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386 Credibility of the Gospel Uislorij.
Mani's epistle of the Foundations was read in their assemblies,''
as divers pieces, beside canonical scripture, were
often read among- other ancient christians.
It is likely that they also had discourses, explaining* the
principles of religion, and exhorting to the practice of
virtue. For whilst Augustine was among them, he observed
that' they earnestly warned men against sensuality, ambition,
and such other fiinlts.
III. They observed the christian appointments of baptism
and the eucharist. Felix, in his dispute with Augustine,
mentions'' both these ordinances, as usual among them.
They practised infant baptism. This appears both from
' Faustus and Mani himself. They both speak of it as
common among christians; and they show their approbation
of it.
They baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost, as we learn from" Athanasius.
Jerom" speaks of the Manichaean baptism.
I only add, Augustine says that? the Manichees, in that
respect differing from the Pelagians, say infants have need
of a Saviour on account of the corruption which the sin of
the first man transmits upon them.
They had the eucharist frequently, as'i Augustine knew
very well, though he never was present at it.
They communicated in both kinds. As much may be
inferred from the infamous story of their eucharist, formerly
» Ipsa enira nobis illo tempore miseris quando lecta est, illurainati dicebamur
a vobis. Contr. Ep. Fund. c. v. n. 6.
* See Vol. ii. of this work, p. 32, 33, 58.
' Neque hoc eorum doctringe tribuo : fateor enim et illos sedulo monere,
ut ista caveantur. De Ut. Cred. c. i. n. 3.
''. Si adversarius niillus contra Deum est, ut quid baptizati surnus ? ut quid
( ucharistia ? ut quid christianitas, si contra Deuni nihil est ? Act. cum. Fel. c.
] 9. ap. Aug. T. 8. ' Unde etiam omnis religio, et maxime
Christiana, ad sacramentura rudes infantes appellat ? Faust. 1. 24. c. i.
*" Qui his verbis mihi interrogandi sunt : Si omne malum actuale est,
antequam malum quispiam agat, quare accipit purificationem aquae, cum
nullum malum egerit per se ? Aut si nee dum egit, et purificandus est, licet
[al. liquet,] eos naturaliter malae stirpis pullulationem ostendere. Manet. Ep.
ap. Aug. op. Imp. 1. 3. c. 187.
" OijT(x) MaT't;^atoi, Kai ^(JvyiQ, Kai o'l th ^anoffareiog [ia9t]rai, ra ovofiara
XiyovTtc, aSiv t/TTov fiaiv ai^itriKoi. Or. 2. contr. Ar. n. 43. p. 510. E.
".Diaconus.erat, et a Manichasis baptizatos recipiebas. Hier. contr.
Lucifer. T. 4. P. 2. p. 305. m.
P quod non vult Manichaeus ; ut tamen propter vitium, quod in eos
per peccatuin primi honiinis pertransiit, fateatur et parvulis necessarium salva-
toreni, quod non vult Pelagius. Contr. duas Ep. Pclag. c. 4. n. 3. T. 10.
•I Nam et eucharistiam audivi a vobis saepe quod accipiatis. Tempus autem
CI m melateret, quid accipiatis, unde nOsse potui ? Contr. Fort. Disp. i. n. 3.