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
97. What need is there of further disputation here, seeing that we have
already handled with the utmost care that very epistle to Jubaianus
of which he has made mention? And as to what he has said here, let us
not forget that it might be said of all unrighteous men who, as he
himself bears witness, are in the Catholic Church, and whose power of
possessing and of conferring baptism is not questioned by any of us.
For they come to the Church, who pass to Christ from the party of the
devil, and build upon the rock, and are incorporated with the Dove,
and are placed in security in the garden enclosed and fountain sealed;
where none of those are found who live contrary to the precepts of
Christ, wherever they may seem to be. For in the epistle which he wrote
to Magnus, while discussing this very question, he himself warned us at
sufficient length, and in no ambiguous terms, of what kind of society
we should understand that the Church consists. For he says, in speaking
of a certain man, "Let him become an alien and profane, an enemy to the
peace and unity of the Lord, not dwelling in the house of God, that is
to say, in the Church of Christ, in which none dwell save those who are
of one heart and of one mind."[613] Let those, therefore, who would lay
injunctions on us on the authority of Cyprian, pay attention for a time
to what we here say. For if only those who are of one heart and of one
mind dwell in the Church of Christ, beyond all question those were not
dwelling in the Church of Christ, however much they might appear to
be within, who of envy and contention were announcing Christ without
charity; by whom he understands, not the heretics and schismatics who
are mentioned by the Apostle Paul,[614] but false brethren holding
conversation with him within, who certainly ought not to have baptized,
because they were not dwelling in the Church, in which he himself
says that none dwell save those who are of one heart and of one mind:
unless, indeed, any one be so far removed from the truth as to say
that those were of one heart and of one mind who were envious and
malevolent, and contentious without charity; and yet they used to
baptize: nor did the detestable waywardness which they displayed in
any degree violate or diminish from the sacrament of Christ, which was
handled and dispensed by them.
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