46. [XXII.]—How Pelagius Became Known to Augustin; Cœlestius Condemned at Carthage.

Now, that I may especially refer to my own relation to him, I first became acquainted with Pelagius’ name, along with great praise of him, at a distance, and when he was living at Rome. Afterwards reports began to reach us, that he disputed against the grace of God. This caused me much pain, for I could not refuse to believe the statements of my informants; but yet I was desirous of ascertaining information on the matter either from himself or from some treatise of his, that, in case I should have to discuss the question with him, it should be on grounds which he could not disown. On his arrival, however, in Africa, he was in my absence kindly received on our coast of Hippo, where, as I found from our brethren, nothing whatever of this kind was heard from him; because he left earlier than was expected. On a subsequent occasion, indeed, I caught a glimpse of him, once or twice, to the best of my recollection, when I was very much occupied in preparing for the conference which we were to hold with the heretical Donatists; but he hastened away across the sea. Meanwhile the doctrines connected with his name were warmly maintained, and passed from mouth to mouth, among his reputed followers—to such an extent that Cœlestius found his way before an ecclesiastical tribunal, and reported opinions well suited to his perverse character. We thought it would be a better way of proceeding against them, if, without mentioning any names of individuals, the errors themselves were met and refuted; and the men might thus be brought to a right mind by the fear of a condemnation from the Church rather than be punished by the actual condemnation. And so both by books and by popular discussions we ceased not to oppose the evil doctrines in question.

CAPUT XXII.

46. Nam, ut de me ipso potissimum dicam, prius absentis et Romae constituti Pelagii nomen cum magna ejus laude cognovi: postea coepit ad nos fama perferre, quod adversus Dei gratiam disputaret; quod licet dolerem, et ab eis mihi diceretur quibus crederem, ab ipso tamen tale aliquid, vel in ejus aliquo libro nosse cupiebam, ut si inciperem redarguere, negare non posset. Postea vero quam in Africam venit, me absente, nostro, id est, Hipponensi littore exceptus est, ubi omnino, sicut comperi a nostris, nihil ab illo hujusmodi auditum est: quia et citius quam putabatur, inde profectus est. Postmodum ejus faciem Carthagine, quantum recolo, semel vel iterum vidi, quando cura Collationis , 0347 quam cum haereticis Donatistis habituri eramus, occupatissimus fui: ille vero etiam ad transmarina properavit. Interea per ora eorum qui ejus discipuli ferebantur, dogmata ista fervebant: ita ut Coelestius ad ecclesiasticum judicium perveniret, et reportaret dignam sua perversitate sententiam. Salubrius sane adversus eos agi putabamus, si hominum nominibus tacitis, ipsi refutarentur et redarguerentur errores, atque ita metu potius ecclesiastici judicii corrigerentur homines, quam ipso judicio punirentur. Nec libris igitur adversus mala illa disserere, nec popularibus tractatibus cessabamus.