Writings in Connection with the Donatist ControversyAugustine, of Hippo, Saint
ReligionChristian
Writings in Connection with the Donatist Controversy
Augustine, of Hippo, Saint
Donatists; Donatists -- Controversial literature
CHAP. XL.--77. Also another Felix of Ammacura[512] said: "I too,
following the authority of the holy Scriptures, give my judgment that
heretics should be baptized, and with them those also who maintain
that they have been baptized among schismatics. For if, according to
the warning of Christ, our fountain is sealed to ourselves,[514] let
all the enemies of our Church understand that it cannot belong to
others; nor can He who is the Shepherd of our flock give the water unto
salvation to two different peoples. And therefore it is clear that
neither heretics nor schismatics can receive anything heavenly, who
dare to accept from men that are sinners and aliens from the Church.
When the giver has no ground to stand upon, surely neither can the
receiver derive any profit."
78. To him we answer, that the holy Scriptures nowhere have enjoined
that heretics baptized among heretics should be baptized afresh, but
that they have shown in many places that all are aliens from the Church
who are not on the rock, nor belong to the members of the dove, and
yet that they baptize and are baptized, and have the sacrament of
salvation without salvation. But how our fountain is like the fountain
of Paradise, in that, like it, it flows forth even beyond the bounds
of Paradise, has been sufficiently set forth above;[515] and that He
who is the Shepherd of our flock cannot give the water unto salvation
to two different peoples, that is, to one that is His own, and to
another that is alien, I fully agree in admitting. But does it follow
that because the water is not unto salvation it is not the identical
water? For the water of the deluge was for salvation unto those who
were placed within the ark, but it brought death to those without, and
yet it was the same water. And many aliens, that is to say, envious
persons, whom Cyprian declares and proves from Scripture to be of the
party of the devil, seem as it were to be within, and yet, if they were
not without the ark, they would not perish by water. For such men are
slain by baptism, as the sweet savour of Christ was unto death to those
of whom the apostle speaks.[516] Why then do not either heretics or
schismatics receive anything heavenly, just as thorns or tares, like
those who were without the ark received indeed the rain from the floods
of heaven, but to destruction, not to salvation? And so I do not take
the pains to refute what he said in conclusion: "When the giver has
no ground to stand upon, surely neither can the receiver derive any
profit," since we also say that it does not profit the receivers while
they receive it in heresy, consenting with the heretics; and therefore
they come to Catholic peace and unity, not that they may receive
baptism, but that what they had received may begin to profit them.
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