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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

21.

We can now answer the question, how we know that these books were written by the apostles. In a word, we know this in the same way that you know that the books whose authority you are so deluded as to prefer were written by Manichaeus. For, suppose some one should raise a question on this point, and should contend, in arguing with you, that the books which you attribute to Manichaeus are not of his authorship; your only reply would be, to ridicule the absurdity of thus gratuitously calling in question a matter confirmed by successive testimonies of such wide extent. As, then, it is certain that these books are the production of Manichaeus, and as it is ridiculous in one born so many years after to start objections of his own, and so raise a discussion on the point; with equal certainty may we pronounce it absurd, or rather pitiable, in Manichaeus or his followers to bring such objections against writings originally well authenticated, and carefully handed down from the times of the apostles to our own day through a constant succession of custodians.

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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

21.

Hic iam si quaeratis a nobis, nos unde sciamus apostolorum esse istas litteras, breviter vobis respondemus inde nos scire, unde et vos scitis illas litteras esse Manichaei, quas miserabiliter huic auctoritati praeponitis. Si enim et hinc vobis aliquis moveat quaestionem et scrupulum contradictionis impingat, dicens libros, quos profertis Manichaei, non esse Manichaei, quid facturi estis? p. 782,21 Nonne potius eiusdem deliramenta ridebitis, qui contra rem tanta conexionis et successionis serie confirmatam impudentiam huius vocis emittat? Sicut ergo certum est illos libros esse Manichaei et omnino ridendus est, qui ex traverso veniens tanto post natus litem vobis huius contradictionis intenderit: ita certum est Manichaeum vel Manichaeos esse ridendos aut etiam dolendos, qui tam fundatae auctoritati a temporibus apostolorum usque ad haec tempora certis successionibus custoditae atque perductae audeant tale aliquid dicere.