S. AURELII AUGUSTINI HIPPONENSIS EPISCOPI IN EPISTOLAM JOANNIS AD PARTHOS TRACTATUS DECEM .
TRACTATUS III. De eo quod sequitur, Pueri, novissima hora est usque ad id, Cap.
TRACTATUS IV. De eo quod sequitur, Et verax est, et non est mendax usque ad id, Cap. et cap.
TRACTATUS V. In id quod sequitur, Omnis qui natus est ex Deo, non facit peccatum usque ad id, Cap.
TRACTATUS VI. In illud, Et in hoc cognoscimus quia ex veritate sumus usque ad id, etc. Cap. et cap.
TRACTATUS VII. Ab eo quod sequitur, Jam vos ex Deo estis filioli usque ad id, Cap.
TRACTATUS VIII. De eo quod sequitur, Si diligamus invicem, Deus in nobis manebit usque ad id, Cap.
TRACTATUS IX. De eo quod sequitur, In hoc perfecta est dilectio in nobis usque ad id, Cap.
11. “Unto this end was the Son of God manifested.” Now then, brethren, mark! All sinners are begotten of the devil, as sinners. Adam was made by God: but when he consented to the devil, he was begotten of the devil; and he begat all men such as he was himself. With lust itself we were born; even before we add our sins, from that condemnation we have our birth. For if we are born without any sin, wherefore this running with infants to baptism that they may be released? Then mark well, brethren, the two birth-stocks,247 Nativitates. Adam and Christ: two men are; but one of them, a man that is man; the other, a Man that is God. By the man that is man we are sinners; by the Man that is God we are justified. That birth hath cast down unto death; this birth hath raised up unto life: that birth brings with it sin; this birth setteth free from sin. For to this end came Christ as Man, to undo248 Solvat. the sins of men. “Unto this end was the Son of God manifested, that He may undo the works of the devil.”
11. In hoc manifestatus est Filius Dei. Eia, fratres, omnes peccatores ex diabolo nati sunt, in quantum peccatores. Adam a Deo factus est: sed quando consensit diabolo, ex diabolo natus est; et tales omnes genuit qualis erat. Cum ipsa concupiscentia nati sumus; et antequam nos debita nostra addamus, de illa damnatione nascimur. Nam si cum nullo peccato nascimur, quid est quod cum infantibus ad Baptismum curritur, ut solvantur? Ego duas nativitatos attendite, fratres, Adam et Christum : duo sunt homines; sed unus ipsorum homo homo, alter ipsorum homo Deus. Per hominem hominem, peccatores sumus: per hominem Deum, justificamur. Nativitas illa dejecit ad mortem; ista nativitas erexit ad vitam: nativitas illa trahit secum peccatum; nativitas ista liberat a peccato. Ideo enim venit Christus homo, ut solveret peccata hominum. In hoc manifestatus est Filius Dei, ut solvat opera diaboli.