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. XXVIII.--54. Another Saturninus of Abitini[580] said: "If
Antichrist can give to any one the grace of Christ, then can heretics
also baptize, who are called Antichrists."
55. What if another were to say, If a murderer can give the grace of
Christ, then can they also baptize that hate their brethren, who are
called murderers? For certainly he would seem in a way to speak the
truth, and yet they can baptize; in like manner, therefore, can the
heretics as well.
* * * * *
CHAP. XXIX.--56. Quintus of Aggya[581] said: "He who has a thing can
give it; but what can the heretics give, who are well known to have
nothing?"
57. To him our answer is: If, then, any man can give a thing who has
it, it is clear that heretics can give baptism: for when they separate
from the Church, they have still the sacrament of washing which they
had received while in the Church; for when they return they do not
again receive it, because they had not lost it when they withdrew from
the Church.
* * * * *
CHAP. XXX.--58. Another Julianus of Marcelliana[582] said: "If a man
can serve two masters, God and mammon,[583] then baptism also can serve
two, the Christian and the heretic."
59. Truly, if it can serve the self-restrained and the covetous man,
the sober and the drunken, the well-affectioned and the murderer, why
should it not also serve the Christian and the heretic?--whom, indeed,
it does not really serve; but it ministers to them, and is administered
by them, for salvation to those who use it right, and for judgment to
such as use it wrong.
* * * * *
CHAP. XXXI.--60. Tenax of Horrea Celiae[584] said: "There is one
baptism, but of the Church; and where the Church is not, there baptism
also cannot be."
61. To him we answer: How then comes it that it may be where the rock
is not, but only sand; seeing that the Church is on the rock, and not
on sand?
* * * * *
CHAP. XXXII.--62. Another Victor of Assura[585] said: "It is
written, that 'there is one God and one Christ, one Church and one
baptism.'[586] How then can any one baptize in a place where there is
not either God, or Christ, or the Church?"
63. How can any one baptize either in that sand, where the Church is
not, seeing that it is on the rock; nor God and Christ, seeing that
there is not there the temple of God and Christ?
* * * * *
CHAP. XXXIII.--64. Donatulus of Capsa[587] said: "I also have always
entertained this opinion, that heretics, who have gained nothing
outside the Church, should be baptized when they are converted to the
Church."
65. To this the answer is: They have, indeed, gained nothing outside
the Church, but that is nothing towards salvation, not nothing
towards the sacrament. For salvation is peculiar to the good; but the
sacraments are common to the good and bad alike.
* * * * *
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