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
was recalled by Paul,[532] persist in the same to the present day.
As therefore they have remained in their perversity cut off from the
body of the Church, while Peter has been crowned in the primacy of the
apostles through the glory of martyrdom, so these men, while Cyprian,
through the abundance of his love, has been received into the portion
of the saints through the brightness of his passion, are obliged to
recognise themselves as exiles from unity, and, in defence of their
calumnies, set up a citizen of unity as an opponent against the very
home of unity. Let us therefore go on to examine the other judgments of
that Council after the same fashion.
* * * * *
CHAP. II.--2. Marcus of Mactaris[533] said: "It is not to be wondered
at if heretics, being enemies and opponents of the truth, claim to
themselves what has been entrusted and vouchsafed to other men. What is
marvellous is that some of us, traitors to the truth, uphold heretics
and oppose Christians; therefore we decree that heretics should be
baptized."
3. To him we answer: It is indeed much more to be wondered at, and
deserving of expressions of great praise, that Cyprian and his
colleagues had such love for unity that they continued in unity with
those whom they considered to be traitors to the truth, without any
apprehension of being polluted by them. For when Marcus said, "It is
marvellous that some of us, traitors to the truth, uphold heretics and
oppose Christians," it seemed natural that he should add, Therefore
we decree that communion should not be held with them. This he did
not say; but what he does say is, "Therefore we decree that heretics
should be baptized," adhering to what the peaceful Cyprian had enjoined
in the first instance, saying, "Judging no man, nor removing any from
the right of communion if he entertain a different opinion." While,
therefore, the Donatists calumniate us and call us _traditors_, I
should be glad to know, supposing that any Jew or pagan were found,
who, after reading the records of that Council, should call both us
and them, according to their own rules, traitors to the truth, how we
should be able to make our joint defence so as to refute and wash away
so grave a charge. They give the name of _traditors_ to men whom they
were never able in times past to convict of the offence, and whom they
cannot now show to be involved in it, being themselves rather shown to
be liable to the same charge. But what has this to do with us? What
shall we say of them who, by their own showing, are unquestionably
traitors? For if we, however falsely, are called _traditors_, because,
as they allege, we took part in the same communion with _traditors_, we
have all taken part with the traitors in question, seeing that in the
time of the blessed Cyprian the party of Donatus had not yet separated
itself from unity. For the delivery of the sacred books, from which
they began to be called _traditors_, occurred somewhat more than forty
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