Chapter 29 [XV.]—Julian Opposes the Faith of His Friends to the Opinions of Catholic Believers. First of All, of Free Will.

Now therefore let us see, for the rest, in what way—after thinking that he might calumniously object against me what I believe, and feign what I do not believe—he himself professes his own faith or that of the Pelagians. “In opposition to these things,” he says, “we daily argue, and we are unwilling to yield our consent to transgressors, because we say that free will is in all by nature, and could not perish by the sin of Adam; which assertion is confirmed by the authority of all Scriptures.” If in any degree it is necessary to say this, you should not say it against the grace of God,—you should not give your consent to transgressors, but you should correct your opinion. But about this, as much as I could, and as far as it seemed to be sufficient, I have argued above.

CAPUT XV.

29. Julianus suorum fidem Catholicorum sententiis opponit. Antithesis prima, de libero arbitrio. Secunda, de nuptiis. Tertia, de conjugali commixtione. Jam itaque de caetero videamus, quemadmodum posteaquam nobis calumniose putavit objicienda quae credimus, et fingenda quae non credimus, suam ipse vel Pelagianorum fidem profiteatur. «Contra haec,» inquit, «nos quotidie disputamus, et ideo nolumus praevaricatoribus adhibere consensum, quia nos dicimus liberum arbitrium in omnibus esse naturaliter, nec Adae peccato perire potuisse: quod Scripturarum omnium auctoritate firmatur.» Haec si quemadmodum oportet, non contra Dei gratiam diceretis; non consensum praevaricatoribus adhiberetis, sed vestrum sensum corrigeretis. Hinc autem quantum potuimus, et quantum sufficere visum est, superius disputavimus.