[IV.] The bishop Aurelius inquired: ‘Have you, Cœlestius, taught at any time, as the deacon Paulinus has stated, that infants are at their birth in the same state that Adam was before his transgression?’ Cœlestius answered: ‘Let him explain what he meant when he said, “before the transgression.’” The deacon Paulinus then said: ‘Do you on your side deny that you ever taught this doctrine? It must be one of two things: he must either say that he never so taught, or else he must now condemn the opinion.’ Cœlestius rejoined: ‘I have already said, Let him explain the words he mentioned, “before the transgression.”’ The deacon Paulinus then said: ‘You must deny ever having taught this.’ The bishop Aurelius said: ‘I ask, What conclusion I have on my part to draw from this man’s obstinacy; my affirmation is, that although Adam, as created in Paradise, is said to have been made immortal at first, he afterwards became corruptible through transgressing the commandment. Do you say this, brother Paulinus?’ ‘I do, my lord,’ answered the deacon Paulinus. Then the bishop Aurelius said: ‘As regards the condition of infants before baptism at the present day, the deacon Paulinus wishes to be informed whether it is such as Adam’s was before the transgression; and whether it derives the guilt of transgression from the same origin of sin from which it is born?’ The deacon Paulinus asked: ‘Let him deny whether he taught this, or not.’ Cœlestius answered: ‘As touching the transmission of sin, I have already asserted, that I have heard many persons of acknowledged position in the catholic Church deny it altogether; and on the other hand, others affirm it: it may be fairly deemed a matter for inquiry, but not a heresy. I have always maintained that infants require baptism, and ought to be baptized. What else does he want?’”

CAPUT IV.

«Aurelius episcopus dixit: Docuisti, Coelesti, aliquando, ut dixit diaconus Paulinus, quod infantes qui nascuntur, in eo statu sint, in quo fuit Adam ante transgressionem! Coelestius dixit: Exponat quid dixit, Ante transgressionem. Paulinus diaconus dixit: Tu nega hoc te docuisse. Unum est e duobus, aut neget se docuisse, aut jam damnet istud. Coelestius dixit: Jam dixi, exponat quomodo dixit, Ante transgressionem. Paulinus diaconus dixit: Nega te illa docuisse. Aurelius episcopus dixit: Rogo, quid collegerim ego ex hujus objectione, dico, Adam constitutus in paradiso, quod ante dicatur inexterminabilis factus, postea per transgressionem praecepti factus sit corruptibilis. Hoc dicis, frater Pauline? Paulinus diaconus dixit: Hoc, domine. Aurelius episcopus dixit: Status certe infantum hodie baptizandorum, utrum talis sit, qualis fuit ante transgressionem Adae, an certe de eadem origine peccati, de qua nascitur, transgressionis culpam trahat; hoc vult diaconus Paulinus audire. Paulinus diaconus dixit: Utrum docuit hoc, an non neget? Coelestius dixit: Jam de traduce peccati dixi, quia intra Catholicam constitutos plures audivi destruere, necnon et alios astruere: licet quaestionis res sit ista, non haeresis. Infantes semper dixi egere Baptismo, ac debere baptizari: quid quaerit aliud?»