To Florus 2.117
Instead, it makes the good better. It raises everyone it receives to the same summit of sanctification, but does not find everyone in the same swamp of vices. It finds some in the condition of the innocent, others engaged in wrongdoing. This is what we say, protected by sound faith, reason’s support, and reverent understanding. Through it Christ’s grace is rightly praised and no guilt is attributed to God. Yet you say the sacrament’s authority totters. With a sharpness blunter than any pestle, you assert that grace loses its authority unless the crime of slander is attributed to it, unless it overturns the institutions of justice, unless it charges those without knowledge with the guilt of another’s conscience. Finally, you say it accomplishes nothing unless it is proclaimed to operate uniformly in everyone.
Latin
Sed de bono facere meliores; atque ad unum quidem collem omnes, quos susceperit, sanctificationis evehere, sed non omnes in eadem vitiorum palude deprehendere, verum alios invenire in statu innocentium, alios in studiis noxiorum. Hoc ergo quia dicimus, quod fidei sanitate, praesidio rationis atque intellegentiae pietate munitur, per quod et Christi gratia iure laudatur nec Deo applicatur ullus reatus, tu dicis auctoritatem nutare sacramenti atque acumine pistillo omni obtunsiore asseris auferri auctoritatem gratiae, nisi ei calumniandi flagitium adscribatur, nisi iustitiae instituta perverterit, nisi his, qui scientiam non habent, alienae conscientiae crimen impegerit, postremo nihil eam efficere, si non in omnibus uniformiter praedicetur operari.
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.