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
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CHAP. III.--4. Satius of Siccilibba[534] said: "If heretics receive
forgiveness of their sins in their own baptism, it is without reason
that they come to the Church. For since it is for sins that men are
punished in the day of judgment, heretics have nothing to fear in the
judgment of Christ if they have obtained remission of their sins."
5. This too might also have been our own judgment; but let its author
beware in what spirit it was said. For it is expressed in terms of such
import, that I should feel no compunction in consenting and subscribing
to it in the same spirit in which I too believe that heretics may
indeed have the baptism of Christ, but cannot have the remission of
their sins. But he does not say, If heretics baptize or are baptized,
but "If heretics," he says, "receive forgiveness of their sins in their
own baptism, it is without reason that they come to the Church." For
if we were to set in the place of heretics those whom Cyprian knew
within the Church as renouncing the world in words alone and not in
deeds, we also might express this same judgment, in just so many words,
with the most perfect truth. If those who only seem to be converted
receive forgiveness of their sins in their own baptism, it is without
reason that they are afterwards led on to a true conversion. For since
it is for sins that men are punished in the day of judgment, those
who renounce the world in words and not in deeds have nothing to fear
in the judgment of Christ if they have obtained remission of their
sins. But this reasoning is only made perfect by some such context as
is formed by the addition of the words. But they ought to fear the
judgment of Christ, and to lose no time in being converted in the truth
of their hearts; and when they have done this, it is certainly not
necessary that they should be baptized a second time. It was possible,
therefore, for them to receive baptism, and either not to receive
remission of their sins, or to be burdened again at once with the load
of sins which were forgiven them; and so the same is the case also with
the heretics.
* * * * *
CHAP. IV.--6. Victor of Gor[535] said: "Seeing that sins are forgiven
only in the baptism of the Church, he who admits heretics to communion
without baptism is guilty of two errors contrary to reason; for, on
the one hand, he does not cleanse the heretics, and, on the other, he
defiles the Christians."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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