The Paternian heretics, also called Venustians, are like the Manichaeans. They say the devil made the…
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The Paternian heretics, also called Venustians, are like the Manichaeans.They say the devil made the human body from the loins to the feet, while God placed the upper parts upon it as though upon a base.They add that human effort requires only keeping the soul clean, which they say lives in the stomach and head.If the pubic region is smeared with the filth of every shameful act, they say this is no concern of theirs.Thus, to serve lust disgracefully themselves, they always assign it a title of independent power.
Sed Paterniani - inquis - iidemque Venustiani haeretici [n71] similes Manichaeis, dicunt a lumbis usque ad pedes diabolum fecisse corpus hominis, superiores vero partes Deum velut supra basem aliquam collocasse: adduntque nihil ab hominis studio requiri, quam ut anima quam in stomacho et capite habitare dicunt, munda servetur: pubem vero si omnium flagitiorum sordibus oblinatur, aiunt ad suam non pertinere curam. Ita semper - inquis - ut ipsi libidini turpiter serviant, titulum ei propriae potestatis affigunt. Cuius cognatione sententiae
Arbitrio verecundantium velabatur, quod non arbitrio volentium movebatur; et quod non serviens voluntati, suo iure corpus libido succendat