Chapter 6.—7. Furthermore, whether concerning Christ, or concerning His Church, or any other matter whatsoever which is connected with your faith and life, to say nothing of ourselves, who are by no means to be compared with him who said, "Though we," at any rate, as he went on to say, "Though an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which" ye have received in the lawful and evangelical Scripture, "let him be
accursed."2348
While carrying out this principle of action in our dealings with you, and with all whom we desire to
gain in
Christ, and, amongst other things, while
preaching the holy
Church which we read of as
promised in the
epistles of
God, and see to be fulfilled according to the
promises in all
nations of the
world, we have earned, not the rendering of thanks, but the
flames of
hatred, from those whom we desire to have attracted into His most
peaceful
bosom; as though we had bound them fast in that party for which they cannot find any
defense that they should make; or as though we so long before had given injunctions to
prophets and
apostles that they should insert in their books no
proofs by which it might be shown that the party of Donatus was the
Church of
Christ. And we indeed, dear
brethren, when we hear false charges brought against us by those whom we have offended by
preaching the eloquence of
truth, and confuting the
vanity of
error, have, as you know, the most
abundant consolation. For if, in the matters which they lay to my charge, the
testimony of my conscience does not stand against me in the sight of
God, where no
mortal eye can reach, not only ought I not to be cast down, but I should even
rejoice and be exceeding
glad, for great is my
reward in
heaven.
2349
For in fact I ought to consider, not how
bitter, but how false is what I hear, and how true He is in
defense of whose name I am exposed to it, and to whom it is said, "Thy name is as
ointment poured forth."
2350
And deservedly does it smell sweet in all
nations, though those who speak
evil of us endeavor to confine its fragrance within one corner of Africa. Why therefore should we take
amiss that we are
reviled by men who thus detract from the
glory of
Christ, whose party and
schism find offense in what was foretold so long before of His ascent into the heavens, and of the pouring forth of His name, as of the
savor of ointment: "Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let
Thy glory be above all the earth"?
2351
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
