Book II.

On Original Sin.

Wherein Augustin shows that Pelagius really differs in no respect, on the question of original sin and the baptism of infants, from his follower Cœlestius, who, refusing to acknowledge original sin and even daring to deny the doctrine in public, was condemned in trials before the bishops—first at Carthage, and afterwards at Rome; for this question is not, as these heretics would have it, one wherein persons might err without danger to the faith. Their heresy, indeed, aimed at nothing else than the very foundations of Christian belief. He afterwards refutes all such as maintained that the blessing of matrimony is disparaged by the doctrine of original depravity, and an injury done to God himself, the Creator of man who is born by means of matrimony.

LIBER SECUNDUS. DE PECCATO ORIGINALI.

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Ostendit Augustinus, Pelagium in quaestione de originali peccato ac de parvulorum Baptismate, nihil reipsa dissentire a discipulo ipsius Coelestio, qui peccatum originale confiteri nolens, vel etiam aperte negare ausus, Carthagine prius, ac postea Romae, episcopalibus judiciis damnatus est. Quaestionem enim istam non earum esse, ut haeretici iidem volebant, in quibus praeter fidei periculum errare contingit: imo hunc eorum errorem ipsa omnino fidei christianae petere fundamenta. Refellit eos postea, qui originalis vitii dogmate nuptiarum bonitati detrahi, Deoque ipsi, hominis qui per nuptias generatur conditori injuriam fieri contendebant.