In our contribution we will discuss a specific aspect of Augustine’s doctrine of grace in a specific genre of his oeuvre: the thematisation of infant baptism and its consequence -the damnation of unbaptised children to hell— in his preaching ministry, particularly in sermones 174-176 and sermones 293-294. First, we will introduce Augustine’s position by sketching the historical, controversial and theological framework. Subsequently, we will present the said two groups of sermones ad populum. This research will enable us to evaluate the specific treatment -rhetorically, theologically and even pastorally- of this issue in his sermons.

The article deals with Augustine’s ep. 140, and the possible identity of the addressee of ep. 140 and the one of util. cred. It also deals with the main characteristics of the New Testament’s grace as Augustine presents it in ep. 140. Later it makes a comparison between the narrative structure of util. cred. and ep. 140, trying to find an argument to support the hypothesis of the identity of both Honoratus. It presents also the antimanichean arguments which are presented in ep. 140, since Honoratus was a former Manichean.

The article deals with the way in which Augustine makes a Christian use of the teachings of the Rhetorics, focusing in three aspects: the demoralization of Rhetorics, the way of reusing the modus inveniendi, and its application to the modus proferendi.

The article presents the argumentative architecture of Confessions last three books, and the influence they had in the reception of the whole work, from a metaliterary point of view. It deals also about the way in which Augustine, following the steps of the literary tradition, invites his reader to collaborate with his work, not only in an hermeneutical way, but also in a creative one.