See to it that henceforth you do not doubt of the life which remains after death.’
Thus, Gennadius a newly faithful man, says that his doubt on this matter was removed, and what was his teacher but an Angel of the most High GOD!
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