To Florus 4.64
You therefore see that you vainly called it a sin to acknowledge that a covering must be applied to these works God made: our Lord instituted this as humanity’s maker and practiced it when he became human. May reverence for the Redeemer grant pardon because, to defend the truth of the mystery and destroy the Manichaeans’ wickedness, I speak boldly of his flesh. Unless faith demanded it, restrained reverence would not touch this subject.
Latin
Vides igitur frustra te peccatum vocasse, si in his operibus, quae Deus fecit, velamen fateamur adhibendum, quod Dominus noster et hominis formator instituit, et homo factus exercuit. Det sane veniam reverentia Redemptoris, quia ad asserendam veritatem mysterii, Manichaeorumque flagitia destruenda, loquimur de carne eius audacter; quod nisi fides exigeret, reverentia modesta non tangeret.
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.