--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain…" description: "\"I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? was it for my good that the rein was laid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png" --- # I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou… ![“I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? was it for my good that the rein was laid loose, as it were, upon me, for me to sin? or was it not laid loose? If not, why does it still echo in our ears on all sides, "Let him alone, let…” quote by Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png) > “I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? was it for my good that the rein was laid loose, as it were, upon me, for me to sin? or was it not laid loose? If not, why does it still echo in our ears on all sides, "Let him alone, let him do as he will, for he is not yet baptised?" but as to bodily health, no one says, "Let him be worse wounded, for he is not yet healed." How much better then, had I been at once healed; and then, by my friends' diligence and my own, my soul's recovered health had been kept safe in Thy keeping who gavest it.” [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author questions the purpose of delayed baptism, pondering divine intent and personal spiritual health. **In simple terms:** Questioning why baptism was delayed and its effect on the soul. Key Takeaway Seek understanding of spiritual timing. Themes faith theology spirituality Mood contemplative serious Type theological personal When to use this quote - personal prayer - spiritual counseling - theological study - self‑reflection Key Concepts divine providence human doubt Questions to Reflect On - What does delayed baptism mean for you? - How do you reconcile divine will with personal suffering? A Different Perspective The passage reflects personal doubt rather than doctrinal certainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diligence/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/) ## Related quotes > [O God, help me to win, but in thy wisdom if thou willest me not to win, then O God, make me a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/o-god-help-me-to-win-but-in-thy-wisdom-if-thou-willest-me-not-to-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I desire to think, speak, and do only what Thou willest. Lord, without Thee I can do nothing; with Thee I can do all."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-w-tileston/i-desire-to-think-speak-and-do-only-what-thou-willest-lord-without/) [Mary W. Tileston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-w-tileston/) > [There are three ways in which sins are forgiven: in baptism, in prayer, and in the greater humility of penance; yet God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/there-are-three-ways-in-which-sins-are-forgiven-in-baptism-in-prayer/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Was it for my good that the rein was laid loose, as it were, upon me, for me to sin? or was it not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/was-it-for-my-good-that-the-rein-was-laid-loose-as-it-were-upon-me/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Baptism does not profit a man outside unity with the Church ... For many heretics also possess this Sacrament but not the fruits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/baptism-does-not-profit-a-man-outside-unity-with-the-church-for-many/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [All diseases of Christians are to be ascribed to demons; chiefly do they torment freshly-baptized Christians, yea, even the guiltless new-born infants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/all-diseases-of-christians-are-to-be-ascribed-to-demons-chiefly-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Cyprian was not issuing a new decree but was keeping to the most solid belief of the Church in order to correct some who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/cyprian-was-not-issuing-a-new-decree-but-was-keeping-to-the-most/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Within the Church, sins are forgiven in three ways: by baptism, by prayer, and by the greater humility of penance; yet God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/within-the-church-sins-are-forgiven-in-three-ways-by-baptism-by/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Church membership was so important that Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer into the membership of Christ's church at midnight with Paul's back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/church-membership-was-so-important-that-paul-and-silas-baptized-the/) [Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/) > [“By all of your beauty I am so inspired. Your love has baptized me by fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/by-all-of-your-beauty-i-am-so-inspired-your-love-has-baptized-me-by/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-jesus-stepped-into-the-waters-of-the-jordan-and-was-baptized-by/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I don't want to say I drank the Kool-Aid because I'm definitely not religious and I don't buy into any religion at all. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/i-don-t-want-to-say-i-drank-the-kool-aid-because-i-m-definitely-not/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-i-was-to-ask-you-tonight-if-you-were-saved-do-you-say-yes-i-am/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Saint Augustine > [Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/lust-indulged-became-habit-and-habit-unresisted-became-necessity/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The playthings of our elders are called business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-playthings-of-our-elders-are-called-business/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/do-what-you-can-and-pray-for-what-you-cannot-yet-do/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [My mother spoke of Christ to my father, by her feminine and childlike virtues, and, after having borne his violence without a murmur or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/my-mother-spoke-of-christ-to-my-father-by-her-feminine-and-childlike/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Wicked sons do not have the Holy Ghost in the same way as do beloved sons, and yet they do have Baptism. 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You give it to the poor, and God receives it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/god-has-no-need-of-your-money-but-the-poor-have-you-give-it-to-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing conquers except truth and the victory of truth is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-conquers-except-truth-and-the-victory-of-truth-is-love/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“O God, who is ever at work and ever at rest. May I be ever at work and ever at rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/o-god-who-is-ever-at-work-and-ever-at-rest-may-i-be-ever-at-work-and/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Our Lord reserved to Himself certain things which He would do in due time in a manner outside the course and order of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/our-lord-reserved-to-himself-certain-things-which-he-would-do-in-due/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/give-me-chastity-and-continence-but-not-yet/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen. He either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/nothing-therefore-happens-unless-the-omnipotent-wills-it-to-happen-he/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [The reward of patience Is patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-reward-of-patience-is-patience/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) [Explore all 672 Saint Augustine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) ## More Baptized quotes > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 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I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-jesus-stepped-into-the-waters-of-the-jordan-and-was-baptized-by/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“By all of your beauty I am so inspired. Your love has baptized me by fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/by-all-of-your-beauty-i-am-so-inspired-your-love-has-baptized-me-by/) [India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/) > [Church membership was so important that Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer into the membership of Christ's church at midnight with Paul's back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-adams/church-membership-was-so-important-that-paul-and-silas-baptized-the/) [Jay Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-adams/) > [I taught what was clear in Acts 11:26: SAVED = CHRISTIAN = DISCIPLE, simply meaning that you cannot be saved and you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-mckean/i-taught-what-was-clear-in-acts-11-26-saved-christian-disciple-simply/) Kip McKean > [“mk.16.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. mk.16.16 He that believeth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mk-16-15-and-he-said-unto-them-go-ye-into-all-the-world-and-preach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never to read another book that was born and baptized (with ink) at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/never-to-read-another-book-that-was-born-and-baptized-with-ink-at-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [All I know is that after 10 years of being sober, with huge support to express my pain and anger and shadow, the grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/all-i-know-is-that-after-10-years-of-being-sober-with-huge-support-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I have not come to seek place, nor to interfere with the business and calling of those men who have borne the burden since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cowdery/i-have-not-come-to-seek-place-nor-to-interfere-with-the-business-and/) [Oliver Cowdery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cowdery/) > [I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have tried to walk a Christian life. And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/i-was-baptized-alongside-my-mother-when-i-was-8-years-old-since-then/) [Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/) > [“I adhere to the fact that I am baptized, not to my life and my vocation, but to the Man called Jesus Christ. Through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-adhere-to-the-fact-that-i-am-baptized-not-to-my-life-and-my/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“In 1857 a revival swept over this country in the east and on to the western cities, clear over to the Pacific coast. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/in-1857-a-revival-swept-over-this-country-in-the-east-and-on-to-the/) [D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/) Browse all 199 Baptized quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then deferred? was it for my good that the rein was laid loose, as it were, upon me, for me to sin? or was it not laid loose? If not, why does it still echo in our ears on all sides, \"Let him alone, let him do as he will, for he is not yet baptised?\" but as to bodily health, no one says, \"Let him be worse wounded, for he is not yet healed.\" How much better then, had I been at once healed; and then, by my friends' diligence and my own, my soul's recovered health had been kept safe in Thy keeping who gavest it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Augustine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know-if-so-thou-willest-for-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baptized" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know-if-so-thou-willest-for-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae0/saint-augustine-328_baptized_i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know_2605070.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I beseech Thee, my God, I would fain know, if so Thou willest, for what purpose my baptism was then…” — Saint Augustine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Saint Augustine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I beseech Thee, my God, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know-if-so-thou-willest-for-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/i-beseech-thee-my-god-i-would-fain-know-if-so-thou-willest-for-what/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```