To Florus 4.55
Thus nature has prescribed that there are certain things reason, and likewise faith with reverence, may name, though modesty and decency of conduct do not allow them to be exposed to sight. In this way the Teacher of the Nations assigns reality to Christ’s flesh and holiness to his spirit: “Great,” he says, “is the mystery of devotion, which was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit, appeared to angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in this world, and was taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Just as he commended this to be believed as true, so he announced that its opponents would arise at the end of the age. For he immediately continues: “In the last times some will depart from the faith, attending to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared, forbidding marriage, requiring abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by those who have known the truth; for every creature of God is good” (1 Timothy 4:1–4).
The apostle both foresaw and condemned this pollution of the churches that you vomited out by following Manichaeus: this betrayal by those departing from the faith, which consists in preaching natural evil and condemning marital union. He showed not only what would be said, but also what would follow from it.
Latin
Ita natura praescripsit esse quaedam, quae ut ratio, ita fides cum religione pronuntiet; et tamen pudor et decentia conversationis oculis non permittat exponi. Hoc modo Magister etiam Gentium veritatem carni eius assignat, et spiritui sanctitatem. Magnum, inquit, pietatis sacramentum, quod manifestatum est in carne, iustificatum est in spiritu, apparuit Angelis, praedicatum est in Gentibus, creditum est in hoc mundo, assumptum est in gloria [n87] . Quod sicut commendavit cum veritate credendum, ita impugnatores eius in fine denuntiavit saeculi nascituros; nam statim sequitur: In novissimis autem temporibus recedent quidam a fide, attendentes spiritibus seductoribus, doctrinis daemoniorum in hypocrisi mendacia loquentium, cauteriatam habentes conscientiam, prohibentium nubere, abstinere a cibis, quos Deus creavit ad percipiendum cum gratiarum actione fidelibus, et his qui cognoverunt veritatem; quoniam omnis creatura Dei bona [n88] . Hanc ergo Ecclesiarum contaminationem, quam de Manichaei consectatione vomuisti, et hanc a fide recedentium praevaricationem, quae in naturalis mali praedicatione et in commixtionis coniugalis damnatione consistit, et Apostolus praevidit et punivit, non solum quid diceretur, sed etiam quid consequeretur ostendens.