To Florus 4.55

Thus nature has prescribed that there are certain things reason, and likewise faith with reverence, may name, though modesty and decency of conduct do not allow them to be exposed to sight. In this way the Teacher of the Nations assigns reality to Christ’s flesh and holiness to his spirit: “Great,” he says, “is the mystery of devotion, which was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit, appeared to angels, was preached among the nations, was believed in this world, and was taken up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16). Just as he commended this to be believed as true, so he announced that its opponents would arise at the end of the age. For he immediately continues: “In the last times some will depart from the faith, attending to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared, forbidding marriage, requiring abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and by those who have known the truth; for every creature of God is good” (1 Timothy 4:1–4).

The apostle both foresaw and condemned this pollution of the churches that you vomited out by following Manichaeus: this betrayal by those departing from the faith, which consists in preaching natural evil and condemning marital union. He showed not only what would be said, but also what would follow from it.