To Florus 3.124
We therefore spoke truly: those deceived by you become Manichaeans to avoid being called heretics. Fearing a false disgrace, they incur a real crime, like wild animals surrounded by a line of feathers to drive them into nets, forced into actual destruction by an empty fear.
We call God the creator of newborn children in this sense: since it is certain that the God of catholics, who is the true God, can do nothing evil, the dignity of the maker himself forbids belief that the human beings he makes come from his hands unjust and guilty before they use their will. By denying one of these points you undermine both. You say you believe God is the creator, but the creator of evil human beings. Consequently you contradict your own doctrine when you deny asserting that the devil creates humans.
Latin
Nos igitur verum diximus, quoniam qui a vobis decipiuntur, ne vocentur haeretici, fiunt Manichaei et, dum falsam verentur infamiam, verum crimen incurrunt instar ferarum, quae circumdantur pinnis, ut cogantur in retia et in verum exitium vana formidine contrudantur. Deum vero nascentium conditorem ita dicimus, ut quoniam certum est Deum catholicorum, qui verus est, nihil facere posse, quod malum est, ipsius opificis dignitate homines, qui ab eo fiunt, ante voluntatis usum de manibus eius iniqui et rei nullo modo exire credantur; quorum vos cum alterum negatis, utrumque subruitis. Ais quippe credere te quidem conditorem Deum, sed malorum hominum, ac per hoc infitiaris dogmati tuo, cum negas te asserere diabolum hominum conditorem.
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.