Direct quotation
Against Julian 3.17.31
The event was prophetic of what has now been shown in the region of Africa: neither the husband nor the chastity of the beautiful and holy woman who represented the church was safe, and she was kept unharmed there by God’s action.
We must pray to this God, most blessed brother Turbantius, dearest fellow priest, that in this time too, by equally mighty acts, he will not delay in rescuing the catholic church—the mature, fruitful, chaste, and beautiful bride of his Son—from violation by the Manichaeans who carry on their raids in Africa or from Africa.
Latin
Factum fuisse propheticum, quod nunc ostensum est in regione Africae; pulchrae et sanctae mulieris, quae Ecclesiae formam tenebat, tutum non esse vel coniugem, vel pudorem, et quia ibi divinitus intacta servata est
Orandus est hic Deus, frater beatissime Turbanti, consacerdos dilectissime, ut paribus etiam hac tempestate virtutibus Ecclesiam catholicam, Filii sui sponsam, maturam, fecundam, castam, decoram, a Manichaeorum constupratione, in Africa vel ex Africa latrocinantium, eruere non moretur
Multo magis a Baptismate prohiberi non debet infans, qui recens natus nihil peccavit, nisi quod secundum Adam carnaliter natus, contagium mortis antiquae prima nativitate contraxit, ut ei remittantur non propria, sed aliena peccata
About this text
Earlier four-book work to Turbantius, surviving as excerpts arranged by Augustine’s witness. Latin source text is on each section when recovered.
English follows Julian’s words as Augustine excerpts them in Against Julian. This is not a recovered complete To Turbantius.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Augustine, Against Julian (Latin · Excerpts arranged by Augustine’s books)
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.