This letter of St. Augustine which denounced a little known heresy practiced during his time has recently been uncovered. This had previously been confused with a better known work Against the Manichees.
Against the Manikins
You say that Christ did not come in the flesh but only appeared as an animated manikin. That the purity of God could not be merged with sinful flesh and thus only appeared exteriorly to be human. You claim that God being spirit could not be incarnated as man or woman but could only have the non-distinguishing sexual appearance of a manikin. That Christ could only walk on walk because his body was in fact lighter than water. You err grievously both in your understanding of Holy Scripture and of our redemption. If Christ did not come in the flesh than the sacrifice was of no avail. If he did not shed true blood and did not share our nature than we our still in our sins. If Christ truly came as a manikin then only those stoic non moving personages in department stores are saved. The Apostle John said “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” Christ after the resurrection said “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Jesus himself taught “he who eats of my flesh will have eternal life” he did not say “he who eats of my hardened plastic body like appendages will have eternal life.” You mistake our sinful will as being equated with being in the flesh. When God created the world and Adam and Eve he said that all he had created was good. You ignore the whole of scripture and only quote St. Paul saying ” those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Repent of your heresy which is of no avail to your salvation and remember that Christ was like us in all things but sin.
