Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series • VOLUME 4
Augustine — Against the Manichaeans and Donatists
SECTION 241
46. And when we ask of you which of your party you can prove to have been slain by us, I indeed can remember no law issued by the emperors t
46. And when we ask of you which of your party you can prove to have been slain by us, I indeed can remember no law issued by the emperors to the effect that you should be put to death. Those indeed whose deaths you quote most frequently to bring us into odium, Marculus and Donatus, present a great question,--whether they threw …
2,924 wordsSECTION 24254. Or do you say, Theft is one thing, delivery of the sacred books or persecution is another? I grant there is a difference, nor is it wort
54. Or do you say, Theft is one thing, delivery of the sacred books or persecution is another? I grant there is a difference, nor is it worth while now to show wherein that difference consists. But listen to the summary of the argument. If he could not make you a thief, because his thieving was displeasing in your sight, who can…
1,281 wordsSECTION 243Chapter 25.--58. Petilianus said: "For when you in your guilt perform what is false, I do not celebrate baptism twice, which you have never celebrated once."
Chapter 25.--58. Petilianus said: "For when you in your guilt perform what is false, I do not celebrate baptism twice, which you have never celebrated once." 59. Augustin answered: In the first place, you do not convict us of guilt. And if a guilty man baptizes with a false baptism, then none of those have true baptism who are …
2,203 wordsSECTION 24471. Augustin answered: Tell us rather thyself when the power of baptizing was lost by the whole world through which is dispersed the inherit
71. Augustin answered: Tell us rather thyself when the power of baptizing was lost by the whole world through which is dispersed the inheritance of Christ, and by all that multitude of nations in which the apostles founded the Churches. You will never be able to tell us,--not only because you have calumniated them, and do not pr…
2,201 wordsSECTION 245[2070] Matt. iii. 11.
[2070] Matt. iii. 11. [2071] John xx. 22. [2072] Acts ii. 2-4. [2073] Isa. lxvi. 24. [2074] Matt. v. 14. [2075] 2 Sam. xii. 12. [2076] Ps. xix. 3-6, cp. Hieron. [2077] Eph. iv. 5. [2078] Matt. iii. 11. [2079] John xx. 22. [2080] Acts i. 5. Chapter 33.--77. Petilianus said: "But that I may thoroughly investigate the ba…
2,401 wordsSECTION 24686. Augustin answered: "We bring no accusation against Paul, who gave to men the baptism of Christ because they had not the baptism of Chris
86. Augustin answered: "We bring no accusation against Paul, who gave to men the baptism of Christ because they had not the baptism of Christ, but the baptism of John, according to their own reply; for, being asked, Unto what were ye baptized? they answered, Unto John's baptism; which has nothing to do with the baptism of Christ…
2,445 wordsSECTION 247[2101] Acts i. 7, 8.
[2101] Acts i. 7, 8. [2102] Dan. ii. 35. Chapter 39.--92. Petilianus said: "But there is no fellowship of darkness with light, nor any fellowship of bitterness with the sweet of honey; there is no fellowship of life with death, of innocence with guilt, of water with blood; the lees have no fellowship with oil though they are r…
2,347 wordsSECTION 248Chapter 44.--103. Petilianus said: "For we, as it is written, when we are baptized, put on Christ who was betrayed; [2123] you, when you are infected, put on Judas the betrayer."
[2117] Ps. cxix. 42. [2118] Acts i. 8. [2119] Ps. xix. 4. [2120] Ps. cxix. 122. [2121] Matt. xxi. 43. [2122] Ps. cv. 44. Chapter 44.--103. Petilianus said: "For we, as it is written, when we are baptized, put on Christ who was betrayed; [2123] you, when you are infected, put on Judas the betrayer." 104. Augustin answered:…
1,987 wordsSECTION 249Chapter 48.--111. Petilianus said: "Yet that you should not call yourselves holy, in the first place, I declare that no one has holiness who has not led a life of innocence."
Chapter 48.--111. Petilianus said: "Yet that you should not call yourselves holy, in the first place, I declare that no one has holiness who has not led a life of innocence." 112. Augustin answered: Show us the tribunal where you have been enthroned as judge, that the whole world should stand for trial before you, and with what…
2,246 wordsSECTION 250124. Augustin answered: God be thanked that you have at length confessed that the invocation of the name of Christ may be of profit for the
124. Augustin answered: God be thanked that you have at length confessed that the invocation of the name of Christ may be of profit for the salvation of others, even though it be invoked by sinners! Hence, therefore, you may understand that when the name of Christ is invoked, the sins of one man do not stand in the way of the sa…
1,749 wordsSECTION 251Chapter 59.--133. Petilianus said: "It is written, Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor's.' [2152] You plunder what is ours, that you may have it for your own."
Chapter 59.--133. Petilianus said: "It is written, Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor's.' [2152] You plunder what is ours, that you may have it for your own." 134. Augustin answered: All things of which unity was in possession belong to none other than ourselves, who remain in unity, not in accordance with the c…
1,348 wordsSECTION 252Chapter 64.--143. Petilianus said: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' You therefore, not being meek, have lost both heaven and earth alike."
Chapter 64.--143. Petilianus said: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.' You therefore, not being meek, have lost both heaven and earth alike." 144. Augustin answered: Again and again you may hear the Lord saying, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and even in…
1,650 wordsSECTION 253Chapter 71.--157. Petilianus said: "To you the prophet says, Peace, peace; and where is there peace?'" [2169]
Chapter 71.--157. Petilianus said: "To you the prophet says, Peace, peace; and where is there peace?'" [2169] 158. Augustin answered: It is you that say this to us, not the prophet. We therefore answer you: If you ask where peace is to be found, open your eyes, and see of whom it is said, "He maketh wars to cease in all the wor…
2,520 wordsSECTION 254Chapter 79.--173. Petilianus said: "And again, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not
Chapter 79.--173. Petilianus said: "And again, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own.' But you seek what belongs to other men. Is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth …
1,419 wordsSECTION 255Chapter 82.--179. Petilianus said: "But the holy apostle said this: In any way, whatsoever it may be,' he says, let Christ be preached.'"
Chapter 82.--179. Petilianus said: "But the holy apostle said this: In any way, whatsoever it may be,' he says, let Christ be preached.'" 180. Augustin answered: You speak against yourself; but yet, since you speak on the side of truth, if you love it, let what you say be counted for you. For I ask of you of whom it was that th…
2,204 wordsSECTION 256186. Augustin answered: If I were to propose to you the question how God the Father draws men to the Son, when He has left them to themselve
186. Augustin answered: If I were to propose to you the question how God the Father draws men to the Son, when He has left them to themselves in freedom of action, you would perhaps find it difficult of solution. For how does He draw them to Him if He leaves them to themselves, so that each should choose what he pleases? And yet…
2,679 wordsSECTION 257[2214] John xviii. 10, 11; Matt. xxvi. 52.
[2214] John xviii. 10, 11; Matt. xxvi. 52. [2215] Ps. cxx. 6, 7, cp. Hieron. [2216] See Contr. Cresc. l. III. c. 67, l. IV. cc. 60, 61. Chapter 90.--196. Petilianus said: "Therefore I say, He ordained that we should undergo death for the faith, which each man should do for the communion of the Church. For Christianity makes p…
2,426 wordsSECTION 258204. "What," say you, "have you to do with the kings of this world, in whom Christianity has never found anything save envy towards her?" Ha
204. "What," say you, "have you to do with the kings of this world, in whom Christianity has never found anything save envy towards her?" Having said this, you endeavored to reckon up what kings the righteous had found to be their enemies, and did not consider how many more might be enumerated who have proved their friends. The …
2,254 wordsSECTION 259208. For now you go on to make mention of the bishops whom you are wont to accuse of having delivered up the sacred books, concerning whom w
208. For now you go on to make mention of the bishops whom you are wont to accuse of having delivered up the sacred books, concerning whom we on our part are wont to answer: Either you fail in your proof, and so it concerns no one at all; or you succeed and then it still has no concern with us. For they have borne their own burd…
2,639 wordsSECTION 260213. If I had been the person to bring forward these examples of Daniel and the three children, you would perhaps resist, and declare that t
213. If I had been the person to bring forward these examples of Daniel and the three children, you would perhaps resist, and declare that they ought not to have been brought from those times in illustration of our days; but God be thanked that you yourself brought them forward, to prove the point, it is true, which you desired …
2,894 wordsSECTION 261[2264] Ps. cxviii. 8, 9.
[2264] Ps. cxviii. 8, 9. [2265] Acts xxiii. 12-33. [2266] Acts i. 8. Chapter 99.--225. Petilianus said: "On you, yes you, you wretched men, I call, who, being dismayed with the fear of persecution, whilst you seek to save your riches, not your souls, love not so much the faithless faith of the traitors, as the wickedness of t…
2,202 wordsSECTION 262233. To go on to the other earlier arguments which you have set before us to be refuted, they are of such a nature that we must needs allow
233. To go on to the other earlier arguments which you have set before us to be refuted, they are of such a nature that we must needs allow that every one returns from baptism endued with the character of him by whom he is baptized; but God forbid that those whom you baptize should return from you infected with the same madness …
3,184 wordsSECTION 263[2293] Ps. cxxxiii.
[2293] Ps. cxxxiii. [2294] Compare Tract. xv. 27 in Joannem: "Messiah was anointed. The Greek for anointed' is Christ,' the Hebrew Messiah; whence also in Phoenician we have Messe' for anoint.' For these languages, the Hebrew, Phoenician and Syrian, are closely cognate, as well as geographically bordering on each other." See al…
1,159 wordsSECTION 264Chapter 107.--242. Petilianus said: "And that none who is a layman may claim to be free from sin, they are all bound by this prohibition: Be not partakers of other men's sins.'"
Chapter 107.--242. Petilianus said: "And that none who is a layman may claim to be free from sin, they are all bound by this prohibition: Be not partakers of other men's sins.'" 243. Augustin answered: You are mistaken toto cælo, as the saying is, by reason of your pride, whilst, by reason of your humility, you are unwilling to…
1,415 wordsSECTION 265Book III.
Book III. In this book Augustin refutes the second letter [2319] which Petilianus wrote to him after having seen the first of Augustin's earlier books. This letter had been full of violent language; and Augustin rather shows that the arguments of Petilianus had been deficient and irrelevant, than brings forward arguments in sup…
2,470 wordsSECTION 266[2335] 1 Cor. i. 12, 13.
[2335] 1 Cor. i. 12, 13. [2336] 2 Tim. ii. 19. [2337] Ps. xxvii. 14. Chapter 4.--5. Nor would I therefore be understood to urge that ecclesiastical discipline should be set at naught, and that every one should be allowed to do exactly as he pleased, without any check, without a kind of healing chastisement, a lenity which sho…
2,426 wordsSECTION 267[2358] 1 Pet. iii. 21.
[2358] 1 Pet. iii. 21. [2359] Matt. xxiii. 2, 3. Chapter 9.--10. Therefore, as I have often said before, and am desirous to bring home to you, whatsoever we may be, you are safe, who have God for your Father and His Church for your mother. For although the goats may feed in company with the sheep, yet they shall not stand on t…
2,453 wordsSECTION 268Chapter 16.--19. Let him go now, and with panting lungs and swollen throat find fault with me as a mere dialectician. Nay, let him summon, n
Chapter 16.--19. Let him go now, and with panting lungs and swollen throat find fault with me as a mere dialectician. Nay, let him summon, not me, but the science of dialectics itself, to the bar of popular opinion as a forger of lies, and let him open his mouth to its widest against it, with all the noisiest uproar of a special…
2,296 wordsSECTION 26925. Then he continues in the same strain, and cries out: "What is that what if? what is that possibly? except the uncertain and wavering hes
25. Then he continues in the same strain, and cries out: "What is that what if? what is that possibly? except the uncertain and wavering hesitation of one who doubts, of whom your poet says'-- What if I now return to those who say, What if the sky should fall?'" Does he mean that when I said, What if the conscience of the give…
2,247 wordsSECTION 270Chapter 26.--31. But why do we make inquiry into these points? Why do we both suffer and cause unnecessary delay? Are we likely to find out
Chapter 26.--31. But why do we make inquiry into these points? Why do we both suffer and cause unnecessary delay? Are we likely to find out by such a course as this what means we are to use for cleansing the conscience of the recipient, who does not know that the conscience of the giver is stained with guilt: whence the man is t…
2,543 wordsSECTION 271[2388] 1 Tim. iii. 10.
[2388] 1 Tim. iii. 10. Chapter. 31.--36. "And where," he says, "is the word that I added, wittingly?so that I did not say, He that has received his faith from one that is faithless; but, He that has received his faith wittingly from one that is faithless, receives not faith but guilt." He therefore who received his faith unwitt…
2,371 wordsSECTION 272[2399] Wisd. i. 5.
[2399] Wisd. i. 5. Chapter 36.--42. But after this, when Petilianus came to that objection of ours, that they allowed the baptism of the followers of Maximianus, whom they had condemned, [2400] --although in the statement of this question he thought it right to use his own words rather than mine; for neither do we assert that t…
2,246 wordsSECTION 27348. In the next place, he has gone on, with calumnious mouth, to abuse monasteries and monks, finding fault also with me, as having been the
48. In the next place, he has gone on, with calumnious mouth, to abuse monasteries and monks, finding fault also with me, as having been the founder of this kind of life. [2406] And what this kind of life really is he does not know at all, or rather, though it is perfectly well known throughout all the world, he pretends that he…
2,723 wordsSECTION 274[2416] See Book I. cc. 7, 8, 8, 9.
[2416] See Book I. cc. 7, 8, 8, 9. Chapter 46.--55. Now, seeing that when Petilianus attributes this to me as though it were my opinion, he makes it an occasion for a serious and vehement invective against me, he at any rate shows, by the very force of his indignation, how great a sin it is in his opinion to entertain such view…
2,439 wordsSECTION 275[2423] Rom. iv. 5.
[2423] Rom. iv. 5. [2424] John i. 33. [2425] Eph. v. 25, 26. [2426] Jer. xvii. 5. [2427] Ps. xl. 4. [2428] Matt. xxiii. 3. Chapter 50.--60. But if it is clear that Petilianus has made no answer to those first words of my epistle, and that, when he has endeavored to make an answer, he has shown all the more clearly how inca…
2,862 wordsSECTION 276Chapter 53.--65. Then who is there that could fail to perceive from what a vein of conceit it proceeds, that in explaining as it were the de
Chapter 53.--65. Then who is there that could fail to perceive from what a vein of conceit it proceeds, that in explaining as it were the declaration of the apostle, he says, "He who said, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase,' surely meant nothing else than this, that I made a man a catechumen in Christ, Apollo…
2,490 wordsSECTION 277[2462] See Book III. c. Cresconium, cc. 27, 28, 31, 32.
[2462] See Book III. c. Cresconium, cc. 27, 28, 31, 32. Chapter 58.--70. For when he quoted a passage from the gospel as making against us, where our Lord says, "They will come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves; ye shall know them by their fruits," [2463] --I answered and said, "Then let us consi…
1,353 wordsSECTION 278St. AUGUSTIN:
St. AUGUSTIN: a treatise concerning the correction of the donatists [de correctione donatistarum, liber seu epistola clxxxv.] circa A.D. 417. translated by rev. j. r. king, m.a., vicar of st. peter's in the east, oxford; and late fellow and tutor of merton college, oxford. A Treatise Concerning the Correction of the Do…
2,435 wordsSECTION 2798. As then the apostle says, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, not being weary in well-doing," [2483] so let a
8. As then the apostle says, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, not being weary in well-doing," [2483] so let all be called to salvation, let all be recalled from the path of destruction,--those who may, by the sermons of Catholic preachers; those who may, by the edicts of Catholic princes; some thro…
2,271 wordsSECTION 28014. But if they have chosen to destroy themselves, in order to prevent the deliverance of those who had a right to be delivered, and have so
14. But if they have chosen to destroy themselves, in order to prevent the deliverance of those who had a right to be delivered, and have sought in this way to alarm the pious hearts of the deliverers, so that in their apprehension that some few abandoned men might perish, they should allow others to lose the opportunity of deli…
2,418 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.