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344 Crcdlbilii]) of the Gospel History.
part of The Epistle of the Foimdation, where Mani delivers
some of his notions about two principles, he adds :
' How'-
' will he prove these things to me'l how came he to know
' them himself? ' If JMani had any where declared that these
things had been communicated to him by special revelation,
Augustine would have taken notice of it here. Nay, it seems
to me that^ from the following words of Augustine it may
be strongly argued, and even concluded, that Mani did not
make use of such expressions, to recommend his uncertain
disputed doctrines, or to assure the truth of them, and that
it Mas not his manner of teaching-.
5. The leading principles of Mani's scheme, wherein he
differed from other christians, are of a philosophical nature.
Such principles may be recommended without pretending'
to inspiration. Felix, in the dispute with Augustine, boasts
that ' Mani'' had taught them the beginning, middle, and
' end : who made the world, why, and out of what ; the course
' of the sun and moon, and other things.' Augustine*'
answers that Christ promised to send the Spirit, to teach us
all truth, meaning religious truth : not to make us mathematicians
and philosophers, but christians.
6. Mani and his followers were great reason ers. So he is
represented in many places'' of the Acts of Archelaus. Such
an one was Faustus : he openly professeth thaf the doctrine
of Mani taught him not to receive every thing recommended,
^ Haec mihi unde probaturiis est? aut haec ipse unde cognovit ? ib. c. 13.
n. 17. * Et quoniam qusesivi unde ipse probet, nunc quaero
unde ipse cognoverlt ? Si dicit sibi esse revelatum a Spiritu Sancto, suamque
nientem divinitus illustratam, ut ea, quee dicit, certaet manifesta cognosceret;
ipse significat, quod intersit inter cognoscere et credere.—Debuit ergo non
nobis polliceri scientiam, neque manit'c^tam cognitionem ;— sed dicere potius
sibi ista esse monstrata, illos autem, quibus naiTantur, credere sibi debere quae
nesciunt. ib. n. 18. ^ Et quia venit Maniclifeus, et per suam
praedicationem docuit nos initium, medium, et^neni: docuit nos de fabrica
mundi, quare facta est, et unde facta est, et qui fecerunt : docuit nos, quare
d;es, et quare nox : docuit nos de cursu solis et lunae. Act. cum. Pel. 1. i.
c. 9.
"^ Non legitur in Evangelio Dominum dixisse, Mitto
vobis Paracletum, qui vos doceat de cursu solis et luuaj. Christianos enim
facere volebat, non mathematicos. Aug. ib. c. 10.
•* Pro niniia autem humanitate Marcelli adesse festinavi, ut qualiter obser-
vare modum divinie religionis eum edoceam : ne, sicut muta animalia, quae
intellectu carent, nee quid agunt advertunt, ita etiam Marcellus, ap. Arch.
n. 13. p. 24. Vid. ib. p. 7, 8, 25, et passim.
* Et tamen me quidam adversus capituli hujus necessitudinem Manichaea
fides reddidit tutum, quae principio mihi non cunctis, quae ex Salvatoris
nomine scripta leguntur passim, credere persuasit, sed probare, si sint cadem
vera, si sana, si incorru]jta.—Tu vero, qui temere credis, qui naturae beneficium
rationem ex hominibus damnas, cui inter verum falsumque judicare religio
est, cuique bonum a contrario separare, non minus formidini est, quam inian-
tibus manise, &c. Faust. I. 18. c. .3.