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Reply to Faustus the Manichaean

48.

This is a brief reply to Faustus in behalf of the character of the patriarchs and prophets. It is the reply of the babes of our faith, among whom I would reckon myself, inasmuch as I would not find fault with the life of the ancient saints, even if I did not understand its mystical character. Their life is proclaimed to us with approval by the apostles in their Gospel, as they themselves in their prophecy foretold the future apostles, that the two Testaments, like the seraphim, might cry to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts." ¹ When Faustus, instead of the vague general accusation which he makes here, condemns particular actions in the lives of the patriarchs and the prophets, the Lord their God, and ours also, will assist me to reply suitably and appropriately to the separate charges. For the present, the reader must choose whether to believe the commendation of the Apostle Paul or the accusations of Faustus the Manichaean. ²

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Contra Faustum Manichaeum libri triginta tres

48.

Hoc Fausto pro moribus patriarcharum et prophetarum ex voce parvulorum nostrorum breviter responderim; inter quos et me ipsum deputaverim, dum tamen non reprehendam vitam sanctorum antiquorum, etiam si non intellegam, quam mystice vixerint, quorum vitam nobis laudabiliter apostoli evangelio suo praedicarunt, sicut illi sua prophetia futuros apostolos praedixerunt, ut clament ad se invicem duo testamenta, sicut duo seraphim: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus dominus deus sabaoth. Cum vero coeperit Faustus patriarchas et prophetas non generali atque indefinita reprehensione, sicut hic fecit, sed proprie facta eorum commemorando criminari, adiuvabit me dominus deus eorum, qui est etiam noster, ut ad singula congruenter apteque respondeam. Nunc vero illos homines Faustus Manichaeus vituperat, Paulus autem apostolus laudat; eligat quisque, cui credat!