Augustine of Hippo, Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist

Chapter 1.—1. Ye know that we have often wished to bring forward into open notoriety, and to confute, not so much from our own arguments as from their

Chapter 2.—3. Whence, then, is a man to be cleansed who receives baptism, when the conscience of the giver is polluted without the knowledge of him wh

Chapter 3.—For, so long as they escaped detection, they could not bestow faith on any whom they baptized, but only guilt, if it be true that whosoever

Chapter 4.—5. Wherefore, if they were in error, and would have perished had they not been corrected, who wished to be of Paul, what must we suppose to

Chapter 5.—6. We ask, therefore, since he says, He who receives faith from the faithless receives not faith, but guilt, and immediately adds to this

Chapter 6.—7. Wherefore, whether a man receive the sacrament of baptism from a faithful or a faithless minister, his whole hope is in Christ, that he

Chapter 7.—8. But if it is perfect madness to hold such a view (for it is Christ always that justifieth the ungodly, by changing his ungodliness into

Chapter 8.—9. When he hears, Every good tree bringeth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit: do men gather grapes of thorns? and,

Chapter 9.—10. Again, when he hears, He that is washed by one dead, his washing profiteth him nought, he will answer, Christ, being raised from the

Chapter 10.—11. Lastly, if they are willing to give the name of dead neither to the wicked man whose sin is hidden, nor to him whose sin is manifest,

Chapter 11.—12. Of these I would ask, whether by coming to their sea they were restored to life, or whether they are still dead there? For if still th

Chapter 12.—13. But our brethren themselves, the sons of the aforesaid churches, were both ignorant at the time, and still are ignorant, of what has b

Chapter 13.—14. If, in the interests of the unity of the party of Donatus, no one rebaptizes those who were baptized in a wicked schism, and men, who

Chapter 14.—15. Therefore, brethren, let it suffice us that they should be admonished and corrected on the one point of their conduct in the matter of

Chapter 15.—16. Look at the states of Musti and Assura:

Chapter 16.—17. As for the words which follow in his letter, the writer himself could scarcely fail to laugh at them, when, having made an unlearned a

Chapter 17.—18. Then he further adds: Both are without the life of baptism, both he who never had it at all, and he who had it but has lost it. He t

Chapter 18.—20. He says: You who are a most abandoned traditor have come out in the character of a persecutor and murderer of us who keep the law. I

Chapter 19.—21. What, then, does he mean by quoting in his letter the words with which our Lord addressed the Jews: Wherefore, behold, I send unto yo

Chapter 20.—22. Wherefore all this about the generation of vipers, and the poison of asps under their lips, and all the other things which they have s

Chapter 21.—23. Lastly, it has been said, as he himself has also quoted, Ye shall know them by their fruits: let us therefore examine into their fru

Chapter 22.—24. What if the holy and true Church of Christ were to convince and overcome you, even if we held no documents in support of our cause, or

Chapter 23.—25. In conclusion, the Testament is said to have been given to the flames by certain men in the time of persecution. Now let its lessons b

Chapter 24.—26. But let us turn to the consideration of your fruits. I pass over the tyrannous exercise of authority in the cities, and especially in

Chapter 25.—27. I think that I have left unanswered none of the statements in the letter of Donatus, so far at least as relates to what I have been ab

Chapter 26.—28. But it is possible that you may expect of me that I should go on to refute what he has introduced about Manichæus. Now, in respect of

Chapter 27.—29. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, though that error is exposed and overcome in many ways, and dare not oppose the truth on any show of r

Chapter 28.—Finally, they think that the question of baptism is hidden, with which they deceive wretched souls. But whilst they say that none have bap

Chapter 29.—31. These things, brethren, I would have you retain as the basis of your action and preaching with untiring gentleness: love men, while yo

In which Augustin replies to all the several statements in the letter of Petilianus, as though disputing with an adversary face to face.

Chapter 1.—1. That we made a full and sufficient answer to the first part of the letter of Petilianus, which was all that we had been able to find, wi

Chapter 2.—4. Petilianus said: Those who have polluted their souls with a guilty laver, under the name of baptism, reproach us with baptizing twice,—

Chapter 3.—6. Petilianus said: For what we look to is the conscience of the giver, to cleanse that of the recipient.

Chapter 4.—8. Petilianus said: For he who receives faith from the faithless, receives not faith but guilt.

Chapter 5.—10. Petilianus said: For everything consists of an origin and root and if it have not something for a head, it is nothing: nor does anyth

Chapter 6.—12. Petilianus said: This being the case, brethren, what perversity must it be, that he who is guilty through his own sins should make ano

Chapter 7.—14. Petilianus said: And again, ‘He who is baptized by one that is dead, his washing profiteth him nothing.’ He did not mean that the bapt

Chapter 8.—17. Petilianus said: We must consider, I say, and declare how far the treacherous traditor is to be accounted dead while yet in life. Juda

Chapter 9.—21. Petilianus said: Hemmed in, therefore, by these offenses, you cannot be a true bishop.

Chapter 10.—23. Petilianus said: Did the apostle persecute any one? or did Christ betray any one?

Chapter 11.—25. Petilianus said: Yet some will be found to say, We are not the sons of a traditor . Any one is the son of that man whose deeds he imi

Chapter 12.—27. Petilianus said: The Lord Jesus said to the Jews concerning Himself, ‘If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.’

Chapter 13.—29. Petilianus said: Over and over again He reproaches the false speakers and liars in such terms as these: ‘Ye are the children of the de

Chapter 14.—31. Petilianus said: In the third place, also, He calls the madness of persecutors in like manner by this name, ‘Ye generation of vipers,

Chapter 15.—34. Petilianus said: David also spoke of you as persecutors in the following terms: ‘Their throat is an open sepulchre with their tongue

Chapter 16.—36. Petilianus said: The Lord Christ also warns us, saying, ‘Beware of false prophets, which come unto you in sheep’s clothing, but inwar

Chapter 17.—38. Petilianus said: Thus, thus, thou wicked persecutor, under whatsoever cloak of righteousness thou hast concealed thyself, under whats

Chapter 18.—40. Petilianus said: Nor is it, after all, so strange that you assume to yourself the name of bishop without authority. This is the true

Chapter 19.—42. Petilianus said: The Lord Jesus Christ commands us, saying, ‘When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another and if they

Chapter 20.—44. Petilianus said: The Lord Christ cries again from heaven to Paul, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick a

Chapter 21.—47. Petilianus said: Accordingly, as we have said, the Lord Christ cried, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to ki

Chapter 22.—49. Petilianus said: It may be urged that Christ said to His apostles, as you are constantly quoting against us, ‘He that is washed neede

Chapter 23.—51. Petilianus said: But if you say that we give baptism twice over, truly it is rather you who do this, who slay men who have been bapti

Chapter 24.—56. Petilianus said: But you will answer that you abide by the same declaration, ‘He that is once washed needeth not save to wash his fee

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

Chapter 26.—60. Petilianus said: For if you mix what is false with what is true, falsehood often imitates the truth by treading in its steps. Just in

Chapter 27.—62. Petilianus said: It will be urged against us, that the Apostle Paul said, ‘One Lord, one faith, one baptism.’ We profess that there i

Chapter 28.—64. Petilianus said: But yet, if I may be allowed the comparison, it is certain that the sun appears double to the insane, although it on

Chapter 29.—66. Petilianus said: But to pass rapidly through these minor points: can he be said to lay down the law who is not a magistrate of the co

Chapter 30.—68. Petilianus said: Or if any one chance to recollect the chants of a priest, is he therefore to be deemed a priest, because with sacril

Chapter 31.—70. Petilianus said: For there is no power but of God, none in any man of power as the Lord Jesus Christ answered Pontius Pilate, ‘Thou

Chapter 32.—72. Petilianus said: For although there is only one baptism, yet it is consecrated in three several grades. John gave water without the n

Chapter 33.—77. Petilianus said: But that I may thoroughly investigate the baptism in the name of the Trinity, the Lord Christ said to His apostles:

Chapter 34.—79. Petilianus said: For if the apostles were allowed to baptize those whom John had washed with the baptism of repentance, shall it not

Chapter 35.—81. Petilianus said: Nor indeed will it be possible that the Holy Spirit should be implanted in the heart of any one by the laying on of

Chapter 36.—83. Petilianus said: Which Holy Spirit certainly cannot come on you, who have not been washed even with the baptism of repentance but th

Chapter 37.—85. Petilianus said: But that the truth of this may be made manifest from the apostles, we are taught by their actions, as it is written:

Chapter 38.—90. Petilianus said: If you declare that you hold the Catholic Church, the word ‘catholic’ is merely the Greek equivalent for entire or w

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 i

Chapter 40.—95. Petilianus said: Paul the apostle also bids us, ‘Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness w

Chapter 41.—97. Petilianus said: And, again, he taught us that schisms should not arise, in the following terms: ‘Now this I say, that every one of y

Chapter 42.—99. Petilianus said: If Paul uttered these words to the unlearned and to the righteous, I say this to you who are unrighteous, Is Christ

Chapter 43.—101. Petilianus said: Can it be that the traitor Judas hung himself for you, or did he imbue you with his character, that, following his

Chapter 44.—103. Petilianus said: For we, as it is written, when we are baptized, put on Christ who was betrayed you, when you are infected, put on

Chapter 45.—105. Petilianus said: But if these are the parties, the name of member of a party is no prejudice against us. For there are two ways, the

Chapter 46.—107. Petilianus said: In the first Psalm David separates the blessed from the impious, not indeed making them into parties, but excluding

Chapter 47.—109. Petilianus said: But the same Psalmist has sung the praises of our baptism. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me

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 le

Chapter 49.—113. Petilianus said: For, granting that you faithless ones are acquainted with the law, without any prejudice to the law itself, I may s

Chapter 50.—115. Petilianus said: But that we may destroy your arguments one by one, if you call yourselves by the name of priests, it was said by th

Chapter 51.—117. Petilianus said: If you wretched men claim for yourselves a seat, as we said before, you assuredly have that one of which the prophe

Chapter 52.—119. Petilianus said: If you suppose that you can offer sacrifice, God Himself thus speaks of you as most abandoned sinners: ‘The wicked

Chapter 53.—121. Petilianus said: If you make prayer to God, or utter supplication, it profits you absolutely nothing whatsoever. For your blood-stai

Chapter 54.—123. Petilianus said: But if it should so happen, though whether it be so I cannot say, that you cast out devils, neither will this in yo

Chapter 55.—125. Petilianus said: Even though you do very virtuous actions, and perform miraculous works, yet on account of your wickedness the Lord

Chapter 56.—127. Petilianus said: But even if, as you yourselves suppose, you are following the law of the Lord in purity, let us nevertheless consid

Chapter 57.—129. Petilianus said: It is written, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ Each one of you, even though he be chaste in his body, yet in spir

Chapter 58.—131. Petilianus said: It is written, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.’ When you falsely declare to the kings of t

Chapter 59.—133. Petilianus said: It is written, ‘Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.’ You plunder what is ours, that you may have

Chapter 60.—135. Petilianus said: Under what law, then, do you make out that you are Christians, seeing that you do what is contrary to the law?

Chapter 61.—137. Petilianus said: But the Lord Christ says, ‘Whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called the greatest in the kingdom

Chapter 62.—139. Petilianus said: And again it is written, ‘Every sin which a man shall sin is without the body but he that sinneth in the Holy Spir

Chapter 63.—141. Petilianus said: But wherein do you fulfill the commandments of God? The Lord Christ said, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for thei

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

Chapter 65.—145. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’ You, our butchers, are the cause of mourning in others:

Chapter 66.—147. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ To you it seems to be

Chapter 67.—149. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.’ But how shall I call you merciful when you inflict punishm

Chapter 68.—151. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.’ When will you see God, who are possessed with blindness in

Chapter 69.—153. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.’ You make a pretence of peace by your w

Chapter 70.—155. Petilianus said: Though the Apostle Paul says, ‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, brethren, that ye walk worthy of

Chapter 71.—157. Petilianus said: To you the prophet says, ‘Peace, peace and where is there peace?’

Chapter 72.—159. Petilianus said: ‘Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ You are not b

Chapter 73.—161. Petilianus said: Since then you are not blessed by falsifying the commands of God, the Lord Christ condemns you by His divine decree

Chapter 74.—163. Petilianus said: But these things do not alarm us Christians for of the evil deeds which you are destined to commit we have before

Chapter 75.—165. Petilianus said: O wretched traditors! Thus indeed it was fitting that Scripture should be fulfilled. But in you I grieve for this,

Chapter 76.—167. Petilianus said: But to us the Lord Christ, in opposition to your deadly commands, commanded simple patience and harmlessness. For w

Chapter 77.—169. Petilianus said: Paul also, the apostle, whilst he was suffering fearful persecutions at the hands of all nations, endured even more

Chapter 78.—171. Petilianus said: For what kind of faith is that which is in you which is devoid of charity? when Paul himself says, ‘Though I speak

Chapter 79.—173. Petilianus said: And again, ‘Charity suffereth long, and is kind charity envieth not charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

Chapter 80.—175. Petilianus said: Lastly, what is the justification of persecution? I ask you, you wretched men, if it so be that you think that your

Chapter 81.—177. Petilianus said: But I answer you, on the other hand, that Jesus Christ never persecuted any one. And when the apostle found fault w

Chapter 82.—179. Petilianus said: But the holy apostle said this: ‘In any way, whatsoever it may be,’ he says, ‘let Christ be preached.’

Chapter 83.—181. Petilianus said: If then there are not some to whom all this power of faith is found to be in opposition, on what principle do you p

Chapter 84.—183. Petilianus said: But if authority had been given by some law for persons to be compelled to what is good, you yourselves, unhappy me

Chapter 85.—185. Petilianus said: For the Lord Christ says, ‘No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.’ But why do we not

Chapter 86.—188. Petilianus said: Is it then the case that God has ordered the massacre even of schismatics? and if He were to issue such an order at

Chapter 87.—190. Petilianus said: For neither has the Lord God at any time rejoiced in human blood, seeing that He was even willing that Cain, the mu

Chapter 88.—192. Petilianus said: We advise you, therefore, if so be that you will hear it willingly, and even though you do not willingly receive it

Chapter 89.—194. Petilianus said: Here you have the fullest possible proof that a Christian may take no part in the destruction of another. But the f

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

Chapter 91.—198. Petilianus said: But you scatter thorns and tares, not seeds of corn so that you ought to be burned together with them at the last j

Chapter 92.—200. Petilianus said: Where is the saying of the Lord Christ, ‘Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also’

Chapter 93.—202. Petilianus said: But what have you to do with the kings of this world, in whom Christianity has never found anything save envy towar

Chapter 94.—214. Petilianus said: Where is the law of God? where is your Christianity, if you not only commit murders and put men to death, but also

Chapter 95.—216. Petilianus said: If you wish that we should be your friends, why do you drag us to you against our will? But if you wish that we sho

Chapter 96.—218. Petilianus said: But what reason is there, or what inconsistency of emptiness, in desiring communion with us so eagerly, when all th

Chapter 97.—220. Petilianus said: Choose, in short, which of the two alternatives you prefer. If innocence is on your side, why do you persecute us w

Chapter 98.—223. Petilianus said: Lastly, as we have often said before, how great is your presumption, that you should speak as you presume to do of

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 sav

Chapter 100.—227. Petilianus said: But we who are poor in spirit are not apprehensive for our wealth, but rather feel a dread of wealth. We, ‘as havi

Chapter 101.—229. Petilianus said: Inasmuch as we live in the fear of God, we have no fear of the punishments and executions which you wreak with the

Chapter 102.—231. Petilianus said: You, therefore, who prefer rather to be washed with the most false of baptisms than to be regenerate, not only do

Chapter 103.—234. Petilianus said: Imitate indeed the prophets, who feared to have their holy souls deceived with false baptism. For Jeremiah says of

Chapter 104.—236. Petilianus said: David also said, ‘The oil of the sinner shall not anoint my head.’ Who is it, therefore, that he calls a sinner? I

Chapter 105.—238. Petilianus said: But he thus praises the ointment of concord among brethren: ‘Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren t

Chapter 106.—240. Petilianus said: Woe unto you, therefore, who, by doing violence to what is holy, cut away the bond of unity whereas the prophet s

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 parta

Chapter 108.—244. Petilianus said: By this sentence, again, the apostle places in the same category those who have fellowship in the consciousness of

Chapter 109.—246. Petilianus said: Come therefore to the Church, all ye people, and flee the company of traditors , if you would not also perish with

Book III.

Chapter 1.—1. Being able to read, Petilianus, I have read your letter, in which you have shown with sufficient clearness that, in supporting the party

Chapter 2.—3. Hear therefore, all ye who have read his revilings, what Petilianus has vented against me with more anger than consideration. To begin w

Chapter 3.—4. These comparisons of the gospel you doubtless recognize. Nor can we suppose them given for any other purpose, except that no one should

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

Chapter 5.—6. Do you, therefore, holy scions of our one Catholic mother, beware with all the watchfulness of which you are capable, in due submission

Chapter 6.—7. Furthermore, whether concerning Christ, or concerning His Church, or any other matter whatsoever which is connected with your faith and

Chapter 7.—8. Whilst we bear the testimony of God to this and the like effect against the vain speaking of men, we are forced to undergo bitter insult

Chapter 8.—9. Nor is it only you that are safe, whatever we may be, because you are satisfied with the very truth of Christ which is in us, in so far

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

Chapter 10.—11. Let these things suffice you, my beloved Christian brethren of the Catholic Church, so far as the present business is concerned and i

Chapter 11.—12. What wonder is it then, if, when I draw in the grain that has been shaken forth from the threshing-floor of the Lord, together with th

Chapter 12.—13. For I am a man of the threshing-floor of Christ: if a bad man, then part of the chaff if good, then of the grain. The winnowing-fan o

Chapter 13.—14. If, therefore, I am a servant of the Lord, and a soldier that is not reprobate, with whatever eloquence Petilianus stands forth revili

Chapter 14.—15. Furthermore, if I have obtained from you, in accordance with my earnest endeavors, that, laying aside from your minds all prejudice of

Chapter 15.—17. Read now the most profuse revilings which he has poured forth whilst puffed up with indignation against me, and see whether he has giv

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

Chapter 17.—20. Let him further go on, in his discourse of many but manifestly empty words, to matters of which he is wholly ignorant, or in which rat

Chapter 18.—21. Certainly in all these things, as you can learn or refresh your memory by reading his letter, he has given free scope to the impulse o

Chapter 19.—22. For perhaps some one of you will say to me, All these things which he said against you he wished to have force for this purpose, that

Chapter 20.—23. All these statements in my letter Petilianus set before himself for refutation. Let us see, therefore, whether he has refuted them wh

Chapter 21.—24. But see, when he is reduced to straits in the argument, he again makes an attack on me full of mist and wind, that the calm clearness

Chapter 22.—26. Lastly, if these two or three words, What if, and Possibly, are so absolutely intolerable, that on their account we should have arouse

Chapter 23.—27. And, in the first place, with regard to that first expression, Of him who gives in holiness, it does not interfere in the least with

Chapter 24.—28. Whatever, therefore, he finds in these two words,—whether he brings calumnious accusations about their suppression, or boasts of their

Chapter 25.—29. And yet Petilianus, to avoid answering what I have said, sets before himself what I have not, and draws men’s attention away from the

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 c

Chapter 27.—32. But this is not what we are now inquiring. Let him rather answer (what he wanders off into the most irrelevant matters in order to avo

Chapter 28.—33. This is what we look upon with horror in your party this is what the sentence of God condemns, crying out with the utmost truth and t

Chapter 29.—34. I entreat of you, pay attention to this: I ask where the means shall be found for cleansing the conscience of the recipient, when he i

Chapter 30.—35. Accordingly this precedent is wholly without bearing on the matter in hand. We might rather say that the declaration of the apostle su

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 fa

Chapter 32.—37. What shall we say of what he himself advanced in his epistle, that Quodvultdeus, having been convicted of two adulteries, and cast ou

Chapter 33.—38. See now how Petilianus, to avoid answering this question, or to avoid being proved to be incapable of answering it, wanders off vainly

Chapter 34.—39. Petilianus quotes also the warning of the Apostle John, that we should not believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are

Chapter 35.—Was the water administered by this man not lying? or is the oil of the fornicator not the oil of the sinner? or must we hold what the Cath

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 the

Chapter 37.—43. Furthermore, according to our tenets, neither he of whom Petilianus said that he was cast forth by us for the sin of the men of Sodom,

Chapter 38.—44. For, to pass over others dwelling in different quarters of the earth,—for you will scarcely find any place in which this kind of men i

Chapter 39.—45. But as for you, when the case of the followers of Maximianus is brought up against you, who, after being condemned by the sentence of

Chapter 40.—46. For if the baptism which Prætextatus and Felicianus administered in the communion of Maximianus was their own, why was it received by

Chapter 41.—49. Lastly, he has ended his epistle with an exhortation and warning to his own party, that they should not be deceived by us, and with a

Chapter 42.—51. For what I just now said is put with the greatest clearness in that very epistle of mine, in answering which he has said nothing and

Chapter 43.—52. These things, I think, I put with clearness and truth in my former epistle, when I made answer to Petilianus. These things I have also

Chapter 44.—53. Then a little after, as he had said, This being so, brethren, what perversity must that be, that he who is guilty by reason of his ow

Chapter 45.—54. But that neither he nor any one of you might say that, when any one of concealed bad character is the baptizer, then he whom he baptiz

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 vehemen

Chapter 47.—57. Furthermore, in like manner as those who denied the resurrection of the dead could in no way defend themselves from the evil consequen

Chapter 48.—58. When we ask, therefore, by what means the man is to be cleansed whom you do not baptize again in your communion, even when it has been

Chapter 49.—59. Do not therefore any longer say, The conscience of one that gives in holiness is what we look for to cleanse the conscience of the re

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

Chapter 51.—63. Next, listen for a short time to the kind of way in which he has tried to use, in his own behalf, the passages which I had advanced fr

Chapter 52.—64. But if you wish to see that the object of Petilianus in his writings really was to prove that the origin, and root, and head of him t

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 o

Chapter 54.—66. Finally, again, a little afterwards, when he resolved and was firmly purposed, as it were, to reconsider once more the words of the ap

Chapter 55.—67. A minister, therefore, that is a dispenser of the word and sacrament of the gospel, if he is a good man, becomes a fellow-partner in t

Chapter 56.—68. And if this is rightly said of the gospel, with how much greater certainty should it be said of baptism, which belongs to the gospel i

Chapter 57.—69. Furthermore, if, while I have continued without intermission to prove how entirely the passages of Scripture which Petilianus has quot

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, bu

Chapter 59.—But according to all these four hypotheses, the truth is on the side of the communion of the Catholic Church. For if both are true, then y

Answer to the Letters of Petilian, the Donatist.