These men, even as the Gentiles, have been sent forth by Satan to bring
dishonor upon the Church, so that, in one way or another, men hearing the
things which they speak, and imagining that we all are such as they, may turn
away their ears from the preaching of the truth; or, again, seeing the things
they practice, may speak evil of us all, who have in fact no fellowship with
them, either in doctrine or in morals, or in our daily conduct. But they lead a
licentious life… So unbridled is their madness, that they declare they have in
their power all things which are irreligious and impious, and are at liberty to
practice them; for they maintain that things are evil or good, simply in virtue
of human opinion.
They deem it necessary, therefore, that by means of transmigration from
body to body, souls should have experience of every kind of life as well as
every kind of action (unless, indeed, by a single incarnation, one may be able
to prevent any need for others, by once for all, and with equal completeness,
doing all those things which we dare not either speak or hear of, nay, which we
must not even conceive in our thoughts, nor think credible, if any such thing
is mooted among those persons who are our fellow-citizens), in order that, as
their writings express it, their souls, having made trial of every kind of
life, may, at their departure, not be wanting in any particular. …
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