Library › Blessed Augustine › Answer to the Letters of Petilian
Answer to the Letters of Petilian
Blessed Augustine, NPNF I.4
- d1
- b1pref
- Augustin, to the well-beloved brethren that belong to the care of our charge, greeting in…
- Whence, then, is a man to be cleansed who receives baptism, when the conscience of the …
- For, so long as they escaped detection, they could not bestow faith on any whom they …
- Wherefore, if they were in error, and would have perished had they not been corrected, …
- We ask, therefore, since he says, “He who receives faith from the faithless receives not …
- Wherefore, whether a man receive the sacrament of baptism from a faithful or a faithless …
- But if it is perfect madness to hold such a view (for it is Christ always that justifieth…
- When he hears, “Every good tree bringeth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth …
- Again, when he hears, “He that is washed by one dead, his washing profiteth him nought,” …
- Lastly, if they are willing to give the name of dead neither to the wicked man whose sin …
- Of these I would ask, whether by coming to their sea they were restored to life, or …
- But our brethren themselves, the sons of the aforesaid churches, were both ignorant at …
- If, in the interests of the unity of the party of Donatus, no one rebaptizes those who …
- Therefore, brethren, let it suffice us that they should be admonished and corrected on …
- Look at the states of Musti and Assura: there are many still remaining in this life and …
- As for the words which follow in his letter, the writer himself could scarcely fail to …
- Then he further adds: “Both are without the life of baptism, both he who never had it at …
- He says: “You who are a most abandoned traditor have come out in the character of a …
- What, then, does he mean by quoting in his letter the words with which our Lord addressed…
- Wherefore all this about the generation of vipers, and the poison of asps under their …
- Lastly, it has been said, as he himself has also quoted, “Ye shall know them by their …
- What if the holy and true Church of Christ were to convince and overcome you, even if we …
- In conclusion, the Testament is said to have been given to the flames by certain men in …
- But let us turn to the consideration of your fruits. I pass over the tyrannous exercise …
- I think that I have left unanswered none of the statements in the letter of Donatus, so …
- 26. Chap 26
- Wherefore, my beloved brethren, though that error is exposed and overcome in many ways, …
- Finally, they think that the question of baptism is hidden, with which they deceive …
- These things, brethren, I would have you retain as the basis of your action and preaching…
- b2pref
- That we made a full and sufficient answer to the first part of the letter of Petilianus, …
- Petilianus said: “Those who have polluted their souls with a guilty laver, under the name…
- Petilianus said: “For what we look to is the conscience of the giver, to cleanse that of …
- Petilianus said: “For he who receives faith from the faithless, receives not faith but …
- Petilianus said: “For everything consists of an origin and root; and if it have not …
- Petilianus said: “This being the case, brethren, what perversity must it be, that he who …
- Petilianus said: “And again, ‘He who is baptized by one that is dead, his washing …
- Petilianus said: “We must consider, I say, and declare how far the treacherous traditor …
- Petilianus said: “Hemmed in, therefore, by these offenses, you cannot be a true bishop.”
- Petilianus said: “Did the apostle persecute any one? or did Christ betray any one?”
- Petilianus said: “Yet some will be found to say, We are not the sons of a traditor. Any …
- Petilianus said: “The Lord Jesus said to the Jews concerning Himself, ‘If I do not the …
- Petilianus said: Over and over again He reproaches the false speakers and liars in such …
- Petilianus said: “In the third place, also, He calls the madness of persecutors in like …
- Petilianus said: “David also spoke of you as persecutors in the following terms: ‘Their …
- Petilianus said: “The Lord Christ also warns us, saying, Beware of False Prophets, Which …
- Petilianus said: “Thus, thus, thou wicked persecutor, under whatsoever cloak of …
- Petilianus said: “Nor is it, after all, so strange that you assume to yourself the name …
- Petilianus said: “The Lord Jesus Christ commands us, saying, ‘When they persecute you in …
- Petilianus said: “The Lord Christ cries again from heaven to Paul, ‘Saul, Saul, why …
- Petilianus said: “Accordingly, as we have said, the Lord Christ cried, ‘Saul, Saul, why …
- Petilianus said: “It may be urged that Christ said to His apostles, as you are constantly…
- Petilianus said: “But if you say that we give baptism twice over, truly it is rather you …
- Petilianus said: “But you will answer that you abide by the same declaration, ‘He that is…
- Petilianus said: “For when you in your guilt perform what is false, I do not celebrate …
- Petilianus said: “For if you mix what is false with what is true, falsehood often …
- Petilianus said: “It will be urged against us, that the Apostle Paul said, ‘One Lord, one…
- Petilianus said: “But yet, if I may be allowed the comparison, it is certain that the sun…
- Petilianus said: “But to pass rapidly through these minor points: can he be said to lay …
- Petilianus said: “Or if any one chance to recollect the chants of a priest, is he …
- Petilianus said: “For there is no power but of God,” none in any man of power; as the …
- Petilianus said: “For although there is only one baptism, yet it is consecrated in three …
- Petilianus said: “But that I may thoroughly investigate the baptism in the name of the …
- Petilianus said: “For if the apostles were allowed to baptize those whom John had washed …
- Petilianus said: “Nor indeed will it be possible that the Holy Spirit should be implanted…
- Petilianus said: “Which Holy Spirit certainly cannot come on you, who have not been …
- Petilianus said: “But that the truth of this may be made manifest from the apostles, we …
- Petilianus said: “If you declare that you hold the Catholic Church, the word ‘catholic’ …
- Petilianus said: “But there is no fellowship of darkness with light, nor any fellowship …
- Petilianus said: “Paul the apostle also bids us, ‘Be ye not unequally yoked with …
- Petilianus said: “And, again, he taught us that schisms should not arise, in the …
- Petilianus said: “If Paul uttered these words to the unlearned and to the righteous, I …
- Petilianus said: “Can it be that the traitor Judas hung himself for you, or did he imbue …
- Petilianus said: “For we, as it is written, when we are baptized, put on Christ who was …
- Petilianus said: “But if these are the parties, the name of member of a party is no …
- Petilianus said: “In the first Psalm David separates the blessed from the impious, not …
- Petilianus said: “But the same Psalmist has sung the praises of our baptism. ‘The Lord is…
- Petilianus said: “Yet that you should not call yourselves holy, in the first place, I …
- Petilianus said: “For, granting that you faithless ones are acquainted with the law, …
- Petilianus said: “But that we may destroy your arguments one by one, if you call …
- Petilianus said: “If you wretched men claim for yourselves a seat, as we said before, you…
- Petilianus said: “If you suppose that you can offer sacrifice, God Himself thus speaks of…
- Petilianus said: “If you make prayer to God, or utter supplication, it profits you …
- Petilianus said: “But if it should so happen, though whether it be so I cannot say, that …
- Petilianus said: “Even though you do very virtuous actions, and perform miraculous works,…
- Petilianus said: “But even if, as you yourselves suppose, you are following the law of …
- Petilianus said: “It is written, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ Each one of you, even …
- Petilianus said: “It is written, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy …
- Petilianus said: “It is written, ‘Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.’ …
- Petilianus said: “Under what law, then, do you make out that you are Christians, seeing …
- Petilianus said: “But the Lord Christ says, ‘Whosoever shall do and teach them, the same …
- Petilianus said: “And again it is written, ‘Every sin which a man shall sin is without …
- Petilianus said: “But wherein do you fulfill the commandments of God? The Lord Christ …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.’ You …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’ You, our …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.’ But how shall …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.’ When will you …
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of …
- Petilianus said: “Though the Apostle Paul says, ‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, …
- Petilianus said: “To you the prophet says, ‘Peace, peace; and where is there peace?’”
- Petilianus said: “‘Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for …
- Petilianus said: “Since then you are not blessed by falsifying the commands of God, the …
- Petilianus said: “But these things do not alarm us Christians; for of the evil deeds …
- Petilianus said: “O wretched traditors! Thus indeed it was fitting that Scripture should …
- Petilianus said: “But to us the Lord Christ, in opposition to your deadly commands, …
- Petilianus said: “Paul also, the apostle, whilst he was suffering fearful persecutions at…
- Petilianus said: “For what kind of faith is that which is in you which is devoid of …
- Petilianus said: “And again, ‘Charity suffereth long, and is kind charity envieth not; …
- Petilianus said: “Lastly, what is the justification of persecution? I ask you, you …
- Petilianus said: “But I answer you, on the other hand, that Jesus Christ never persecuted…
- Petilianus said: “But the holy apostle said this: ‘In any way, whatsoever it may be,’ he …
- Petilianus said: “If then there are not some to whom all this power of faith is found to …
- Petilianus said: “But if authority had been given by some law for persons to be compelled…
- Petilianus said: “For the Lord Christ says, ‘No man can come to me, except the Father …
- Petilianus said: “Is it then the case that God has ordered the massacre even of …
- Petilianus said: “For neither has the Lord God at any time rejoiced in human blood, …
- Petilianus said: “We advise you, therefore, if so be that you will hear it willingly, and…
- Petilianus said: “Here you have the fullest possible proof that a Christian may take no …
- Petilianus said: “Therefore I say, He ordained that we should undergo death for the …
- Petilianus said: “But you scatter thorns and tares, not seeds of corn so that you ought …
- Petilianus said: “Where is the saying of the Lord Christ, ‘Whosoever shall smite thee on …
- Petilianus said: “But what have you to do with the kings of this world, in whom …
- Petilianus said: “Where is the law of God? where is your Christianity, if you not only …
- Petilianus said: “If you wish that we should be your friends, why do you drag us to you …
- Petilianus said: “But what reason is there, or what inconsistency of emptiness, in …
- Petilianus said: “Choose, in short, which of the two alternatives you prefer. If …
- Petilianus said: “Lastly, as we have often said before, how great is your presumption, …
- Petilianus said: “On you, yes you, you wretched men, I call, who, being dismayed with the…
- Petilianus said: “But we who are poor in spirit are not apprehensive for our wealth, but …
- Petilianus said: “Inasmuch as we live in the fear of God, we have no fear of the …
- Petilianus said: “You, therefore, who prefer rather to be washed with the most false of …
- Petilianus said: “Imitate indeed the prophets, who feared to have their holy souls …
- Petilianus said: “David also said, ‘The oil of the sinner shall not anoint my head.’ Who …
- Petilianus said: “But he thus praises the ointment of concord among brethren: ‘Behold how…
- Petilianus said: “Woe unto you, therefore, who, by doing violence to what is holy, cut …
- Petilianus said: “And that none who is a layman may claim to be free from sin, they are …
- Petilianus said: “By this sentence, again, the apostle places in the same category those …
- Petilianus said: “Come therefore to the Church, all ye people, and flee the company of …
- b3pref
- Being able to read, Petilianus, I have read your letter, in which you have shown with …
- Hear therefore, all ye who have read his revilings, what Petilianus has vented against me…
- These comparisons of the gospel you doubtless recognize. Nor can we suppose them given …
- Nor would I therefore be understood to urge that ecclesiastical discipline should be set …
- Do you, therefore, holy scions of our one Catholic mother, beware with all the …
- Furthermore, whether concerning Christ, or concerning His Church, or any other matter …
- Whilst we bear the testimony of God to this and the like effect against the vain speaking…
- Nor is it only you that are safe, whatever we may be, because you are satisfied with the …
- Therefore, as I have often said before, and am desirous to bring home to you, whatsoever …
- Let these things suffice you, my beloved Christian brethren of the Catholic Church, so …
- What wonder is it then, if, when I draw in the grain that has been shaken forth from the …
- For I am a man of the threshing-floor of Christ: if a bad man, then part of the chaff; if…
- If, therefore, I am a servant of the Lord, and a soldier that is not reprobate, with …
- Furthermore, if I have obtained from you, in accordance with my earnest endeavors, that, …
- Read now the most profuse revilings which he has poured forth whilst puffed up with …
- Let him go now, and with panting lungs and swollen throat find fault with me as a mere …
- Let him further go on, in his discourse of many but manifestly empty words, to matters of…
- Certainly in all these things, as you can learn or refresh your memory by reading his …
- For perhaps some one of you will say to me, All these things which he said against you he…
- All these statements in my letter Petilianus set before himself for refutation. Let us …
- But see, when he is reduced to straits in the argument, he again makes an attack on me …
- Lastly, if these two or three words, What if, and Possibly, are so absolutely …
- And, in the first place, with regard to that first expression, “Of him who gives in …
- Whatever, therefore, he finds in these two words,—whether he brings calumnious …
- And yet Petilianus, to avoid answering what I have said, sets before himself what I have …
- But why do we make inquiry into these points? Why do we both suffer and cause unnecessary…
- But this is not what we are now inquiring. Let him rather answer (what he wanders off …
- This is what we look upon with horror in your party; this is what the sentence of God …
- I entreat of you, pay attention to this: I ask where the means shall be found for …
- Accordingly this precedent is wholly without bearing on the matter in hand. We might …
- “And where,” he says, “is the word that I added, wittingly? so that I did not say, He …
- What shall we say of what he himself advanced in his epistle, that “Quodvultdeus, having …
- See now how Petilianus, to avoid answering this question, or to avoid being proved to be …
- Petilianus quotes also the warning of the Apostle John, that we should not believe every …
- Was the water administered by this man not lying? or is the oil of the fornicator not the…
- But after this, when Petilianus came to that objection of ours, that they allowed the …
- Furthermore, according to our tenets, neither he of whom Petilianus said that he was cast…
- For, to pass over others dwelling in different quarters of the earth,- for you will …
- But as for you, when the case of the followers of Maximianus is brought up against you, …
- For if the baptism which Praetextatus and Felicianus administered in the communion of …
- Lastly, he has ended his epistle with an exhortation and warning to his own party, that …
- For what I just now said is put with the greatest clearness in that very epistle of mine,…
- These things, I think, I put with clearness and truth in my former epistle, when I made …
- Then a little after, as he had said, “This being so, brethren, what perversity must that …
- But that neither he nor any one of you might say that, when any one of concealed bad …
- Now, seeing that when Petilianus attributes this to me as though it were my opinion, he …
- Furthermore, in like manner as those who denied the resurrection of the dead could in no …
- When we ask, therefore, by what means the man is to be cleansed whom you do not baptize …
- Do not therefore any longer say, “The conscience of one that gives in holiness is what we…
- But if it is clear that Petilianus has made no answer to those first words of my epistle,…
- Next, listen for a short time to the kind of way in which he has tried to use, in his own…
- But if you wish to see that the object of Petilianus in his writings really was to prove …
- Then who is there that could fail to perceive from what a vein of conceit it proceeds, …
- Finally, again, a little afterwards, when he resolved and was firmly purposed, as it …
- A minister, therefore, that is a dispenser of the word and sacrament of the gospel, if he…
- And if this is rightly said of the gospel, with how much greater certainty should it be …
- Furthermore, if, while I have continued without intermission to prove how entirely the …
- For when he quoted a passage from the gospel as making against us, where our Lord says, …
- But according to all these four hypotheses, the truth is on the side of the communion of …