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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

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Faustus said: Another reason for not receiving the Old Testament is, that both the Old and the New teach us not to covet what belongs to others. Everything in the Old Testament is of this kind. It promises riches, and plenty, and children, and children's children, and long life, and withal the land of Canaan; but only to the circumcised, the Sabbath observers, those offering sacrifices, and abstaining from swine's flesh. Now I, like every other Christian, pay no attention to these things, as being trifling and useless for the salvation of the soul. I conclude, therefore, that the promises do not belong to me. And mindful of the commandment, Thou shall not covet, I gladly leave to the Jews their own property, and content myself with the gospel, and with the bright inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. If a Jew were to claim part in the gospel, I should justly reproach him with claiming what he had no right to, because he does not obey its precepts. And a Jew might say the same to me if I professed to receive the Old Testament while I disregard its requirements.

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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

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Faustus dixit: Cur non accipis testamentum vetus?p. 310,8 Quia et ab ipso hoc et ex novo didicimus aliena non concupiscere. Quid autem inquis _alienum habet testamentum vetus?_Immo quid habet non alienum? Divitias promittit et ventris saturitatem et filios et nepotes vitamque longam et cum his Chananitidis regnum, sed omnia haec circumcisis et observantibus sabbata et immolantibus sibi et abstinentibus a porcina et huiusmodi ceteris. Quae quia ego neglego et christianus omnis, ut inepta scilicet et ad salutem animi minime pertinentia, idcirco nec quae promittit ad me iam [ex]spectare cognosco, memorque quia sit mandatum: Non concupisces aliena, Iudaeis bona sua habere libens volensque permisi solo scilicet evangelio et regni caelorum splendida hereditate contentus. p. 310,20 Nam ut Iudaeo, si sibi evangelium usurparet, iure increpitans dicerem: Improbe, quid tibi cum eo est, cuius praecepta non servas? , sic vereor, ne mihi eadem Iudaeus increpitet tenenti testamentum vetus, cuius mandata contemnam.