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Against Vigilantius

17.

At the request of the reverend presbyters, as I have said, I have devoted to the dictation of these remarks the labour of a single night, for my brother Sisinnius is hastening his departure for Egypt, where he has relief to give to the saints, and is impatient to be gone. If it were not so, however, the subject itself was so openly blasphemous as to call for the indignation of a writer rather than a multitude of proofs. But if Dormitantius wakes up that he may again abuse me, and if he thinks fit to disparage me with that same blasphemous mouth with which he pulls to pieces Apostles and martyrs, I will spend upon him something more than this short lucubration. I will keep vigil for a whole night in his behalf and in behalf of his companions, whether they be disciples or masters, who think no man to be worthy of Christ’s ministry unless he is married and his wife is seen to be with child.

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Contra Vigilantium liber unus

17.

Aperta blasphemia indignationem flagitat.—Haec, ut dixi, sanctorum presbyterorum rogatu, unius noctis lucubratione dictavi, festinante admodum fratre Sisinnio, et propter Sanctorum refrigeria ad Aegyptum ire properante: alioquin et ipsa materia apertam habuit blasphemiam, quae indignationem magis scribentis, quam testimoniorum multitudinem flagitaret. Quod si Dormitantius in mea rursus maledicta vigilaverit, et eodem ore blasphemo, quo apostolos et martyres lacerat, de me quoque putaverit detrahendum, nequaquam illi brevi lucubratiuncula, sed tota nocte vigilabo, et sociis illius immo discipulis vel magistris, qui nisi tumentes uteros viderint feminarum, maritos earum Christi ministerio arbitrantur indignos.