Chapter 11.—15. They ask also, "Whether sins are remitted in baptism in the party of Donatus:" so that, if we say that they are remitted, they may answer, then the Holy Spirit is there; for when by the breathing of our Lord the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, He then went on to say, "Baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."1179
Whose soever
sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever
sins ye retain, they are retained."
1180
And if it is so, they say, then our
communion is the
Church of
Christ; for the
Holy Spirit does not
work the
remission of
sins except in the
Church. And if our
communion is the
Church of
Christ, then your
communion is not the
Church of
Christ. For that is one, wherever it is, of which it is said, "My
dove is but one; she is the only one of her mother;"
1181
nor can there be just so many
churches as there are
schisms. But if we should say that
sins are not there remitted, then, say they, there is no true
baptism there; and therefore ought you to
baptize those whom you receive from us. And since you do not do this, you confess that you are not in the
Church of
Christ.
16. To these we reply, following the Scriptures, by asking them to answer themselves what they ask of us. For I beg them to tell us whether there is any remission of sins where there is not charity; for sins are the darkness of the soul. For we find St. John saying, "He that hateth his brother is still in darkness."1182
But none would
create schisms, if they were not
blinded by
hatred of their
brethren. If, therefore, we say that
sins are not remitted there, how is he regenerate who is
baptized among them? And what is
regeneration in
baptism, except the being renovated from the
corruption of the old man? And how can he be so renovated whose past
sins are not remitted? But if he be not regenerate, neither does he put on
Christ; from which it seems to follow that he ought to be
baptized again. For the
apostle says, "For as many of you as have been
baptized into
Christ have put on
Christ;"
1183
and if he has not so put on
Christ, neither should he be considered to have been
baptized in
Christ. Further, since we say that he has been
baptized in
Christ, we confess that he has put on
Christ; and if we confess this, we confess that he is regenerate. And if this be so, how does St. John say, "He that hateth his
brother remaineth still in
darkness," if
remission of his
sins has already taken place? Can it be that
schism does not involve
hatred of one’s
brethren?
Who will maintain this, when both the origin of, and
perseverance in
schism consists in nothing else
save hatred of the
brethren?
17. They think that they solve this question when they say: "There is then no remission of sins in schism, and therefore no creation of the new man by regeneration, and accordingly neither is there the baptism of Christ." But since we confess that the baptism of Christ exists in schism, we propose this question to them for solution: Was Simon Magus endued with the true baptism of Christ? They will answer, Yes; being compelled to do so by the authority of holy
Scripture. I ask them whether they confess that he received remission of his sins. They will certainly acknowledge it. So I ask why Peter said to him that he had no part in the lot of the saints. Because, they say, he sinned afterwards, wishing to buy with money the gift of God, which he believed the apostles were able to sell.
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