Pride and Discipline of the soul.
Roman military success and political eminence served a providential purpose.
R R Reno writing in First Things discusses Augustinian political theology.
In our day – for any day or anyone – “pride” and “glory” take center stage.
Reno notes, however, from Book V of City of God that Rome excelled “in matters of human honor” and “we may profit from the kindness of the Lord our God by considering what great things those Romans despised, what they endured, and what lusts they subdued.” The Romans disciplined their souls “for the sake of merely human glory” but their example can be useful to us in subduing pride.”
Why should Christians promote Roman virtue? Augustine says, first, that our teaching could change.
Reno continues
By Augustine’s accounting, God’s providence ensured Rome’s worldly successes “for the advantage of the citizens of the eternal City [the City of God] during their pilgrimage here.” For as he recounts, the great Roman heroes did not covet wealth, and they often made great sacrifices in order to win praise from their fellow citizens. We do well, therefore, to “diligently and soberly contemplate such examples.” The pagan Romans can put the followers of Christ to shame, and their example can awaken in us a heroic desire for sanctity. If Rome, an earthly city, “was so greatly loved by its citizens for the sake of merely human glory,” how much more should we be willing to serve the heavenly city.
Reno notes that parents should be concerned for “soulcraft.” We parents set an example for our children. We set aside wealth and human attainment for the benefit of our progeny. As Reno says, “Properly ordered earthly loves can prepare our hearts for a higher love.”
The second point taken from Augustine is that our views of human politicians could change. The Romans gave up their private good for the public good. The motive was to “bask in the glory of the Roman populace.” Not everyone is motivated by money. Some are motivated by the need of self-congratulation. Christians refer to such attitudes as “vain.” Yet, it was this vanity that secured national freedom and preserved the opportunity to Christian flourishing. Both Augustine and Reno suggest we must not forget that in earthly terms, one may lead to the other.
GLORY meant one thing to the Romans and means something else to us Christians. It should be remembered that what we see in this earthly life may be a dim reflection of what God originally intended for His image-bearers. We can learn much from our unbelieving counterparts. As Jesus said, “The sons of this world are more shrewd when dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).
Found here in the print edition (February 2019 p 67) under the heading “Augustinian Political Authority.” Also online here: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/02/a-failing-papacy