Historical-Critical Dissertation on the Ancient and New Manichaeans

livered from Cyprian St. Cyprian of Carthage, a 3rd-century bishop and martyr, must be believed to have taken its origin from the tradition of the Apostles; just as there are many things which the universal Church holds, and for this reason are rightly believed to have been commanded by the Apostles, although they are not found in writing. Now truly, neither the ancient pagans original: "gentiles", nor their philosophers, nor the more ancient heretics, nor Scythianus, nor Terebinthus In early Christian polemics, Scythianus and Terebinthus were described as the predecessors of Mani, the founder of Manichaeism—who were the precursors of the Manichaeans—nor Manichaeus himself, nor the Paulicians, nor the Albigensians Medieval dualist sects often accused by the Catholic Church of being modern-day Manichaeans, nor the Lutherans, nor the Calvinists, nor the Jansenists The followers of Cornelius Jansen; the author is grouping contemporary Protestant and Catholic dissenters with ancient heresies (the successors of the Manichaeans), possess any authority at all in the Church of God. For the doctrine of these men is false, impious, nefarious, and pestiferous, and utterly contrary to good morals and the written word of God; which the Church of Christ has not only never accepted, nor guarded, nor defended, but has even always detested with universal, solemn, and public execrations formal condemnations or curses. Therefore, this execrable doctrine neither has, nor can have, God and Christ the Lord as its author, nor the Apostles as its first teachers, nor the successors of the Apostles, the bishops, as its propagators. Thus, so far is it from the case that the Manichaean heresy—although it be long-lasting and persistent—pertains to the Tradition of the Church, that it rather stands at the furthest distance from Catholic Tradition and is most exceedingly abhorrent to it. These are the things about which I wished you to be forewarned. Friend Reader, Farewell.