To Florus 4.89
For you abandon the Manichaeans when they disparage pigs and goats, though you accompany them in accusing human nature. With them, too, you overthrow in Christ not the appearance of flesh but the basis of his example. At least in words, you also remove natural sin from Christ, lest you seem to place him too under the devil’s power, something not even Manichaeus himself did. Yet you praise Jerome, who does not fear to blaspheme him by saying that he entered into familiarity even with voluntary crimes. So you roll without turning aside among your friends’ various filth and inventions, and rage in abuse only against the catholics. For they say that God is not the author of evil; that human beings made by him are not naturally evil; that God’s laws are just; that his image can turn away from evil and do good (compare Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 34:14); and that Christ committed no sin in his members, his commands, or his judgments (compare 1 Peter 2:22). Therefore, although the assertion of truth makes you sick, I believe that thoughtful people are instructed, and even some of those wounded by your lies can be healed (Genesis 1:26–27) (Psalm 34:14) (1 Peter 2:22).
Latin
Nam Manichaeos deseris in vituperatione suum et caprarum, quos in humanae naturae criminatione comitaris; cum quibus etiam in Christo non speciem carnis, sed rationem evertis exempli. Submoves etiam a Christo verbis interim naturale peccatum, ne et ipsum sub potestate diaboli collocare videaris, quod non fecit vel ipse Manichaeus. Sed laudas Hieronymum, qui ita eum non metuit blasphemare, ut dicat illum familiaritatem cum voluntariis quoque iniisse criminibus. Ita inter diversas amicorum sordes et commenta volutatus sine deflexu, in Catholicorum solum efferaris iniurias, quia dicunt Deum mali auctorem non esse, homines qui ab eo fiunt, malos non esse naturaliter, leges Dei iustas esse, imaginem eius posse declinare a malo et facere bonum; Christum nec in membris, nec in praeceptis, nec in iudiciis ullum perpetrasse peccatum. Atque ideo si tu assertione veritatis aegrescas, credimus tamen prudentes instrui, nonnullosque etiam de his quos mendacia tua sauciarunt, posse sanari.