On Baptism, Against the Donatists.
Chapter 19.—32. Felix of Bagai said: As when the blind leads the blind, both fall into the ditch,
Chapter 37.—71. Libosus of Vaga said: The Lord says in the gospel, ‘I am the truth ’
Chapter 10.—18. Likewise another Felix of Marazana said: There is one faith, one baptism,
Chapter 14.—26. Aymnius of Ausuaga
Chapter 26.—50. Also another Lucius of Membresa said: It is written, ‘God heareth not sinners.’
Chapter 26.—49. Privatianus of Sufetula543 Sufetula was a town in ecclesiastical province of Byzacene, twenty-five miles from Sufes (same province), of which the name is a diminutive. Bp. Privatianus is mentioned in Cypr. Epp. lvi., lvii. said: "He who says that heretics have the power of baptizing should first say who it was that founded heresy. For if heresy is of God, it may have the divine favor; but if it be not of God, how can it either have or confer on any one the grace of God?"544 Conc. Carth. sec. 19.
50. This man may thus be answered word for word: He who says that malicious and envious persons have the power of baptizing, should first say who was the founder of malice and envy. For if malice and envy are of God, they may have the divine favor; but if they are not of God, how can they either have or confer on any one the grace of God? But as these words are in the same way most manifestly false, so are also those which these were uttered to confute. For the malicious and envious baptize, as even Cyprian himself allows, because he bears testimony that they also are within. So therefore even heretics may baptize, because baptism is the sacrament of Christ; but envy and heresy are the works of the devil. Yet though a man possesses them, he does not thereby cause that if he have the sacrament of Christ, it also should itself be reckoned in the number of the devil’s works.