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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres
1.
Faustus quidam fuit, gente Afer civitate Milevitanus, eloquio suavis ingenio callidus, secta Manichaeus ac per hoc nefando errore perversus. p. 251, 6
Noveram ipse hominem, quemadmodum eum commemoravi in libris Confessionum mearum.
Hic quoddam volumen edidit adversus rectam christianam fidem et catholicam veritatem.
Quod cum venisset in manus nostras lectumque esset a fratribus, desideraverunt et iure caritatis per quam eis servimus flagitaverunt, ut ei responderemus.
Hoc aggrediar nunc in nomine atque adiutorio domini et salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi, ut omnes qui haec legent intellegant, quam nihil sit acutum ingenium et lingua expolita, nisi a domino gressus hominis dirigantur. p. 251,15
Quod multis etiam tardioribus et invalidioribus occulta aequitate divinae misericoriae praestitum est, cum multi acerrimi et facundissimi, deserti adiutorio dei, ad hoc velociter et pertinaciter currerent, ut a veritatis via longius aberrarent.
Commodum autem arbitror sub eius nomine verba eius ponere et sub meo responsionem meam.
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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean
1.
Faustus was an African by race, a citizen of Mileum; he was eloquent and clever, but had adopted the shocking tenets of the Manichaean heresy. He is mentioned in my Confessions, 1 where there is an account of my acquaintance with him. This man published a certain volume against the true Christian faith and the Catholic truth. A copy reached us, and was read by the brethren, who called for an answer from me, as part of the service of love which I owe to them. Now, therefore, in the name and with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I undertake the task, that all my readers may know that acuteness of mind and elegance of style are of no use to a man unless the Lord directs his steps. 2 In the mysterious equity of divine mercy, God often bestows His help on the slow and the feeble; while from the want of this help, the most acute and eloquent run into error only with greater rapidity and willfulness. I will give the opinions of Faustus as if stated by himself, and mine as if in reply to him.