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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

11.

Et nunc quidem ista pro suscepto negotio ne silentio praeterirentur, quanta potuimus brevitate perstrinximus. Ceterum membratim articulatimque discussa libros magnos multosque fecerunt, nihil aliud in eis quam Christum prophetatum ostendentes. p. 509,18 Ita fit, ut omnia, quae ex illa scriptura propterea putatis non observari a christianis, quod ea Christus solverit, propterea potius reperiantur non observari a christianis, quod ea Christus impleverit. Ipsa quippe talium figurarum observatio praenuntiatio Christi fuit. Unde quid mirum est, quid absurdum, immo quid non congruum et consentaneum, si post eius cessavit adventum, quicquid ideo fiebat, ut eius praenuntiraret adventum? Figurae igitur rerum, quae ad hoc observabantur, ut ipsa earum observatione venturus Christus prophetaretur, usque adeo non debent propterea putari per Christi adventum non impletae, quia illo veniente non observabantur, ut nisi iam per adventum Christi implerentur, adhuc observarentur. p. 510,1 In nullum autem nomen religionis, seu verum, seu falsum, coagulari homines possunt, nisi aliquo signaculorum vel sacramentorum visibilium consortio colligentur; quorum sacramentorum vis inenarrabiliter valet plurimum et ideo contempta sacrilegos facit. Impie quippe contemnitur, sine qua non potest perfici pietas.

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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

11.

I touch upon these things merely in passing with the utmost brevity, rather than omit them altogether. The subjects, taken separately, have filled many large volumes, written to prove that these observances were typical of Christ. So it appears that all the things in the Old Testament which you think are not observed by Christians because Christ destroyed the law, are in fact not observed because Christ fulfilled the law. The very intention of the observances was to prefigure Christ. Now that Christ has come, instead of its being strange or absurd that what was done to prefigure His advent should not be done any more, it is perfectly right and reasonable. The typical observances intended to prefigure the coming of Christ would be observed still, had they not been fulfilled by the coming of Christ; so far is it from being the case that our not observing them now is any proof of their not being fulfilled by Christ's coming. There can be no religious society, whether the religion be true or false, without some sacrament or visible symbol to serve as a bond of union. The importance of these sacraments cannot be overstated, and only scoffers will treat them lightly. For if piety requires them, it must be impiety to neglect them.