To Florus 1.54
Having defended these points as far as the present passage allowed, let us return to where we left off. We will discuss this very subject more fully wherever an opportunity arises. See with what a clear confession I rejected both those who would deny baptism to infants and you who dare to stain God's justice by what you claim baptism presupposes. I testified that I hold nothing other than this: the established mysteries must be administered at absolutely every age in the same words in which they were handed down, and must not be changed to suit different cases. But the sinner becomes completely good from being evil, while the innocent person, who has no evil of his own will, becomes better from being good, that is, becomes best. Both are consecrated and pass into Christ's members (compare 1 Corinthians 12:13), but one is found in an evil life and the other in a good nature. The former corrupted by wrongdoing the innocence he received at birth. The latter, without praise or blame attaching to his will, has only what he received from God his Creator. Happier in the unpainted freshness of his earliest age, he has been unable to spoil the goodness of his simplicity. He has earned nothing through deeds but retains only what the kindness of so great a maker gave him (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Latin
Quae quoniam, ut locus interim hic patiebatur, munivi, revertamur illo unde digressi sumus; de hoc ipso, ubicumque opportunum fuerit, plenius locuturi. Ecce quanta confessionis luce, et eos qui Baptisma parvulis denegarent, et vos qui eius praeiudicio iustitiam Dei audetis maculare, reprobavi; protestans aliud me non tenere, quam instituta mysteria iisdem, quibus tradita sunt verbis, in omni prorsus aetate esse tractanda, nec pro causarum varietate debere mutari; verum fieri peccatorem ex malo perfecte bonum; innocentem autem, qui nullum habet malum propriae voluntatis, ex bono fieri meliorem, id est, optimum; ut ambo quidem in Christi membra transeant consecrati; sed unus deprehensus in mala vita, alter in bona natura. Ille enim innocentiam, quam exortus acceperat, prava actione corrupit; hic vero sine laude, sine crimine voluntatis, hoc solum habet, quod a Deo conditore suscepit, qui infucata primaevitate felicior, bonum simplicitatis suae vitiare non potuit, nullum habens de actibus meritum, sed hoc solum retinens, quod tanti opificis dignatione possedit.
About this text
Julian’s six preserved books to Florus, quoted section by section in Augustine’s unfinished reply. Augustine’s refutations are omitted. Latin of Julian’s words is on each section.
Julian’s own books do not survive as a separate manuscript. English follows his words as Augustine quotes them in the Unfinished Work Against Julian. Augustine’s replies are omitted. We do not restore a Julian text independent of Augustine.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Unfinished Work Against Julian (Latin · Julian’s words as quoted, Books 1–6)
- Checked print Augustinus.it Latin of the Unfinished Work (Latin · Same work)
- Checked print Migne PL 45 (Latin · Hard cases)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.