On the Soul and its Origin, Book III

Book III

• On the Soul and its Origin III.1 — Augustin’s Purpose in Writing. As to that which I have thought it my duty to write to you, my much-loved son Victor, I would have you to entertain this above all other thoughts in your mind, if I seemed to despise…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.2 — Why Victor Assumed the Name of Vincentius. The Names of Evil Men Ought Never to Be Assumed by Other Persons. Chapter 2 [II.]—Why Victor Assumed the Name of Vincentius. The Names of Evil Men Ought Never to Be Assumed…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.3 — He Enumerates the Errors Which He Desires to Have Amended in the Books of Vincentius Victor. The First Error. Chapter 3 [III.]—He Enumerates the Errors Which He Desires to Have Amended in the Books of Vincentius…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.4 — Victor’s Simile to Show that God Can Create by Breathing Without Impartation of His Substance. Chapter 4 [IV.]—Victor’s Simile to Show that God Can Create by Breathing Without Impartation of His Substance. “But,” you…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.5 — Examination of Victor’s Simile: Does Man Give Out Nothing by Breathing?. Prove now yourself what I say, for your own satisfaction in your own case; emit breath by exhalation, and see whether you can continue long…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.6 — The Simile Reformed in Accordance with Truth. Well, now, you ought to have thought of all this when you were writing, and not to have brought God before our eyes in that favourite simile of yours, of inflated and…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.7 — Victor Apparently Gives the Creative Breath to Man Also. Chapter 7 [V.]—Victor Apparently Gives the Creative Breath to Man Also. But what is the meaning of that, which you have thought proper to add to this simile,…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.8 — Victor’s Second Error. (See Above in Book I. 26 [XVI.].). Do not, I pray you, believe, say, or teach that “Thus is God ever giving souls through infinite time, just as He who gives is Himself ever existent,” if you…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.9 — His Third Error. (See Above in Book II. 11 [VII.].). Again, do not, I pray you, believe, say, or teach that “the soul deservedly lost something by the flesh, although it was of good merit previous to the flesh,” if…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.10 — His Fourth Error. (See Above in Book I. 6 [VI.] and Book II. 11 [VII.].). Neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “the soul, by means of the flesh, repairs its ancient condition, and is born again by the very means…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.11 — His Fifth Error. (See Above in Book I. 8 [VIII.] and Book II. 12 [VIII.].). Chapter 11 [VIII.]—His Fifth Error. (See Above in Book I. 8 [VIII.] and Book II. 12 [VIII.].) Neither believe, nor say, nor teach, if you…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.12 — His Sixth Error. (See Above in Book I. 10-12 [IX., X.], and in Book II. 13, 14 [IX., X.].). Chapter 12 [IX.]—His Sixth Error. (See Above in Book I. 10-12 [IX., X.], and in Book II. 13, 14 [IX., X.].) If you wish to…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.13 — His Seventh Error. (See Above in Book II. 13 [IX.].). If you wish to be a catholic, do not venture to believe, to say, or to teach that “they whom the Lord has predestinated for baptism can be snatched away from his…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.14 — His Eighth Error. (See Above in Book II. 13 [IX.].). Refuse, if you wish to be a catholic, to believe, or to say, or to teach that “it is of infants, who are forestalled by death before they are born again in Christ,…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.15 — His Ninth Error. (See Above in Book II. 14 [X.].). If you wish to be a catholic, I pray you, neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “there are some mansions outside the kingdom of God which the Lord said were in…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.16 — God Rules Everywhere: and Yet the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ May Not Be Everywhere. You may, however, not improbably contend that all things, it is true, belong to the kingdom of God, because He reigns in heaven, reigns on…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.17 — Where the Kingdom of God May Be Understood to Be. Now, they who say this, do no doubt seem to themselves to say a good deal, because theirs is only a slight and careless view of Scripture; nor do they understand in…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.18 — His Tenth Error. (See Above in Book I. 13 [XI.] and Book II. 15 [XI.]). Again, if you wish to be a catholic, I pray you, neither believe, nor say, nor teach that “the sacrifice of Christians ought to be offered in…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.19 — His Eleventh Error. (See Above in Book I. 15 [XII.] and Book II. 16.). Once more, if you desire to be a catholic, do not believe, or say, or teach that “some of those persons who have departed this life without…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.20 — Augustin Calls on Victor to Correct His Errors. (See Above in Book II. 22 [XVI.].). Chapter 20 [XIV.]—Augustin Calls on Victor to Correct His Errors. (See Above in Book II. 22 [XVI.].) Now these errors, and such as…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.21 — Augustin Compliments Victor’s Talents and Diligence. It would take me too long a time to handle and discuss fully all the points which I wish to be amended in your books, or rather in your own self, and to give you…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.22 — A Summary Recapitulation of the Errors of Victor. What these particular errors are, I have, to the best of my ability, already explained. But I will run over them again with a brief recapitulation. One is, “That God…vatican.va
• On the Soul and its Origin III.23 — Obstinacy Makes the Heretic. Well, now, as for these eleven propositions, they are extremely and manifestly perverse and opposed to the catholic faith; so that you should no longer hesitate to root them out and cast…vatican.va