The following is extracted from a sermon Augustine gave to the competentes, those enrolled for baptism at the Easter Vigil.

Approach him, then, with crushed hearts, because he is "near to those who have crushed their hearts, and he will save the lowly of heart" (Ps 33:19). Eagerly approach him that you may be enlightened. For you are still in darkness, and the darkness in you. You will be light in the Lord who "enlightens every one who comes into this world" (Jn 1:9). You have been conformed to the world; be reformed for God. May you at some point grow tired of your Babylonian captivity. Look! That mother Jerusalem in heaven comes cheerfully to meet you on your way and to invite you, and she implores you to "desire life and to love to see good days" (Ps 33:12), days such as you have never had in this world, and never will have. In this world, in fact, your days were disappearing like smoke; for them to be increased was for them to be decreased, for them to grow was to become less, for them to rise was to vanish. You who have lived for sin for many and evil years: desire to live for God, and not for the many years that eventually must come to an end, rushing toward destruction in the shadow of death, but for good years, akin to that true and vigorous life when no hunger, no thirst, will weary you, because faith will be your food and wisdom your drink. For now in the Church you bless the Lord in faith; but then in full sight you will be watered from the overflowing fountains of Israel. (Augustine, Sermon 216 , 3; Pl 38, 1078-1079)