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284 Credibility of titp Gospel llislory.
to his labours: I think that at the conclusion Augustine
intimates lie had considered some chapters only of" Faustus.
Of this writer Beausobre speaks farther to this purpose :
' We> might expect in this work of Faustus pure and genuine
' Manichceism : but beside that the African sect was one of
' the most absurd and heretical among them, Faustus treats
' but a small number of questions.' But, as before said,
perhaps we have not his piece entire : and here again our
desires may be raised for thoAvorks of Agapius, MJiich seem
to have been more full and copious. However, I shall be
able to make good use of the work of Faustus, for showing
the Manichaean sentiments concerning the scriptures, and
other matters.
Augustine insinuates that^ Faustus was at first very poor,
but that he lived well, and somewhat delicately, among the
Manichees; notwithstanding the strict rules by which all
the elect are bound to govern themselves. Augustine calls
him'^ bishop : he speaks of the great esteem which Faustus
was in among that people ; but says that,'* excepting
his eloquence, there Avas little in him extraordinary; and
that he was no more able, than their other teachers, to remove
the difticulties in the Manichaean scheme, which he then
began to be sensible of. However, Augustine'' has often
commended Faustus's manner of speaking; and*" owns that
he was well qualified to make converts, and that he seduced
many. He must have excelled in the art of speaking, or
Augustine^ had not given him the preference in that respect
to Ambrose, the famous bishop of Milan, who had more
learning, and was a good speaker likewise. Faustus and
" Quapropter, post omnes Fausti calumnias refutatas, duntaxat horum ejus
capitulorum, quibus hoc opere quantum Dominus adjuvare dignalus est,
sufficienter, ut arbitror, prolixeque respond!, &c. Aug. conlr. Faust. 1. 33. c. 9.
y lb. p. 224. ^ Et quia in mattis dormiunt, mattarii appel-
lantur : a (juorum stratis longe dissimiles fuerant plumtB Fausti, et caprinse
lodices ; (lua deliciarum atfluentia non solum mattarios fastidiebat, sed etiam
domum patris sui hominis pauperis Milevitani. Contr. Faust. 1. v. c. 5.
* Jam vencrat Carthaginem quidam Manichaeorum episcopus, Faustiis
nomine, magnus laqueus diaboli ; et mulfi implicabantur in eo per illecebrara
suaviloquentiae, quam ego tametsi laudabam, &c. Confess. 1. 5. c. 3. n. 3.
^ quffi mihi cunctatio in dies major ol)oriebatur, ex quo ilium hominem,
cujus nobis adventus, ut nosti, ad expiicanda omnia, (jufE nns movebant,
quasi de calo promittebatur, audivi, eumque excepta quadam eloquentia talem,
qualem CEeteros cognovi. De Util. Cred. c. 8. n. 20.
«= Ergo ubi venit, exp-ertus sum hominem gratum et jucundum verbis, et ea
quae ilia solent dicere miilto suavius garrientem. Confess. 1. 5. c. G. n. 10.