To Florus 1.60
There is no sin in a human being if there is nothing of that person's own will or consent. Everyone with even a little sense agrees with me on this without hesitation. You, however, grant that there has been nothing of an infant's own will. It is reason, not I, that draws the conclusion: therefore there is no sin in infants. They are certainly not brought to the Church to be defamed, or rather to defame God. They are brought to praise God, whom they acknowledge as the author both of the goods of nature and of spiritual gifts.
Latin
Nihil est peccati in homine, si nihil est propriae voluntatis vel assensionis; hoc mihi hominum genus, quod vel leviter sapit, sine dubitatione consentit. Tu autem concedis nihil fuisse in parvulis propriae voluntatis; non ego, sed ratio concludit: nihil igitur in eis esse peccati. Nequaquam ergo propter hoc ad Ecclesiam deferuntur, ut infamentur, immo ut infament Deum: sed deferuntur, ut laudent Deum, quem et bonorum naturalium et donorum spiritalium protestantur auctorem.
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.