“He was born of a mother that we might not be lost” by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430)

“God the Father begat God the Son without time and made Him of a Virgin in time.

He was born of the Father without a beginning.

He was born of a mother at an appointed beginning.

Born of the Father He made us.

Born of a mother He re-made us.

He was born of the Father that we might be.

He was born of a mother that we might not be lost.”

-Augustine of Hippo, “Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament,” in Saint Augustin: Sermon on the Mount, Harmony of the Gospels, Homilies on the Gospels, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. R. G. MacMullen, vol. 6, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888), 6: 529.