To Florus · §1.106

To Florus 1.106

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With this conclusion of our discussion sealed in the sensible reader's mind, let us examine how your baptism, which you say was provided solely because of the stirring of the genitals, performs its entrusted task. It professes to cleanse human beings from sins. But when the will's case is heard before justice, a will that could not will otherwise is not pronounced guilty. When the accusation of guilt vanishes, the display of pardon vanishes too: one cannot forgive what one cannot rightly impute. Thus it fails to fulfill its promise. It finds no crimes whose forgiveness might earn it praise, nor anyone indebted to it for the benefit by which the bonds of sins are loosed, because it cannot convict those sheltered in the sanctuary of necessity of an evil will. All this shows it to be superfluous.

But the grace provided by Christ is not superfluous. Let us retain a rational account of its generosity, by which the sinner's will is proved guilty, since it could certainly have willed good just as it willed evil. The entire fiction of necessity therefore vanishes. Consequently, there is no sin from the condition of nature; free choice remains in human nature. You deny it with the Manichaeans; we acknowledge it with the apostles and all catholics.

Latin source witness

Latin

Verum consignata hac disputationis summa prudentis animo lectoris, excutiamus quid Baptisma tuum, quod propter solam genitalium commotionem dicis fuisse provisum, crediti sibi muneris exsequatur. Profitetur se a peccatis homines expiare, sed cum apud iustitiam causa agitur voluntatis, non pronuntiatur rea, quae aliud velle non potuit. Evanescente autem invidia reatus, etiam pompa indulgentis evanuit; quia non potest ignoscere, quod iure non potest imputare. Ac per hoc, promissionis suae frustratur effectibus; quoniam nec invenit crimina, quorum remissione laudetur; nec habet huius beneficii debitores, quo peccatorum vincula solvuntur; quia in necessitatis asylo collocatos non potest malae convincere voluntatis; per quae omnia supervacuum de ehenditur. Verum quia gratia quae a Christo provisa est, supervacua non est; rationabilis eius munificentia teneatur, per quod rea voluntas convincitur peccatoris, quae potuit utique tam bonum velle, quam malum voluit. Totum ergo figmentum necessitatis evanuit; ac per hoc, nullum est de naturae conditione peccatum; sed liberum arbitrium in natura hominum perseverat; quod ut tu cum Manichaeis negas, ita nos cum Apostolis et omnibus Catholicis confitemur.

About this text

Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.

Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.

Witnesses

  • Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
  • Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
  • Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.