To Florus 5.2
The book called Wisdom also shows this, expressing the words of the ungodly who, after the shadow of present things, see the merits of the blessed laid bare: ‘We considered their life madness; and how have they been counted among God’ (Isaiah 22:13)s children?’ (Wisdom 5:4–5). This is why the perseverance of the faithful, resisting the wickedness of the times and choosing ‘to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy the passing pleasure of sin’ (Hebrews 11:25), is accused of stubbornness and contentiousness by those who say, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ (1 Corinthians 15:32; Isaiah 22:13) (Psalm 145:13, 17). Nothing is thought more consistent with prudent planning than buying the servitude of a degraded soul, or the unreliable peace of passing moments. It is chiefly this baseness of cowardly hearts that has allowed the filthy Manichaean doctrine to sail amid the churches’ shipwrecks. If a free and manly authority had stood firm in those exercising the priestly office, public agreement would have crushed the inventions of the advocates of inherited sin just as invincible reason overthrows them. But since lovers of present things value nothing less than religion, they have advanced into accusations against God. We have thus been forced to prove through such lengthy arguments that our God, who is the true God, is faithful in his words, just in his judgments, and holy in his works (Psalm 145:13, 17; LXX/Vulgate 144:13, 17).
Latin
Ostendit hoc etiam liber ille, qui Sapientia dicitur, cum verba exprimens impiorum, qui post umbram praesentium retecta beatorum merita contuentur: Vitam, inquit, illorum aestimabamus insaniam; et quomodo, reputati sunt inter filios Dei? [n5] Inde est ergo, quod fidelium perseverantia temporum iniquitatibus contumax, et eligens affligi cum populo Dei magis quam temporalis peccati habere iucunditatem [n6] , ab his qui dicunt: Manducemus et bibamus, cras enim moriemur [n7] , nomine pertinaciae et contentionis arguitur; nihilque magis putatur cautis convenire consiliis, quam degeneris animi famulatum emere, vel infidam momentorum quietem. De hac quippe potissimum ignavorum pectorum vilitate factum est, ut per Ecclesiarum naufragia spurcum manichaeorum dogma velificet. Quia si in his qui sacerdotii munere fungebantur, libera stetisset et virilis auctoritas, traducianorum commenta ut invicta ratio proruit, ita publica contrivisset assensio. Verum cum nihil ab hominibus praesentium amantibus, religione vilius aestimatur, itum est in criminationes Dei; ut nobis necessitas immineret, tam longis disputationibus Deum nostrum, qui est Deus verus, fidelem in verbis suis, iustum in iudiciis, sanctum in operibus approbare [n8] .
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.