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| The Seventh Council of Carthage under Cyprian. Concerning the Baptism of Heretics.
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The Seventh
Council of Carthage under Cyprian.4673
| 4673
[On councils, see Oxford trans., pp. 232, 240.] |
————————————
Concerning the Baptism of
Heretics. The Judgment of Eighty-Seven Bishops on the Baptism of
Heretics.
Proœmium.—When Stephen, Bishop of Rome, Had by His Letters Condemned
the Decrees of the African Council on the Baptism of Heretics, Cyprian
Lost No Time in Holding Another Council at Carthage with a Greater
Number of Bishops. Having Therefore Summoned Eighty-Seven Bishops
from Africa, Numidia, and Mauritania, Who Assembled at Carthage in the
Kalends of September, a.d. 258, This Third
Council on the Same Matter of Baptism Was Then Celebrated; At the
Beginning of Which, After the Letters on Either Side Had Been Read,
Cyprian, by Implication, Condemns the Assumption of Stephen.4674
| 4674
Of this council there exists no further memorials than such as
have been here collected from Cyprian, and from St. Augustine, De
Baptismo contra Donatistas, book iii. ch. iv., v., and vi., and
book vii. ch. i.; and in these nothing else is contained than the
judgments of the eighty-seven bishops on the nullity of baptism
administered by heretics. If any one desires to see these
judgments impugned, let him consult Augustine as above. The
results of this council are given in Ep. lxxi. p. 378,
supra. |
When, in the kalends of
September, a great many bishops from the provinces of Africa, Numidia,
and Mauritania, had met together at Carthage, together with the
presbyters and deacons, and a considerable part of the congregation who
were also present; and when the letter of Jubaianus written to Cyprian
had been read, as also the reply of Cyprian to Jubaianus, about
baptizing heretics, and what the same Jubaianus had subsequently
rejoined to Cyprian,—Cyprian said: You have heard, my
dearly beloved colleagues, what Jubaianus our co-bishop has written to
me, taking counsel of my poor intelligence concerning the unlawful and
profane baptism of heretics, as well as what I wrote in answer to him,
decreeing, to wit, what we have once and again and frequently
determined, that heretics who come to the Church must be baptized and
sanctified by the baptism of the Church. Moreover, another letter
of Jubaianus has also been read to you, wherein, replying, in
accordance with his sincere and religious devotion, to my letter, he
not only acquiesced in what I had said, but, confessing that he had
been instructed thereby, he returned thanks for it. It remains,
that upon this same matter each of us should bring forward what we
think, judging no man, nor rejecting any one from the right of
communion, if he should think differently from us. For neither
does any of us set himself up as a bishop of bishops,4675
| 4675
Of course this implies a rebuke to the assumption of Stephen,
[“their brother,” and forcibly contrasts the spirit of
Cyprian with that of his intolerant compeer]. | nor by tyrannical terror does any
compel his colleague to the necessity of obedience; since every bishop,
according to the allowance of his liberty and power, has his own proper
right of judgment, and can no more be judged by another than he himself
can judge another.4676
| 4676
[This, then is the primitive idea of the relations existing, mutually,
among bishops as brethren.] | But let us all wait for the
judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one that has the
power both of preferring us in the government of His Church, and of
judging us in our conduct there.
Cæcilius of Bilta4677
| 4677
Scil. of Mauritania; possibly, says the Oxford translator,
Bidil, Bita, or “urbs Abitensis.” | said: I know only one baptism
in the Church, and none out of the Church. This one will be here,
where there is the true hope and the certain faith. For thus it
is written: “One faith, one hope, one
baptism;”4678
not
among heretics, where there is no hope, and the faith is false, where
all things are carried on by lying; where a demoniac exorcises; where
one4679
| 4679
According to some editions, “the sacrilegious man,”
etc. | whose
mouth and words send forth a cancer puts the sacramental
interrogation;4680
| 4680
“Sacramentum interrogat.” | the
faithless gives faith; the wicked bestows pardon of sins; and
Antichrist baptizes in the name of Christ; he who is cursed of God blesses;
he who is dead promises life; he who is unpeaceful gives peace; the
blasphemer calls upon God; the profane person administers the office of
the priesthood; the sacrilegious person establishes an altar. In
addition to all these things, there is also this evil, that the priests
of the devil dare to celebrate the Eucharist; or else let those who
stand by them say that all these things concerning heretics are
false. Behold to what kind of things the Church is
compelled4681
to consent,
and is constrained without baptism, without pardon of sins, to hold
communion. And this thing, brethren, we ought to flee from and
avoid, and to separate ourselves from so great a wickedness, and to
hold one baptism, which is granted by the Lord to the Church
alone.
Primus of Misgirpa4682
| 4682
A city of Zeugitana. Augustine calls this bishop Felix, and
speaks of him as the first of that name who
spoke.—Fell. | said: I decide, that every man
who comes to us from heresy must be baptized. For in vain does he
think that he has been baptized there, seeing that there is no baptism
save the one and true baptism in the Church; because not only is God
one, but the faith is one, and the Church is one, wherein stands the
one baptism, and holiness, and the rest. For whatever is done
without, has no effect of salvation.
Polycarp from Adrumetum4683
| 4683
This is the Polycarp referred to in Ep. xliv. p. 322,
supra. Adrumetum was a colony on the coast, about
eighty-five miles from Carthage. | said: They who approve the
baptism of heretics make void our baptism.
Novatus of Thamugada4684
said: Although we know that
all the Scriptures give witness concerning the saving baptism, still we
ought to declare our faith, that heretics and schismatics who come to
the Church, and appear to have been falsely baptized, ought to be
baptized in the everlasting fountain; and therefore, according to the
testimony of the Scriptures, and according to the decree of our
colleagues, men of most holy memory, that all schismatics and heretics
who are converted to the Church must be baptized; and moreover, that
those who appeared to have been ordained must be received among lay
people.
Nemesianus of Thubunæ4685
| 4685
In Mauritania Cæsariensis. | said: That the baptism which
heretics and schismatics bestow is not the true one, is everywhere
declared in the Holy Scriptures, since their very leading men are false
Christs and false prophets, as the Lord says by Solomon:
“He who trusteth in that which is false, he feedeth the winds;
and the very same, moreover, followeth the flight of birds. For
he forsaketh the ways of his own vineyard, he has wandered from the
paths of his own little field. But he walketh through pathless
places, and dry, and a land destined for thirst; moreover, he gathereth
together fruitless things in his hands.”4686
And again: “Abstain
from strange water, and from the fountain of another do not drink, that
you may live a long time; also that the years of life may be added to
thee.”4687
And
in the Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ spoke with His divine voice,
saying, “Except a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God.”4688
This is the Spirit which from
the beginning was borne over the waters; for neither can the Spirit
operate without the water, nor the water without the Spirit.
Certain people therefore interpret for themselves ill, when they say
that by imposition of the hand they receive the Holy Ghost, and are
thus received, when it is manifest that they ought to be born again in
the Catholic Church by both sacraments. Then indeed they will be
able to be sons of God, as says the apostle: “Taking care
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is
one body, and one Spirit, as ye have been called in one hope of your
calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.”4689
All
these things speaks the Catholic Church.4690
| 4690
[He has no idea that this voice proceeds from any one bishop.] | And again, in the Gospel the
Lord says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit; because God is a Spirit,
and he is born of God.”4691
Therefore, whatsoever things all
heretics and schismatics do are carnal, as the apostle says:
“For the works of the flesh are manifest, which are,
fornications, uncleannesses, incest, idolatries, witchcrafts, hatreds,
contentions, jealousy, anger, divisions, heresies, and the like to
these; concerning which have told you before, as I also foretell you
now, that whoever do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.”4692
And thus
the apostle condemns, with all the wicked, those also who cause
division, that is, schismatics and heretics. Unless therefore
they receive saving baptism in the Catholic Church, which is one, they
cannot be saved, but will be condemned with the carnal in the judgment
of the Lord Christ.
Januarius of Lambesis4693
said: According to the
authority4694
| 4694
[This appeal to Scripture against Stephen must be noted, whatever we
may think of his conclusions.] | of the Holy
Scriptures, I decree that all heretics must be baptized, and so
admitted into the holy Church.
Lucius of Castra Galbæ4695
said: Since the Lord in His
Gospel said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt
should have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is
thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out of doors, and to be trodden under foot of
men.”4696
And
again, after His resurrection, sending His apostles, He gave them
charge, saying, “All power is given unto me, in heaven and in
earth. Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”4697
Since,
therefore, it is manifest that heretics—that is, the enemies of
Christ—have not the sound confession of the sacrament; moreover,
that schismatics cannot season others with spiritual wisdom, since they
themselves, by departing from the Church, which is one, having lost the
savour, have become contrary to it,—let it be done as it is
written, “The house of those that are contrary to the law owes a
cleansing.”4698
And
it is a consequence that those who, having been baptized by people who
are contrary to the Church, are polluted, must first be cleansed, and
then at length be baptized.
Crescens of Cirta4699
| 4699
Cirta Julia in Numidia. | said: In such an assembly of
most holy fellow-priests, as the letters of our most beloved Cyprian to
Jubaianus and also to Stephen have been read, containing in them so
much of the holy testimonies which descend from the divinely made
Scriptures, that with reason we ought, all being made one by the grace
of God, to consent to them; I judge that all heretics and schismatics
who wish to come to the Catholic Church, shall not be allowed to enter
without they have first been exorcised and baptized; with the exception
of those indeed who may previously have been baptized in the Catholic
Church, and these in such a way that they may be reconciled to the
penitence of the Church by the imposition of hands.
Nicomedes of Segermæ4700
said: My opinion is this, that
heretics coming to the Church should be baptized, for the reason that
among sinners without they can obtain no remission of sins.
Munnulus4701
| 4701
Ep. liii. p. 336, supra. Munnulus is mentioned as
one of the bishops who write with Cyprian to Cornelius. He is
there called “Monulus.” |
of Girba4702
said: The
truth of our Mother4703
| 4703
[Testimony to the meaning of the Holy Catholic Church in the Nicene
Creed.] | the Catholic Church, brethren, hath
always remained and still remains with us, and even especially in the
Trinity of baptism, as our Lord says, “Go ye and baptize the
nations, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.”4704
Since, then, we manifestly know that heretics have not either Father,
or Son, or Holy Spirit, they ought, when they come to the Church our
Mother, truly to be born again and to be baptized; that the cancer
which they had, and the anger of damnation, and the witchery of error,
may be sanctified by the holy and heavenly laver.
Secundinus of Cedias4705
| 4705
Perhaps Quidias in Mauritania Cæsariensis. | said: Since our Lord Christ says,
“He who is not with me is against me;”4706
and John the apostle calls those who
depart from the Church Antichrists—undoubtedly enemies of
Christ—any such as are called Antichrists cannot minister the
grace of saving baptism. And therefore I think that those who
flee from the snares of the heretics to the Church must be baptized by
us, who are called friends of God, of His condescension.
Felix of Bagai4707
| 4707 In
Numidia. Here was held the Donatist “Concilium
Bagaiense” of 310 bishops (Oxford ed.). | said: As, when the blind leads
the blind, they fall together into the ditch; so, when the heretic
baptizes a heretic, they fall together into death. And therefore
a heretic must be baptized and made alive, lest we who are alive should
hold communion with the dead.
Polianus of Mileum4708
said: It is right that a heretic
be baptized in the holy Church.
Theogenes of Hippo Regius4709
| 4709
The See of St. Augustine in Numidia, 218 miles from Carthage, and
160 miles from Hippo Diarrhytus. See p. 571,
infra. | said: According to the
sacrament of God’s heavenly grace which we have received, we
believe one baptism which is in the holy Church.
Dativus of Badis4710
| 4710
Badea, or Badel, in Numidia. | said: We, as far as in us lies,
do not hold communion with heretics, unless they have been baptized in
the Church, and have received remission of their sins.
Successus of Abbir Germaniciana4711
said: Heretics can either do
nothing, or they can do all. If they can baptize, they can also
bestow the Holy Spirit. But if they cannot give the Holy Spirit,
because they have not the Holy Spirit, neither can they spiritually
baptize. Therefore we judge that heretics must be
baptized.
Fortunatus of Tuccaboris4712
| 4712
Tucca-terebinthina in Zeugitana. | said: Jesus Christ our Lord and
God, Son of God the Father and Creator, built His Church upon a
rock,4713
| 4713
[Evidently he never suspects that Stephen is the rock.] | not upon
heresy; and gave the power of baptizing to bishops, not to
heretics. Wherefore they who are without the Church, and,
standing in opposition to Christ, disperse His sheep and flock, cannot
baptize, being without.
Sedatus of Tuburbo4714
| 4714
Thuburbo, or Thuburbis, in Zeugitana. | said: In the degree in which
water sanctified in the Church by the prayer of the priest, washes away
sins; in that degree, if infected with heretical discourse as with a
cancer, it heaps up sins. Wherefore we must endeavour with all
peaceful powers, that no one infected and stained with heretical
error refuse to
receive the single and true baptism of the Church, by which whosoever
is not baptized, shall become an alien from the kingdom of
heaven. Privatianus of Sufetula4715
| 4715 A
city of Numidia Byzacenæ. | said: Let him who says that
heretics have the power of baptizing, say first who founded
heresy. For if heresy is of God, it also may have the divine
indulgence. But if it is not from God, how can it either have the
grace of God, or confer it upon any one?
Privatus of Sufes4716
said: He who approves the baptism
of heretics, what else does he do than communicate with
heretics?
Hortensianus of Lares4717
| 4717 A
city of Numidia Ptolemais. | said: Let either these
presumptuous ones,4718
| 4718
[Stephen and those who accept his ideas.] | or those who favour heretics,
consider how many baptisms there are. We claim for the Church one
baptism, which we know not except in the Church. Or how can they
baptize any one in the name of Christ, whom Christ Himself declares to
be His adversaries?
Cassius of Macomadæ4719
| 4719
Or Macodama in Numidia. | said: Since there cannot be
two baptisms, he who yields baptism to the heretics takes it away from
himself. I judge therefore that heretics, lamentable and corrupt,
must be baptized when they begin to come to the Church; and that when
washed by the sacred and divine washing, and illuminated by the light
of life, they may be received into the Church, not as enemies, but as
made peaceful; not as foreigners, but as of the household of the faith
of the Lord; not as children of adultery, but as sons of God; not of
error, but of salvation; except those who once faithful have been
supplanted, and have passed over from the Church to the darkness of
heresy, but that these must be restored by the imposition of
hands.
Another Januarius of Vicus Cæsaris4720
| 4720
Perhaps Nova Cæsaris in Numidia. | said:
If error does not obey truth, much more truth does not consent to
error; and therefore we stand by the Church in which we preside, that,
claiming her baptism for herself alone, we should baptize those whom
the Church has not baptized.
Another Secundinus of Carpi4721
| 4721 In
Zeugitana, on the borders of Tunis. | said: Are heretics Christians or
not? If they are Christians, why are they not in the Church of
God? If they are not Christians, how come they to make
Christians? Or whither will tend the Lord’s discourse, when
He says, “He that is not with me is against me, and he who
gathereth not with me scattereth?”4722
Whence it appears plain that
upon strange children, and on the offspring of Antichrist, the Holy
Ghost cannot descend only by imposition of hands, since it is manifest
that heretics have not baptism.
Victoricus of Thabraca4723
| 4723 A
colony variously called Tabraca or Tabathra. | said: If heretics are allowed
to baptize and to give remission of sins, wherefore do we brand them
with infamy and call them heretics?
Another Felix of Uthina4724
| 4724
Οὔθινα in Zeugitana. | said: Nobody doubts, most holy
fellow-priests, that human presumption is not able to do so much as the
adorable and venerable majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, remembering the danger, we ought not only to observe this
also, but moreover to confirm it by the voice of all of us, that all
heretics who come to the bosom of Mother Church should be baptized,
that thus the heretical mind that has been polluted by a long decay,
purged by the sanctification of the laver, may be reformed for the
better.
Quietus of Baruch4725
| 4725
Or Buruch, probably Bourka in Numidia. | said: We who live by faith
ought to obey with careful observance those things which before have
been foretold for our instruction. For it is written in
Solomon: “He that is baptized from the dead, (and again
toucheth the dead,4726
| 4726
This clause is omitted in the larger number of editions. | ) what availeth his
washing?”4727
which
certainly speaks of those who are washed by heretics, and of those that
wash them. For if those who are baptized among them obtain by
remission of their sins life eternal, why do they come to the
Church? But if from a dead person no salvation is received, and
therefore, acknowledging their previous error, they return to the truth
with penitence, they ought to be sanctified with the one vital baptism
which is in the Catholic Church.
Castus of Sicca4728
| 4728
Sicca Veneria, a city of Zeugitana. | said: He who with contempt of
the truth presumes to follow custom, is either envious and malignant in
respect of his brethren to whom the truth is revealed, or is ungrateful
in respect of God, by whose inspiration His Church is
instructed.
Euchratius of Thenæ4729
said: God and our Lord Jesus
Christ, teaching the apostles with His own mouth, has entirely
completed our faith, and the grace of baptism, and the rule of the
ecclesiastical law, saying: “Go ye and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost.”4730
Thus the false and wicked
baptism of heretics must be rejected by us, and refuted with all
detestation, from whose mouth is expressed poison, not life, not
celestial grace, but blasphemy of the Trinity.4731
| 4731
“Let the reader observe here, as elsewhere, that the word
‘Trinity’ is simply used for the persons of the
Godhead” (Oxford edit.). | And therefore it is
manifest that heretics who come to
the Church ought to be baptized with the sound and Catholic baptism, in
order that, being purified from the blasphemy of their presumption,
they may be reformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Libosus of Vaga4732
said: In the Gospel the Lord
says, “I am the truth.”4733
He said not, “I am the
custom.” Therefore the truth being manifest, let custom
yield to truth; so that, although for the past any one was not in the
habit of baptizing heretics in the Church, let him now begin to baptize
them.4734
| 4734
[Here is a concession that at least the local custom could
be pleaded by Stephen.] |
Lucius of Thebeste4735
said: I determine that
blasphemous and unrighteous heretics, who with various words tear
asunder the holy and adorable words of the Scriptures, are to be
accursed, and therefore that they must be exorcised and
baptized.
Eugenius of Ammedera4736
said: And I determine the
same—that heretics must be baptized.
Also another Felix of Amaccora4737
| 4737
“Damatcore,” or “Vamaccore,” in Numidia. | said: And I myself, following
the authority of the divine Scriptures,4738
| 4738
[Here we may think as we choose as to this conclusion, but the appeal
to Holy Scripture proves that this is the only infallible
authority.] | judge that heretics must be
baptized; and, moreover, those also who contend that they have been
baptized among the schismatics. For if, according to
Christ’s warning, our font is private to us, let all the
adversaries of our Church understand that it cannot be for
another. Nor can He who is the Shepherd of the one flock give the
saving water to two peoples. And therefore it is plain that
neither heretics nor schismatics can receive anything heavenly, seeing
that they dare to receive from men who are sinners, and from those who
are external to the Church. When there is no place for the giver,
assuredly there is no profit for the receiver.
Also another Januarius of Muzzuli4739
said: I am surprised, since all confess that there is one
baptism, that all do not perceive the unity of the same baptism.
For the Church and heresy are two things, and different things.
If heretics have baptism, we have it not; but if we have it, heretics
cannot have it. But there is no doubt that the Church alone
possesses the baptism of Christ, since she alone possesses both the
grace and the truth of Christ.
Adelphius of Thasvalte4740
said: Certain persons without
reason impugn the truth by false and envious words, in saying that we
rebaptize, when the Church does not rebaptize heretics, but baptizes
them.
Demetrius of Leptiminus4741
| 4741
Λέπτις
μικρά—a city of Byzacena. | said: We maintain one baptism,
because we demand for the Church Catholic alone her own property.
But they who say that heretics truly and legitimately baptize, are
themselves the people who make not one, but many baptisms. For
since heresies are many, according to their number will be reckoned
baptisms.
Vincentius of Thibaris4742
| 4742
Tabora, a city of Mauritania Cæsariensis. | said: We know that heretics are
worse than Gentiles. If, therefore, being converted, they should
wish to come to the Lord, we have assuredly the rule of truth which the
Lord by His divine precept commanded to His apostles, saying, “Go
ye, lay on hands in my name, expel demons.”4743
And in another place:
“Go ye and teach the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”4744
Therefore first of all by
imposition of hands in exorcism, secondly by the regeneration of
baptism, they may then come to the promise of Christ. Otherwise I
think it ought not to be done.
Marcus of Mactaris4745
said: It is not to be wondered
at if heretics, enemies, and impugners of the truth claim to themselves
a matter in the power and condescension of others. But it is to
be wondered at, that some of us, prevaricators of the truth, support
heretics and oppose themselves to Christians. Therefore we decree
that heretics must be baptized.
Sattius of Sicilibba4746
| 4746 A
city of Zeugitana—“Sicilibra,” thirty-four miles from
Carthage. | said: If to heretics in baptism
their sins are remitted, they come to the Church without reason.
For since, in the day of judgment, they are sins which are punished,
there is nothing which the heretics can fear from Christ’s
judgment, if they have already obtained remission of their
sins.
Victor of Gor4747
| 4747
Probably “Garra,” a city of Mauritania Cæsariensis, or
“Garriana,” a city of Byzacena. | said: Since sins are not
remitted4748
save in the
baptism of the Church, he who admits a heretic to communion without
baptism does two things against reason: he does not cleanse the
heretics, and he befouls the Christians.
Aurelius of Utica4749
| 4749
A city of Zeugitana, famous as being the place of Cato’s death,
now called Byzerta. | said: Since the apostle says
that we are not to communicate with other people’s sins, what
else does he do but communicate with other people’s sins, who
holds communion with heretics without the Church’s baptism?
And therefore I judge that heretics must be baptized, that they may
receive forgiveness of their sins; and thus communion may be had with
them.
Iambus of
Germaniciana4750
| 4750
Scil. “urbs,” a city of Byzacena. The epithet
refers to its being a place frequented by the veterans of German
cohort, and distinguishes it from “Abbiritana.” | said:
They who approve of the baptism of heretics, disapprove of ours, in
denying that they who are, I will not say washed, but befouled, outside
the Church, ought to be baptized in the Church.
Lucianus of Rucuma4751
| 4751 A
city of Zeugitana. | said: It is written, “And
God saw the light, that it was good, and divided between the light and
the darkness.”4752
If there can be agreement between
light and darkness, there may be something in common between us and
heretics. Therefore I determine that heretics must be
baptized.
Pelagianus of Luperciana4753
| 4753
Possibly “Lubertina.” | said: It is written,
“Either the Lord is God, or Baal is God.”4754
Therefore in the present case
also, either the Church is the Church, or heresy is the Church.
On the other hand, if heresy is not the Church, how can the
Church’s baptism be among heretics?
Jader of Midila4755
said: We know that there is but
one baptism in the Catholic Church, and therefore we ought not to
receive a heretic unless he has been baptized among us; lest he should
think that he has been baptized out of the Catholic Church.
Also another Felix of Marazana4756
said: There is one faith, one
baptism, but of the Catholic Church, which alone has the right to
baptize.
Paulus of Obba4757
| 4757
Otherwise “Bobba,” a city of Mauritania. | said: It does not disturb me if
any man does not assert the faith and truth of the Church, since the
apostle says, “For what if some of them have fallen away from the
faith? Has their unbelief made the faith of God of no
effect? By no means. For God is true, but every man a
liar.”4758
But if
God is true, how can the truth of baptism be among the heretics, among
whom God is not?
Pomponius of Dionysiana4759
said: It is evident that
heretics cannot baptize and give remission of sins, seeing that they
have not power to be able to loose or to bind anything on
earth.
Venantius of Timisa4760
| 4760 A
city of Zeugitana. | said: If a husband, going into
foreign parts, had commended his wife to the guardianship of his
friend, that friend would take care of her who was commended to him
with all possible diligence, that her chastity and holiness should not
be corrupted by any one. Christ the Lord and our God, going to
His Father, has commended to us His bride. Shall we guard her
incorrupt and inviolate, or shall we betray her integrity and chastity
to adulterers and corrupters? For he who makes the Church’s
baptism common to heretics, betrays the spouse of Christ to
adulterers.
Ahymnus of Ausvaga4761
| 4761
This seems to be “Ausana” or “Ausagga.” | said: We have received one
baptism, and that same we maintain and practise. But he who says
that heretics also may lawfully baptize, makes two baptisms.
Saturninus of Victoriana4762
said: If heretics may baptize,
they who do unlawful things are excused and defended; nor do I see why
either Christ should have called them adversaries, or the apostle
should have called them Antichrists.
Saturninus4763
| 4763
The Oxford reads “Another Saturninus.” | of Thucca4764
said: The Gentiles, although
they worship idols, do yet know and confess a supreme God4765
| 4765
Manifestly, says the Oxford editor, this expression refers to
“Jupiter the father of gods and men.” | as Father
and Creator. Against Him Marcion blasphemes, and some persons do
not blush to approve the baptism of Marcion. How do such priests
either observe or vindicate God’s priesthood, who do not baptize
God’s enemies, and hold communion with them as they
are!
Marcellus of Zama4766
| 4766 A
city of Numidia; the scene of Hannibal’s overthrow by
Scorpio. | said: Since sins are not
remitted4767
| 4767
[The Nicene Creed is emphatic in the article based on this idea; and it
proves that the primitive discipline of penitence was not in those days
a “sacrament of absolution,” to which all were compelled to
submit. Private confessions seem to have been unknown.] | save in the
baptism of the Church, he who does not baptize a heretic holds
communion with a sinner.
Irenæus of Ululi4768
| 4768
“Usilla,” a city of Byzacena. | said: If the Church does not
baptize a heretic, for the reason that he is said to be already
baptized, it is the greater heresy.
Donatus of Cibaliana4769
| 4769
Possibly “Cerbaliana” in Byzacena. | said: I know one Church and
her one baptism. If there is any who says that the grace of
baptism is with heretics, he must first show and prove that the Church
is among them.
Zosimus of Tharassa4770
said: When a revelation of the
truth is made, let error give place to truth; because Peter also, who
previously circumcised, yielded to Paul when he preached the
truth.4771
| 4771
[The bearings of this simple statement upon the later claims of
Stephen’s See must not be overlooked.] |
Julianus of Telepte4772
| 4772 A
city of Numidia Byzacenæ. | said: It is written, “No
man can receive anything unless it have been given him from
heaven.”4773
If
heresy is from heaven, it can also give baptism.
Faustus of Timida Regia4774
| 4774
A city of Zeugitana; some read “Tumida.” | said: Let not them who are in
favour of heretics flatter themselves. He who interferes with the
baptism of the Church on behalf of heretics, makes them Christians, and
us heretics.
Geminius of
Furni4775
| 4775
A city of Zeugitana. | said:
Some of our colleagues may prefer heretics to themselves, they cannot
to us: and therefore what we have once determined we
maintain—that we baptize those who come to us from the
heretics.
Rogatianus of Nova4776
| 4776 A
city of Mauritania Cæsariensis. Fell observes that in
Numidia are many cities of the name of “Nova” or
“Noba.” | said: Christ instituted the
Church; the devil, heresy. How can the synagogue of Satan have
the baptism of Christ?
Therapius of Bulla4777
| 4777
A city of Zeugitana. There were two cities of the
name—Βουλλαρία,
or Bulla Regia, and Βουλλαμίνσα,
or Bulla Minor. The latter is probably referred to. | said: He who concedes and
betrays the Church’s baptism to heretics, what else has he been
to the spouse of Christ than a Judas?
Also another Lucius of Membresa4778
| 4778
Otherwise “Memosita,” a city of Zeugitana. It is also
written “Membrosa.” | said: It is written,
“God heareth not a sinner.”4779
How can a heretic who is a
sinner be heard in baptism?
Also another Felix of Bussacene4780
| 4780
Probably “Byzacene.” | said: In the matter of
receiving heretics without the baptism of the Church, let no one prefer
custom to reason and truth, because reason and truth always exclude
custom.4781
| 4781
[Custom, then, was elsewhere established: and it ultimately
prevailed; whether against truth or not, need not here be
discussed.] |
Another Saturninus of Avitini4782
| 4782
This is supposed to be “Autenti,” a city of Byzacene. | said: If Antichrist can give
to any one the grace of Christ, heretics also are able to baptize, for
they are called antichrists.
Quintus of Aggya:4783
| 4783
Supposed to be Aggiva. | He can give something who has
something. But what can heretics give, who, it is plain, have
nothing?
Another Julianus of Marcelliana4784
| 4784 Mention of the Bishop of
Marcelliana is found in Notitia Episcopatus
Africæ. | said: If a man can serve two
masters, God and mammon, baptism also can serve two masters, the
Christian and the heretic.
Tenax of Horrea Cæliæ4785
| 4785
A village belonging to Byzacene, seventy-five miles from Carthage. | said: Baptism is one, but it
is the Church’s. Where the Church is not there, there can
be no baptism.
Another Victor of Assuri4786
| 4786
A city of Zeugitana. | said: It is written, that
“God is one, and Christ is one, and the Church is one, and
baptism is one.”4787
How, therefore, can any one
be baptized there, where God, and Christ, and the one Church is
not?
Donatulus of Capse4788
said: And I also have always
thought this, that heretics, who can obtain nothing without the Church,
when they are converted to the Church, must be baptized.
Verulus4789
| 4789 Called in some editions “a
martyr from the schismatics.” | of Rusiccada4790
said: A man who is a heretic
cannot give what he has not; much more a schismatic, who has lost what
he once had.
Pudentianus of Cuiculis4791
said: The novelty of my episcopal
office,4792
| 4792
[Noteworthy examples of episcopal modesty. In the colleges of
bishops, however, it is now usual to call upon juniors first, that, if
they should think differently from older brethren, their free opinion
need not be restrained by deference.] | beloved
brethren, has caused me to await what my elders should judge. For
it is manifest that heresies have nothing, nor can have any
thing. And thus, if any one comes from them, it is most justly
decreed that they must be baptized.
Peter of Hippo Diarrhytus4793
| 4793 A
city of Zeugitana, called Diarrhytus because of the number of the
streams that water it. The name is otherwise read “Hippo
Diarrhytorum.” | said: Since there is one
baptism in the Catholic Church, it is manifest that one cannot be
baptized outside the Church. And therefore I judge that those who
have been dipped in heresy or in schism, when they come to the Church,
should be baptized.
Also another Lucius of Ausafa4794
| 4794
A city of Zeugitana, sometimes written “Assapha.” | said: According to the
direction of my mind, and of the Holy Spirit, as there is one God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one Christ, and one hope, and one
Spirit, and one Church, there ought also to be one baptism. And
therefore I say, that if any thing had been set on foot or accomplished
by heretics, it ought to be rescinded, and that those who come thence
must be baptized in the Church.
Also another Felix of Gurgites4795
said: I judge that, according
to the precepts of the holy Scriptures, he who is unlawfully baptized
by heretics outside the Church, when he wishes to take refuge in the
Church, should obtain the grace of baptism where it is lawfully
given.
Pusillus of Lamasba4796
| 4796
“Lambesa,” a city of Numidia. | said: I believe that there is no
saving baptism except in the Catholic Church. Whatsoever is apart
from the Catholic Church is a pretence.
Salvianus of Gazaufala4797
| 4797 A
city of Numidia, otherwise Γαυσάφνα (Ptol.)
and Γαζόφυλα
(Procop.) | said: It is certain that
heretics have nothing, and therefore they come to us that they may
receive what they have not.
Honoratus of Thucca4798
| 4798
There are four cities in Africa of this name. | said: Since Christ is the
Truth, we ought rather to follow truth than custom; so that we should
sanctify heretics with the Church’s baptism, seeing that they
come to us for the reason that they could receive nothing
without.
Victor of Octavum4799
| 4799
A city of Numidia, otherwise called “Octabum.” | said: As yourselves also
know, I have not long been appointed a bishop, and I therefore waited
for the decision4800
| 4800
[Noteworthy examples of episcopal modesty. In the colleges of bishops,
however, it is now usual to call upon juniors first, that, if they
should think differently from older brethren, their free opinion need
not be restrained by deference.] |
of my predecessors. I
therefore think this, that as many as come from heresy should
undoubtedly be baptized.
Clarus of Mascula4801
said: The sentence of our Lord
Jesus Christ is plain, when He sent His apostles, and accorded to them
alone the power given to Him by His Father; and to them we have
succeeded, governing the Lord’s Church with the same
power,4802
| 4802
[This is Cyprian’s theory of the origin of the
episcopate. Elucidation infra.] | and baptizing
the faith of believers. And therefore heretics, who neither have
power without, nor have the Church of Christ, are able to baptize no
one with His baptism.
Secundianus of Thambei4803
said: We ought not to deceive
heretics by our presumption; so that they who have not been baptized in
the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have not obtained by this
means remissions of their sins, when the day of judgment shall come,
should impute to us that through us they were not baptized, and did not
obtain the indulgence of divine grace. On which account, since
there is one Church and one baptism, when they are converted to us they
should obtain, together with the Church, the Church’s baptism
also.
Also another Aurelius of Chullabi4804
| 4804
This is otherwise called “Cululi,” a city of Byzacena. | said:
John the apostle laid it down in his epistle, saying: “If
any one come unto you, and have not the doctrine of Christ, receive him
not into your house, and say not to him, Hail. For he that saith
to him, Hail, partakes with his evil deeds.”4805
How can such be rashly admitted
into God’s house, who are prohibited from being admitted into our
private dwelling? Or how can we hold communion with them without
the Church’s baptism, to whom, if we should only say Hail, we are
partakers of their evil deeds?
Litteus4806
| 4806
This Litteus is mentioned in Ep. lxxvi. p. 402,
supra. | of Gemelli4807
said: If the blind lead the
blind, both fall into the ditch. Since, then, it is manifest that
heretics cannot give light to any, as being themselves blind, their
baptism does not avail.
Natalis of Oëa4808
said: As well I who am present,
as Pompey4809
| 4809
Probably the same to whom Ep. lxxiii. (p. 386, supra) was
written. | of
Sabrata,4810
as also Dioga
of Leptis Magna4811
| 4811 A
city of Tripolis, thus distinguished from Leptis parva. | —who,
absent indeed in body, but present in spirit, have given me
charge—judge the same as our colleagues, that heretics cannot
hold communion with us, unless they shall be baptized with
ecclesiastical baptism.
Junius of Neapolis4812
said: From the judgment which we
once determined on I do not recede, that we should baptize heretics who
come to the Church.
Cyprian of Carthage said: The letter which
was written to our colleague Jubaianus very fully expresses my opinion,
that, according to evangelical and apostolic testimony, heretics, who
are called adversaries of Christ and Antichrists, when they come to the
Church, must be baptized with the one baptism of the Church, that they
may be made of adversaries, friends, and of Antichrists,
Christians.4813
| 4813
[Here Cyprian sums up, and gives the sentence of the council, after the
example of St. James, who presided in the Council of Jerusalem,
Acts xv. 13; 19.] | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
