To Florus 1.93

Listen to where he shows the power of human freedom: “I came in my Father's name, and you did not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him” (John 5:43). And again: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad” (Matthew 12:33). And again: “If you are unwilling to believe me, believe the works” (John 10:38). Most forcefully of all, he says that his intention was hindered by human will: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I wanted to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling!” (Matthew 23:37). He does not then add, “But I gathered you against your will.” Rather: “Your house will be left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38). Thus he shows that they are rightly punished for their evil action, but ought not to have been forced away from their own intention by any compulsion. In the same way he had spoken through the prophet: “If you are willing and listen to me, you will eat the good things of the land. If you are unwilling and do not listen, the sword will devour you” (Isaiah 1:19–20). How, then, do you not deny free choice, when you pronounced it unfree, not indeed in your own wording but through the Gospel's testimony as interpreted by you?