Does Anyone Know Where I Can Find Augustine's Mousetrap

[CalvinOwen]

Does anyone know exactly where I can find this quote in Augustine's works?

"The devil was conquered by his own trophy of victory. The devil jumped for joy, when he seduced the first man and cast him down to death. By seducing the first man, he slew him; by slaying the last man, he lost the first from his snare. The victory of our Lord Jesus Christ came when he rose, and ascended into heaven; then was fulfilled what you have heard when the Apocalypse was being read, ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the day’ [Rev. 5:5]. . . . The devil jumped for joy when Christ died; and by the very death of Christ the devil was overcome: he took, as it were, the bait in the mousetrap. He rejoiced at the death, thinking himself death’s commander. But that which caused his joy dangled the bait before him. The Lord’s cross was the devil’s mousetrap: the bait which caught him was the death of the Lord." St. Augustine

 

[ByzantineDixie]

CO...my googling skills tell me its from Augustine, Sermons, 261 (or CCLXI, I think!) Unfortunately, I can't verify the acuracy of the reference nor could I find the full sermon text online or in any of the electronic files I have...sorry.

Peace

Rose

 

[CalvinOwen]

Yeah I got the same hit but it's a nonsensical reference. There is no 261 Sermon.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

I also did a world search on the Augustine files I have on my computer (which I believe are exactly what the CCEL site has) and could find no work that talked of a mousetrap or mouse trap. Even did a seach by the words mouse and trap. So it must be in something that is not commonly out there?

If you find it, be sure to post back. Thanks-----R

 

[CalvinOwen]

I will if I find it, it's supposed to be a famous quote of Augustine which produced much theological debate up and until Anslem. You can see it all over the internet as well, just no source.